Chapter Twenty-Seven
ORAZIO
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Orazio opened his eyes and blinked at the bright light streaming through the curtains. He turned to gaze at the sleeping beauty beside him, whose brown skin was bathed in the morning sunlight.
Monique’s lips were slightly parted as she snored softly, her chest rising and falling beneath the thin sheet. A smile curved across his face as he watched her, barely resisting the urge to reach out and trail his fingers across her cheek, down her arm, under the sheet.
He wanted to pull her into his embrace and hold her tightly. He never wanted to let this woman go. Every time he stared at her, a feeling of love and adoration filled him. He was thankful for every breath she took.
And he was so fucking fortunate to have her by his side. He recalled the first time he’d seen her in his casino. Her bitch of an ex had been begging him and his brother to forgive him for not paying back the money he’d owed them on time.
Orazio had tuned Trevor out and focused on Monique as she’d sat in his lobby, not knowing that her husband had planned to sell her, even kill her, to cover his debt. Not knowing that Orazio had been willing to pay that debt just so she could belong to him.
He now saw the error of his ways. And he was so damn thankful that she’d given him another chance.
“Please don’t leave me,” he whispered to her sleeping form.
Even as he whispered those words, he knew that everything he would do over the next twenty-four hours would give her a reason to leave him. She could never find out. She could never learn of what he was about to do.
Or should he tell her? Shit! He didn’t know what to do. Birds chirped outside their window as if reminding him that he needed to get his day started. He couldn’t tell her. Not yet. If he did, she’d spend her entire day worried about him. He couldn’t have that.
He wanted her to enjoy her day with her friends. She yawned and snuggled deeper into the covers. He was tempted to snuggle up closer to her. However, there were more pressing matters to attend to.
Matters that could not be put off. Grabbing his phone from the nightstand, Orazio carefully slid from underneath the covers. Not bothering to put on clothes, he padded across the room.
When he reached the bedroom door, he eased it open. He glanced over his shoulder to ensure he hadn’t awakened his love. Leaving the room, he left the door ajar, not risking closing it and disturbing Monique.
He quickly dialed his father’s number as he strode toward the kitchen. As if expecting the call, his father answered on the second ring.
“I expected you to call earlier,” Don Cattaneo drawled.
“Some of us sleep at night,” Raz replied as he prepared a pot of coffee.
“It’s almost ten in the morning,” his dad reminded him. “What’s that noise?”
“I’m making coffee.”
His dad chuckled. “Are you becoming a househusband?”
Raz smiled. “I like the sound of that. I’ll be the househusband. She’ll be the housewife.”
“I don’t think that’s how it works. Who’s going to go out and make money, son?”
“I have enough money.”
“You can never have enough money or power. Never forget that.”
“Yes, sir,” Raz said, not wanting to debate the issue with his dad. His father’s words were part of the reason Raz was glad he’d met Monique.
Though his father was wealthy, he was still chasing money because he had nothing else to do. He had no one to care for at home. Raz now had a reason to slow down and enjoy life. He now knew that money wasn’t everything.
“I didn’t call to talk about this,” Raz informed his dad as the smell of coffee permeated the kitchen. “I want to meet this morning to discuss Bethany Tatum and her dad.”
“I’ve cleared my entire day for this. I even called and woke Cas up to fill him in.”
“What did he say?”
“He was upset that Mr. Tatum wouldn’t just take the money and fuck off. He was pissed because the bastard wants to connect our families.”
“Did you tell him that would never happen?”
“Of course. He said he’d be over after breakfast. I presume I can expect you then also.”
“Yes,” Orazio told his dad. “I’ll be there after breakfast.”
After ending the call with his dad, he prepared two cups of coffee, then returned to the bedroom, setting one cup on his nightstand and one on Monique’s. She stirred as he bent over and kissed her cheek, trying to wake her.
Her movements caused the sheet to slide down her body, revealing her naked curves to his hungry gaze. Yet, her eyes remained closed. Unable to help himself, Orazio trailed his fingers over her hip, sliding them up her side, along her ribcage, until she blinked open her eyes.
