Chapter 6
LEO
What the fuck am I doing?
I keep asking myself that question the entire drive to Klodian’s house, where Massimo is waiting for me.
Every second I spend with Haven makes me feel more and more aggravated because I have no idea what it is about the woman that made me take her.
She’s right. I’m fucking insane.
Sure, Haven is breathtakingly beautiful, but that’s no reason to force her to marry me.
Gesù Cristo, am I really going to go through with the wedding?
What if we can’t learn to get along, and she drives me up the wall? Fuck, I really don’t want to tie myself to a woman who’s going to make my life miserable.
The memory of when I pinned her to me in the kitchen flashes through my mind.
Every time I touch her, the urge to grab onto her and not let go surges through me.
What the fuck is it about Haven that has me doing things that are entirely out of character for me?
When I saw her cowering beside her mother in Nicolo’s house, the words that I’m taking her left my mouth before I could even process the thought.
I almost shot Mattia because he backhanded her.
And now you’re holding her prisoner.
Fuck, I’m never going to know a moment's peace in my own home again.
I bring my Porsche to a stop in front of Klodian’s house, and it pulls me out of my thoughts. When I get out of the vehicle, I can hear Carlotta weeping, and it makes my heart clench in my chest.
Sucking in a deep breath, I walk to the front door and let myself in. Carlotta glances over her shoulder from where she’s standing in Maurilio’s embrace. Massimo is sitting on a couch, looking exhausted as fuck.
Giving her a remorseful look, I walk closer and place my hand on her shoulder. “I’m so fucking sorry, Carlotta.”
Lost sobs shudder from her, her eyes swollen red and drowning in sorrow.
I tilt my head and promise, “I’ll always make sure you lack for nothing. You have my word that we’ll all take care of you.”
She begins to sob uncontrollably again, and it has Maurilio holding her tight in an attempt to comfort her.
Locking eyes with him, I ask, “Will you stay with her for a few days?”
He nods while rubbing his hand up and down her back. “I’ll help make the arrangements for the funeral.”
Carlotta lets out a wail, and her legs give out beneath her. Luckily, Maurilio has a tight hold on her. He moves her to a couch and helps her to take a seat.
The sight of Klodian’s widow crying her heart out isn’t easy to watch, and it makes the need for vengeance surge through me.
My eyes flick to Massimo. “Any word on whether Luciano survived?”
“He’s still alive,” my right-hand man mutters as he stands up.
“ Cazzo ,” I snap while I turn around and walk out of the house. I should’ve made sure I killed the fucker instead of getting distracted by Haven.
I fucked up today.
Massimo joins me in the front yard, and giving me a confused look, he asks, “What are you doing, Leo? Why did you take the girl?”
“Woman,” I correct him. “She’s twenty-three.”
“Seriously?” he snaps at me. “What the fuck is going on with you?”
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I shake my head. “I have no fucking idea.”
“Why did you take her?”
I shrug as I meet his eyes and give him the only answer I have. “I can’t place my finger on it, but there’s something about her that draws me in like a moth to a fucking flame.”
Massimo lets out a sigh, his gaze boring into mine. “Are you really going to marry her?”
I intend to say no, but it’s not the word that leaves my mouth. “Yes.”
“ Gesù Cristo, Leo. Are you fucking with me right now?”
Turning away from my right-hand man, I head to my car. “I’m going to check on Raffaele and Andrea.”
“They’re fine. I’ve already checked on them. They’ll be back at work in a week,” he informs me. I hear his footsteps behind me, and as I open the car door, his hand grips my shoulder. “Leo, talk to me.”
Letting out a sigh, I glance at him. “What do you want me to say, Massimo?” I turn my body to face him. “I took Haven, and I’m going to marry her.”
Looking as confused as I feel, he asks, “Why?”
“I have no fucking idea why.”
He shakes his head, worry tightening his features. “You’ll tie yourself to Nicolo.”
I know. I don’t like the idea one bit.
I suck in a deep breath and glance over the yard before I meet Massimo’s concerned gaze again. “Arrange everything for the wedding. The sooner the better.”
Massimo stares at me for a tense moment, then he nods. “Send me a photo of her passport.”
“Okay.” I open the car door and climb into the cab. Glancing up at him, I ask, “Have you heard anything about Vito or Sebastiano?”
“They’re both missing in action. I have men searching for them.”
“Fucking rats,” I growl while pulling the door shut. I let down the window, then mention, “I have a meeting with the alliance tomorrow, and I’ll be at home. Keep me up to date with what’s happening.”
