Page 274 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

What made it worse was that – for the first time – I actuallyknewandbelievedhe was going to get married.

Because I’d seen his bride.

Instead, I just whispered, “Okay.”

“Don’t give up hope, Cat,”Alessandra pleaded.

But I already had.

Not of seeing him again –

But of getting to keep him.

I didn’t venture out of the room once while I was in Marsala. I just ate room service and watched TV.

Every few hours, I would text Alessandra:

Any word?

And every time, it was the same reply:

Not yet.

For two days, I stayed in a horrible limbo of not knowing what was going on.

I was haunted by horrible image after horrible image.

Valentino and Isabella at the altar – him devastatingly handsome in a tux, her looking radiant in a beautiful bride’s dress.

The two of them laughing and running as crowds pelted them with rice.

Them in some beautiful hotel room with the moonlight streaming in…

As he slowly took off her dress…

Then kissed her…

And laid her back naked on the bed and –

I nearly vomited every time I thought of them like that.

And yet, I couldn’t stop myself from picturing it over and over and over.

Finally, Alessandra called and put me out of my misery.

“He wants to see you!”she said happily.

I shrieked with happiness.

That was the last bit of joy I felt, though.

“There’s a tiny village called Resuttano. He wants you to meet him at the chapel on the outskirts at noon tomorrow!”

“The chapel,” I repeated, dread suddenly filling my insides.

“Yes. On the outskirts of – ”

“Is that where he’s getting married?” I asked quietly.

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