“Raz?” she murmured, her voice raspy with sleep. She tilted her head to meet his gaze, a slow smile curving her full lips. “Good morning,” she whispered, stretching into his touch.
Who needed the sun when a smile like hers existed? Lowering his head, he brushed his mouth over hers, his hand sliding higher, teasing the underside of her breast. Monique’s breath hitched when he rolled her nipple between his fingers.
Not to be outdone, she surprised him when she placed her hand against his abs. His gasp caressed her lips as her hand slid lower until her fingers were wrapped around his already hard cock.
A groan escaped him when her thumb trailed over his tip, causing his cock to jerk. He claimed her lips in a deep, hungry kiss, arousal spiking as she pumped his cock. Danger and desire warred within him, darkness and light, but Monique’s touch chased away the shadows that loomed.
In this moment, there was only warmth, pleasure, and the woman he was addicted to. The woman who had him very close to coming. Raising his lips from hers, he removed her hand from his cock before she had him coming all over her fingers and the side of the bed.
“I wasn’t done,” she groaned.
“Neither am I,” he told her, climbing onto the bed and nudging her thighs apart with his knee.
He slid his hand between her legs. She was already hot and wet for him, her eyes heavy-lidded with lust.
“I want you,” she whispered.
Her words sent arousal surging through him. She smiled, slow and sinful, and reached down to wrap her fingers around him again. He held himself completely still, watching her as she guided him into her soft, slick heat.
Orazio groaned, sinking deep with a single thrust. Monique cried out, her nails biting into his shoulders as he began to move in a hard, steady rhythm they both craved. The Tatums and their threats faded from his mind, eclipsed by the woman in his arms.
In this moment, she was his entire world. He fucked her fiercely until they were both crying out in pleasure, bodies shaking against each other. He fucked her until her orgasm tore through her, pulling him down with her, forcing him to release violently.
He shuddered on top of her, sweat beading his skin, breaths ragged. When they were finally able to move, the first thing she did was reach for her coffee. Raz climbed out of bed.
“Thank you for the coffee and the sex,” she said, smiling.
Raz shook his head. What the hell would he do without this woman? He went into the bathroom and started the shower.
“Hungry?” he asked, returning to the room.
“I can eat,” she answered, setting her mug back on the nightstand.
“After our shower, I’ll take you out to breakfast.”
“Do you have time? I know you have to work.”
Raz stilled, but only briefly. She didn’t know what he had planned. Why was he acting this way?
“You’re more important than work,” he told her, stretching his hand toward her.
He led her to the bathroom and took his time bathing her, not ready to part ways but knowing they’d soon have to. After their shower, they dressed, and Orazio took Monique out for a lavish breakfast at his favorite restaurant.
He watched with possessive pride as she enjoyed fluffy omelets, fresh fruit, and mimosas, her smile radiant.
“I have to go to New Orleans today for business,” he said as they lingered over coffee. “I may not be back until late.”
“You told me yesterday, remember? I understand. Duty calls. While you work, my girls and I will enjoy some girl time. Don’t be shocked when you see the bill. I’m warning you in advance.”
“What’s mine is yours,” he told her. “I want you all to have fun today. I wish I could have fun with you.”
“We can have fun when you get back.” Her expression softened. “And Orazio Cattaneo, you better come back to me.”
He stilled with his coffee mug to his lips. Did she know? She couldn’t.
“Be safe,” she whispered. “And come home to me.”
Raz blinked back dumb ass tears as he lowered his mug to the table. He captured her hand, brushing a kiss over her knuckles before returning his gaze to hers.
“Always,” he promised. “I’ll be safe, and I’ll always come home to you.”
She smiled. “You better. Because I’ll be waiting.”
This woman! He had no words. All he could do was resume drinking his coffee and hope he didn’t embarrass himself by letting a tear drop. After breakfast, Orazio escorted Monique back to his suite at the casino, handing her the keys to his car and a black credit card.
