Page 286 of Mafia Kings: Valentino

“Yes.”

“Maybe that’s grounds for stopping the wedding!”

I thought about how nice Isabella had been when I met her in Ortigia…

And realized that if she was hiding it from her family, there was probably a damn good reason.

“Would she be in danger from her father if he knew?” I asked.

Alessandra paused.“…yes. She probably would.”

I remembered what Valentino had said about Don Vicari.

Her father’s a fucking psychopath, and yesterday I saw what he did to somebody who crossed him. It wasn’t pretty. In fact, it was pretty fucking horrible.

“No,” I murmured. “Forget about it. Besides, it’s over.”

“Are you going to be okay?”

“…yes.”

I paused.

“No. I don’t know,” I whispered.

And it was true.

I had no idea if I would ever be alright again.

It sure as hell didn’t feel like it.

I’d told Valentino,I have to start loving myself.

But I didn’tfeellike I was loving myself.

In fact, it didn’t feel like there was anything left to love.

I’d left my heart and soul back in that chapel…

…with him.

“We’ll be flying in tomorrow just before noon,”Alessandra told me.“Do you want me to come find you after the – afterwards?”

I knew she’d almost said‘after the wedding.’

I was glad she hadn’t.

The words – even unsaid – felt like a needle through my heart.

I didn’t know if I could bear to hear them aloud.

“No. I don’t want Don Rosolini or Niccolo to find out you helped me.”

“I don’t care if they know.”

“Well,Ido. I don’t want to get you in trouble – not after everything you’ve done for me.”

“It feels like I haven’t done anything,”she said angrily.“I almost want to help you burn down the chapel, or – or create some kind of disaster so it can’t happen.”

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