by L A Cotton
“We have a problem,” I said.
Enzo slouched in his seat, burying his face in his hands.
“Out with it,” Uncle Al demanded.
“It was my call,” Enzo jumped in.
“No, it was my call. I take full responsibility for this. It ends with me.” Nicco addressed his uncle and family advisor. “A little over a week ago, Enzo and Matteo went to visit DiMarco. But they never made it to Providence. Enzo got a call from the hospital over in Pawtucket. When they got there, they found one of DiMarco’s girls beaten and raped.”
I winced at his harsh assessment, my fist curling against my thigh.
“What was she doing in Pawtucket?” Uncle Al asked. “And why the fuck did she call Enzo?”
Nicco looked to our cousin and nodded.
“A few weeks ago, I was in Providence,” Enzo said. “I came across one of DiMarco’s girls crying in the bathroom. A couple of days later, he asked me to go check on one of his girls at her apartment. It was the same woman. Something felt off about the whole thing, so I gave her my number and said if she ever needed help to call me.”
“It was the same girl?” Stefan asked, and Enzo nodded.
“Let me guess, you brought her back to Verona.” Uncle Al shook his head with disbelief.
“I called Nicco, and we decided to bring her with us. She had nowhere else to go.”
“Where is she now?”
“She’s safe,” I bit out.
“Interesting.” Uncle Al sat back, studying me. “This woman, she is someone to you, Matteo?”
“She’s—”
“She’s important to me,” I said, cutting Nicco off.
“I see.”
“And you understand what you risk… for a woman that is neither your wife nor your family?”
“We couldn’t leave her there.”
“What’s done is done.” My father’s jaw twitched. “The girl is safe in an undisclosed location. We need to focus on finding out everything we can about what Lombardi wants with DiMarco.”
“I might be able to help there.” Stefan pulled out a manila envelope. “Rumor has it Lombardi is looking to expand. He’s made offers on three local businesses in the last three months. A run-down strip joint on the edge of Providence. And a café and gym downtown.”
“He’s trying to put down roots?”
“Trying to. My contact down at town planning called with his suspicions. Obviously, Lombardi used an alias, but it was traceable.”
“Lombardi has to be a fool if he thinks he can just waltz into our territory and get his feet under the rug.”
“Fortune favors the bold, old friend.” Uncle Al clapped Stefan on the back and flashed him a grim smile.
“Al’s right,” Nicco said. “He’s making a power play. Lombardi must know we’ll have real estate covered. Providence is Marchetti territory. It always has been. If he’s sniffing around DiMarco, it means he’s been watching us. Learning who might not be happy with current arrangements.”
“Fuck.” My father expelled a breath. “We need to handle this, sooner rather than later.”
Nicco nodded. “Enzo, I want you to go there and meet Lucino. Talk to DiMarco and get a feel for where his head’s at.”
“Sure thing, boss.” Enzo smirked.
“I’m going,” I said, pressing my palm into the table. If Enzo was going to see that fucker, I wanted—
“No.”
“Excuse me?” I glared at Nicco.
“You’re going to stay here. I don’t want you anywhere near DiMarco until we know exactly what we’re dealing with.”
“But I—”
“Dammit, Matteo.” He slammed his hand down, making his glass of whisky clatter. “That was an order, not a request. You are already too involved to keep a level head.”
My teeth ground together behind my lips. He wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know. But I needed this—I needed to look DiMarco in the eye and see it for myself.
And then I needed to make him fucking hurt for having ever laid a finger on Caitlin.
“He’s already looking for her,” Nicco added. “We think he killed one of his bartenders; the guy who drove Caitlin to the hospital.”
Uncle Al clucked his tongue while my father stared at nothing. This was a clusterfuck, the whole fucking thing.
“How do you want to play this?” Enzo asked, effectively cutting me from the conversation.
“Sit down with DiMarco and ask him what the fuck he’s doing with the Lombardi.”
“And if he doesn’t tell us what we want to hear?”
“Remind him that his loyalty lies with the Marchetti.”
Enzo nodded, tapping the desk. He was different with Nora. Calmer. More settled. But he still had a darkness inside him, a darkness that needed feeding. And Lorenzo Marchetti loved nothing more than getting his hands dirty in the name of business.
“This could cause problems, Niccolò.” My father raked a hand through his salt and pepper hair.
“If we give DiMarco even an inch…”
“Sì, you are right. We need to know once and for all what he plans to do. If the Lombardi are in fact trying to make a power grab we need to be prepared.”
“And Caitlin?”
I had to ask.
I had to know what they planned on doing with her.
“She can’t go back,” Nicco said, silently conveying what I so desperately needed to hear.
He had my back.
Regardless.
“Agreed.”
Relief slammed into me. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear my father say those words until they came out.
“But she can’t hide forever. You need to talk to her, Matteo. Find out her plans. Either she stands at your side, or she becomes a liability we can’t afford right now.”
What the fuck?
I swallowed hard.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
“Michele is right,” Nicco said, pinning me with a hard look. “You need to talk to her and find out her next move.”
