Chapter Twenty-One Callum
With our meeting finished, I showed the Neretti brothers upstairs. The party was in full swing with the band playing traditional Irish folk music. Couples twirled around the makeshift dance floor to the tunes coming from the guitar, mandolin, and fiddle. There was nothing that made me feel like home the way the music of my homeland did.
At the expression on the Neretti brothers faces, I couldn’t hold back a laugh. “I don’t suppose I can interest you in a jig later?”
Rafe rolled his eyes. “I need a fucking drink.”
“Only the finest Irish whiskeys await you at the bar.”
He shook his head and he made his way over there with Leandro and Gianni on his heels. I scanned the crowd for Caterina. I found her being led around by my mam for introductions. I could tell she felt out of her element by the way she kept biting her bottom lip and shifting on her feet. I might not have known her for long, but I knew how to read her.
I decided to put Caterina out of her misery. As the music changed over from an upbeat tempo to a ballad, I made my way over to her. Relief flooded her expression at the sight of me. “The meeting is over?”
“Aye.”
“And everything is still okay?”
I motioned across from us where her brothers were drinking at the bar. “They’re grand.”
“I’m glad.”
Holding out my hand to her, I asked, “May I have this dance?”
“I would love that.”
I nodded at Mam. “Excuse us.”
She smiled. “Enjoy yourselves.”
Once I got Caterina on the dance floor, I pulled her tightly against me. With my hand at the small of her back, a small sigh escaped her’s lips. With our bodies pressed against each other, I kept thinking of the statement she’d made to her brothers.
As I stared intently into her eyes, I asked, “Why did you lie about consummating our marriage?”
“It was the right thing to do.” At what must’ve been my continued shock, Caterina said, “I wasn’t just thinking about me. I was thinking about the repercussions for both of our families.”
“But you had a chance to be free of me,” I protested.
“At what cost? The chances of my brothers living through a war of that magnitude were slim. Then I would’ve been at the mercy of my father.” She shuddered. “Not to mention the threat it would’ve brought to you and your brothers.”
“As I told you before, you never have to worry about your father again, Kitten.”
“You don’t know how much I appreciate that.”
“I’m not going to lie. You shocked the hell out of me.”
Caterina giggled. “I wish you could’ve seen your face.”
“It takes a lot to surprise me, but you fucking floored me.”
“You did a good job of masking it after the initial shock and horror,” she teased.
“I’m just glad it was believable to your brothers.”
“I think you sold it pretty well.”
“Thank you.” As I stared into her beautiful face, my hand dipped to the curve of her delicious ass. “In the end, I wish you had been telling the truth.”
She blinked her eyes at me in surprise. “About us…”
“Yes.” When I pressed my lips against the shell of her ear, she shivered. “I want to consummate our marriage, Kitten.”
Pink bloomed across her cheeks as she tensed in my arms. “I-I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know you well enough yet. It’s only been a week since we met.”
“Is time truly a measure of knowing someone? Some people can know everything about another within hours while some spend years without ever truly knowing them.”
“But I still know so little about you as a person.”
“How can I fix that?”
She nibbled her bottom lip. “I don’t know.”
“Let’s start with the basics. Do you want to know my favorite color?”
“Um, okay.”
“It’s red.” I waggled my brows. “For blood.”
Amusement twinkled in her eyes. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“What’s your favorite color?”
“Blue like the ocean.”
I grinned. “Was that a subtle plug for me to take you to the beach?”
“Maybe.”
“You have my word that as soon as things calm down, I’ll take you.”
“I’m going to hold you to it.”
With a laugh, I replied, “I’m sure you will.”
As the song came to an end, Seamus took over the microphone. “Good-evening to all my Kavanaugh friends and family!” A raucous roar went up over the crowd. “We’re so happy that you all could make it on such short notice to celebrate the nuptials of Callum and the lovely Caterina.”
As appreciative whistles and catcalls echoed across the roof, Caterina’s cheeks flushed pink. “Before we all get plastered out of our fecking minds, let’s go ahead and raise our glasses in a toast to the new couple.” Seamus paused to raise his glass. “Comhghairdeachas agus le dea-ghui to Caterina and Callum.”
“Let me guess. That means congratulations and best wishes in Irish,” Caterina said.
“Look at you. It won’t be long, and you”ll be speaking in full sentences,” I replied with a wink.
She laughed. “I think it was more of a lucky guess.”
After everyone had taken a sip from their glasses, the men began chanting, “Póg í! Póg í!”
When Caterina paled slightly, I laughed. “They”re telling me to kiss you.”
“That’s all?”
I snorted. “Don’t tell me you thought they wanted me to fuck you right here in front of everyone?”
“Of course not,” she huffed, her face turning crimson.
