Chapter 32
Chapter
Thirty-Two
DANTE
Fire crackles in the fireplace as I hold Kate in my arms. Burying my nose in her hair, I take in the unique scent that is exclusively hers. It had been three weeks since I brought her here, twenty-one days of telling and showing her how much I love her.
She’d taken the time to meet with Angelo’s doctor and collaborated with Andi on his course of treatment. Angelo was being, well...Angelo, until he got a taste of angry, pregnant Kate. He was nearly two feet taller than her, and outweighed her by double, yet she had him doing the exercises Andi ordered, calling her ma’am as he did them.
Taking the position as Don hadn’t been as awful as I anticipated. While it did have its downfalls, it had its perks too. One of those perks I exercised not long after returning to Boston. Chuy was making threats from federal prison, bragging he was going to rain down hell on my Family when he got out. There was an unfortunate accident a few days later, leaving Chuy on a vent for two days before his heart suddenly stopped.
Tonight was the celebration I promised the men in the Family. Angelo started to fuss about going, but one look from Kate and he was planning what he was wearing.
Kate has been instrumental in planning the party, taking the time to ask what we want, not what she chose to give us. We opted for a sit down dinner with cards and cigars following dessert. I’d be excusing myself once Kate had her fill, as my idea of dessert was feasting on her.
“Dante, you have to let me up if I’m going to be ready to leave in an hour.”
Groaning, I bury my face deeper in her hair, squeezing her tight as I refuse to let her go.
“They can’t start without us,” I remind her, grinding my stiffening cock into her backside. “How about we go upstairs and work on baby number two?” When Kate told me she was pregnant, I went through a dozen emotions in a split second, none of them negative. I wanted a family, had ever since I was a teen. Bellamia wanted to put it off, or forget having a baby all together.
“That's not how it works,” she laughs as she turns around to face me. Her cheeks pink from the heat of the flame, eyes full of the same desire I have for her.
“What, you're a doctor now so you know about these things?” I tease, placing a kiss to each red cheek.
“I did take a class or two and have delivered four, no, five babies.”
I can’t wait to see her swollen with our child. Hold her hand as she pushes him or her into the world.
“Come on, handsome. Let me up.”
“I’ll alert the others not to look at Kate.” Frankie whispers as she glides down the staircase. She wore a deep red, almost black dress which clung to every curve. Her hair was down, curling softly around her shoulder, with lips painted red to match the dress.
“Why?” I question absently, my focus trained on her perfect smile as she steps closer to me.
“Because that dress is going to land your ass in jail.”
“Do I look okay?” Kate spins around as she steps off the stairs. The innocence in her voice is so refreshing.
Reaching for her hand, “You’re perfect.” I meant it, she was everything I always wanted and all the things I never knew I needed. She was down to earth, caring, making those around her feel special. Most of all, she was mine.
As we pull into the banquet hall Kate chose because of the size, I nearly laugh as she tries to open the door herself.
“Kate,” I reprimand, softly. “What are my rules?”
Rolling her eyes, she holds her hands up. “Untouchables don’t open their own doors,” she mocks in a deep voice, earning a kiss from me.
While Kate packed her clothing, I made a call to Frankie, elevating her to untouchable. When her bag spilled on the floor, the watch I’d gifted her peaked out. I stole it, temporarily, planting a tracker in it before asking her to wear it.
Entering the hall, I’m floored when I see what she’s been able to do. Two long tables are pushed together, making one large rectangle. The linen is white with black napkins. No flowers, as she is still struggling with the smell. It was masculine and simple.
“Do you like it?” Kate has her hands clasped, her bottom lip trapped between her teeth. “Be truthful, I won’t be mad. I just wanted you to be comfortable.”
Pulling my attention from the room, I stare into her green eyes. “Tesoro, you could never disappoint me.”
The smile I receive is worth everything I’ve endured to be here.
“Come on, let me show you off.”
Kate holds tight to my arm as I introduce her to the Family. She laughs when appropriate, answers any asked question in essence, she has them eating out of her palm. Frankie had prepared everyone of how much Kate looked like Bella, still, we had more than a handful remark on the resemblance.
We’d agreed not to announce her pregnancy until after she started the second trimester, that was fast approaching. I offered to delay this party, but Kate insisted I should keep my word.
“Ladies and gentleman, if you could take your seats.” Angelo was at the head of the table, a water glass in one hand and a knife in the other.
Leading Kate to the table, I pull out her chair, placing a kiss to the top of her head. Shifting my attention to Angelo, he nods once as he puts our plan into action.
“I want to thank each of you for coming out tonight. It isn’t everyday we have something like this to celebrate.”
Angelo backs his wheelchair out, moving to my left side. “Dante wears the ring, a tradition so old we cannot date it.”
Wiggling my toes inside my shoes, I wait for the nerves to surface.
“There is another tradition we hold high, one that also involves a ring.” Turning his attention to the table.
“Kate, will you please stand?”
Holding out my hand to her, “It’s okay, Tesoro.”
Standing to her full height, Kate takes my hand, looking nervously around the table.
“Tesoro, the day I met you was one of the most chaotic I’ve ever experienced. I went from ogling a beautiful girl, to a meeting which ended in gunfire.”
Kate squeezes my hand, the smile on her face never faltering.
“You defended a defenseless man, holding your own against a man who didn’t deserve your kindness. But most of all, you breathed life back into me.”
Kate will never know how close I came to allowing those bullets to take me. Having been willing to leave this earth for a woman who cut me to the quick.
“I don’t deserve your love, but I want it anyway.”
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the ring I had made for this occasion. Dropping to one knee, I look into the eyes of my future.
“Will you marry me, Tesoro?”
Kate uses her free hand to cover her mouth, tears filling the lower half of her eyes as she croaks out a tiny, “Yes.”
“Oh, my god!” A shrill voice severs the moment. “My best friend is getting married.”
Rising to my feet, I tuck Kate behind me as a tiny dark-haired woman comes running across the room, her arms open wide.
“Andi?” Kate drags out the name. “I thought you were flying in tomorrow?”
“Surprise,” she smiles as she launches herself toward Kate.
“Oops, sorry,” she whispers. “Did mean to —”
“It’s fine.” Kate cut her off, a pleased look in her eye.
“Let me see the ring?” Andi turns her attention toward me.
“Maron.” I hear Angelo swear as I slide the diamond on Kate's finger.
“Who is that?” Andi whispers to Kate, the ring on her finger forgotten.
“That’s Angelo, your newest pain in the ass.”
Pulling Kate into an embrace, we watch as Andi separates the distance between her and Angelo.
“So you’re the guy with the attitude?”
Angelo swallows hard, but remains silent, something completely out of character for him.
“Well, Angelo,” Andi draws out his name, a touch of attitude lacing in her tone. “We are going to get you out of this chair, because you are going to dance with me at their wedding.”
Something tells me things are about to change in the Cavaletti Family.
The End…at least for now.