Chapter Nineteen Caterina
For the next couple of days, I fell into a somewhat predictable routine. In the mornings after breakfast, two bodyguards would be by my side as I attended mass. Once that was over, I spent two to three hours volunteering at St. Francis’s. Serving others helped to make my life not seem so upended.
In the afternoons, I began exploring Boston. I did all the corny tourist things like the hop on and off trolley tours and seeing the Boston Tea party ships at the shore. I planned on guilting Callum into taking me on a day trip to Salem in the next few weeks.
Then I would come home in time to help Lorna with dinner. She began teaching me how to make several of Callum’s favorite Irish dishes. Between six and seven, all of the Kavanaugh men would begin trickling in the house. We usually sat down for dinner at seven. Afterwards, Dare and Kellan would try to catch me up on some of the movies I’d missed in the last three years. The two were apparently quite the cinefiles.
After he’d finished with all his business, Callum would come and join us, usually when the movie was halfway over. He always scooted his brothers out of the way, so he could sit by me. Usually he pulled my legs onto his lap where he would then begin massaging my feet and calves. He never said anything about it–it was almost as if he was doing it unconsciously. I didn’t ever protest because I liked the nearness of him–the feel of his fingers on my skin as they worked my muscles.
When it came to the sleeping arrangements, Callum and I were sharing a bed. Although I started the night clinging to the far edge of the mattress, somehow by morning I found myself snuggled against him. Callum continued to be a gentleman by keeping his hands to himself. He must’ve been vying for sainthood since usually every morning I felt something digging into my hip or lower back. It remained an elephant in the room since Callum would just get out of bed and shower.
Saturday dawned bright and beautiful for our reception. Even though I was the bride, I hadn’t been consulted about anything. When I’d asked, Callum assured me that his mother and aunts were taking care of everything. A part of me resented not having a voice. I hadn’t had one in my wedding and now I wasn’t in on my reception either. Not that I would’ve had any idea how to plan an Irish wedding reception, but I could’ve learned.
I’d been surprised it would be held at the house on the expansive rooftop terrace. Caterers arrived at noon to begin setting up the food and drinks. At three, Callum had two bodyguards accompany me to a spa where I was given my facial and massage. It was the most decadent thing I’d ever had. I was seriously becoming spoiled in my new life as a mobster’s wife.
Once my pampering was finished, someone from the spa did my hair and makeup for the reception. I didn’t bother protesting why I needed someone to do it. Apparently, Callum wanted to put our best foot forward when it came to me meeting his relatives.
At a little before six, we arrived back home, and I went to the bedroom to get dressed. After the debacle at the airfield, my wedding dress had been professionally cleaned and repaired. I slipped into it just as Callum came into the bedroom in a suit with sexy suspenders. I couldn’t help doing a double-take. “Like what you see?” Callum teasingly asked.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re such an egomaniac.”
His arms encircled my waist, drawing me against him. “Aw, Kitten, can’t you give your husband one little compliment?”
“Fine. You look very handsome and distinguished.”
A sexy smirk curved on his lips. “Thank you, wife. As usual, you are stunning.”
“Thanks to you, too.” Jerking my head over my shoulder, I asked, “Will you button me up?”
“It would be an honor.”
As he began making quick work buttoning up my back, he said, “My mother should be here in a few minutes.”
Nibbling nervously on my lip, I replied, “Do you think she’ll like me?”
His fingers halted for a moment. “Since she lives in Belfast, why do you care?”
“Because she’s your mother. One day she’ll be the grandmother of my children.”
Callum kissed the top of my bare back, causing me to shiver. “Aye, she’ll like you. Especially when you start popping out babies.”
I couldn’t help the flush that coloreded my cheeks. While we might’ve made out, that was as far as we had taken any marital relations. I was grateful Callum was willing to take it slow and wasn’t expecting too much from me. At the same time, I loved when he took charge.
When the last button was done, Callum turned me around. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
As we made our way downstairs, Callum took my hand in his. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, Callum’s face lit up at the sight of a very attractive woman in her late fifties coming towards us. I knew it had to be his mother, Orla, from both his reaction and the fact her face was a mirror reflection of Kellan’s.
My heart sank at her disapproving expression. It was quite evident she wasn’t too thrilled to meet me. I guess I couldn’t blame her. My mother wouldn’t have been too thrilled finding out about my wedding after the fact, not to mention the fact it was to an Irishman. I’m sure she’d had her heart set on Callum marrying within the Irish clans and producing pure Irish grandchildren.
With his arms open, Callum stepped forward to hug her. “Mam, I’m so–”
Orla interrupted him by sending a stinging slap across his cheek, causing me to gasp in horror. “What the hell was that for?” Callum bellowed as he rubbed his face.
