40. Caterina
Caterina
Connor follows me into the Ricci estate—our home—as my official boyfriend.
At least, I think that’s the case. Truth be told, I’m not quite sure what to call him. Possibly my savior, except no, that would never work. Not unless I want to inflate his ego so much that only one of us can fit in my car.
He has saved my life in more ways than one, and he almost saved my father’s life too.
Privately, I can mourn my dad’s loss in my own time, but publicly, I have a family to run.
Starting tomorrow.
Inside, I remove my boots before climbing up the grand staircase with Connor by my side. Even though I don’t ask him to, he follows suit. I pray we don’t have any other obligations for the rest of the night because I’m exhausted.
Danny said he’s got us covered, and Frankie and Carlo will be heading over for a third shift. My own team of loyal enforcers is taking shape, one man at a time.
Connor finally unmuted Declan again on the way over here to break the news that he was staying in NYC with me, adding that he’s found his passion in life and wouldn’t give “her” up for anything. My head’s been swimming ever since.
I walk past the mermaid and toss her a small smile before leading Connor to my suite.
Marlene beat us home. On my request, she came in and removed the pills and the suicide note. It appears she’s also changed my bedding and tidied up. She’s a godsend.
I whirl around and embrace Connor.
He releases a tiny “ouch.”
“Oh, no.” I step back and remove his shirt. “You’re covered in bruises, babe.”
“I’ll be fine.” He leans down for a kiss, his mouth molding to mine perfectly.
The kiss builds as our breathing picks up. He pulls me in, but I hold back.
I don’t want to hurt him.
“Cat, it’s okay.”
I frown. “Is it?”
Connor takes my hand, and we sit on the bed. “It’s going to be. I promise.”
I touch his bruises lightly. On his neck, his chest, his abdomen. They’re everywhere.
“Do you want to just ‘sleep’?” His lips curve up as he repeats my words from that first time he was here.
I huff. “No. Absolutely not. I love you.”
“I thought you were never going to say it.” The sweet little boy in him appears, vulnerable and honest.
I arch a brow. “Did I have you worried?”
Connor shrugs, that silly little smile lingering on his busted lip.
He’s so damn cute, I could squeeze him senseless. “Stand up, please.”
When he does, I remove his joggers. He has bruises on his thighs, and a few bulbous, swollen knots on his calves. “You need an Epson salt bath.” I kiss his chest as I hook my thumbs into his boxers and slip those off too. “I’ll start the water. Why don’t you sit on the bed?”
I know from years of hot baths after swimming competitions that it takes exactly thirteen minutes to fill up my jacuzzi tub. I run into the bathroom, pour in the salt, and start the water.
While I’m in here, I remove my suit and all my undergarments, returning to Connor within a minute.
“Hi.” I grin softly from the bathroom door.
He’s propped himself up against the headboard, bruised but alive, and he’s sporting a gorgeous erection. “We’ve missed you.” He gestures at his dick.
I suppress a snort. I imagine that’s how it’s going to be moving forward. In the confines of our relationship, his beautiful cock will be anthropomorphized. Works for me.
I walk over and climb onto the bed. Carefully, I place one leg over him. “I don’t know how we’re going to do this without hurting you.”
“I’m worried more about you.”
“Me?” I hover, my legs spread above his cock. “I’m okay, Connor. This is a new beginning for me, as well as a time of loss.” I touch the cheek that isn’t wounded.
He adjusts under me to line his tip up with my opening—which is warm and wet and ready—and I sink down while letting out a sigh that I’ve been bottling for days.
His hands guide my hips, nice and easy. I’m mindful about not putting too much weight on his legs.
He bends his head to mine. “Come here, kitty.”
We kiss, tenderly, languidly, our tongues twisting in a sensuous dance. I missed this man so much…
He pulls back. “Cat, go ahead and relax. Sit all the way down. Let’s just hold each other.”
I do as he asks, widening my legs until he’s deep inside me, our stomachs and chests flush, his arms tight around my waist, mine circling his neck.
I sigh again, my eyes fluttering closed as pleasure flows through me like a warm bath.
He noses my cheek. “How amazing is this?”
“It’s the best.” His micromovements stimulate my clit like crazy.
He hums, his hands smoothing over my back. “I could stay here inside you forever.”
I love this man so much. “I could probably get Danny to bring us snacks.”
Connor’s deep laugh vibrates through my body, sending shivers down my spine.
He strokes my back and kisses my cheek. “Do you think you can come?”
