Donata
Weddings were the worst. And Rex’s nuptials promised to remind me why. Both he and Caterina were miserable. Did they love each other? Sure. But they had a long way to go before either one of them figured out what love actually was.
For one, Caterina needed to wake the fuck up. She had all the evidence in the world right in front of her nose. But because Michael Alfera, the last Don Alfera and one of the bloodiest kings our secret society had ever seen, told her she was special, she was willing to burn down all our houses just to save him.
And of course, Rex was so in love with Caterina that he was also willing to let her have it. I glanced down at my watch. Their wedding was not scheduled for another five hours. Plenty of time to get fairly wasted before then. I couldn’t see any other way to get through that ridiculous farce.
The clatter of broken glass caught my attention. I stood in the foyer of Rex’s penthouse, glaring at the door to the library on my left. Taking a deep breath, I made my way to him. Despite Rex’s obsession and poor choices when it came to Caterina, he was still my friend. More than that, he was like a brother to me. Seeing him suffer like this cut me.
“Wow, you look stunning.” Santino stood by the bar cart holding a bottle of Pappi Van Winkle, his favorite bourbon. “You’re somewhat early though.”
“I know.” I strolled in and took the tumbler from his hand and sipped. “I thought Rex might need a drinking buddy.”
“I thought the same,” Santino agreed, pointing upstairs. “He’s in his room brooding and possibly thinking of a million different contrived reasons to forgive Caterina.”
“Who did all this?” I pointed at the knocked over tables, scattered books, and broken glass.
“Oh.” Santino reached for a fresh glass and poured a hefty serving of bourbon. “That was me.” He ambled to a knocked over side table and turned it right side up. “The rest was Rex before he stormed out.”
“I’m going to regret asking why you’re mad, aren’t I?” I took one of the leather club chairs, set it on its legs and sat.
“Caterina escaped.” He shrugged.
“Omigod.” I downed the rest of my drink. “Does Rex know?”
“No, and we’re not telling him.”
“What is her deal? She’s obviously in love with Rex. Rex still wants to marry her. What is her logic here?” I shook my head.
“Isn’t it obvious?” He plopped himself on the sofa across from me, facing the tall built-in shelves lining the wall.
I still remembered playing hide and seek in this room, back when Michael Alfera was still king, long before he abdicated and left everyone else holding the bag. The society for all its flaws was my only family. I met Santino’s gaze. Rex, Santino, Enzo and I, we only had each other and our families’ legacy. We were willing to do whatever it took to ensure the society survived.
“Caterina’s blind love for her father is going to get us all killed.” I sipped from my glass. “I’m assuming you already know where she is?”
“Yeah, I figured she needed a running start.” He winked at me.
“She’s not some prey to be hunted, Santino.” I shook my head.
“Rex entrusted me to deliver his bride on time. She escaped. I have no choice but to hunt her down and bring her back.” He shrugged. “She left without her father. So that tells me she’s out there looking for someone who would help. Her apartment and the house in Dumbo are heavily guarded. Rex’s orders. But there’s one place he chose to leave as a peaceful refuge.”
“Enzo’s penthouse,” I sighed.
“That’s the one.” He rose to his feet and poured more bourbon into my glass. “Rex still feels guilty about letting Enzo’s beloved die.”
“Omigod, Santino. Please don’t repeat that ever again.”
“Fine. But for that reason, Enzo’s penthouse is the only place where Caterina can run.” He glanced down at his watch. “I’m giving her another half hour before I go after her. Want to join me?”
“Fine. But only because I really want to see Enzo. And I don’t trust you not to do something idiotic.” I stood and set the tumbler on the coffee table.
“Me? I’m the only one left with a brain. Rex and Enzo are the ones thinking with their dicks.” He knocked back the rest of his drink then pointed his index finger at me. “That is why I will never fall for anyone. Especially not a beautiful woman with a propensity to find trouble. No offense.”
“None taken, I guess.” I laughed. “And don’t worry, Santino. One day you will find true love in a woman that sees you for who you truly are,” I said in a sarcastic tone, though I did hope Santino would find love one day. Maybe he would have better luck than the rest of us.
“Wow, you chose violence today.” He glared at me.
“Let’s go get Rex’s bride before she gets any more bright ideas.” I ambled toward the door and waited as Santino called his driver.
On the outside, Santino was the big bad wolf, the punisher, the guy every mother warned their daughters about. But he was a loyal friend. And not so deep down, he was a romantic and a lover. That was the thing about our mafia world, the only way to survive was to become the callous and ruthless versions of us.
Santino ushered me to Rex’s private garage where his driver stood at attention as soon as he saw us. I climbed in the back of the SUV and waited for Santino to join me. I hadn’t realized how much I missed Santino and the guys. Back in high school, we were inseparable. I never would’ve guessed that a short ten years later, our lives would be so different, and that our friendships would not survive the passage of time.
