5. Emilio
Caterina turns to me once we reach her front door. “Sorry I slapped you.”
“I’m still going to spank you for that.”
She doesn’t even blush, but she does look a little shocked. “No, you’re not. You like me, Emilio. Even if you act like you don’t. I’m going to get to know you sooner or later.” With a toss of her hair, she walks up to her door, then enters her house.
I just shake my head. Caterina is trouble. Within one night, she was almost assaulted by a drug dealer, involved in a shootout, and slapped me. She’s wrong. I don’t like her. She infuriates me.
I’m not sure how I’m going to marry a girl like her.
I hurry home, so I can get a good night sleep because I want to talk to Rocco in the morning. Maybe I can convince him to let me marry someone else, someone more docile and sweeter.
In the morning, I arrive at his house and knock on the door. Rocco answers after a few minutes.
“Emilio? What are you doing here? The sun us barely up.”
“I can’t marry Caterina.”
He blinks, then sighs and opens the door wider. “Come on in.”
I do. “Rocco, listen. I know I said I’d do my duty to this family, and I was ready to. But I spent more time with Caterina, and you have to understand, she’s trouble.”
“What happened? Where did you spend time with her?”
I hesitate before answering. “At the club. She was there … flirting and dancing with another man.”
Rocco’s eyebrows raise. “Is that so? I might have to have a talk with Francesco. Is he aware of what his daughter is getting up to?”
“No. It was obvious when we were at their house Francesco sees Caterina as his little princess. I scolded her for her behavior, but she just brushed me off. Then we ended up almost getting into a shootout with a drug dealer and?—”
He holds his hand. “Hold on. What?”
“Caterina ran from me and got herself into trouble. How can I marry a girl like that? You need to find me someone docile, someone more like Lara and Ophelia.”
“Trust me. Lara isn’t docile any longer. She might have been when we first met, but I’m pretty sure she was just afraid of me. Now, she speaks her mind and doesn’t hold back. So, even if I marry you to a more submissive woman, it doesn’t mean she’ll stay that way.” He puts his hand on my shoulder. “Emilio, I need Francesco’s contacts, and he will only give them to me if you’re married to his daughter. While Caterina sounds wild, I’m sure you can get a hold on her. Sounds good?”
“No, not good. I’m not sure I can. You don’t understand. Caterina is a bull in a China shop. She’s not afraid to break the things around her. I don’t know how to get control of a woman like that.”
“Then think of it as a challenge. You love a good challenge. Now, are you done complaining, or can I spend the morning with my wife before work?”
I stifle the sigh rising out of me. “Fine. I’m done complaining. But you’re still set on me marrying Caterina? Nothing I can say will make you change your mind?”
“No. But I’ll do you a favor. I can tell her father what she’s been up to if you want.”
Do I want that? For some reason, I like holding a secret over Caterina’s head. If her father knows the truth, she might become even more wild. Her secret is one I can use to tame her.
“No,” I say. “Don’t do that. I’ll deal with Caterina. Don’t risk ruining anything with Francesco.”
Rocco nods. “Good. I can always count on you to put our family first. That’s what makes me proud of you, Emilio. Now, get out of my house.” He raises a finger. “First, though, there’s something I need you to do. Dante was spotted again in Brooklyn. Try to find him, and kill him this time. I’m not sure what he’s planning, but I don’t want to find out.”
“I will. I’ll kill him. I won’t miss again.”
“I know you won’t.” Rocco walks away.
Before I leave the house, Gabriella comes walking down the stairs and sees me. “Emilio? What are you doing here?”
“Just talking business with our brother.”
She stares at me before laughing. “You’re here to get him to change his mind about your arranged marriage, aren’t you?”
“How’d you know that?” I ask, crossing my arms.
“I didn’t. You just told me.”
I scowl. “Well, now, you know why I’m here. I’m sure that’s make you happy. You’re not the only one in this family who doesn’t want to be married.”
