Page 45 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

I never knew exactly what Fausto did, but I knew he did something important.Veryimportant. The way everyone deferred to him, it was like he was the second most powerful person in the house after Leonardo.

After Leonardo’s death, Fausto no longer worked for the family. Instead, he went out on his own.

If that wasn’t some mafia-style shit, I don’t know what is.

The day after Signor Leonardo’s funeral, more than half the kitchen staff was gone. Signora Lombardi, Nuncio, and most of my older co-workers left to go work in Fausto’s new home.

Which, in a way, was great for me.

I didn’t have to deal with Fausto’s arrogance or Aurelio’s nastiness anymore.

I also got an immediate promotion to fixing lunch and breakfast with the few morning staff left.

It was chaotic and three times as much work, but I was finally doing what I loved: cooking.

And people noticed.

Valentino always told me my food was amazing, so that wasn’t new.

But Roberto and Massimo both stopped by the kitchen to tell me that the quality of breakfast and lunch had improved immensely, which made me swell with pride.

Adriano merely nodded and said, “Good shit,” every time he finished a meal and saw me.

Others might not see that as huge praise, but considering who it came from, it really was.

Even Niccolo stopped by and complimented me… although that didn’t make me trust him anymore.

And then Signor Dario got out of prison and came home.

He took over his father’s spot because everybody on staff was instructed to call him Don Rosolini(cough cough, mafia, cough cough).

Dario was handsome as hell. After Valentino, he was probably the hottest of the brothers.

But… he made me really nervous.

He was never mean to me, not once. In fact, he frequently smiled if he saw me in the kitchen.

He was just so…imposing.

Like a king. Mysterious and powerful.

And dangerous.

There was definitely something that felt very dangerous about him…

Like he was the mafia incarnate.

A week after Dario arrived, Alessandra showed up.

I lovedAlessandra! She was like the sister I wish I’dactuallyhad. She was sweet and kind – and shelikedbeing around me, unlike my actual siblings.

I found out early that she was extremely innocent.

She wasn’t just a virgin – I had to explaineverythingabout sex to her.

EVERYTHING.

She was terrifiedwhen she showed up, poor thing. I eventually found out that Don Rosolini had kidnapped her(cough cough, MAFIA)and brought her to the estate.

---