by L A Cotton
We rode in silence. Every time I went to ask a question, the words died on my lips. Exhaustion anchored me to the seat, my limbs heavy and sore.
It was the middle of the night, the rest of the world sleeping while Dominic Cabrioles was driving me to some undisclosed location.
When we eventually pulled off the highway and the car stopped, I twisted around to face him. “Where are we?”
“I need to make a call,” he said, slipping from the SUV.
Glancing around, I tried to find a landmark or something, but it was futile. There was nothing but miles and miles of highway flanked by dense trees. We could have been anywhere.
Headlights flashed up ahead and my body went rigid. The vehicle slowed, making the same turn as us until a black SUV much like this one, slowed to a stop.
Dominic walked over to the driver’s window, and it lowered. I couldn’t see inside though. Fear skittered up and down my spine, making me shiver.
But then, the back door opened, and a figure climbed out. He stepped into the stream of moonlight and my heart almost burst out of my chest.
Matteo.
Matteo was here.
I tried to open the door only to realize I was still bound. Our eyes collided through the glass, and I saw it then. I saw what I hadn’t been able to see back at the warehouse.
He cared.
Matteo cared.
With big sure strides, he approached the SUV and opened my door. “You’re here,” I choked out as he reached for me. “You came.”
“Shh, I got you. I got you.” Gingerly, he lifted me out of the SUV, lowering me to my feet. “Really, Cabrioles?” He hissed, noticing my restraints.
“What?” Dominic shrugged. “I couldn’t trust that she wouldn’t try to gut me like a fish. Fuck knows I deserved it for what I put her through.” His eyes glittered with apology.
“I-I don’t understand.” Silent tears streaked down my cheeks.
Nicco appeared, dipping his head slightly toward me. “Sorry for the theatrics. We needed Lombardi to believe everything was okay.”
“Wait a minute,” I swung my head between them. “All that back there… you were acting?”
Relief slammed into me. Matteo hadn’t meant it; he hadn’t meant any of it.
It had all been for show.
A wave of emotion crashed over me, and I swayed on my legs.
“Easy there,” Matteo caught me.
I realized now; he would always catch me.
“Lombardi?” Dominic asked.
“He’s secure. We need to get Cait… Erin—”
“No,” I blurted out. “I’m not Erin, not anymore.”
That girl was dead to me. Everything she was, everything she’d survived. I didn’t want to shackle her past to my future. I couldn’t.
Matteo’s expression softened and he nodded with understanding. “We need to get Cait somewhere safe. We’ll deal with DiMarco and Lombardi tomorrow.”
“Very well. I’ll lay low until I get the call.” Dominic settled his hard gaze on me. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry for how things went down at the club. I’m ambitious, but I’m no monster.”
Matteo pulled me closer, and I drew strength from being in his arms. I still didn’t understand all that had transpired to get us to this point, but one thing was certain, Dominic had betrayed Massimo to deliver me safely to Matteo and Nicco.
And for that I would always be grateful.
“Come on, let’s get you somewhere warm,” Matteo led me back to their SUV, climbing into the back with me.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, running his eyes over me.
“I’m okay.”
“Cait, I am so sor—”
“Don’t.” I slid my finger against his lips. “Not yet. I know we need to talk. I know we both have things we need to explain, but right now, I just want to be here with you.”
“I can do that.” He slipped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side. “I love you, Cait. I need you to know that. I think I’ve loved you since that night I saw you standing in that alley.”
“Matt, I—”
“Don’t. Not yet. I just needed you to know.”
My eyes fluttered closed as I finally let myself relax. Matteo was here.
He came for me.
And he loved me.
I woke up in soft sheets in a bedroom I didn’t recognize. It reminded me of my room at the cabin, but the décor was different, and it was smaller.
Sitting up, I ran a hand over my wild curls, trying to tame them. I could hardly remember getting here. But I remembered Matteo. The way he’d carried me to bed, whispering promises in my ear that had carried me off into a deep sleep.
Smiling to myself, I touched my lips. He’d kissed me. That I could remember.
Voices beyond the door caught my attention, and I pushed back the sheet and padded over to it. I was in a brand new, oversized Tinkerbell t-shirt.
I was desperate to go and find him, but I needed a girl’s minute, so I went into the bathroom and cleaned up a little.
When I was done, I took a deep breath and went in search of the man who had saved me.
I found Matteo in the kitchen area, making a fresh pot of coffee. “Good morning,” I said.
“Cait?” His head whipped around, his expression softening the minute he laid eyes on me. “You’re awake.” He smiled.
“I am. Sorry for crashing on you like that.”
He abandoned the coffee, taking big strides until he was in front of me. “You have nothing to be sorry for, not a damn thing.” He slid his hand into my hair and leaned down, touching his head to mine. “How are you feeling?”
“Weary. A little confused. But I’m okay.”
I’m here with you. It’s more than I could have ever asked for.
“You must have some questions.” He searched my eyes.
“I do. But no more than you, I imagine.”
“Go get comfortable and I’ll make us both a mug of coffee.”
