13. Caterina
Caterina
The brilliant morning sun filters through the massive arched windows of the master suite, illuminating the discarded emerald silk gown, carelessly pooled across the plush carpet.
I stretch my limbs across the custom king-sized mattress, tracing the fading warmth left behind on the rumpled sheets by the man who thoroughly destroyed my composure in a public washroom just hours ago, a complicated thrill rushing through my stomach as the memories surface.
I can still taste the imported champagne and the intoxicating flavor of his skin, my body aching deliciously from the punishing, frantic pace he set against the imported tiles of that VIP stall.
The realization that I enjoyed every single degrading, spectacular second of his dominance sends a chaotic wave of conflicting emotions crashing through my consciousness, blurring the meticulously drawn battle lines I previously swore to uphold.
I still possess the burning desire to argue with him, I still want to challenge his arrogant decrees and throw his customized whiskey glasses at the plaster walls whenever he issues a ridiculous command, but the genuine, underlying need to see him bleed has mysteriously evaporated from my mind.
I push the silk duvet aside, slipping out of the bed to wrap a luxurious cashmere robe around my bare shoulders, moving across the hardwood floorboards to inspect my reflection in the gilded vanity mirror.
The bruises blossoming along my collarbone and the soft curve of my hip are undeniable markers of his untamed possession, yet I do not feel the crushing humiliation that accompanied my initial captivity.
Alessio Severato is a violent, ruthless conqueror who stole my ancestral home in the middle of the night, but he also placed his massive frame between a disgusting Russian lieutenant and me, threatening to dismember a man simply for looking at me with disrespect.
He is an infuriating, overbearing beast who demands my submission, yet he protects me with a terrifying, unyielding ferocity that my treacherous cousin Matteo could never possibly replicate.
I run a brush through my tangled raven hair, applying a minimal layer of makeup to mask the exhaustion that circles my eyes, preparing myself to face the invading enforcers who are currently occupying my childhood sanctuary.
I refuse to cower in the bedroom like a defeated hostage, choosing instead to project the flawless, commanding authority of a woman raised to rule the Boston underworld.
I tie the sash of my robe with an aggressive yank, marching out of the master suite and stepping into the expansive upstairs corridor, where Rocco and Gianni are already stationed like immovable statues against the paneled walls.
They immediately fall into step behind me, their combat boots thudding obnoxiously against the runner rugs, an irritation I decide to address before I even reach the grand staircase.
"If you two oversized gorillas are going to shadow my every movement inside my own house, you will learn to walk without stomping your boots like a pair of uncoordinated infantrymen," I snap over my shoulder, offering them a biting, aristocratic glare that causes both men to abruptly halt their progression.
"I am walking to the kitchens to secure a proper cup of espresso, not marching into a combat zone, so I suggest you figure out how to navigate these hallways with a fraction of professional grace. "
Rocco clears his throat, exchanging a bewildered glance with his partner before offering a stiff, compliant nod, successfully intimidated by the venomous authority lacing my command.
They resume their patrol at a considerably more respectful distance, allowing me to descend the sweeping marble staircase with the regal posture of a reigning queen.
I push through the swinging wooden doors leading into the culinary wing, ignoring the bustling activity of the new Severato staff as I chart a direct course for the industrial espresso machine.
Silvio is leaning against the stainless-steel prep island, reviewing a stack of logistical manifests over a plate of scrambled eggs, his scarred face turning toward me as I cross the threshold.
The Capo observes my entrance with his usual calculating scrutiny, undoubtedly searching for any lingering fallout from the high-society gala we attended last night, expecting me to shrink away from his intimidating presence.
"The security feeds indicate the perimeter remained secure throughout the night, Lady Caterina," Silvio remarks, a subtle, probing edge hidden beneath his casual observation.
