Page 62 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

Nic asked in an ice-cold voice, “Were you about to hit yourconsigliere,Valentino?”

“No,” I snarled, “I was about to hit mybrother,who’s being a fuckingasshole.”

“Because he said something about the servant girl you’re sleeping with,” Niccolo said sarcastically.

I glared at him. “Her name is Caterina.”

Niccolo burst out laughing again. “Oh –excuseme! ‘Caterina.’ I didn’t realize you two were about to get married.”

“We’re – no – ”

“Are you two serious, or not?” Nic demanded.

I felt like I was standing naked on a stage with a spotlight on me.

“Well… no, but – ”

Niccolo immediately became angry again. “Well, if you’re notserious, then what the fuck does it MATTER if you marry Don Vicari’s daughter?!”

I squinted as I tried to remember. “Have I ever evenmether? She never came to any of the weddings, did she?”

“No,” Niccolo conceded. “Don Vicari was very protective of her. Apparently, she’s never left Sicily.”

“So you want me to marry some girl I’ve never evenseenbefore?! How do I know if I could even fall in love with her?!”

Niccolo reacted like I was insane. “Do you evenknowwhat an arranged marriage is? It’s not aboutlove –it’s an alliance between two families! That’sit.”

“Yeah, but I’m the one who has to stay married to her forever!”

Niccolo sighed in exasperation. “Jesus, are you that naïve? You fuck her, she pops out some kids, Don Vicari’s happy, and we get a long-term ally. In the meantime, you can bang all the kitchen girls in Sicily you want on the side. It’s a win-win.”

“Dariodidn’t have an arranged marriage!” I shouted. “He married for love! So did Adriano! So did Papa and Mama – ”

“What’s your fucking point?” Niccolo snarled.

“My point is, when I get married, I want to get married forlove!”

Niccolo laughed. “Ohhhhh –nowyou’re Mr. Romantic. And I suppose you’ll be completely faithful to this hypothetical wife?”

“Yes!”

“You have to be fuckingkiddingme,” he sneered. “You’ll fuck anything that walks by in a skirt – ”

“NOT SINCE I’VE BEEN WITH CATERINA!”

My outburst took evenmeby surprise.

It was the first time I’d admitted it to anyone in my family.

Once again, Niccolo looked at me in total shock. “You reallyareserious about this girl, aren’t you?”

“I…”

I trailed off.

It felt like it was too much to say that Caterina and I were serious.

As much as I liked her – as much as I wanted her – I couldn’t bring myself to go that far.

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