After gripping her by the waist, I jerked her against me, causing her to squeak in surprise. “I think we should oblige them, don’t you?”
“It doesn’t look like you’re leaving me much choice, you brute.”
Grinning, I ducked my head before bringing my lips to hers. Fuck me, she tasted even sweeter since she must’ve had some of our wedding cake. The crowd erupted in cheers when I dipped her in my arms. Although I didn’t look, I’m sure at least three people weren’t enjoying the show, and that was the Neretti brothers.
My hand traveled from Caterina’s waist up her back to tangle my fingers through the long strands of her hair. When I tugged gently, she moaned into my mouth, which caused my dick to jerk.
When I finally released her mouth, both of our chests heaved in desperation. “Here’s another thing to know about me, Kitten.”
“What’s that?” she questioned breathlessly.
“I fucking love the taste of you.”
Despite the blush on her cheeks, she did grin up at me. “I like the taste of you, too.” With a knowing look, she added, “Just your lips for now.”
“Woman, you’ll be the death of me.”
A throat cleared behind us. Glancing over my shoulder, Leandro stood eyeing me with disdain. “Might I dance with my sister?”
“Of course.”
Just to spite him, I laid another long, lingering kiss on Caterina before I pulled away. Leandro’s disgust was apparent. “Have fun,” I said with a grin.
While Caterina danced with Leandro, I walked off the dance floor and over to the table where Maeve sat alongside Eamon. While my youngest brother looked bored out of his mind with the couples dancing, Maeve stared longingly at the fray.
I held out my hand to her. “May I have this dance?”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “I don’t want a pity dance, Callum.”
“Why would I dance with my baby sister out of pity?”
Maeve shot me a pointed look. “You know why.”
With a grimace, I eased down in the chair beside her. “I’m sorry, love. If there was any way I could take away your pain, I would.”
“I know.” A haunted look flashed in her eyes. “I just want to be a normal girl. Not poor, broken Maeve.”
“We don’t look at you that way.”
“But you do. All of you do.” She swallowed hard. “Kellan still can’t look at me without tears in his eyes.”
“He’s wracked with guilt.”
“I know he is just as much as I know there was absolutely nothing he could’ve done that night.” She shook her head before lowering her voice to a whisper. “My rape is the first thing everyone thinks when they see me.”
“Maeve–”
“It’s okay, Callum. The only time it matters is when I’m back with the family. At school, no one knows any of it. I can just be me without the baggage.”
I sighed. “I’m so fucking sorry, love. Once again, I mean it when I say if there’s anything I could do–”
“You already went above and beyond for me, Cal.”
I’d never come out and told her that I’d killed our father for her. I didn’t want her harboring one scrap of guilt after all she’d been through. I’m sure she’d heard all kinds of stories through the rumor mill. Maybe Mam had told her.
When I visited her that night in the hospital, I told her I’d kill the man who’d hurt her. And I did. We’d strung up the bastard who raped Maeve and tortured him for two days. Everytime it looked like our beatings and stabbings might end his life, we’d pumped him full of adrenaline to keep him going. He begged for mercy for twelve straight hours, but he never received it.
With my father, we didn’t have time to indulge in torture. It had to be quick before his men could rise up against us. In the end, it was just mere seconds for him to look me in the eye and recognize that his firstborn and heir was to be his killer. Then with a smile, I blew his brains out.
I took her hand in mine and squeezed it. “I’d burn the world down for you if you asked me.”
Despite the tears shimmering in her green eyes, she smiled. “You know your devotion and adoration has ruined me for any future men.”
With a laugh, I replied, “Just know that whoever you choose will have to answer to the five of us.”
She rolled her eyes. “Like any man will want to take me up on that.”
At that moment, Raphael strolled up to our table. The bastard gave us a warm smile. “I noticed your beautiful sister wasn’t dancing, and I thought I would ask for her hand.”
Before Maeve could respond, I shook my head. “She doesn’t care to dance.”
Rafe’s dark eyes regarded me coolly before he flicked his gaze to Maeve. “Is that true, Ms. Kavanaugh?”
When Maeve started to speak, I cut her off. “I’m the head of her family, so I speak for her.”
“She is of age, is she not?”
“Aye, but the answer is still no.”
“Callum, stop,” Maeve interjected.
Rafe’s expression darkened. “Your refusal insinuates that I’m not good enough to dance with your sister.”
“It has nothing to do with you.”
He raiseded a brow. “I’d love to believe that. But one might argue with your prior behavior towards my sister, you give me reason to believe that despite today’s meeting, you do not respect me or my position.”
“I don’t give a shite what you believe,” I growled.
With his jaw clenching, Rafe spat, “Perhaps we should settle this outside.”
“If that’s how you want to handle it.”
