Chapter Sixteen Caterina
Once I’d slipped into one of the dresses Nera had packed, I folded up my wedding dress as best I could before I left the bedroom and went back to the main cabin. Callum and Quinn were deep in conversation with Seamus, so I took a seat away from them. After the insanity of the afternoon my energy depleted rapidly and I dozed off. I don’t know how long I’d been sleeping when I was gently shaken awake.
When I opened my eyes, I stared into Callum’s. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. You were snoring.”
My eyes popped wide at his accusation. “I do not snore.”
His lips quirked. “Yes, Kitten, you do.”
When I stared past him to Quinn for confirmation, he merely shrugged. “It’s a wee snore compared to ours.”
As embarrassment warmed my cheeks, Callum chuckled. “Don’t worry, Kitten. That’s not the reason why I woke you up.”
“Then what?”
“It’s time for you to check-in with your brother.”
I tore my gaze from the phone to Callum. “Are you sure?”
He nodded. “We’re almost an ocean away from him and back in our territory.”
“After what happened with my father today, I’m not sure if that matters.”
“I have a feeling your father’s attack was without Raphael’s knowledge. I might not know your brother well, but somehow I don’t think he’ll appreciate that.”
I swallowed hard. “I’m pretty sure my father’s actions were motivated by something sinister.”
“I agree. He would be a fool not to at least hear us out before attacking.” He gave me a pointed look. “Unless he thought he had a better option on the table.”
I furrowed my brows. “You think he had a potential marriage contract for me with another family?”
With a grimace, Callum nodded. “I received intel that Carmine’s last marriage contract fell through.”
My stomach lurched in my throat. “You mean after all this time he still hasn’t remarried?”
Disgust rippled across Callum’s face. “The delay was in waiting for his bride to come of age.”
I covered my mouth with my hand. “Oh God.”
“The sick bastard entered into a contract with a sixteen-year-old girl.”
Although I hated showing weakness in front of Callum, I couldn’t stop my body from trembling at the thought of Carmine. Callum immediately picked up my distress because he drew me closer to him, pulling me onto his lap. As his hand ran wide circles across my back, he pronounced, “You’re safe, Kitten. You’re my wife, and I won’t ever let that bastard lay one finger on you. I swear. ”
“But what if something happens to you?” I whispered.
“My brothers will protect you in my absence.” He cocked his brows at Quinn and Dare who were curiously eyeing my position on Callum’s lap. “Won’t you protect Caterina in my absence?”
As Dare nodded, Quinn replied, “You don’t ever have to fear that bastard.”
Tears threatened my eyes at their compassionate resolve. “Thank you,” I murmured.
When the tremors finally stopped echoing through me, I expected Callum to move me off his lap. Instead, he remained absently stroking my back. And for reasons I couldn’t possibly understand, I enjoyed the feel of his strong arms around me and the gentle touch of his hand.
Before I could get completely carried away with my feelings, I cleared my throat. “What should I say to Rafe when I call him?”
“Let him know you’re all right and invite him, Leandro, and Gianni to our reception on Saturday.”
“We’re having a reception?”
“It’s more of a party to announce our wedding to our Irish allies on the East Coast.”
Curiosity got the better of me when I asked, “Will we be taking a honeymoon afterwards?”
Callum smirked at me. “I didn’t think you’d be ready to consummate our marriage so fast.”
I scowled back at him. “I’m not. A honeymoon usually follows a reception.”
“Not in our case.”
“I wouldn’t have minded a little time away. Maybe a trip to the shore.”
He eyed me curiously. “How long has it been since you’ve been to the ocean?”
“Almost three years.”
“Perhaps if you behave yourself and play nice, I can convince Seamus to let us use his house on Center Beach.”
“You’ll only take me to the beach as a reward?” I huffed.
“Aye, if you’re a good girl.”
“Forget it,” I grumbled.
Ignoring his laughter, I started dialing Rafe’s number. When Callum ended the call, I demanded, “What is your problem?”
“You need to call him on video. He’ll want to see your face to ensure nothing has happened to you.”
“Oh,” I murmured. I then redialed and eased the phone up in front of my face. The image reflected of myself was one of both apprehension and excitement. With my hair and makeup done, I hoped Rafe wouldn’t immediately lose his shit thinking I’d been tortured or worst of all raped.