Instead of laughing as I expect, Gabriella shakes her head and looks at me with soft eyes. “I’m not happy about that, Emilio. I don’t want you to be miserable. I don’t want any of us to be miserable. But seeing as neither of us has a choice in the matter, I suggest you make the most out of it. Try to get to know Caterina. I can’t wait to meet her. Just like Lara and Ophelia, I’ll welcome her with open arms. Maybe you should do the same.”
Easier said than done. “Thanks for the advice I didn’t ask for.”
She rolls her eyes and nudges me toward the door. “Don’t be a jerk.”
“I’ll see you later.”
“Whatever.”
I chuckle as I leave Rocco’s house behind. Caterina is the only thing on my mind, but I push her out of it, so I can focus on finding Dante. If I can’t get mu future wife under control, I can at least try to stop the man who’s been causing issues for my family for the better part of a year.
* * *
Brooklyn is a bust.Dante is nowhere to be found. He must have moved on after Rocco’s spies found him, which leaves us with nothing. Back to square one again. I can’t even manage to kill him, and I’m good at that. How, then, can I even manage my upcoming marriage to Caterina?
It’s left me in a bad mood, so when I get the invite from Francesco to join him and Caterina for a garden party, I almost throw my phone across the room. A garden party? Who has fucking garden parties?
When I show up at Francesco’s house, I’m led to the backyard, where the rest of my family and a whole bunch of other people are socializing. Most are employees of Rocco’s and friends of Francesco.
Caterina is standing beside her dad in a flowy summer dress that is in stark contrast to the outfit she wore to the club, her skintight black dress. The way she can change for her father is astounding to me. It makes me wonder if I can even trust her.
I walk over and shake Francesco’s hand. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Of course! You’ll be my son-in-law. I wanted to host a party, so we could all get to know each other a bit better.” He wraps his arm around Caterina’s shoulders. “Doesn’t my daughter look beautiful?”
Caterina gives me a smile. “Yeah. Don’t I, Emilio?”
She’s trouble. I smile back and say, “Of course. The most beautiful woman here.” I don’t want to feed her ego, but I don’t want to insult Francesco. That said, I do find Caterina very beautiful. When we kissed, even though it only lasted a few seconds, I could feel my body respond to her.
However, I’m not going to give her the satisfaction of knowing that.
“I can’t wait for you two to get married,” Francesco says. “My daughter, growing up before my eyes.” He hugs her closer.
Caterina laughs awkwardly. “I’ve been growing up for a while now, Dad.”
“I know. But it’s still hard to see.”
“Your daughter is a lot more grown than you might realize, Mr. Russo.” I can’t help myself.
Caterina throws a glare at me before smiling at her dad.
“I don’t doubt it,” Francesco says, not even understanding my meaning. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds to talk. I have some people I want to catch up with.” He walks across the yard, leaving Caterina and me alone.
She smiles after her dad, but once he’s gone, her smile slips, and she goes back to glaring at me. “I can’t believe you said that,” she hisses.
“Why? It’s true, is it not? You’re growing up. Maybe your father should recognize that. Like how you sneak out to the club and flirt with men who aren’t your future husband.”
She scoffs. “You’re impossible. And hypocritical. I was just having fun. I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Stop punishing me for being a grown woman.”
“Fine. I’ll stop, but you have to promise to stop seeing other men. We’re getting married in a few weeks. You can’t do that anymore.”
“Fine. I won’t flirt with other men. But you can’t stop me from going out to dance. I’m going to live my life, Emilio, whether you want me to or not. You can join me if you want. It would make everything a whole lot easier if you did.”
“I’m not going to do that. You’re not going to embarrass me. You’re going to become the wife I want.”
She frowns up at me. “Why are you so freaking stubborn?”
Before I can respond, Gabriella rushes over. “Oh my god. Caterina. We finally meet.” She throws her arms around Caterina before she can even get a word in.
Caterina looks stunned before smiling and hugging Gabriella back. “It’s nice to meet you, too.” Once they pull apart, she says, “It’s nice to know not everyone in Emilio’s family is a hardass.”
Gabriella laughs. “Yeah, that’s Emilio for you. Resident hardass. He takes after our older brother, Rocco, who’s also a resident hardass.”
