Chapter 28 Caterina
Caterina
“I don’t understand. I thought you’d be flying to New York with us.”
Alessio’s father is standing nearby but he cups my cheek regardless, a rare display of tenderness outside our bedroom. “It’s just a day. Urgent business can’t be ignored even for my sister’s wedding preparations. Tomorrow, I’ll join you. Maybe even in time for Frankie’s audition.”
Just last night, he’d jokingly called the trip to New York our honeymoon and I’ve been looking forward to it so much but arguing will not change my husband’s responsibilities nor endear me to my father-in-law who gave them to him.
“Tomorrow,” I say, echoing his promise. “I’ll see you there, and let us pray Frankie has an excellent audition, and Carlo and Sofia’s wedding is free of any tragedy. ”
Alessio smirks and kisses my forehead. “You can do the praying, kitten. I doubt any prayers of mine would be answered.”
The car slips into traffic a few minutes later, and I expect a silent ride to the airport. Frankie is going to meet us there so I’ll have company for the flight at least. Valdo fears his father, but he also craves his attention whenever he can get it, and Bibi rarely wants to talk to me.
“I’m glad we have a moment to chat,” Bibi says a moment later. I smile pleasantly, hoping this will be brief. “I know things may seem more lax here than in your father’s house, but I’d appreciate it if you would think of Valdo in the future.”
My pleasant smile turns to puzzlement. “I’m sorry, Bibi. I don’t understand.”
“I’ve been in your position, and I know it’s better to keep them happy however we’re capable of but screeching and moaning like one of those women from Club Oasis for the whole house to hear when there’s a child around…”
All the blood drains from my face. They heard us? How could I have been that loud?
“Perhaps I should thank you though,” Bibi prattles on, ignoring my humiliation. “No wonder Silvio’s been in a better mood. He sent the recording to your brother this morning.”
“Waa-what recording?” I stammer.
“The one of Alessio fucking you like a dirty slut the other night.”
That word brings back memories of how Alessio urged me to be loud for him. Surely, he didn’t know though. Right? “You’re lying.”
“Do you imagine that there’s a single inch of the mansion where our Capo doesn’t have ears listening when he wishes to?” Bibi asks in a patronizing tone. “My husband is perverted, powerful and very paranoid.”
I glance toward the front of the car where Silvio sits, seemingly in conversation with his young son. His pale eyes immediately find mine in the rearview mirror, and he gives me the creepiest smile. I recognize it. His son gave me a similar smile after we first met.
He listened to us. He recorded us. He sent it to my brother. I feel sick. “Why?” I whisper, my eyes still on Silvio who’s already returned his attention to Valdo.
“You know why,” Bibi replies, nastily. “They both want their revenge for Sil, Jr. It’s strange that a monster like Alessio doesn’t seem capable of harming you.
Give it time though. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I assure you. Maybe he figures he can at least pick a fight with your brother this way. Personally, I would’ve preferred different timing.
This weekend is supposed to be Sofia’s shining moment, but Silvio never listens to me. ”
Then, she picks up her phone, mindlessly scrolling as if what she’s revealed means nothing.
As if she’s not just suggested that my husband was complicit in the whole thing.
I know Alessio said to come to him next time Bibi tells me anything upsetting, but what if I’ve been a fool to let down my guard so readily for him?
And, even if Alessio’s innocent regarding his father’s plot, will it stop Nico from attacking my husband the second he sets eyes on him?
***
The hustle and bustle of Times Square seems inescapable even from several floors up and the balcony is an excellent place for this conversation I’ve been dying to have for hours now.
The private jet didn’t allow enough privacy so I’m grateful that Armando agreed to bring me to Frankie’s room immediately after we settled at The Westin.
“I say it’s bullshit, Cat. Bibi lives to stir drama when she isn’t trying to convince everyone her life is picture-perfect.”
“Do you think maybe there’s no recording at all?”
