Chapter Twenty-Nine Leo
After spending the rest of the afternoon in bed either sleeping or screwing, Drea and I hurried to get ready to meet Rafe and Maeve.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly nervous about the meet up.
I had no idea how Maeve and Drea were actually going to act once they got in the same room together.
While the odds of a cat fight were non-existent, it didn’t make the situation any less complicated.
When Drea came out of the bathroom in a red, strapless sundress that showed off her rack, I whistled. “Fuuuuck,” I muttered.
She grinned. “I guess that means I don't have to ask if you like it.”
“Oh, I like it a lot.”
“Bianca took me shopping for honeymoon clothes a month ago.”
“Wait a minute. You bought that to wear for my brother?”
Drea laughed. “I promise I only had you in mind when I bought it.”
“Remind me to burn all of your honeymoon clothes you bought for him when we get home.”
Drea wrapped her arms around my neck. “Leo, the only Neretti whose attention I ever wanted was and will always be yours.”
“I know that. It’s just creepy thinking about the two of you together. Especially with you wearing a hot number like that.”
“Considering his feelings for Maeve, I’m pretty sure I could’ve worn pasties and thong, and Rafe wouldn’t have noticed me.”
With a grin, I said, “You know, I wouldn’t object to you wearing pasties and a thong on another occasion.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. But I should hit you with some truth about my usual wardrobe.”
“And what’s that?”
“It’s over-sized t-shirts and leggings.”
“Mm, you make those look so good.”
Drea laughed. “Of course you would find a way to sexualize leggings and boring t-shirts.”
“It’s not about the outfits. It’s about the hot body inside them.”
She rolled her eyes. “Come on, horndog. Let’s get downstairs.”
***
When we entered the hotel’s restaurant, Rafe and Maeve had already been seated. Since we were the only guests, it hadn’t been necessary to reserve a table. At the sight of us, they both rose from their chairs.
The moment we started towards them, the air grew thick with tension. Drea gripped my hand like a lifeline while Maeve pressed herself against Rafe’s side.
I knew I was going to have to lighten the mood quickly. How I was going to do it was another question. “There she is. My favorite Irish lass.”
A beaming smile lit up Maeve’s face. “Just how many Irish lasses do you know?”
“If I said only you, would it cheapen the compliment?”
“Possibly.”
“How about my favorite mince pie maker?”
“Better.”
Stepping away from Rafe, Maeve reached to hug me. She squeezed me tight. “It’s so good to see you, Leo.”
“I feel the same way.”
After we hugged, I gave her a teasing wink. I said, “I’m glad you decided to give Rafe another try. He’s been unfuckingbearable to be around.”
While Rafe rolled his eyes, Maeve grinned. “I’m pretty sure I’ve been the same way. Thankfully, the sisters of the Sacred Heart weren’t too judgmental about my sulking around.”
At that moment, I realized I had yet to formally introduce the two women whose lives had been tied with the others. Taking Drea’s hand, I said, “Maeve, I’d like to introduce you to my wife, Drea.”
For a moment, the two of them could only stare at the other. I couldn’t imagine what was going through their minds. After a moment passed, Drea stepped forward to wrap her arms around Maeve.
Rafe and I exchanged wary looks. With all the drama and baggage, was it really going to be this easy for the two of them to get along? Although I adored Maeve, what if she and Drea didn’t hit it off?
With a hesitant smile, Drea said, “I just want to say thank you for loving Rafe. I never would’ve had true happiness if you hadn’t.”
Maeve gasped. “I never imagined you, of all people, would say that to me. There are so many less-than-kind words you could say–words I truly deserved. He was your fiancé–”
“By my father’s contract. He was never my fiancé. I never wanted him, least of all loved him.” At her declaration, she widened her eyes. “I’m sorry, Rafe.”
He chuckled. “I seem to recall the day we met you told me flat out you would never love me. I didn’t mind it then, nor do I today.”
After drawing in a deep breath, I said, “I don’t know if Rafe told you what I admitted on the trip here.”
Maeve nodded. “Yes, he did. It made me relieved and very happy.”
As the waiter brought our appetizers, Drea turned to Maeve with a sorrowful expression. “I just wanted to say how sorry I am for my father’s actions to you. Especially about Murphy.”
When Maeve's eyes watered with tears, Rafe grabbed her hand while Drea said, “I hated to bring it up, but I just wanted you to know I had nothing to do with it.”
Maeve nodded. “Even without meeting you, I knew it was all your father’s work.” Her red lips curled in disgust. “Trust me that I know all too well about being the victim of a heartless and cruel father.”
With a rueful smile, Drea said, “It seems to be a running theme between all of us.”
“You can say that again,” Rafe grunted around the mouth of his wineglass.
“Thankfully, Rafe and Leo have already broken that generational curse,” Maeve said.
“Yes, they have. I have to say I admired the kindness and progressiveness in Rafe the first time I ever met him. Here was a man who was going to let me finish school and have a career–two things that are mostly unheard of in our circles.”
With a girlish giggle, Maeve said, “And here I admired the fact he was willing to fear the wrath of my brothers by granting my request for a kiss.”
As we laughed, Rafe shook his head. “I made you dance for me first, remember?”
Maeve held up her hands. “An Irish jig, nothing salacious.”
At the mention of dancing, Drea smiled knowingly at me. “Even though I was impressed with Rafe, it was Leo who shifted my entire world on my axis when he stood up to my father for the way he was treating me.”
“I didn’t do anything but run my mouth,” I countered with a laugh.
Drea shook her head. “No man in my world had ever stood up for me like that. You were ready and willing to take Father down, and you’d just met me.”
I gave her a soft smile. “I’m still ready and willing to take him down.”
Rafe cleared his throat. “Let’s not forget the complexities of doing that.”
“After he almost killed you–”
‘It was just a graze.”
“Seriously? He would’ve killed you if I hadn’t stepped in,” I countered.
“Regardless of what happened at the wedding and how I feel about it, the repercussions of taking Edoardo out haven’t changed.”
When he gave Drea an apologetic look, she held up her hands. “Please don’t feel bad talking about ending him.” With a look of steely determination, she added, “I’d do it myself if it’s ever a possibility. But I want the opportunity to torture him first.”
While some men might’ve been horrified by their bride’s cold-heartedness, I admired Drea’s courage. She didn’t want to rely on anyone else to do her dirty work.
“Not that I don’t appreciate Callum, but my greatest regret is not being able to pull the trigger for my father,” Maeve said in a quiet voice.
At Rafe’s contemplative expression, I knew what he was thinking. I’d been in that room with him as we tortured our father. Gianni and I had both spilled Father’s blood, but it was Rafe who dealt the final blow.
With a ragged sigh, he said, “Regardless of all the unspeakable hurt they caused you and those you love, it’s harder than you could ever imagine to be the one to end it.”
Glancing around the table at the somber faces, I slammed my hand on the table. “All right, that’s enough emotional damage for the evening. We beat those bastards, and we’re surviving and thriving.”
“Leo, don’t ever change,” Maeve chuckled.
Winking at her, I said, “I’m serious. Tonight is about celebrating love and being alive. I say once we finish dinner, we find a club and go dancing.”
Drea bounced excitedly in her chair. “Ooh, I’m game.”
“Me too,” Maeve said with a grin.
Rafe sighed. “I guess we’re going dancing.”