“And if she won’t agree to stand at my side… what then?”
Nicco’s expression guttered, and I had my answer. Caitlin was either all in on our side, or she wasn’t.
Fuck.
“She’s a liability, Matt. Until this thing with DiMarco is over, Caitlin cannot be allowed to leave.”
“Right, yeah.” My throat was dry, my head spinning.
“And if DiMarco is getting into bed with the Lombardi?” Enzo asked the question we all dreaded.
Nicco inhaled a deep breath, his eyes devoid of emotion as he embodied his father and became the boss.
“Then we prepare to go to war.”
“Are you sure this is okay?” Bella asked from beside me. She’d barely sat still for the entire ride. It was the morning after the meeting with my cousins and uncles, and I couldn’t stay away from the cabin for a second longer.
“I thought you wanted to meet her.” I glanced at her.
“I do… I mean, any girl who has managed to catch your eye is a girl I want to meet. I need to make sure she passes the test.”
“The test?”
“Yeah.” She snickered, keeping her eyes focused on the scenery rolling by. “The ‘is she good enough for my brother’ test.”
“Jesus, Bella,” I murmured under my breath.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. But when Nicco and my uncles had suggested I talk to Caitlin, to try to find out what her plans were, my mind immediately went to all the reasons she had to leave. To walk away from me and never look back.
They wouldn’t allow that though. Caitlin knew too much, making her a risk they couldn’t afford. They wanted her to stay to protect our secrets, but I didn’t want that. I wanted her to stay because she chose me.
So I’d brought ammunition in the form of my gorgeous, compassionate, slightly over-protective sister.
Arabella charmed everyone she met, and I had no doubt Caitlin
wouldn’t be able to resist her wiles. But it wasn’t only about me. I knew Cait had to be feeling lonely stuck out in the cabin. Having another girl around might help her relax for the conversation we could no longer avoid.
“Ready?” I said, pulling up outside the cabin.
“Hell yes. I want to meet my future sister-in-law.”
“What the—”
She exploded with laughter. “Oh God, you should see your face. I’m joking, Matt. But it’s good to know just how serious you are about her.”
You have no idea.
I ran a hand down my face, letting out a strained breath.
This was totally a bad idea.
But it was too late now.
Chapter 17
Caitlin
Luis answered the door and smiled. “Well, this is a surprise.”
My brows knitted as I watched him step aside and welcome Matteo, and a young girl who shared his eyes and smile. Her hair was darker though, falling over her shoulders like a waterfall, and she had a vulnerability about her.
Arabella.
This was his sister, Arabella.
“Hey.” Matteo dipped his head. “I thought you might appreciate some female company.”
“Hello, I’m Arabella, but you can call me Bella. Matteo’s told me all about you.”
“He has, has he?” I fought a smile.
“No.” She chuckled. “It’s like getting blood from a stone. But it’s really nice to finally meet you.”
I glanced between them, surprised at the slight flush to Matteo’s cheeks.
He’d told her about me?
“Don’t worry,” he said as if sensing my sudden discomfort. “I only told her the basics.”
Right, and what are those? I wanted to ask. But I rolled my lips together, unsure of what to say. I’d imagined what it would be like to meet his family and get to know those closest to him. But now his sister—his younger sister—was standing there, staring at me, and nothing about this felt right.
I couldn’t get to know his sister. What if I liked her? What if we hit it off? It would only be another tether tying me to him. To Verona. I didn’t need any more reasons to want to stay here.
Family, love… hope, those things made you weak. And I had no room for weakness, not if I was going to survive the coming weeks.
I’d spent my life running from my past. Trying to escape a family who only ever wanted to hurt me. To use and exploit me. I couldn’t risk being found out. No matter how much it meant to me that Matteo was there for me. That he and his family had taken me in and protected me.
“You’re very pretty,” Arabella said, breaking the tension between me and her brother. “I love your hair.”
“Thank you.” My fingers went to my curls, pushing them away from my face. “I—”
“What’s that?” Her eyes flicked to the puzzle laid out on the coffee table. With Matteo’s help, it was well over halfway completed now.
“Just something to pass the time,” I said.
“I like puzzles. Can I help?”
“Sure.” I motioned for her to go ahead and she sat down and began studying the pieces.
“I’ll get us all something to drink.”
“I’ll help,” I blurted out, following Matteo into the kitchen.
“Is this okay?” he asked quietly.
“I… you should have texted first.”
“Would you have said yes?” His brow lifted.
He had a point.
I wouldn’t have.
“Look. She’s harmless. She just wanted to meet the woman I—” Matteo stopped himself and my breath caught.
I didn’t think I’d ever wanted to hear words as much as I wanted to hear the ones trapped between his perfect lips.
Heat splashed inside me as I remembered how good it felt to kiss him, to have him kiss me.
“Caitlin?”
Blinking over at him, I shook the unwelcome thoughts out. “Sorry, it’s fine. She seems… sweet.”
“She is. But don’t be fooled by her charm. She has a way of getting under your skin and tricking you into revealing all your deepest, darkest secrets.”