She pointed her finger at me. “For kidnapping her from a convent.”
As Callum scowled at his mother, I bit down on my lip to keep from laughing. “She wasn’t in a convent. It was a religious order,” Callum argued.
“Like that makes much of a difference when it comes to your immortal soul,”she protested before making the sign of the cross.
I was starting to really like my new mother-in-law. I don’t know why I’d imagined her being meek. So many mafia wives were. I should’ve realized that raising five sons would’ve killed her if she hadn’t been tough.
With a smile, I held out my hand to her. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Kavanaugh.”
“It’s lovely meeting you, my dear. Please accept my apologies for my son’s behavior.” She shook her head. “I suppose I should say all my sons since they helped him kidnap you.”
With a laugh, I replied, “It’s okay. In spite of the kidnapping, they’ve really treated me very well and with more care and kindness than I could ever have hoped for.”
Orla’s worried brow faded at my declaration. “I must say after what I’d heard about your abduction, I wouldn’t have expected to see you standing so willingly at Callum’s side. I was afraid I might have to coax you out of the bedroom.”
“While I still have reservations and guilt about leaving the order, I’ve come to embrace that I might have another calling in life as a wife and mother,” I replied. And that”s how I truly felt. I wasn’t trying to make things sound better for my mother-in-law.
Callum smiled at his mother. “See, it’s not so bad. You should be happy for us.”
Orla didn’t return his smile. Instead, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Only if Caterina’s happy with the situation, then I’ll be happy.”
“Wouldn’t you reconsider moving to Boston?” I asked while throwing Callum a teasing smile.
At Callum’s roll of his eyes, Orla laughed. “As much as I would love to come and help you keep the boys in line, my heart and home belong in Belfast.”
“Well, you always have a home here when you’re ready.” I elbowed Callum playfully. “Doesn’t she?”
He shot me a pointed look before replying, “Aye, of course.”
“The only thing that’ll make me change my mind is when my first grandchild is born.”
As I gasped, Callum spewed out the drink he’d just taken. “We haven’t even been married a week.”
After making the sign of the cross, Orla replied, “That hasn’t stopped me from praying for you to be fruitful.”
“We need time, Mam. Caterina and I just met.”
“I barely knew your father when we were wed, and you were born nine months and three weeks after our wedding,” Orla challenged.
Callum’s expression darkened. “You can rest assured I’ll be a hell of a lot more respectful of my bride than Da was of you.”
While Orla nodded, I gave Callum an appreciative look. “For that I am very grateful.”
“Just looking at the two of you together, I’m sure you will be blessed with many happy years,” Orla pronounced.
When neither Callum nor I responded, Orla winked. “Now that I’ve met my new daughter-in-law, I’d love a nice strong whiskey.”
Callum chuckled. “You can find one at the bar on the roof.”
“I’ll see you both later.”
As she started up the stairs, I couldn’t help grinning at Callum. “I think I love your mother already.”
He snorted. “You only love her because she gives me shit.”
“That’s not the only reason,” I protested.
“Sure it isn’t.”
“She genuinely cares about my happiness. I think that’s a trait all women would like in a mother-in-law.” With a shake of my head, I added, “It’s not even a trait my own mother possesses.”
“Then I’m happy to share her with you,” Callum said with a smile.
“Make way, make way!” a voice shouted behind us. When we turned around, I did a double take at the sight of what appeared to be Dare’s twin in both looks and personality striding towards us. Except this twin appeared to be considerably younger than Dare.
Callum rushed forward to grab the young man in his arms. “It’s fucking grand to see you, Eamon.”
And then I knew the young man was Callum’s sixteen-year-old brother and the baby of the family. Once he slid out of Callum’s embrace, Eamon turned to me. A low whistle escaped his lips. “Fuck me, this stunning woman can’t possibly be your wife, Cal,” he proclaimed.
Callum responded by smacking the back of Eamon”s head. “Watch your mouth.”
Eamon gave me an apologetic look as he extended his hand. “Sorry. I was just calling it as I saw it.”
I laughed as I shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Before I knew it, Eamon was bringing my hand to his lips for a kiss. “It is exceptionally nice to meet you.”
With a grunt, Callum rushed forward to extract my hand from Eamon’s. “That’s enough bullshit. Where’s your sister?”
“She’s outside with the bodyguards walking Murphy.”
At what must’ve been my questioning look, Callum replied, “Murphy is my sister’s dachshund.”
“Oh, I love wiener dogs,” I pronounced, which elicited a snort from Eamon.
Callum jerked his thumb to the stairs. “Go up and see your brothers.”
“Fine,” Eamon grumbled.
After he started up the stairs, I shook my head with a laugh. “I can’t imagine this house containing him and Dare.”
“It’ll be a tight fit with the egos.”