“I can try.” I relax my legs even more and grind my clit into the base of his dick, focusing on how good it feels and how much this man means to me. Before long, I succumb to bliss.
On the way down, my pussy contracting in triple time, I suck on a spot on his neck. He groans, his hands curling into my hips.
He’s coming now, too, pulsing inside me. “Fuck, Cat. I love you so much.”
“I love you, Connor.” I kiss his neck and sigh against his skin. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
He laughs softly. “My ego really appreciates you making up for holding back earlier.”
Our lips meet in an open-mouthed kiss that could roll into round two if not for…
I break away to check the time.
“Two minutes to spare.” I smile. “Bathtime.”
Caterina
The next day, with both of us in power Prada suits, we march into a meeting in the private dining room at Viggo’s Ristorante.
All the local Italian mob families refer to this establishment as neutral territory. Personally, I like to think they chose the location for the homemade gnocchi.
I readied myself for a fight. While I know three of the families support my leadership of the Riccis, I didn’t get a read on the Rossis or Nordis at the funeral yesterday.
I spent an extra thirty minutes in the bathroom this morning, going over how I planned on pleading my case. I’m not used to sharing a bedroom with a man, and when Connor knocked to ask if I was okay, I nearly tripped.
How embarrassing. I tried to tell him I was just prepping for the meeting, but I heard him chuckle as he walked away.
Lots of changes.
With cappuccinos all around, I begin. “Thank you all for welcoming me. I want to open the floor to questions. I don’t expect anyone to trust that I can slip into such big shoes and fill them—”
“Caterina?” James Rossi stops me, his gruff voice drawing the attention of the room without much effort. Short, fit, and about fifty, he’s the boss of the Rossi family. He runs a hand through his slicked-back hair. “You’ve been managing your father’s books since you were how old?”
“Sixteen.” A prickle of nerves climbs my spine. When I utter the age aloud, the number sounds so young.
“For a whole decade now.” He gestures to the rest of the table. “I can’t speak for anyone else, but you’ve given me no reason to think you can’t handle this…promotion. Your integrity has always been intact. Just like Eduardo’s.”
Fritz Leone raises his cappuccino. “Here, here.”
Fritz has headed the Leones for four decades, but no one would ever guess the man’s in his seventies. He’s a genuine silver fox with a Dean Martin vibe, perma-grin, and a tall, slim form.
Everyone joins him in the toast.
I exhale, a weight lifting off my soul. “Thank you. I won’t let you down. If I may, despite the success yesterday, we barely put a dent in the Roguilin operation, and I’m concerned for our families.”
The other heads listen intently as I explain what’s been happening with the Bratva since Nino opened the door to them.
Afterward, they thank us, including Connor, for avoiding a near-suicidal pact with the Bratva that would’ve relinquished our hold on the city.
In addition to crippling the Gallaghers by cutting them off from Blue Hook Port, the agreement also would compromised every Italian family in New York City.
They see it as clearly as we do. As my father did.
I sense his presence as Connor and I spearhead a compromise that all six Italian families and both sets of Gallaghers can live with.
“We must work together to prevent the Russian takeover…”
“All other feuds must take a back seat…”
Everyone agrees that survival takes priority.
Connor calls Finn, who arrives before lunch. By mid-afternoon, we broker a deal each family can live with.
We emerge from Viggo’s Ristorante together, our bellies full of gnocchi and our hearts bonded by fire.
Outside the restaurant, Danny pulls up in the Cayenne. Before we get in, though, Connor drops to a knee.
My heart stops in my chest. I suck in air, my lungs shallow and my head fuzzy.
Is this real?
Am I dreaming?
People bustle on the busy sidewalk. Rush hour is in full swing, but with Connor kneeling before me, I feel like we’re the only two people in the world.
The other pedestrians, the bare tree, the traffic, all blur in my periphery.
I only have eyes for my tall, sexy man with the surfer dude hair.
He withdraws a box and opens the lid to display the Bonasera diamond. My breath catches in my throat.
“Caterina Lucia Ricci, will you marry me?”
From the worst moment of my life to the best…this trying month has nearly given me whiplash.
But it hasn’t broken me. I forged myself anew in the fire, and now, I’ll have my lover and best friend by my side. For a woman who’s suffered so much loss at such a young age, I suddenly feel like the luckiest person alive.
I brush my fingers along his cheekbone and scruffy jawline as I study his dark, pensive, adoring eyes.
Then I smile and close my fingers over the ring. “Connor Gallagher, if you’ll agree to be my caporegime, it would be an honor to be your wife.”