8. How to Catch a Mafia Princess
CHAPTER 8
HOW TO CATCH A MAFIA PRINCESS
A ntonio
“It’s impossible, capo .” My righthand man and quite possibly my closest friend, Pietro, cowers behind the chair across my—no, Papà ’s desk as he breaks the news. I still don’t feel quite comfortable in this seat, as if I haven’t earned my place here. I stiffen, playing the part of capo as I have been for the past month.
“Raffaele’s security team is impenetrable,” he continues. “There are zero chances we’ll be able to get to Isabella Valentino before her return to Manhattan tomorrow.”
A flood of anger surges across my insides as I glare across the mahogany desk at my enforcer. After my own failed attempt in Milano, I passed the mission onto Pietro. Perhaps it was cowardice, or something else entirely, but I wanted to wash my hands of the whole situation.
I wanted my brother to pay for what he did to our father, to our family. But every single attempt at retribution was thwarted.
Dio is punishing you for your cowardice. Shame on you, Antonio Ferrara, for targeting a woman. Mamma ’s voice sails through my thoughts, her disappointment like a shot to the heart.
“I’m doing this for our family,” I shout out loud, my voice echoing across sophisticated space my father created. Everything about his office was designed to impress and intimidate in equal measure.
Pietro’s eyes narrow as he regards me. “I know that, capo .”
Perfetto , now he’s going to think I’ve lost my goddamned mind.
“I’m sorry, we tried everything. There is simply no way around Raffaele and his team. Maybe in Manhattan?—”
“No,” I hiss. “If you think getting to Isabella Valentino was difficult in Rome, you’ll have zero chance once she’s home. Not only will she have my brother and his team, but the entire force of the Kings.”
I drag my hand through my hair, pulling at the dark strands. I’m on the brink of losing everything my father built. Fucking Dante Valentino brokered a deal with our long-time enemy, Enrico Sartori and now, half of the Ferrara territory has been taken over by the Kings. As if it wasn’t bad enough before… The other half is about to fall at the hands of the Sartoris and whatever they don’t take, the Salernos are more than happy to pick off. It wasn’t enough to kill my father, his enemies want to see his entire empire crumble. My gaze flickers over my shoulder to the backdrop of floor-to-ceiling windows that frame a panoramic view of the bustling city below. My city. Or at least it should have been until Papà was killed and his dreams of grandeur destroyed.
And now, I’ll go with it.
Swinging around to face Pietro once again, I bark, “What’s the status with the new restaurant deal?”
“The owner is refusing to sell to us. No doubt the Salernos got to him first. The capo has been requesting a meeting with you for weeks. Why do you keep blowing him off?”
“Because I can’t deal with another fucking rival family, Pietro!”
“You know how this works, capo . When the others scent blood, they’ll be circling like sharks.”
I heave out a frustrated breath, cursing Papà for leaving me with this disaster. “How the fuck am I supposed to launder our money without legitimate businesses to run it through?” I growl.
“I—I don’t know.”
“Well, you better fucking figure it out. You’re all deficienti , one more worthless than the other.” Cazzo , I can’t believe this is happening. In a matter of a few months, everything my father built over the past two decades is teetering on a knife’s edge.
First, it was the Salernos, then Enrico and now Dante. They’re like bloodthirsty vultures, scavenging for the Ferrara’s carcasses. Your father never should have gone after Enrico’s daughter … Mamma ’s voice echoes through my mind.
She’s not wrong, but there is nothing I can do about the past. Now, I’m forced to pay for my father’s sins.
“What about Enrico’s son, Federico? Isn’t he poised to take over?”
Pietro nods. “That’s the rumor.”
“Maybe he’ll be more reasonable than his old man. See if you can arrange a meeting.”
“I can try, capo , but Laura was his sister…”
Cazzo . Why did my father have to kill that poor woman? “I know very well who she was to him. I didn’t ask for your opinion.” I slam my fist on the desk, the polished mahogany trembling beneath my fury. “Go, now!”
“Yes, capo . I’ll see what I can do.” He spins on his heel and races out of my office, his damned tail between his legs. Dio , I miss Giuseppe. “Thanks for leaving me to handle all this merda , brother.” I glance skyward and my fingers instinctively move to the gold cross at my chest. I stopped believing in God a long time ago, but still I wear the chain my mother gave me for my first communion. It was the last gift before?—
Squeezing my eyes closed, I chase away the dark memories. God, heaven, hell, none of it exists. If it did, Dio would’ve never taken away my precious mother, leaving three young boys in the inept hands of our father.
And if hell does exist, I suppose I’ll find myself there soon enough. Because this is not how my story ends. If I can’t get to Isabella, there must be another way to bring the Kings to their knees.
