Chapter 19
Barun
It had been a week since I’d come out of my sedation.
I’d heard the conversation between Katy and her brothers, enough to know she deserved better.
From all of us. Now, with the dressing freshly done over the stabbing, I shrugged into a shirt.
I was staying at Gio’s for the time being until my recovery was complete.
Katy hadn’t come in after I’d regained consciousness and moved to Gio’s.
She’d avoided me, adding to my frustration.
I yearned for a glimpse, wanting to touch her just once more.
I missed her attention, the way she played push and pull until I gave in, and the sass she used to hide her shyness. In short, every little thing about her.
Sighing, I prayed the day would go right. If everything went well, I would certainly spend more time in Honey Valley. Swallowing the sudden nervousness, I brushed my hair and walked down after slipping on my shoes.
“Going somewhere?” Gio was making breakfast for his wife, Izzy.
I cleared my throat. “Yes! I… umm… have to discuss something important with the brothers.”
He flipped the omelet and turned to me, his expression grave. “Should I be concerned?”
“No, I’ll handle it.” Before he could question me further, I walked across the lawn, into the Falcone mansion.
As soon as I entered the main door and walked across the foyer, I saw Katy walk down the stairs.
She froze on the last stair, looking at me with haunted eyes.
Her dark eyes seemed to yearn for me as much as I did for her.
She looked stunning in a black dress, her long, silky hair braided.
My fingers itched to hold the braid while my body did unspeakable things.
As if she could sense my thoughts, a flush covered her cheeks, and her breath shortened.
Before I could speak to her, one of the men led me to the study.
With one last piercing look, I walked ahead, feeling the heat of her stare.
After a brief knock, I entered the study to see Rhett seated behind the huge desk. Behind me, the door opened and Noah entered the room.
“Sit,” Noah ordered, before sitting on the couch, crossing his legs in a casual move.
I sat down on one of the chairs, moving it to face both the brothers.
“I’m glad you’re okay, Caruso. What can we do for you?” Rhett held his pen, looking at me expectantly.
“I want to marry your sister. I love her.” There wasn’t any point in beating around the bush.
Immediately, Rhett got up, tugging me from my seat by holding the lapels of my shirt. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“How long has this been going on?” Noah, on the contrary, seemed to be cool. With a frown, Rhett noticed his brother’s reaction, mirroring my confusion.
“Do you know about this?” Rhett growled at Noah, continuing to hold on to my shirt.
“Sit down, Rhett.” Noah’s command was sharp, years of being the Don coming through his demeanor, although he’d stepped back after Jasmine had entered his life.
My eyes automatically looked at Noah first before eyeing Rhett warily. “I promise to protect and cherish Katy. I’ll give up my life before letting anything happen to her.”
“What about my sister? Does she share your feelings?” Rhett’s cold gaze held onto mine with unmistakable challenge.
“Yes!”
Both Rhett and I looked at Noah with surprise. My heart thudded at his reply. How did he know? Will the brothers end my life here?
“Katy doesn’t tear up for every man who's been stabbed. Nor does she keep in touch with a man who is not family.”
If I’d been surprised earlier, it was doubled now. Noah seemed to be far more insightful that I gave him credit for.
“I know you didn’t cross any lines with my sister, at least not until you got here for her protection. That was the only reason you stayed alive. But now, I wonder if this will be fruitful for all of us.” He hummed thoughtfully, making the hair on my neck stand up.
“What are you saying?” Rhett seemed more confused than angry and finally stood next to Noah with his hands in his pockets.
Noah stood up in a decisive move. “I’m saying we need to honor the promise we made to Katy. That we’d let her choose her husband.”
“But that was…”
Noah stopped his brother with his hand. “I know we assumed it would be from a family that matched ours, but right now, the way things are going, I don’t trust anyone with our Katy.”
Rhett exhaled a frustrated breath, nodding in agreement.
Noah looked me in the eye. “Did you mean what you said about protecting and cherishing my sister?”
“Yes!” I answered immediately.
“Do you agree to stay in Honey Valley, where Katy will be around us?”
“If it means I have your blessings, I’d do anything to have her in my life.” Judging from the way Noah’s shoulders relaxed, I knew I’d said the right thing.
“If she doesn’t agree to this, you’re out,” Rhett ground out, testing my patience at this point.
I don’t know what that fucker’s problem was.
Wisely, I didn’t begin a confrontation, instead choosing silence.
“I expect you and Katy to come to us with your relationship. I wouldn’t expect anything less.
” He threw an ultimatum, making me want to smash his face, Don or not.
With a nod at the men, I turned around to walk out, when Noah called me.
“I know she’s mad at all of us for not telling her the truth. It is going to take some groveling on your part to get her to agree. Good luck with that,” he smirked, finding my situation amusing.
Glaring at Noah and Rhett, who made me lie to their sister, I walked out without another word, barely refraining from slamming the door after me.