27. ~Caterina~
27
~Caterina~
“We are gathered here today to join…”
The walk down the aisle to the groom, being ogled by hundreds, uttering rehearsed vows that had been sent to me late last night by my father with the order to learn them well or pay the price , had all bled together in a meaningless blur.
Only a few things had stood out.
The first being my father walking me toward my forced marriage while digging his nails into my hand and whispering awful things about the degradation and humiliation that awaited me starting later tonight, about how I’d be controlled like the ungrateful bitch that I was to him.
Then there’d been Angelo grinning sadistically, thinking I was getting the punishment he believed I deserved, and entering into a hellish marriage.
But there had also been Milo and Julian sneaking looks of support and adoration my way throughout the whole ordeal.
There’d been Nico’s smirk when he’d handed me my wedding ring and he’d seen my reaction to the Property of NM thing inscribed and him whispering as we’d stood under the flower archway for the ceremony, “No one could own you, they should all know better. And soon they will.”
And then there’d also been Nico keeping a possessive hold on me from the moment we’d walked back down the aisle together from the expansive Leone Estate gardens and into the main house where the reception had then gotten underway.
He hadn’t let go of me since. He was projecting it as a controlling, commanding, and dominant thing to all the onlookers, especially my father and Angelo. But I knew it really to be a gesture of comfort from him—and, sure, possessiveness, too.
I zoned out as Nico talked Marchetti business with several new partners to the revised two-family alliance gathered around us. I’d noticed a couple of them leering at me and Nico had shifted his hold to tuck me into his side in a silent message to them to shut that slimy shit the hell down. It had worked and then the business talk had continued. I didn’t need to listen. I’d already done my due diligence, and they’d be shocked what I knew about each of them and their business. Actually, they’d be terrified.
The reception was spread between the living room and the large expanse of the dining room. They hadn’t even bothered with any sort of decorations. The place was just as lifeless and cold as ever with its mahogany wood paneling, creepy framed photos of bloodied historical battles, and the ugly beige and yellow carpeting.
The space was crowded with over two hundred people milling about, business associates schmoozing all over each other in none-too-subtle ways.
As they continued to talk, I caught sight of Marco Marchetti approaching with Leo Marchetti.
The business associates scattered, and then it was just the four of us.
Marco congratulated his son and Leo said something about Nico doing his duty better than he’d expected—a backhanded compliment if I’d ever heard one. No wonder Nico had issues with his uncle. He was an underhanded shithead.
Then Marco smiled genuinely and held his hand out to me. “Welcome to the family, Caterina.”
I took it, and we shook. I saw his eyebrow raise as he felt the strength of my grip. I’d meant to tone it down, but I was already working on toning down everything else about myself, as I had been for hours. I guess something was going to slip out.
“Thank you,” I responded smoothly.
“You make a beautiful bride,” Leo told me, although it wasn’t actually in a sleazy way, as I’d experienced from most everyone else.
“She’s more than beauty,” Marco said. “Congratulations on your award. Your achievements are impressive for one so young. You seem to have the Midas touch. All self-made success too.” His gaze strayed to my father, who was thankfully right over on the other side of the massive living room whispering with Angelo. “It’s a shame that some view it as a threat rather than the asset that it truly is.”
I frowned, and I saw Nico looking perturbed, too. What was going on? Marco had allied with my father, he’d agreed to this forced marriage, and what they believed would befall me as a result, yet now he was coming to me as a friend and what sounded like a prospective business associate?
“It is what it is,” I answered casually.
“Yes, well, for now, at least.”
Leo eyed him in surprise, joining our reactions.
But then Marco stepped up close to Nico and lowered his voice to a barely there whisper, as he warned him, “Santino will be watching you tonight. Put on a show, but that is all. Are we clear?”
“Yes, Father.”
More surprises. He was basically telling Nico not to really capitulate to the sick demands of my father and Angelo, actually ordering him not to hurt me.
With that, he smiled at me, then said his goodbyes, with Leo following after him dutifully.
“What was that all about?” I asked Nico.
“No idea, but we need to find out ASAP.”
“I’m on it.”
He beamed out at me. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” He gestured at the patio just a few feet beyond the double archway at the edge of the space. “I need a smoke and you need a bit of a break.”
I really did.
We made our way out onto the patio and settled over at the far end, away from everyone and everything, as Nico fired up a smoke.
“Who was that priest who married us?” I asked him. “He certainly wasn’t Leone-sanctioned, not from the family church.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Apparently, the one set to marry us came down with a nasty bout of food poisoning last night. The entire church, actually. They were hosting some sort of feast and the food was contaminated.”
“Nasty.”
“Yeah. The guy who married us was a stand-in.”
I nodded, my focus slipping as I looked out at the courtyard full of so many vehicles that were in view from our current position. The urge to sneak out with Nico and the boys through the dark of night and get the hell out of here was incredibly strong.
Fortunately, Nico pulled me back to the moment, asking me, “Do you like anything about this day? Carnations everywhere… I know you hate those for sure. The same with them serving wine.”
“The food too. My father knows I can’t stand seafood. Also, come on, seafood at a wedding? Really?”
“Wow, he had it all covered, didn’t he? To make you as uncomfortable as possible.”
“I do like this ,” I said, gesturing at his sleek gray tux that his muscular body filled out extremely well. “And seeing Milo and Julian sneaking me sweet, reassuring glances here and there.” I stepped up to him as he was in between drags and whispered in his ear, “And thinking about what awaits me when we get back to your place tonight.”
Nico whispered back in hot words, “Do you want it dirty?”
“Mmm, always. Fucking filthy.”
“Fuck,” he groaned. “You’re pushing me to bend you over, shove that dress up and eat your sweet little ass right here and now on this patio.”
A thrill ran through me at his words. I loved the erotic threat in them.
I’d actually come to love a great deal about him.
About all three of them.
My boys.
I guess that’s exactly what they were now— my boys.
“Where did you go?” Nico asked, brushing his fingers over my cheek and startling me back to the immediate moment.
“Just thinking about the four of us.”
“How so?” he asked, looking more than a little intrigued.
“I just—”
The squealing of tires coming from the courtyard had my words catching in my throat and both Nico and I swinging our heads in that direction.
At first I thought it was the Lone Gunners getting their attack underway, coming earlier than expected.
But as we watched a unmarked black van easily waved through by the two security guards at the gates, opening for it a mere moment later, that hope was dashed.
Still more of this nightmare reception to get through yet.
The van came to a rough stop, and two men hopped out.
“A couple of my father’s guards,” I uttered.
A moment later, they threw open the back door, and then they were dragging out somebody. As soon as I peered closer and realized who, my blood ran cold.
“Oh my God.”
“Bianca Leone,” Nico choked. “What the fuck is she doing here?”
“They must have come for her.”
“Your father made you a deal. He said he’d leave her alone if you committed to this marriage, which helped him foster the alliance with my family.”
“He’s a dishonorable bastard. He obviously either lied or changed his mind.”
As we saw them drag her struggling body around the back, I started forward.
“No,” Nico said, grabbing my arm and holding me back. “Not like this. It will ruin everything and it’ll get you killed in the process.”
“Then we’d better come up with an alternative ASAP or everything will be ruined. I won’t leave my mom to suffer Santino’s wrath.”