“I feel giddy” I confessed. “I haven’t been back to Enzo’s penthouse since college.”
“I love it when our Queen Bee gets all sentimental.” He put his arm around me and pulled me toward him. After several beats, he added, “It’s not your job to fix him. You know that, right?”
“I know.” I nodded.
When the SUV rolled to a stop, Santino leaned forward to survey Enzo’s building. “How are we going to get inside the impenetrable tower?”
“They know me here.” I shrugged. “Also, I have a key. Come on.”
Giddy wasn’t exactly the right word to describe my return to Enzo’s place. I tapped my key card to the reader and stood back as the doors to the private elevator opened. My hands trembled slightly because while Enzo had decided to live with his ghosts, I ran away as far as I could from mine.
“You’re thinking about him.” Santino cocked his head to look me in the eye. “Luca Gallo.”
I winced like I always did every time someone mentioned his name. “No, of course not. I haven’t seen him in years. He’s in the past now.”
I lied out of habit and tried not to think about the last time I saw Luca, the night the entire Gallo family was killed. By some miracle, he had survived the assault when they came for him. But I had no way of knowing if his luck had run out by now. Too many months had gone by, and the person responsible for their deaths was still out there. I took in a deep breath and held it until the pressure in my chest subsided.
“I know Rex is still looking for him. If he’s alive—”
“Let’s focus on Caterina for now. Shall we?” The elevator doors opened to the penthouse’s foyer, and I made a quick exit.
“Okay.” Santino followed close behind. When he heard laughter in Enzo’s living room, he pulled me toward him. “He’s not alone. Oh fuck. Does she—?”
I turned around and pressed my hand to his mouth. “Don’t say it.”
“She looks like Aurora.” His words were muffled, but they still carried.
“Don’t say that name.” I winced.
“I can see and hear you both.” Enzo’s voice rumbled against the walls. “Mollie,” he called out.
“Mollie’s still here?” Santino beamed at me.
“Yes, milord.” Mollie strolled into the living room with a “I’m getting too old for this shit” look on her face. To her credit, she’d had that look since we were in high school, and she was serving lunch to a bunch of self-entitled, rich kids.
“I said no visitors.” Enzo reached for his drink.
“They let themselves in.” Mollie winked at Santino before she brought him in for a hug.
“Why are you still hanging around with this asshole?” Santino picked her slim frame off the floor in a bear hug. “Say the word, and we’ll run away together.”
“I like the strays. What can I say?” She shrugged before she turned to me and cupped my face. “He misses you.”
“He has my number.” I shot a glance at Enzo.
“True.” She let out a breath. “Can I get you anything? A drink, a runaway bride?”
“How about a round of water for everyone? And—” I pointed to Enzo’s blonde friend. “Can you?”
“Oh yeah. She’s a regular. She knows the rules.” Mollie strode over to the woman. “Time to go, sweetheart. The prince has business to attend to.”
The woman furrowed her brows and snuggled closer to Enzo’s bare chest. Enzo pursed his lips and untangled her arms from his body. “You should go, love.”
“You’re unbelievable.” She scoffed as she hopped off the sofa to grab her shoes.
I waited until the elevator door dinged open and she disappeared from my line of sight and turned my attention to Enzo. “We’re here to take Caterina back.”
“The hell you are.” He sat up. “My sister came to me for help. She’s now under my protection.”
“I’ll get the waters.” Mollie patted my shoulder on her way out.
“I get that you’re more than happy to stick it to Rex on his wedding day, but this isn’t about us, brother.” Santino stepped closer. “This wedding needs to happen.”
“He promised he wouldn’t make her. She doesn’t want to marry him.” Enzo rose to his feet and padded to the bar cart.
“Come off it, Enzo. Everyone knows Caterina is in love with Rex. He made good on his end of the bargain. Now it’s your turn.” I braced my hands on my hips. “Let her go.”
“No.” He smiled at me.
A genuine gesture that said he was happy to see me again. For a moment, I saw the fun and loving Enzo I used to know. The one I lost after tragedy hit. Or rather, after his father happened. God, I hated Michael Alfera. In one fell swoop, he ruined all his children.
“She said she doesn’t want to marry him.” He stood tall in the middle of the room, looking miserable and dangerous at the same time.
“Did she explain why?” I asked.
Enzo shrugged.
“Okay.” I took the tumbler out of his hand and set it on the table. “So, if I can get her to say that she wants to marry Rex, you’ll let her go?”
“If that’s what she wants.” He picked his drink off the table.
“What did she ask you for?” Santino asked.
“She’s afraid for dad’s life.” Enzo’s jaw clenched. “That old man has more lives than a stray cat.”