“Take your friends out today on me. Go shopping, get pampered at the spa, and see a show. Shop. Anything you want. The hotel already knows that your friends are allowed to stay here until they want to check out.”
Monique hesitated. “You don’t have to do all this.”
“I want to.” He tilted her chin up and gazed into her eyes. “Indulge yourself and think of me while you do. Have fun with your friends. Because when I get back, I’m taking you away for a few days. Where we’re going, your friends can’t go. And this time, I don’t care if they get mad at me for kidnapping you. You’re mine, Monique Rose. And I’ve never been very good at sharing.”
She smiled, shaking her head. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Love me,” he said simply. “That’s all I ask.”
Monique went up on her tiptoes and kissed him, slow and sweet. “I do love you, Orazio. Very much. Now go. Take an umbrella because it looks like it’s about to storm. And be safe today. Hurry back to me.”
“Always,” he repeated, and with one last kiss, he turned and walked away from her.
He didn’t even look back. He couldn’t. If he did, he’d waver and choose to stay with her. He took the elevator down to the garage. Today would be a busy day for him. He had a gift to deliver to the Tatums, a former consigliere to bury, and a promise to keep to Monique.
The promise to Monique was his priority. After all, she was his light in the darkness. The one thing that made the shadows flee. And he would always keep his promises to her.
***
*LOCATION: CATTANEO ESTATE*
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Rain pelted the windowpanes like bullets, drowning out the low hum of conversation in the room. Raz sat across from his father and Cas in the shadowy recesses of his father’s home office. The air was thick with tension as they weighed their options.
Orazio was just listening to them go back and forth. He already knew what he was going to do. But, he had to entertain their opinions. Especially his father’s. His father didn’t like it when Raz made plans without first listening to what he had to say.
So, he pretended he was interested in their suggestions while knowing that it would take a more brutal approach to teach the Tatums a lesson.
“Look, I don’t love it,” Cas admitted, running a hand through his hair. “But, I don’t like any of this. I don’t like that a deal had to be made with the Tatums, to begin with. And I hate Bethany’s ass with a fucking passion,” Cas stated, balling his hands into fists. “But I can’t think of a better way to hit them where it hurts without the police looking at us when the dust settles.”
“The Tatums don’t lack money,” Don Cattaneo drawled. “If we want to hit their businesses, it must be a big hit. One that almost cripples them. One it would take years to bounce back from.”
“We can do that,” Cas insisted. “We can cripple them financially. That’s my vote. I vote to hit them where it hurts most: their pockets.”
“Too predictable,” Raz countered, shaking his head.
The rain beat harder against the window, mirroring the storm brewing within him. He didn’t want to cripple the Tatums financially. He wanted to cripple them physically.
“Bethany tried to ruin you,” he told Cas. “Then her family tried to extort our family. They tried to force us to unite with them. They think they hold all the cards. They think we’re at a disadvantage because the police don’t like us. They think we fear the police and don’t want to bring unnecessary attention to ourselves and our businesses.”
“We don’t want to bring unnecessary attention to ourselves and our businesses,” Cas reminded him.
“Cas,” Raz started. “Our family has been quiet for a long time. We’ve been building our empire, staying off the radar as much as possible. I think some people have started to think we’re weak.”
“We own half this damn city,” Cas argued. “More than half. What’s weak about that? Do we have to go on killing sprees to show our strength? Uncle did that in the past, and Bryceson nearly died because of it. Plus, it took dad a long time to clean up our image after that. It’s clean-ish now. Why fuck that up?”
“When have you ever cared about any of that? I think you’re playing it safe because of what happened with Bethany,” Raz told his brother.
“I’m not.”
“You are. And I get it.”
“You don’t!” Cas yelled. “You don’t get it. You can’t get it.”
“Okay, I don’t completely get it,” Raz agreed. “I don’t understand what you went through. And I don’t understand what you’re going through right now because it didn’t happen to me. What I do know is that what she did to you, it gave her power over you.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Cas asked, shaking his head. “No one has power over me.”