“Okay.” I went to walk away, but Matteo snagged my wrist, whirling me around to him. His hands cupped my face as he stared at me with a heady mix of relief and longing.
“I meant what I said last night. Every word. I love you, Caitlin. I’m in love with you.”
“Matteo, I…”
He kissed me, stealing whatever words I’d been about to say. And the truth was, I didn’t know. I had so much going around in my head, it was very confusing.
But the second his lips touched mine, everything quieted. My soul rejoicing at being reunited with its other half. I wound my arms around Matteo’s neck, kissing him back with the same desperation and ferocity. Our tongues tangled, his hand drifting down my spine, forcing us closer.
But it wasn’t enough. I needed all of him. More than that, I needed him to need all of me.
“Cait,” he breathed, tearing his mouth from mine. Matteo inhaled a ragged breath, gazing down at me with such reverence I felt winded. “We should talk.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
“Go. I’ll be right there.”
On shaky legs, I managed to get to the couch, and sat down. Matteo made quick work of making the coffee and joined me.
“Thank you.” I accepted the mug from him, grateful for something to hold, to stop me from reaching for him. He was right, we needed to talk first. The rest, I hoped, would come later.
“What do you want to know?” I asked.
Matteo drew in a sharp breath and said, “Everything.”
Chapter 30
Matteo
Caitlin told me everything. She told me about her life growing up with Massimo. She told me about what he used to make her do, the way he’d make her dance and perform for his associates; sick men who got their kicks off watching a child dress up and play stripper. Then she told me how one day it went too far so she ran. Escaped Massimo, her junkie mom, and fucked up life and ran.
By the time she was done, I could barely contain my anger. My
body trembled with rage as I stared at her, imagining what life had been like for her. How she’d escaped one monster, only to end up right in the arms of another.
It was almost too much to bear.
“Matt?” she whispered, blinking away the silent tears clinging to her lashes.
“Come here, Tink.” I pulled her into my arms, needing to feel her.
Caitlin was safe. She was safe and she was here. Nothing else mattered.
“I thought… when you said all those things, I thought I’d lost you…” Her walls shattered and she cried into my chest, violent sobs wracking her body.
“Shh, I got you.”
But it wasn’t only her I was worried about. A vortex of anger spiraled inside me, sucking my soul dry. What Massimo and DiMarco had done to her… what she had survived.
Caitlin wasn’t only strong; she was a fucking warrior, and she deserved so much more than the hand she’d been dealt.
“Gosh, look at me.” She pulled away, drying her eyes on the back of her hand. “I’m a mess.”
“You’re beautiful.” I pulled her hands away, using the pad of my thumb to swipe the remaining moisture away.
“What happened last night, Matt?” she asked.
“We thought DiMarco had taken you. But when we interrogated him, it became clear he didn’t know what we were talking about. Nicco had asked our investigator to look into you—”
“He had?” Her eyes went wide.
“Yes. I wasn’t happy about it, but I understood his motivations. I need you to know I trusted you, Cait. I have always trusted you.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m okay. I take it he found something?”
“Your mom… he managed to track her down after finding her number on your old cell phone records.”
“That’s how Massimo found me. He was watching me for a while.”
“Yes. He saw an opportunity to use you as leverage against DiMarco. But that plan went to shit when Zander hurt you and we found you in the hospital.”
I still couldn’t believe how many things had fallen into place to lead us to this moment. It was fate that had brought Caitlin back into my life, there was no other explanation.
“When we talked to Zander, he mentioned that Cabrioles had taken a shine to you at the club, so Nicco reached out to him in hopes that we could use him in negotiations with Lombardi. Luck was on our side, because he jumped at the chance to remove Lombardi from power. Turns out, he’s a very ambitious man who is keen to align himself with powerful players.”
“You mean the Marchetti,” she said, and a faint smile traced my lips.
“He agreed to double-cross his boss in exchange for control of DiMarco’s empire.”
“I… wow. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, Tink. It’s over. Cabrioles proved himself and I think he was telling you the truth. He isn’t a bad guy, he’s just a guy caught up with bad people.”
“I’m so sorry, Matt. I never wanted to put you or your family in harm’s way. But I’d been running for almost five years, and I knew if I told you—”
“Hey, hey.” I ran my hand over her shoulder and squeezed gently. “It’s okay. Arabella is safe. You’re safe. Everything’s going to be okay now.”
Things could have ended very differently, I knew that. But they hadn’t, and I wasn’t about to punish Caitlin for something out of her control.
“Bella loves you,” I said. “She’s been blowing up my cell phone all morning desperate to see you.”
“S-she has?”
I nodded. “But I thought you’d want space.”
And I needed some time alone with you.
“I don’t know what to say. Everything you’ve done for me; the fact that I’m sitting here now. I owe you my life.”
I slid my palm along her cheek. “All I’m asking for is your heart.”
“It’s yours,” she breathed, leaning into my touch. “It’s been yours since that night eight months ago.”
Cautiously, I leaned in, ghosting my lips over Caitlin’s. Electricity sparked between us, the way it did whenever we were close. And I soaked it up, relished in the feel of her, her warmth and soft skin.
