Chapter 32
Harlow
The last two weeks in New York felt like a dream.
I explored the city—the tourist traps and the hole-in-the-wall family-owned businesses alike.
Caterina spoiled me with dates, amazing food, and mind-blowing sex.
We had double dates with Roman and Vera, and I liked her. It felt amazing having another friend.
Caterina spoiled me with the most extravagant dresses and jewels.
I didn’t need fancy dates or expensive diamonds; I needed my wife, but she insisted on giving me gifts.
The blue fabric hugged my body like a second skin, curving around my hips with a thigh-high slit.
Caterina said she wanted something a little more risqué, and I wasn’t complaining.
With Caterina, I felt more confident. I felt confident in general now.
Walking downstairs, Caterina took my hand and pulled me into her.
I loved when she wore button-up shirts and suspenders.
I especially loved when a few buttons of her shirt were left undone and she had a lacey bra.
Caterina said I was a goddess, but she was hand sculpted by them.
I wanted to fall to my knees and paint a picture with my tongue, worshiping the woman she was.
Caterina slipped her hands under my dress, cupping my ass.
She groaned when she grabbed my bare cheeks.
I’d become fond of lace and thongs during my trips to the sex shop with her and Lizzy.
“I am hopelessly and madly in love with you, Caterina Moretti.”
I leaned in to kiss her, but she stopped me and I pouted. “Not yet, because if you kiss me, I won’t be able to stop. Then we will miss our dinner reservation.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Then I guess you’ll just have to make it up to me in the car.”
Caterina muttered an Italian prayer under her breath as she followed behind me.
She grabbed a white trench coat, placing it over my shoulders and walking me to her black SUV.
Our driver tonight was one of Roman’s men.
He seemed nice, but he didn’t speak to us.
His job was to drive us, not converse, as he explained bluntly.
Caterina helped me in, kissing my temple as she closed the door and walked to the driver side passenger seat.
“So are we going to want to have a nice dinner or are we going to rush it so we can come home for dessert?” I winked before Raul got in the driver’s seat.
“I’ve created a monster.” She laughed, and it was my favorite sound. I could paint a picture from the way her laugh sounded. “We can do whatever you want, my love. Either way, you will be begging me to stop by the end of the night.”
I leaned my head on her shoulder. “I have you. You make living easy. My demons aren’t as loud when I’m with you.”
Things were still hard. I had nightmares, but they weren’t as bad.
Our driver started driving, and Caterina kissed the back of my hand. “I want to marry you again.” I looked at her. “I know we already talked about it, but I want it to be real. A real proposal. Your dream wedding.”
“Really?”
“Yes. And we never got to have a honeymoon, so wherever you wanna go, we will.”
“How long will we be able to stay somewhere?”
“I can make sure things are okay here and leave Malachi in charge. Him and Luca do a good job together. After we get rid of Vincenzo, I won’t have to worry anymore. What do you have in mind?”
I smiled, thinking of my mom. “All of Europe. Spend a few days in each place. See hidden gems that aren’t overpopulated. Have lots of sex.”
“Ohh, baby,” Caterina sang. “Why Europe?”
I felt tears brim my eyes. “It’ll be for my mom, too. She always wanted to travel. I kinda ruined that for her when she got pregnant, and then everything else happened. I want to remember her throughout my life.”
“We can do Europe. When we get home, I need to talk to you about something involving Roman.”
“Is it bad?”
She didn’t answer. “Yes and no. But right now. It’s about you and me.
I would let it go for now. I love you so much.”
“And I lo—”
Bright lights invaded my vision; tires screamed against asphalt, a shrill wail that pierced the air as shards of glass scattered.
Everything spun and colors blurred; the world tilted dangerously.
Caterina’s voice, a desperate cry, cut through the chaos, then faded into an unsettling silence.
Pain flooded through me, a fire igniting in my abdomen while warmth trickled down my face, mingling with the rush of confusion.
The world around me blurred further, a kaleidoscope of chaos.
I think I could hear distant sirens wailing like banshees, but my head was too fuzzy and my body was in too much agony.
My body felt like it was trapped in a nightmare.
I glanced up to see Caterina nonresponsive, her body limp against her seat belt, blood dripping from her face.
My vision was blurred from tears and a possible concussion, but the side of the car was dangerously crushed in.
Our driver got the brunt of it. He…he was dead.
We just got him back. I whimpered, reaching for her.
“Caterina! Please.” I didn’t know where my phone was, but I reached Caterina’s pocket and pulled hers out.
I didn’t know what happened, but I was not going to let her die.
I called Malachi. He was the first name I could think of.
“Boss, aren’t you supposed to be—”
“Malachi!” I whimpered, sobbing into the line.
“Harlow? What’s going on?”
“S-Someone hit us. Caterina needs help. We’re stuck. I can’t tell if she’s breathing.”
“Fuck. Hold on. We have help coming.” I heard him yelling at Alexi to call Roman. I panicked, and Malachi was the first person I could think of. Maybe I should have called Roman.
Glass crunched from outside, but I didn’t see any lights and the sirens were still distant.
My door was pulled open and, when I thought it was a good Samaritan coming to help, my world shattered when I met familiar eyes.
The phone fell from my hand and cracked against the floorboard.
I could still hear Malachi, but I couldn’t form words.
All I could process was the dark eyes of the man who haunted my dreams, the monster from my nightmares.
“I missed you, baby. It’s time to come home.” Vincenzo grabbed me by my hair and pulled me from the destroyed SUV. He walked to another vehicle next to one that hit us. I tried to fight him, but bile threatened to spill. My head spun, and I felt like I was going to pass out.
“No,” I managed. “Caterina!” Her name came out as a broken sob.
“The bitch is dead. Stop fighting me, and maybe life won’t be so fucking hard for you.”
I tried to pull away, but instead I stumbled. Vincenzo picked me up and put me in the back of his car as the sirens got closer. They were too late. She was gone, and I was trapped with my monster once more.