He answered on the third ring. “Caterina?” he questioned in disbelief. My heart ached at the sight of his disheveled hair and the dark circles under his eyes.
“Hey, Rafe,” I said, as I fought my tears.
“Oh Kitty Cat,” he choked out.
As tears streaked down my cheeks, I reassured him, “It’s okay. I’m okay.”
“You can’t imagine how worried I’ve been. How worried we’ve all been.”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve called you sooner.”
His expression darkened. “I wouldn’t imagine you would have been at liberty to call us.”
Guilt flooded me that I hadn’t requested Callum to at least let my brothers know I was alive and being taken care of. “I’m so sorry that I didn’t demand to speak to you.”
Callum’s hand came to grip my knee. “The time wasn’t right for a call.”
Malice lit up Rafe’s face at the sound of Callum’s voice. “Are you too much of a coward to show your face, Kavanaugh?”
I gasped. “How did you know who took me?”
“Leo secured an informant this morning. A woman from a bridal shop in Catania.”
Callum chuckled. “I should’ve known showing your picture to the saleslady would be a grave mistake.”
“You don’t sound too regretful, motherfucker!”
Leaning in, Callum’s face appeared on the screen along with mine. “Thankfully, my desire to make Caterina a stunning bride didn’t fuck up my plans since we were married by a priest two hours ago.”
As Rafe’s eyes bulged, a string of Italian cursing and lamentations erupted from his lips. He shot out of the chair he’d been sitting in and began pacing the room. His free hand tore maniacally through his hair. I winced as he painfully tugged the long strands that he usually wore pulled back. My relief at his hand leaving his hair was short-lived when he began snatching and throwing anything in his path. The camera began to spin and bounce with his erratic movements. One of the bodyguards that had rushed in the room at his screams was thrown to the floor when he tried stopping Rafe.
With an amused smile, Callum said, “I imagine he’s calling me every name in the book while threatening to chop off my cock.”
I blushed both at his summation and at the words coming from Rafe. “Yes, he’s referenced your…” I swallowed hard. “Manhood.”
“What else?”
“He’s detailing all the ways he’s going to torture you.”
At the sight of Rafe bleeding from broken glass, Callum jerked his chin at the screen. “Calm him down.”
“If a three-hundred-pound bodyguard couldn’t stop him, how can I?”
“When I’ve truly lost my mind, there’s no one except my mam and Maeve who can talk me down. I imagine for Rafe, you are the same balm for his soul.”
After exhaling a long breath, I stared at the chaos before me. “Rafe, stop!” I called. When he couldn’t hear me over his ranting, I screamed his name into the phone.
He froze. His broad shoulders rose and fell in harsh pants. The sweat-slickened strands of his chin-length hair stuck to his face. Finally, his haunted gaze locked on mine.
Tears stung my eyes as I fought to find my voice. “Your Kitty Cat needs you to sit back down, and listen to me.” Anguish replaced the rage on his face. “Please, Rafe,” I cooed.
“Christ, Caterina,” he groaned.
“I need you to take a few deep breaths while repeating that I’m okay.”
“How can you possibly be okay? You’ve been forced into a marriage after fighting so hard to escape.”
“Everything is not what it seems.”
“Were you not forced?”
I stole a glance at Callum. “At first it might appear that way. But Callum found a way to make marriage very palatable to me.”
Rafe’s eyes pinched shut. “Did he or did he not kidnap you from the order and force you into marriage?”
“You’re not listening to me,” I argued.
“I’m hearing everything you’re saying, and the only explanation is you’re apparently suffering from Stockholm syndrome.”
I rolled my eyes with exasperation. “If that were the case, I would be saying I was in love with Callum, which I can assure you I’m not.”
With a smirk, Callum replied, “You wound me, Caterina.”
“Shut up!” I snapped.
Rafe watched our interchange curiously. “Then why would you willingly marry him?”
“Because he offered me something no man ever had before.”
A strangled growl came across the line. “Don’t fucking tell me he laid one finger on you.”