“Will do.” Massimo places his hand on the roof and leans down. “Take some time to think about what you’re doing with Haven Romano.”
“Yeah-yeah,” I mumble before starting the engine. My eyes flick to him again as he takes a step away from the car. “Get some rest, Massimo.”
He nods. “You too.”
Driving away from the house, I take a deep breath before letting it out slowly.
I better stop at my mother’s place and tell her about the wedding. Fuck, she’s probably going to have a lot to say about it as well because she hates the Romanos as much as I do.
I replay the day’s events in my mind during the trip, and by the time I park the Porsche in front of my mother’s house, I feel even more aggravated.
Usually, I’m calm and collected, but Haven’s appearance in my life has shaken me up so much, I have no fucking idea what I’m doing.
Getting out of the car, I give Riccardo, my mother’s guard, a chin lift. He’s sitting on a bench having a smoke break.
“How’s everything here?” I ask on my way to the front door.
“Quiet as usual.”
Letting myself into the house, I call out, “Mamma?”
“In the kitchen.”
I find her putting the leftovers from dinner in containers.
Mamma gives me a loving smile. “This visit is unexpected. Is everything okay?”
I lean down and kiss both of her cheeks before I take a seat at the wooden kitchen table. “It was a crazy day.”
Her eyes flit over me. “Did you get hurt?” When I shake my head, she asks, “Do you want coffee?”
“No, thanks.” I pat my hand on the table. “Come sit.”
The loving expression fades, and worry creeps into her gaze while she takes a seat. “What’s wrong?”
Locking eyes with her, I say, “I’m getting married.”
Shock flutters over her face, and she gapes at me. “What? I wasn’t aware you were dating! Who are you marrying?”
I brace myself for one hell of a strong reaction from her. “I’m marrying Haven Romano. She’s Nicolo’s niece.”
An unhappy frown instantly forms on Mamma’s face. “A Romano! Why?”
“It’s for business,” I say, playing the only card I have in my hand. Mamma never interferes with anything mafia-related.
“But, Leo!” she exclaims. “This is marriage we’re talking about. Why arrange one with a Romano?”
Clenching my jaw, I shake my head. “I’m not going to talk about work with you.”
Mamma is visibly upset as she stares at me. “When are you marrying the woman?”
“As soon as Massimo makes all the arrangements. It will be a small and quick wedding.”
She shakes her head, leaning back in her seat while crossing her arms over her chest.
Just like Haven, Mamma’s easily half my size. She’s almost sixty, and the difficult life she lived with my father shows on her face.
I make an effort to soften the expression on my face. “Haven’s from America. She’s beautiful.”
She lets out a heavy sigh. “I didn’t want an arranged marriage for you.”
“I know.” I get up from the chair and move around the table. I wait for Mamma to climb to her feet, then pull her into a hug. “I just wanted to tell you about the wedding and to get the ring.”
I never thought the day would come when I’d ask my mother for the wedding ring that’s been passed down for four generations in my family.
Mamma pulls away from me, and I follow her to where the wall safe is in her bedroom. She keys in the code, and when the door clicks open, she removes the tiny box from the safe.
I watch as she opens the box, and for a moment, she stares at the ring. “I hope it will give your bride more happiness than it brought me.”
“I’m sure it will,” I say.
She places the box in my palm before her eyes lift to mine. “Are you sure, Leo?”
No. Not at all.
Lying to my mother, I nod. “Yeah.” Tucking the box into my pocket, I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead. “I have to head home.”
As we walk toward the front door, Mamma asks, “Will I meet Haven before the wedding?”
I shake my head. “I’m too busy right now.”
I can see Mamma’s not happy with my reply, but she doesn’t push the subject.
Lifting my arm, I give her shoulder a squeeze while pressing kisses to both her cheeks. “Have a good night, Mamma.”
She watches me from the front door as I walk to the Porsche, and when I start the engine and drive away, I’m overly conscious of the wedding ring in my pocket.
I have the meeting with the other alliance members tomorrow. Other than that, I can take some time to get to know Haven better.
I need to find some clarity on the matter before Massimo is done making all the arrangements.
Yeah, maybe I should take a couple of days off.
After the wedding, I have to focus all my resources on finding Vito Santoro and that fucking rat, Sebastiano.
Feeling better now that I have some kind of plan, my aggression lessens during the drive home.
I park the car in the garage, and getting out, I enter the mansion through the kitchen entrance. As always, silence greets me.
There’s no sign of Haven, so I take the stairs to the second floor, where I’m met with a shut door. I suck in a deep breath before I knock.