Before I could stand up, Maeve shot out of her chair. Thrusting her hand out to Rafe, she said softy, “I would love to dance, Mr. Neretti.”
Both Rafe’s and my eyes popped wide. Once he’d recovered, Rafe gave her a smoothsmile. “Please call me, Raphael or Rafe,” he instructed.
“I’m Maeve.” Her cheeks flushed. She replied, “Just in case you didn’t know.”
When she started around the table, I grabbed her free hand. At her startled look, I said, “You don’t have to do this.”
“It’s okay.” When I continued staring questioningly in her eyes, she squeezed my hand. “I’m fine, Cal.”
Unable to trust my voice, I merely nodded. As Rafe led Maeve onto the dance floor, I moved out from behind the table to stand to the side. I wanted to be ready in case she needed me. More than anything, I wanted to be nearby in case Neretti tried anything. I didn’t care if it ruined the alliance. I wouldn’t allow him to hurt one hair on her head.
I was so focused on the two of them that I didn’t notice Caterina had appeared at my side. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Your fucking brother.”
Tilting her head, she surmised Rafe and Maeve. “They look good together.”
“He forced her to dance,” I growled in protest.
She shook her head. “Rafe would never do that.”
“I’m sorry to tell you, but your most perfect brother did.”
Caterina looked at me. “Just like I know Rafe would never force a woman to dance, you would never allow him to do that to Maeve.”
Damn. She already knew me too well. “She chose to be a peacemaker by dancing with the cheeky bastard.”
With a knowing smirk, Caterina countered, “She looks like she’s enjoying herself.”
I watched as Maeve smiled at something Rafe said. As he grinned down at her, a laugh escaped her lips, which she tried to hide by ducking her head. At my continued appraisal, the bastard’s embrace was almost reverent.
“She is stronger than you think, Callum,” Caterina said softly.
“I know.” I swallowed hard. “But she’s still my baby sister.”
Caterina took my hand in hers. “You’re such a good brother.”
I snorted. “You wouldn’t say that if you could see the murderous thoughts running through my mind involving Rafe.”
She grinned up at me. “I’m sure he’s had the same about you. Maybe even worse.”
When the song ended, Rafe whispered something in Maeve’s ear. She beamed and nodded furiously. Another song started and even though it was a more upbeat tempo, Maeve remained dancing with Rafe. Caterina squeezed my hand. “Maybe there will be another Kavanaugh and Neretti alliance in the future.”
I shook my head. “As capo, your brother’s marriage will need to be with one of the Italian families. He needs peace among them.”
Caterina frowned. “Pity. They look so good together.”
Although I hated to admit it, Caterina was right. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen such a genuine smile on Maeve’s face. I still thought Rafe was a bastard but the way he treated my sister had raised him slightly in my esteem. As his hand trailed down her back, that esteem dimmed.
Caterina must’ve noticed I tensed because she held her hand out to me. “Let’s dance.”
“I can still shoot daggers at him from the dancefloor,” I argued.
She grinned. “But at least your hands will be occupied on me and not on my brother’s neck.”
I threw my head back with a laugh before I pulled her against me. The music had picked up and we began a jig. Caterina’s expression turned from amusement to panic. “I don’t know the steps.”
“Just go with it.”
While she might’ve been clueless, she made fast work of learning the steps. “Look at you,” I called over the music.
“I feel like I’m in that dance scene in Titanic,” Caterina mused as we whirled around the dance floor.
I suppose she had a point. Of course, I wasn’t doing any fancy foot stepping like that bloke, Jack, did. I would leave that up to some of my cousins who knew all that Riverdance nonsense.
We danced and danced until my hair was soaked through, and sweat ran like salty rivers down my back. I’d long since stripped out of my jacket, pulled down my suspenders, and unbuttoned my shirt. My brothers and most of the other men had done the same. I’d danced with Mam and Maeve along with several of my other cousins and wives of my men. We’d sung Irish songs at the top of our lungs.
But I kept coming back to Caterina. I loved the way she felt in my arms. God, I couldn’t wait until the day I could feel her naked curves. To feel her silky skin beneath my fingers.
At midnight, I cut off the band. Although most of us could’ve gone on, I didn’t want any shite from the neighbor’s about the noise. While the band packed up, Caterina rested her head against my shoulder. “Tired, Kitten?”
She yawned before murmuring, “Exhausted.”
“Want me to carry you to bed?”
A drowsy grin curved on her lips as she looked up at me. “You would really do that?”
“I’d do anything for you.”
“Anything to get into my pants.”
I threw back my head with a laugh. “At the moment, you aren’t wearing any.”
“Fine. My panties.”
Groaning, I replied, “You love to torture me, don’t you, Kitten?”
With a wicked grin, she stood up from her chair to stand beside me. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving.”