“Show her Michael Alfera doesn’t deserve her concern. Or love for that matter,” Santino said matter of fact. “And then you’ll see she wants nothing more than to marry Rex.”
“Why should he win?” Enzo spat back. “He doesn’t deserve her either. Besides, the old man has filled her head with lies for years. She won’t believe anything I say. Saint Michael can do no wrong.”
“Show her your scars.” I was really pushing my luck here. “Show her what he really is.”
“You know I can’t do that.” He relaxed his stance. “It would break my mother’s heart.”
At this point, I decided not to point out the fact that their mother had passed two years ago. Mainly because he was right. Who were we to tell Caterina that the loving father she thought she grew up with was a monster with a thirst for blood like no other.
“Okay.” I turned to Santino. “Plan B. How about we bring Rex and have him talk to her? Once she agrees to marry him, Enzo will let her go. And done. Everyone lives happily ever after.”
“We can’t do that.” Santino shook his head. “Caterina will only use her time to get Rex to forgive Michael. We can’t have that. I refuse to let that old man win. Rex needs to secure his place as king. Then Michael will have no choice but to go fuck himself.”
“Enzo.” I pleaded with him. “You can’t stop this.”
“What’s plan C?” Santino strode to the bar cart and poured himself a whiskey.
“I don’t know.” I sighed.
“I mean, a kidnapping is always an option. If Caterina is in danger, Rex will drop everything to go save her.” Santino paced the length of the room.
“That will show them both they still love each other,” I said mostly to myself.
“Now we’re getting somewhere.” Santino fished his phone out of his jacket before he met Enzo’s gaze. “I’ll get my guys on it. And just for you, I’ll ask them to give Rex a good beating.”
“Omigod, Santino.” I took his phone away. “It’s his wedding night. Nobody is beating up anybody.”
“We’re running out of time.” Santino stuffed his hands in the pockets of his trousers. “And we’re still down one bride.”
We were at an impasse. The situation was truly dire if Santino’s crazy ideas were starting to sound logical. Staging a kidnapping would take days, not a few minutes. In the next beat, Santino’s handsome face went blank. Oh shit. He was done playing Enzo’s game. Yeah, our friend was hurting, but Caterina quite literally had a date with destiny. Enzo couldn’t get in the way of it.
I followed Santino’s line of sight to the bottom of the grand staircase where Caterina stood with big doe eyes.
“Enzo, let him go.” I stepped into Enzo’s space and cupped his cheek to make him look at me.
By the time Enzo realized what I was asking of him, it was too late. Santino had Caterina over his shoulder and was already hitting the close button on the elevator panel. I used my body to block Enzo. In my four-inch heels, I had no way of keeping him from going after Santino. Either he was too drunk to fight back, or he knew Santino and I were right in all this.
“She wants this, Enzo. Let them figure it out.” I pressed my lips to his cheek. “Let them go.”
“You’re choosing Rex over me?” He glared at me. “Then don’t come back.”
“Enzo.” I wanted to slap him, to get him to wake up from his nightmare already. But if my methods had not worked for almost six years, why would they start working now? “I love you. Always.”
I let him go and headed for the elevator, which opened immediately after I pushed the call button. Santino had sent it back up, which meant he was in the garage waiting for me. I walked inside and turned to face Enzo. He stood there looking more alone than ever. Forever broken. Just like me.
By the time I reached the SUV, Caterina sat still on the far side of the back seat while Santino opened the door for me. “How did you get her to stop fighting?”
“I said the magic word.” He shut the door behind me and walked around to the passenger side.
“What’s the magic word?” I asked.
“He threatened to shoot Dad.” Caterina glared at Santino for a beat before she turned to me. “You don’t understand. Dad was trying to do the right thing. If you let me explain that to Rex, he’ll see I didn’t betray him.” Caterina wiped her cheeks. “I love Rex. But…”
“What did I tell you?” Santino rolled his eyes, then shifted his body to face forward. “Drive fast.”
“You love him?” I searched Caterina’s eyes. “Then fricken marry the guy. Omigod. Michael Alfera doesn’t deserve this level of loyalty from you. The man is a monster.”
“You don’t know him like I do.” Her lower lip trembled.
She looked so lost and conflicted. Seeing the pain mar her beautiful features finally made me understand why Rex had let the situation with old man Alfera get to this point. Caterina didn’t get it, and she never would. She was Michael’s victim, just like Enzo was. Michael had manipulated her for so long; she couldn’t tell what was real anymore.
“You don’t know him like I do.” I reached for her hand. “At least do me one favor, marry Rex before your dad has a chance to show you who he really is once and for all.”
“He’s not—”
I raised my hand to get her to stop. “Santino, hand me the rag.”
Like I said, weddings were the worst.