I loved this woman and I would spend my life showing her.
“What will happen to them?” Caitlin whispered against my lips. And I hated that these people were still between us. But she deserved closure. We both did.
Cupping her face, I stared her straight in the eyes as I said, “They die.”
“Are you sure about this?” I asked Caitlin as we pulled up outside one of the Family’s other cabins. This one wasn’t used for family getaways or laying low though. This was where we disposed of our problems.
“I am.” She gave me a weak smile. Neither of us were particularly looking forward to this, but we knew we needed to put the past behind us and move on.
Nicco, Enzo, and Luis were already waiting for us.
“Luis?” Caitlin leaped out of the car and straight into his arms. “Thank God you’re okay.”
“I’m sorry I failed you.” He dipped his head in apology.
“Never,” Caitlin said, squeezing his arm. “Tell him, Matt. Tell him it wasn’t his fault.”
“Luis knows,” Nicco reassured her. “Are you ready, Cait?”
She nodded.
“You’re looking good, cous.” Enzo pulled me in for a hug, clapping me on the back. “How is she?”
“Good,” I said quietly. “She’s… good.”
We’d spent two days off the grid at the other cabin. Two days sharing stories about our pasts and hopes for the future. Then I’d loved her, more times than I could count. I’d loved her not with words but my body.
We’d finally surfaced for air after Nicco called to inform me that everything was set.
“I’m happy for you, Matt.”
“Thanks.” I squeezed Enzo’s shoulder before rejoining my woman. She stepped into my body with easy familiarity, as if she belonged there.
And she did. Without a shadow of a doubt, Caitlin belonged with me.
“Let’s get this over with,” I said, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“It doesn’t have to be you,” Nicco said, grimly.
“Yes, it does.” I needed to look them both in the eyes one last time.
“You should be aware that Lombardi is… a mess,” Nicco told Cait, and I gauged her reaction.
She didn’t even flinch.
“Good. I hope it hurt.”
Enzo let out a low whistle as he followed us inside.
The cabin was cold, bare of furniture or décor. Fitting really for a man’s last few hours on Earth before he was forced to atone for his sins.
Caitlin stuck close to me as we moved deeper into the cabin, down the hall to the last bedroom. Inside, Lombardi and DiMarco were each tied to a chair, their mouths taped and ankles bound.
Nicco was right, Lombardi was a mess. One of his eyes was swollen shut and his lip was busted open. He’d obviously put up a fight… and lost. And a sick sense of satisfaction went through me. He deserved more, so much more, but it would have to do.
“Wake them,” I said. “I want to look them both in the eyes when I do it.”
Caitlin tugged on my hand, and I glanced down at her. “Wait over by the door with E, okay?”
“No, I want to be at your side when you...” She inhaled a sharp breath.
“Okay,” I said, withdrawing my pistol.
Luis roughly grabbed Lombardi’s head and the fucker cracked his eyes open. The second he saw the gun in my hand, he began thrashing against his restraints. Luis moved to DiMarco next, slapping his face. He woke with a start, his eyes immediately finding Caitlin and filling with relief.
He’d made his peace with this. But it still didn’t change the fact he’d hurt her.
“Caitlin, do you have anything you wish to say to them?” Nicco asked her.
“I…”
“It’s okay,” I said.
“I’m right here. They can’t hurt you anymore.”
She stepped forward, steeling herself. “I will not let you define my future. After today, I won’t even give you a second thought. But today, today I hope you rot in hell.” Her eyes found mine and she nodded. “Do it.”
Two gunshots rang out in the small room, reverberating inside me as I watched their lifeless bodies slump in the chair.
It was done.
And Caitlin was right.
Once we walked out of here, I would never spare them a second thought.
“Cait!” Bella was on us the second we walked through the door, wrapping her slim arms around Caitlin’s waist. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Hey, Bella.” Cait hugged her back. “It’s good to see you.”
My sister jabbed me in my arm, and I frowned. “What the hell was that for?”
“That’s for making me wait to see her. Do you have any idea how hard it’s been?”
“Sorry, pulce. But I needed some time alone with her.”
“Whatever.” Bella rolled her eyes, lacing her arm through Cait’s. “I’m just glad you’re here now. Mama is making—”
“Sorry,” Cait mouthed over her shoulder as I watched Bella drag her toward the kitchen. I chuckled, my heart fit to burst at the sight of two of the most important women in my life all wrapped up in each other.
“Son.” My father came to greet me. “How is she?”
“Good, she’s good.”
“And you?”
“I’m getting there.”
He gave me an understanding nod. “I’m eager to meet the woman who has captured your heart, figlio mio.”
“You’re not angry?”
“Arabella is safe. You have your woman at your side. And Cabrioles will make a better business partner than DiMarco ever did. Things seemed to work themselves out for the best.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Now come, let us eat. Your mama is cooking up a storm.”
Why was I not surprised?
We found Caitlin, Bella, and Mom in the kitchen. Talking like old friends. Cait glanced up and smiled, and it was like a fist around my heart.