My thoughts flicker back in time to the night in the woods in Milano, to a pair of lively blue eyes and wild, blonde hair. To the feel of Serena Valentino when she ran into me in the hallway of that rooftop bar in Milano. To the sound of her sultry voice, echoing through the park that night. There are two Valentino mafia princesses, and if I can’t have one, then I’ll simply have to steal the other.
Present Time
Hidden behind the airplane hangar, I watch intently as the Kings’ private jet roars across the runway. I’d been forced to hire my own jet to secure access to the area. Luckily, I’d timed our arrival almost perfectly, and within seconds, Raffaele and his principessa should be deplaning.
The past few days before my arrival to Manhattan had been disastrous. I finally met with Michele Salerno who refused my new restaurant deal. Without it, I’m fucked. Then Federico Sartori denied me the chance to even meet to discuss an equitable way to carve out our territories.
Now I’m left with no other options.
I keep my eyes trained on the airplane now lumbering closer, then my gaze lifts upward to the sky. Pressing my finger to the com in my ear, a sharp hiss explodes across my eardrum, and I mutter a curse. “Pietro, can you hear me?”
“Yes, capo , loud and clear.”
“Is the bird in the air?”
“Ready and waiting.”
Reaching for the binoculars, I search the clear sky for the new drone I purchased from an old friend of mine. Its top-of-the-line technology boasts complete radar invisibility, even against top security measures. I suppose we’re about to find out how good it really is.
A roar of applause and whoops and shouts draws my gaze from the sky to the jet door. It finally opens and the happy couple descends the steps to another chorus of cheers. Raffaele walks beside Isabella, or rather drapes his enormous form over her body, while a second bodyguard flanks her exposed side.
My fingers itch for my gun, but it’s not strapped to my hip like always. Instead, I was forced to keep it hidden in my carry-on. Even if I did have it, the likelihood of a clear shot would’ve been infinitesimal. As much shit as I liked to give Pietro for his incompetency, I’ve seen my brother at work firsthand, and as a bodyguard, he’s second to none.
A head of blonde hair zips through the crowd, pushing her way to greet Isabella. Serena practically throws herself at her cousin, wrapping her arms around the girl’s petite form. Even from this distance, I can feel my brother bristling.
The man is a Pitbull when it comes to his clients and now that Isabella has become more, I can only imagine his level of obsession. My gaze pivots from my brother to Serena and a lick of heat surges all the way down to my dick as memories of the last time I saw her rush to the surface.
Her sexy moans have been a constant companion the last few lonely nights. I’d never admit it to anyone, but I finally found the release I so desperately needed stroking my cock to memories of the other Valentino princess in the woods. Those sounds… Dio , I could come from them alone.
Blinking quickly, I force the completely inappropriate thoughts to the far corners of my mind. You’re here for revenge, coglione . You’re supposed to be planning how to kidnap Serena Valentino, not fuck her.
Yes, Mamma would be proud . I’ve altered my plan from straight up murder to kidnapping for ransom, perhaps some torture to satisfy the bloodthirsty monster within. Unlike Isabella, Dante’s daughter travels with minimum security, if any at all. If I get my hands on Serena Valentino, I can force her father and the Kings out of my territory. Better still, I can compel the Kings to take my side and coerce the Sartoris out of my lands for good.
A crackle across the com focuses my attention. “The drone audio is coming through now,” Pietro confirms.
Another hiss and the voice on the other line switches to a decidedly more pleasant one.
“Finally, you made it back.” Serena’s sensual timbre invades my eardrums, and a shudder races up my spine.
I peer around the corner so I can steal a glance at the face that goes with that unforgettable voice. Serena still hugs her cousin, but now Raffaele has moved from her side. Only her second bodyguard remains. I scan the other hangar and catch a glimpse of my brother inside with the one and only Luca Valentino.
Serena, on the other hand, has no guardian pressed to her side. None even within striking distance. According to Pietro, she arrived at the airport with a driver and that was it.
“Of course I’ll be at the party at your parents’ tonight.” Serena’s voice snaps my attention back to the two females. “I came all this way just to see you.”
“I thought your internship was over.” Isabella’s dark brows pucker as she eyes her cousin.
“Not quite. There are a few more things I need to do before I return.”
Return? According to my intel, Serena had been offered a permanent position at Dolce & Gabbana where she interned for the summer. It perfectly played into my new plan.
“Okay, you’ll have to tell me all about it tonight.”
“Absolutely.” She smiles, but it seems forced. “There’s not much to tell anyway. I want to hear about you and Raf and all the amazing sex you’ve been having.”
My stomach churns at the comment. I may hate the bastardo , but he’s still my younger brother and I do not need to hear about his sex life.
“Please, I know you, Sere, I’m sure you’re having just as much sex if not more than us. Just with more of a variety of guys. You’re still on Tinder, aren’t you?”
A wicked grin curls her lips. “I just can’t stay away.”
And just like that, I know exactly how to catch this mafia princess.