Chapter 18
Caterina
There were a few things I needed to finish before our plane left for New York.
I planned our trip so we could be in New York for her birthday.
We were coming up on almost ten months together.
Ten glorious months, and call me insane, but I was smitten.
Hell, I was smitten the first night I held her, but I was too vapid to admit it.
Harlow was mine, and I would work hard each and every day to be the woman she deserved.
Leaving my city for three weeks felt like a dangerous game, but I needed to get her out of here for a little while, and New York was one of her dream cities.
Vincenzo would be foolish to come on my property.
On the outside, he had immunity, but when he trespassed on my property, treaties and agreements were null and void.
Honestly—let him come on my property and try to harm my people.
He’d have a bullet between his eyes quicker than he could blink.
I called Roman. “Petrov.”
“It’s me.”
“Any updates?”
“Serenity and her mother were taken. I think her mom was killed by Akim or someone else, and Serenity escaped. We’re still trying to get further on the details. She’s scared, but she is safe.”
Roman sighed. “I’m sorry people attacked your wife. I will have cause to look into it because it was in your city. I can’t kill anyone until we know something for sure, but if anything comes from this, I will inform you immediately.”
“Thank you, Roman. I have a couple more things to do, but we will be on the plane in two days. Harlow is healed more, and my people are prepared in case Vincenzo attacks while I am gone. Killing Xavier will start a war, but he touched my wife.”
I heard him shift in his seat. “Understandable. He did ask the families about weapons, but I declined to assist him. Just because we have a treaty doesn’t mean I will help him hurt you or your family. I hate this agreement, but it is out of my hands.”
“Thank you. Can I ask a favor?”
“Of course.”
“Can you get me two tickets to the Met? Harlow would like to see it in person. The last week we are in New York is during Harlow’s birthday, and I would like to treat her to something special.”
“I can make a call. Are you staying in your townhouse or would you like to stay at our estate?”
Roman’s home was a gorgeous piece of real estate, but I was not going to be in his home while I was with my wife.
“The last thing I need is for your wife to try and steal mine for a night.” I knew Vera wouldn’t do anything to Harlow, but we liked to joke.
After his wife hit on me and asked me for a one-night stand, we had a new level of friendship.
He chuckled. “Vera will behave. I look forward to your visit, Cat.”
“I’ll see you soon, Roman.”
I went to the florist by the club and picked a bouquet of red roses, with pink daisies and lilies.
Never in a million years did I expect to buy flowers for my wife, but now I would do it every week, hell every day.
Harlow was worth everything. I would have her make a list of everything she wanted to do while we were in New York and make everything a reality.
I wanted her to enjoy herself and forget the hectic life we had for a little while.
Harlow took Serenity back to the foster home, and I knew she would need a pick me up.
She needed to give me a month. Three weeks for our trip and a week after we returned home.
In a week, we could get the house prepared, get the paperwork finalized, and do everything else adopting a child called for.
I also needed to make sure Vincenzo didn’t retaliate hard while we were gone before we adopted her.
When I got home, I walked into the kitchen and put the flowers in a vase.
I told Antonio I wanted a special meal made tonight for Harlow with a dessert.
Dates were new to me, but I knew I wanted Harlow to feel special, even if our dates were in my bedroom or in the cabin with Titus and Lucifer.
I was already planning a moonlight cruise in New York that would be a surprise for her.
I needed to see Luca about Harlow’s father.
He did something in his life that led to him using Harlow as a bargain.
Or maybe that’s why he got her mother pregnant at sixteen.
If Derrick Lewis knew his life was over, he would have done anything for Vincenzo to spare him.
It didn’t work out, and he ruined two lives in the process.
I knew I should wait a little longer so Harlow and Lizzy could both heal from this ordeal, but I needed answers, and this was the best way to get them.
I needed to focus on our trip, but I also needed to protect my wife.
I knocked on his door, and he opened it quickly. He arched his brow. “Boss?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“We can go to your office. I needed to talk to you, anyway.”
He grabbed his laptop and we walked up to my office. After Harlow talked to Lizzy a couple weeks ago, Lizzy was doing better, but healing is a journey and she still blamed herself for what happened.
“We’re leaving for Tennessee tonight, so she’s taking a nap. She’s finally sleeping without waking up from a nightmare.”
“Has she talked to Serena?” He nodded. “I know she feels guilty, but it’s not her fault. Given, sneaking away wasn’t her best idea, but they were living. It’s not like they were attacked without Vito and Raul being there. He followed them and then attacked. It could have happened anywhere.”
“I know. She knows that, too. It’s getting easier, but it’s still hard. Seeing her family will help. Now, what did you need?”
“I need you to find information on Harlow’s family. Anyone on her mother’s side that might be living, and if you can find someone on her father’s side to give me an idea of what is going on, and why he did what he did.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I’ve been digging and I found a missing person’s report when they first went missing.” He typed, his fingers working magic on my keyboard. “Opal Mae Copeland. She lives in Springfield.”
I stepped to his side, looking at the computer.
She was still alive. She was in her seventies and living in an independent living facility.
Luca scrolled, and there were news reports from ten years ago.
Opal Copeland never gave up hope that her daughter and granddaughter would be found.
I needed to make sure she didn’t know anything before I told Harlow.
“Do you know where she is?”
He hit a button and her Facebook popped up. “She is pretty active on social media. She is currently in Japan.”
“Keep track of her for me. Let me know when she is back in the States. I’ll be in New York, but I can always send Malachi or someone to talk to her for me.” It would be a shitty way of telling her, but if she was a travel bug, I needed to catch her while she was here.