Page 275 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

Alessandra paused.

During her silence, I saw all the horrible images again:

Isabella in a wedding dress I would never get to wear…

Valentino undressing her in the moonlight and –

I forced myself to stop.

When Alessandra spoke, I could hear the pain in her voice. She knew what I was going through.

“…yes. That’s where the wedding will be.”

“The day after tomorrow?”

“…yes.”

“And you’ll be there?”

“Yes.”

“With Don Rosolini, and Niccolo, and Adriano, and – ” I stopped and frowned. “Did Massimo, Lars, and Roberto come back yet?”

“Yes. A lot has happened over the past few days. But there was so much going on with you and Valentino, I didn’t want to add to the stress.”

She told me everything.

About how Massimo, Adriano, and Lars had stormed an island to rescue the daughter of themafiosawho ran Venice.

Massimo had been shot multiple times. Luckily, he was on the mend – but it had been touch and go for a while.

His brothers will risk their lives to save some girl…

But I can’t even get Valentino NOT to marry a woman he doesn’t want, and who doesn’t want him.

In addition to my misery, I felt overwhelming guilt.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “Your brother-in-law almost died, and I’m bothering you with some stupid schoolgirl crush – ”

“Stop it,”Alessandra commanded.“You LOVE him, and he loves you. You KNOW that.”

“Alessandra, tell me the truth – am I a fool?”

“What?! Why would you say that?!”

“He’s going to marry her, and I just keep hanging on like a pathetic, stupid – ”

“STOP. Don’t talk like that. He wants to see you – ”

“For one last romp in the hay before he gets married.”

“You don’t know that. Maybe he’ll finally see how stupid and insane this whole situation is, and he’ll run off with you – ”

“He won’t. I’ve asked him over and over, and every time it’s the same thing: ‘I can’t betray my family.’”

Alessandra was silent.

We both knew I was right.

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