Chapter 93
Caterina
I never thought I could fall more in love with my wife, but here I was, admiring the woman she was as she interacted with the foster kids and Serenity. I didn’t care about the politics of biological children like some families would bring up, because regardless of my DNA, Serenity was ours.
After I lost my mother, the idea of a family never settled with me because of the effects it caused: love, a family, targets.
I watched grief destroy my father, and he coped in horrendous ways that would’ve made my mother turn in her grave.
Savina Rossi should’ve spited him from the grave to knock some sense into him, but he was hurting.
I always thought love was something that parents told us as bedtime stories, but I witnessed it, and now I was living it.
Harlow was my heart and soul, which was magnificent, but also horrifying at the same time.
Fear was a weakness in this life, and losing Harlow was my greatest fear.
I wouldn’t survive life without the woman who showed me the meaning of living.
“Mama, why is Papa always stressed?”
He tried to hide it, but he was horrible. Recently, he was tired and gone more, but he still made time for us. He still made Mama his priority.
“The famiglia, it can be stressful. He is trying to make it easier for you, il mio cuore. You know you will have the family business when you get older, unless you marry a man and give it to them.”
My nose scrunched. The idea of marrying a man didn’t amuse me. It was too early to tell them though. “Do I have to?”
She smiled. “Hopefully not for a while. Your papa is strong as a bull and stubborn like one, too. He will be here for a long while, and you can learn from him while going to school.”
College happened while leading the family and grieving.
It was hard, but we made it to where we were today.
My mama would be proud of how I saved our family, but it would be better if she were here to witness it herself.
I wished she could meet Harlow, but I knew she was watching over me and seeing how happy her little girl was.
Now with Vincenzo out of the way, I could focus on my life, my wife, and the family we would create after this, starting with Serenity. The kids were escorted upstairs to play while the auction happened. It would be easier to deal with rowdy men screaming off bids when children weren’t in the room.
Mallory walked towards me with her wife to hand me a bid paddle.
Harlow would be one of the first women to be auctioned off.
Mallory and I both made sure she was okay with this, and she said yes since she knew I would win.
And I would. The prize for a winning bid was a date with the woman with agreed terms, and I’d be damned if I let another man or woman take my wife out.
The auction was doing well with beautiful women and dashing men on stage, and the numbers were flying.
I watched on the sidelines, waiting for a specific woman to come up next.
She was the only one I wanted to take home, only tonight there would be a slightly more expensive price tag, but Harlow was worth every penny. And it went to a good cause.
The emcee introduced Harlow as she walked to the stage.
She stood tall in her gorgeous dress as she went to the center of the stage.
I glanced around the room to count the number of people I would have to kill for the way they devoured my wife with their eyes.
Her eyes scanned the crowd, finding mine instantly as I lifted my paddle.
Harlow turned in a slow circle as a voice roared, “Thirty thousand.” I spun to find the voice coming from a handsome man in the center of the room. Harlow’s eyes met mine, pleading with me to do something.
“Thirty thousand from Mr. Carter. Do I hear thirty-five?”
“Fifty,” I roared.
“Fifty for Mrs. Moretti. Generous donation. Fifty-five?”
“Fifty-five,” a man up front yelled.
We were going to have a war it seemed. I would show the room how valuable my wife was—and that was everything. If they wanted to, I would buy a jewelry store and start using diamonds and gold to bid.
There was a battle between the three of us as the number went higher and higher for my wife.
The men were looking at me, daring me to continue, but little did they know I had the means and the finances to get my wife.
I wouldn’t let a stranger have her for a night.
What kind of wife would I be, if I didn’t win my wife’s hand for the night?
The man—Mr. Carter—was a pesky bastard. And he kept going.
He really wanted a night with my wife, but she was taken.
Harlow looked at me, desperation in her eyes.
It was fun being the center of attention, but these men were getting challenging.
One thing about me, I loved a challenge, but I would be victorious.
I lifted my bid stick. “One million dollars.” The crowd went silent, and the emcee looked like he had a stroke as he tried to process what I said.
“O-One mi-million. Anyone else?” I smirked at the two men who challenged me. “Going once. Twice. And sold. Caterina Moretti, for one million dollars.”
Harlow scurried off the stage and I met her at the stairs. “I thought I was about to have dinner with some random man.” She laughed as she jumped in my arms.
“You’re mine, and I’ll make sure every penny is worthwhile, Mrs. Moretti.”
“A million dollars is a lot, Caterina. I mean, it’s for the kids, but I’m not worth a million dollars.”
I smirked. “Do you not think you’re worth more than gold?” It seemed I needed to teach my wife how valuable she truly was to me. Money was just a number. And she was worth everything.