Page 6 of Mafia Kings: Valentino
I quickly got back in the car, terrified of pissing off the voice any more.
My ex-boyfriend stared at me. He was clearly as nervous as I was. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“No,” I admitted. “But I’d like to see the house, at least.”
We waited for two minutes – and then the gates opened up.
On the other side was a black Mercedes. A man in a black suit and white shirt got out of the passenger side and motioned to me.
I got out of my ex’s car.
As I started walking towards the Mercedes, my ex rolled down his window and stuck his head out. “What about me?”
“Wait here,” the man in the black suit said.
“Just – out here?” my ex said, a bit surprised and definitely annoyed.
“Yes.”
“What if somebody comes up behind me? Or wants to leave from your direction?”
“Then get out of the way.”
“It’s okay,” I reassured my ex. Although I sounded so nervous, I doubt he was reassured at all. “I’ll be out soon.”
My ex grumbled and got back in the car.
As I walked over to the man in the suit, the gates closed behind me. I heard themcreakand I jumped.
“I need to search you,” the guy said.
“Um… okay…?”
He checked my purse, then gave me a quick pat-down.
“Ooh, I didn’t knowthiswas part of the interview process,” I joked flirtatiously.
He didn’t even crack a smile. He just opened up the rear passenger-side door for me.
O-kaaaay…
I got in meekly without a word.
He shut the door behind me and got back in the car.
The driver did a three-point turn, and we headed up towards the house.
I don’t know that the property was quite as impressive as the Vatican (since I haven’t been to Rome)… but it was still pretty damn amazing.
First we drove past vineyards and orchards. The road sloped upwards, and when we broke out of the trees, I saw it: a gigantic mansion at the top of the hill, three stories tall. It looked old – maybe 500 years old or more.
“Wow,” I murmured.
Neither of the two guys in the front seat said anything.
We reached a circular drive in front of marble steps and a pair of bronze doors.
The guy got out and opened my door. “Let’s go.”