"The Underboss instructed us to ensure your morning routine proceeds without any disruptions, assuming you require an extensive recovery period following the Commission's charity event. "
"Do not confuse my temporary cooperation at a political function with a permanent surrender of my autonomy, Silvio," I reply smoothly, operating the espresso machine with practiced efficiency while maintaining a chilling, direct eye contact with the towering enforcer.
"I played the gracious hostess because it serves the immediate interests of my current situation, but I still expect this household to operate according to the exacting standards my family established decades ago.
Tell the new chefs that if they overcook the lamb for dinner again, I will personally throw the plates into the harbor and order you to replace the entire culinary staff. "
Silvio offers a harsh, amused bark of laughter, clearly respecting the unbroken fire burning beneath my refined exterior.
"I will relay your specific culinary demands to the kitchen manager immediately, Signora.
It is reassuring to see that the extravagant silk gowns have not softened your magnificent bite. "
I take my steaming porcelain cup, offering the Capo a final, dismissive smirk before retreating from the bustling kitchen, navigating the winding corridors back toward the isolated sanctuary of the west wing.
I genuinely enjoy sparring with Alessio's men, asserting my dominance and proving that I am not a fragile ornament easily crushed by their aggressive occupation, but the momentary satisfaction completely disintegrates the second I cross the threshold of my expansive dressing room.
A muffled, erratic buzzing sound vibrates from the depths of the mahogany vanity cabinet, an intrusive electronic noise that causes the blood to freeze inside my veins.
I set the espresso cup down onto the polished surface with a trembling hand, rushing to the oak doors and securing the brass latch to ensure Rocco and Gianni cannot accidentally interrupt my impending treason.
I drop to my knees on the plush carpet, yanking the cabinet doors open and digging frantically through the stack of folded towels until my fingers brush against the cheap plastic of the smuggled burner phone.
The device glows brightly in the dim confines of the vanity, displaying Matteo's encrypted contact number, signaling a catastrophe I am woefully unprepared to manage.
I press the green button, bringing the speaker to my ear, my stomach twisting into a sickening knot as the encrypted line clicks open.
"What the fuck are you playing at, Caterina?
" Matteo snarls through the static, his voice a frantic, blistering assault that completely disregards any concept of familial respect.
"The southern patrol schedules you transmitted were completely useless.
My scouts spent the entire night freezing in the marshlands, waiting for a security gap that never materialized, only to discover that Severato doubled the guard rotations and installed reinforced biometric checkpoints along the entire perimeter.
You fed me outdated logistics, and my men were almost slaughtered trying to test the fence line. "
"Do not ever speak to me with that disrespectful, accusatory tone, Matteo," I hiss back, pushing myself up from the floorboards and pacing across the dressing room like a trapped animal, my bare feet sinking into the luxurious rugs.
"I am the daughter of the Don, and you are a desperate scavenger picking through the scraps of an empire you never possessed the courage to defend.
I provided the information available to me at the time, but Alessio alters the security algorithms on a whim.
I cannot predict his erratic administrative decisions when I am locked inside this wing with two massive thugs monitoring my breathing. "
"Spare me the arrogant aristocratic attitude, little cousin, because your prestigious title means absolutely nothing if you are spreading your legs for the bastard who put a bullet in your father's chest," Matteo counters viciously, his words designed to inflict maximum psychological damage, exploiting the most vulnerable, shameful secret I harbor.
"I have men risking their lives to liberate you from that compound, while you parade around downtown hotels wearing his diamonds and playing the role of the submissive, conquered bride.
The traditionalists are beginning to question your allegiance, Caterina.
They are starting to wonder if you have forgotten your last name in favor of the luxuries your new husband provides. "
"I have forgotten nothing," I lie, the words tasting like ash on my tongue as the horrific reality of my dual existence crashes over me.
"I am surviving a hostile occupation, utilizing every available tactic to blind him to our intentions.
If you launch a reckless, uncoordinated assault without the proper access codes, he will butcher your strike team in the courtyard and mount your head on the wrought-iron gates. "