“They do. Bethany and her family have power over you. And because they do, dad made a deal with them to keep you safe.”
Cas threw a glance at the Don, and Raz didn’t miss the flash of hurt and anger in his brother’s gaze. Their dad was staring down into his drink, so he didn’t see the result of his actions, which were written on Cas’s face.
However, Raz saw the tick in his father’s jaw. Raz was right. His father hadn’t taken action because he was trying to protect Cas’s state of mind. But what his father was doing wasn’t helping Cas.
And if his dad was thinking straight, he’d realize that. Protecting Cas’s state of mind meant obliterating the Tatums, not placating them. That deal with the Tatums had made Cas look guilty and had made the family appear weak. Violence was the only way to undo the damage his father had done. There was no other way around it.
Cas leaned back in his seat. “I don’t need protecting. As I said, no one has power over me.”
“If you’re feeling like this, afraid to leave the casino, afraid to be yourself, afraid to take action against the Tatums, then yes, they do have power over you,” Raz told his brother.
“Son,” the Don said, looking at Cas. “What do you really want to do to the Tatums? And don’t say ruin them financially. That doesn’t even sound like you. What do you really want?”
Cas stared from Raz to his dad. “I...”
“Be honest,” Raz said.
Cas swallowed. “I... I want Bethany to suffer. But that’s wrong. I know it. It’s wrong for a man to want a woman to suffer. But she got away with what she did, and nothing happened to her. That shit pisses me off. Now, her dad is trying to capitalize on my pain and embarrassment. Fuck that! I want them to hurt. The entire family. I want them all to feel the same pain and shame I felt.”
“Then let’s hurt them, the entire family,” Raz said.
Cas opened his mouth, then shut it. Finally, his brother asked, “What do you have in mind?”
“To truly make them suffer, we need to do something more... personal . Something that doesn’t make them think twice about coming after us. Something that makes them never think about it again. Something that scares them so fucking bad that they shudder when they hear the name Cattaneo.”
Their father sipped his bourbon, his expression unreadable.
“Think about it,” Raz urged, leaning forward. “What’s the worst thing you can do to a man like Tatum?”
“Kill him,” Cas answered, only half-joking.
“Okay, the second worst thing,” Raz said.
Cas leaned forward in his seat, deep in thought. A slow smile spread across Don Cattaneo’s face.
“The worst thing a person could do to me,” Don Cattaneo said. “Would be to take my sons from me. That would erase my entire existence. Who am I if I’m not your father? Who would I be without my sons? That would destroy me. And the same goes for Tatum. Sure, he’s okay with giving his daughters away. But he’d never harm his son. His only son. The only one who can carry on the Tatum name. The future CEO of Tatum Industries. The future of the Tatum family.”
Raz nodded. “If we want to teach Tatum a lesson, we start with his son, Jake Tatum. Dad, you can go ahead and schedule that meeting with Mr. Tatum. Ask if he can meet tonight to discuss uniting the families. Let his weak ass think we’ve caved.”
Sipping his drink, Don Cattaneo nodded.
“Cas,” Raz said. “I need you to find out where Jake hangs out.”
“I already know where that runt hangs out,” Cas told them. “He likes boasting about who his dad is down at Club Belview.” Cas grinned. “When we’re done, he will wish he wasn’t his dad’s son. Okay, so we already know Jake will be our gift to the Tatums. What about Trevor? Should we look for him too? Or will we ask for him to be at the meeting also?”
“Don’t worry about Trevor Wilks,” Raz sneered, staring out the window, watching the storm rage. “That bitch is all mine.”
The Don took another sip of his drink, his gaze on Orazio. Raz knew his dad was staying silent, letting him handle this to see how he’d protect the family, to see if he was ready to step into the role of Don.
Raz didn’t know if he was passing the test or not. All he knew was that for his family, he’d burned this entire city down. For his family and for Monique, Raz was ready to spill some blood.