It was then that the front door opened and a gorgeous redhead came walking in. Right behind her, an older bodyguard wearing a surly expression held a dapple colored dachshund.
At the sight of her brother, Maeve rushed forward and dove into his arms. Knowing her tragic history made the moment even more emotional for me, and I could barely contain my tears. Seeing Callum and Maeve together made me think of my own brothers, and I stared expectantly at the grandfather clock, hoping they were soon to arrive.
When she pulled away, Maeve turned her attention to me. “Hi, I’m Caterina,” I said.
Maeve gave me a warm smile before reaching out to hug me. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you.”
When she pulled away, her smile faltered. “Although I do have to say, I’m sorry for the way you had to join it.”
I gave her a genuine smile. “It’s okay.”
After glaring at Callum, she countered, “Believe me when I say, it is not okay. My mam and I are horrified that he would do such a thing.”
I laughed. “Yes, your mother let her feelings be known by slapping Callum.”
With a grunt, Callum said, “Excuse me while I go greet our other guests and miss out on you both talking shit about me.”
Once he stalked off, Maeve laughed. “He hates it when he disappoints Mam and me. Trust me, the two of us were fit to be tied when we got wind of what happened.”
With a sly smile, I said, “Don’t worry. I plan on making your brother pay for his transgressions each and every day.”
“He certainly deserves it.”
“Truthfully though, he’s treated me far better than I could’ve ever hoped for in such a situation.”
“That is some comfort to us.”
“I hear you’re at Trinity College.”
Maeve’s beautiful face lit up at the mention of school. “Yes. I’ve got one more year.”
“What’s your major?”
“Accounting.”
“I admire you for that. I’m terrible with math.”
“I must admit I’m a terrible nerd when it comes to numbers. I think I like it most because math is standard no matter what part of the world you’re in.”
“Have you thought of coming to live here in Boston?”
Maeve paled slightly. “Oh no, I can’t imagine living here in the states. Even though I grew up in Northern Ireland, it’s not so very different in the South.”
“Since I have three overbearing older brothers, I can only imagine it’s quite freeing not being in the same city as yours,” I teased.
With a smile, Maeve replied, “Aye, it’s been nice having my freedom.” Sadness flickered in her eyes. “At the same time, I couldn’t imagine what I’d ever do without them.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
“Speaking of my brothers, I better go say hello to the others,” Maeve said
“It was so nice meeting you.”
She gave me another quick hug before she started up the stairs to the roof. Callum came back from wherever he had gone. “Looks like you and Maeve are getting along well.”
I smiled. “It’s nice having another woman around.”
He smirked at me. “Let me guess. Maeve told you she didn’t approve of your kidnapping.”
“I don’t think you’ll find many women who would agree with what you did.”
“I suppose not.”
When the door opened again, my breath hitched in my chest at the sight of my brothers. Just like Maeve had with Callum, I rushed forward to throw myself at them. They encircled me in a giant hug. “It’s been so long,” I murmured against Leo’s chest.
“Now that you’re out of the order, it won’t ever have to be so long again,” Leo replied.
I pulled back to smile over at Rafe. “I’m assuming my brothers will give me leeway to enter their territory in New York.”
Rafe’s gaze moved past mine to Callum. “That will all depend on how our meeting goes.”
Rolling my eyes to the ceiling, I huffed out a frustrated breath. “You’re seriously telling me that because I’m married to Callum I wouldn’t be welcome in New York?”
When he looked back at me, Rafe’s gruffness faded. “There’s never a time you wouldn’t be welcome in New York.”
“And the same can be said of Boston. Right, Callum?” I asked.
Callum cocked his brows with a smirk. “Aye. As long as your brothers play fair.”
Leo’s jaw clenched while Gianni tensed. When my gaze shifted to Rafe, his expression was venomous. “Quite hypocritical for you to be talking about playing fair after what you did to Caterina,” he remarked through gritted teeth.
“Rafe,” I warned.
“This isn’t your business, Kitty Cat,” Leo said.
I shoved away from him. “Excuse me? This became my business the moment I was kidnapped to form an alliance.”
“Unfortunately, you’re only a pawn in all of this, Caterina. It’s up to us men to make the decisions,” Rafe replied.
“That’s such…” I stared into their expectant faces. “Bullshit!” I pronounced.
My brothers all stared at me with the same disbelieving expression. I hadn’t raised my voice to them since entering the order. I’d also never cursed at them before either. “This is my life and my future, so you can sure as hell believe I’m going to have a part in it.”
When they realized I wasn’t going to budge, Callum suggested, “Perhaps you would like to take this into my office?”
Before anyone could argue about my place in the meeting, I marched across the hallway and threw open the office door. Turning back to them, I motioned with my hand, “Gentleman?”