When I realized his insinuation, I threw a hand over my eyes in embarrassment while Callum had the nerve to chuckle. “Oh my God, Rafe, I wasn’t talking about that.”
“Then what?”
“Callum agreed in a signed contract to allow me to get an education and have a job.”
My revelation stunned Rafe into silence. “He did?” he finally questioned incredulously.
I nodded. “In that way, he gave me freedom.” Feeling Callum’s heated stare, I turned to look at him. To my utter surprise, a genuine smile curved on his lips.
“But what about your vows and the order?”
My stomach twisted at his mention of the order. I’d spent the last few days swimming in a sea of guilt about abandoning my vows. The voice that had been creeping into my subconscious the last few months argued that I could still serve God without being in an order. At the same time, I would obviously be fighting an uphill battle when I was married to a mafia man.
“While I may no longer be a part of the order, I won’t be abandoning my faith. I will still serve by volunteering and helping those in need.”
“You will?” Callum asked with a curious look.
“Of course.” Raising my brows at him, I asked, “Do you have a problem with that?”
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with your ability to be my wife or with raising our children.”
With a roll of my eyes, I replied, “I think I can manage.”
“Then I don’t have a problem with it.”
When Rafe cleared his throat, I turned my attention back to him. “I don’t know what to say,” he replied.
“Say that you’ll give my marriage a chance.” With a pointed look, I added, “Say that you’ll give Callum a chance.”
Rafe shook his head furiously. “You can’t ask that of me. Not yet at least.”
“We’re having a wedding reception Saturday. I’d like for you to be there.”
“Was the invitation your idea or his?” When I nibbled on my bottom lip, he grunted. “Kavanaugh, why don’t you be a man and ask me to a business meeting rather than being a pussy and putting my sister up to it?”
While I expected Rafe’s remarks to anger Callum, he surprised me by merely laughing. “I’ve always heard you get more bees with honey than vinegar. I didn’t think you would possibly tell your sweet sister no.”
“I don’t suppose you’ve extended an invitation to my father?”
Callum sneered. “I have nothing to say to the man who tried to sell his daughter in marriage to a pedophilic abuser, not to mention attacking us this morning.”
Rafe’s dark brows shot up into his hairline. “He attacked you?”
“You weren’t aware?”
“Do I fucking look like I was aware?”
Callum and I exchanged a look. He’d been right when he said that Rafe hadn’t had a part in my father’s attack. “Alessio and some of your Sicilian relatives attacked our SUV as we were leaving for Boston. They ambushed us at the airport as well, but thankfully, we were able to reduce the threat,” Callum replied.
“My father fired on an SUV carrying my sister?”
“Yes, he did.”
Rafe’s expression turned menacing. “That fucking bastard.”
Callum chuckled. “My sentiments exactly.”
“And mine,” I piped up.
This time both Rafe and Callum chuckled. “Oh Kitty Cat,” Rafe mused.
“Well, it’s the truth,” I huffed.
Callum cleared his throat. “Anyway, after everything that has transpired, I felt it was better speaking with you, rather than your father.”
“I would remind you I’m not the head of the family,” Rafe said diplomatically.
“No one looks to Alessio for good decisions anymore. They know the future of the family lies with you, Raphael. Come to our reception so we can discuss how beneficial Caterina’s and my marriage will be for both of our families. If we are united, your father will have no choice but to condone the alliance.”
Before he could answer, I added, “Please, Rafe. I really want my brothers to be there and to be united with us.”
The corners of Rafe’s lips quirked up. “They say women are a weakness, and Kitty Cat, you certainly are mine. And the same can be said for Leo and Gianni.”
I laughed. “I love you.”
I knew Rafe wouldn’t repeat the endearment to me in front of Callum. It was a silly alpha thing that Made Man never show emotional weakness. “I’ll speak to the others. In the meantime, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt if you texted me the address of the reception.”
At my squeal of delight, Rafe chuckled. “I’ll see you Saturday.”
“Bye, Kitty Cat.”
Pursing his lips, Callum countered, “No goodbye for me?”
Rafe narrowed his eyes. “Fuck off, you thieving bastard.”
And with that, he hung up. “Did that go well?” I asked.
He laughed. “Aye. It went well.”
“If you say so,” I murmured as I fell back into my seat.