I flinched at his words, and Matteo’s brow knitted. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I… beer?”
“Sure, one won’t hurt. Is there soda or juice for Bella?”
“Yes, I’ll be right over.” I dismissed him. I needed space. Room to quiet my beating heart.
Being around Matteo was like being close to the sun. You craved the warmth, the seductive feel of its rays, the addictive rush of endorphins. But if you stayed too long, got too close, you risked getting burned.
And I’d been burned one too many times before.
I grabbed their drinks and made my way over to them.
“God, I can’t wait until I’m old enough to go to New York.”
“You’ve never been?” I asked Arabella.
“No.” Her eyes flicked to Matteo. “But it’s not for lack of trying. The men in my family are, how do you say, overprotective.”
“How old are you?”
“Sixteen. Yes!” She fitted another piece to the puzzle.
God, I’d been her age when I’d run. Had I seemed so young and naïve back then? Although, Arabella possessed a quiet confidence. And the way Matteo watched her… well, it made my heart ache.
He was a doting brother, determined to protect his family.
It only made him more attractive.
I felt his eyes on me as Arabella and I continued fitting pieces to the puzzle. She quizzed me about my life, about where I was from and what I did for fun, and I dodged her questions with someone with a lifetime of experience of avoiding the truth.
After about an hour, Luis reappeared after leaving the three of us to carry out his daily perimeter walks. He took his job very seriously, but I was relieved to have a friendly face around.
“So, Caitlin, do you have a boyfriend?”
“E-excuse me?” I spluttered, glancing at Matteo for help.
“Bella, that isn’t any of your business.”
“She can consider it her part of her job interview.”
“Job interview… for what exactly?” My eyes narrowed.
An amused smirk tipped the corner of her mouth. “If it makes you feel any better,” she added, “I’m rooting for you.” Arabella winked at me and went back to the puzzle.
I glanced over at Matteo. He mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
Ugh. Did he have to be so gorgeous?
He was making it impossible to forget him.
And even more impossible to leave.
Some hours later, and with the puzzle two-thirds complete, my cheeks ached from all the laughter. Arabella Bellatoni was a breath of fresh air. Unapologetic and with zero filter, she told story after story of Matteo and his cousins, leaving no stone unturned. I’d learned more about him today than in any of our previous encounters.
“This has been fun,” she said with a proud smile. “We should do it again sometime.”
And just like that, the temporary bubble burst.
I couldn’t grow close to these people; it would only make leaving them harder.
“Bella, why don’t you go give Luis a hand with the dishes.”
Luis had made the four of us spaghetti and had insisted on cleaning up too. Bella got up reluctantly and slid her eyes to me. “This is code for, I want to be alone with Caitlin.” Her lips pursed playfully.
“Bella,” Matteo warned, and his sister skipped off to find our chef for the evening.
“Sorry about her, she gets—”
“It’s no problem. It’s been nice…” Normal. I swallowed the word.
“We need to talk, Cait.”
There it was. The moment I’d known was coming.
All day, I’d felt Matteo’s eyes on me. Watching. Waiting. Trying to figure out how to broach the subject with me. I’d been preparing myself from the moment he’d stepped into the cabin.
“
It’s okay,” I said with a weak smile.
“Is it?” His eyes shuttered as he inhaled a deep breath. “Because nothing about this feels okay.
“I’ll go. If Luis or someone gives me a ride to the nearest bus station, I can catch—”
“Go?” He balked, staring at me with disbelief. “You think I want you to leave?”
“I… I thought… We both know I can’t stay here forever.”
“You can, Cait. You just have to…” His voice trailed off right as his gaze dropped.
“Matteo?” I whispered. “What is it?” My heart pounded inside my chest. Whatever he was about to say would change everything. I felt it like the first sign of a storm on the horizon, when the air turns thick and heavy.
“Be mine.”
“What?” The air whooshed from my lungs. “You can’t—”
A knock at the cabin startled me and I pressed my lips together to stop anymore words from spilling out.
Be his?
He didn’t know what he was asking.
This wasn’t a fairytale where Prince Charming would swoop in and save the day and get the girl.
Because he doesn’t know you.
I shook off the icy fingers of regret, the bitter taste of guilt. I didn’t owe Matteo anything except a whole heap of gratitude.
Arabella ran for the door. “I’ll get it,” she called, yanking it open before either Luis or Matteo could get there and make sure it was safe.
“Sia.” She pulled the blonde girl inside. “Wait until you meet Caitlin, she’s…”
Her words were drowned out from the roar of blood in my ears as I watched Niccolò Marchetti step into the cabin, his wife Arianne at his side.
“You look well,” she said, making a beeline for me.
“I’m much better, thank you.”
“Caitlin.” Nicco dipped his head in greeting.
“This is Alessia, my cousin. Nicco’s sister,” Arabella dragged the other girl over to us.
“You knew they were coming?” I asked Arabella, and she bit down on her lip.
“It was a surprise. Sia texted me from the car.”
“I see.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Caitlin.” Her eyes glittered with so much warmth and understanding, I almost forgot my manners.