“And me?” Massimo asks, joining the conversation with Ophelia. “Am I a hardass, too? Because I’ll have you know I do indeed have a nice, hard ass.”
Ophelia makes a sound in the back of her throat and gently pats Massimo on the chest. “My husband is just being silly.”
He winks at down at her. “When am I not?” He extends his hand out to Caterina. “Massimo. Nice to meet you. This is my wife, Ophelia.”
Caterina smiles at them in greeting. “I’m already feeling welcomed. Thank you so much. It’s been hard, you know, since Emilio hasn’t been the most welcoming.”
“Not surprising,” Massimo says. “Emilio was always the sternest out of the four of us.”
“I’m the kindest,” Gabriella adds, shrugging like what she just said was no big deal.
I have to push down my desire to not snap at my sister. She’s just as full of herself sometimes as Caterina is.
“I can be kind,” I say, feeling the need to defend myself.
Gabriella and Massimo look at me before bursting out into laughter. It’s not shocking when Caterina quickly joins them.
“What’s so funny?” Lara asks, walking over with Rocco.
“We were just making fun of Emilio,” Gabriella says.
“Your favorite pastime,” Lara responds before turning to Caterina. “Lara. Rocco’s my husband. We can’t wait for you to join the family.”
Caterina shakes her hand. “I can’t wait either. With how nice you guys seem, I want to be a part of your family already.” She pauses. “Well, except for Emilio, that is. Do you have any other brothers for me to marry.”
That makes everyone laugh, including Ophelia, who’s the shyest of the bunch.
I know I should go with the flow, but it’s hard for me. Caterina is purposefully making fun of me, and I can’t stand for that. I need to get her in line before she makes a mockery out of me.
“Caterina,” I say more sharply than I mean to. “Can we go talk?”
“Uh oh. Am I in trouble?”
That only makes everyone else laugh again.
“Yes,” I say through gritted teeth. “Now, come with me.”
She rolls her eyes but follows me. Once we’re in the house, I turn to her. We’re the only ones in the living room.
“You needed something, your holiness,” she mocks, bowing before me.
“Cut the shit, Caterina. You shouldn’t be making fun of me in front of my family. It’s not becoming of a wife.”
She gags. “Not becoming of a wife? What is this, the eighteen hundreds? Take a chill pill, Emilio. I wanted us to get to know each other. You were the one who was adamant we don’t. So, who’s fault is it we’re not close? Oh, I know. Yours. I wanted to get along with you, but you’ve made that impossible. You literally called me a slut the other night. How am I supposed to take that? No. You don’t get to drag me into this house and scold me like I did something wrong. You’re the one with a huge stick up your ass. That’s on you.”
“Ok then. I warned you this would happen.” I grab her around the waist and pull her to me.
“What are you doing?”
I sit down and drag her over my lap.
“Emilio? What the hell?” She starts kicking and moving around.
“This would all be easier if you just held still.” Then I raise my hand and spank her on the ass.
She goes still for a moment before resuming her kicking. “Did you just fucking spank me?”
“Yes. I did.” I do it again. She gasps. “And that’s for cussing.”
“You cuss.”
“I know.” I spank her again. “But the rules don’t apply to me.”
“That’s so unfair.”
“Maybe. Now, be a good girl and take your spanking.” I pick up my pace and spank her harder over and over again. I don’t bother lifting up her dress. I would love to spank her on her bare ass, but we’re in her father’s house in the middle of a party. Anyone could come in.
“I’ll scream, Emilio. My father will come running and demand you stop.”
“No. I don’t think you will. Because you don’t want your dad seeing you like this. His perfect little princess getting spanked? He would hate that. You don’t want him to know you’ve done anything wrong.” I bring my hand down hard on her ass.
She gasps. “I hate you.”
“That’s fine by me.” I spank her a few more times before I stop. “Maybe this will teach you a lesson.”
She stands up on wobbly legs, glares at me, then takes off down the hallway, looking like she’s about to cry.
I just smile smugly to myself as I walk back outside to join the party.
Mission successful.