“No, I’m sure there’s a recording, unfortunately. My uncle is that level of gross without a doubt, but there’s no way Bibi actually heard you in Alessio’s wing. I’m saying I don’t believe Alessio had any knowledge of it.”
“Not even to get revenge?” I want so much to believe her. As mortifying as it is, the recording would be nothing as long as Alessio wasn’t in on it. I’ve come to trust him completely in the bedroom. Not just there either. This would be a total violation of that trust.
“Not even for that. From what you’ve told me; he sounds very possessive of you. He wouldn’t want to share you that way. He burned the bloody sheet, you said. We already know he’s protective of you. You texted him, right?”
“I called Alessio and left a message saying I wanted to talk. I wasn’t sure how to text such a thing. I texted Nico though and told him he’s forbidden from opening any email attachments or unexpected packages from Las Vegas.” My big brother never needs to hear that recording.
Her brow furrows. “They permit you to text your brother?”
“We’ve never spoken of it but it’s hardly as if Alessio doesn’t know.
Nico hasn’t replied, but my father has been sick lately, and Nico's been struggling between the twins at night and his responsibilities by day from what Mother’s said.
” Matilde was sent to help, but it was decided it would be improper for an underage girl to live alone with a widower so she's living with my parents for now.
“How nice that you can freely speak to your brothers without fear,” Frankie says, her tone strangely bitter sounding until I recall she has a brother, too. Or, she had one.
“Forgive me for dominating our chance to talk with my worries, Frankie. How have you been? I’ve missed you terribly and we don’t speak as often as we did before my wedding.
Are you excited about your audition? Is your mother well?
Do you think we’ll get to do much sightseeing here? I’ve never been to New York.”
My words don’t have the intended effect of bringing some cheer to our conversation. She glances away, biting at her bottom lip. “I was excited about the audition and New York. Now, I don’t know how it will go, Caterina.”
“What are you talking about? Your voice is beautiful. They would be fools not to accept you in their music program.”
A flicker of a smile twisted with guilt makes my stomach sink as Frankie takes my hand. “Things have changed since we were last together.”
“What is it?” I whisper, fresh worry sweeping the embarrassing sex recording from my mind. “Is it Rocco?” I’ve long feared there was more to her dislike of living in Reno than what she’s admitted.
She’s hesitant to tell me, but I think she’s bursting at the seams to tell someone, too. Nothing could prepare me for what she says though once she finally gives into temptation.
“Sofia’s planning to run away during your audition?!” I gasp. I quickly cover my mouth and look inside the room. Armando is talking on the phone and I’m grateful for the traffic noises below. Frankie nods and another fear washes over me. “You’re helping her?”
She nods again. “It’s been arranged.”
“How… This is madness, Frankie! Worse than that, it’s betrayal.”
“I’m not asking you to be involved.”
“You told me! How am I not involved? My husband would expect me to tell him this.”
Frankie starts to tremble, her eyes filling with tears. “I know, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you. Cat, please…”
“Why would you agree to help her? Doesn’t Sofia realize how much you risk agreeing to do this, the selfish girl?”
Not that I believe they’ll be successful. We’re always guarded when we’re out in public, and she’ll need more than a moment’s distraction to escape. New York may be enormous, but the Vicinis are all-powerful here and Sofia will be a girl alone, a caged bird with clipped wings trying to fly.
And that’s not what worries me most.
Once this plan is discovered, Sofia may be chastised. Her cage may shrink, and Carlo may be angry enough to clip her wings further for a time, but I suspect no real harm is likely to befall Silvio De Luca’s golden daughter.
Frankie, on the other hand, as the Rat’s Daughter has only a shred of the protection Sofia has enjoyed since birth. If she’s tarred with the word ‘betrayal,’ there will be no hope of any honorable marriage arrangement. Maybe no hope for Frankie at all.
“Don’t blame Sofia. It was my idea.”
“What?!”
“Carlo came to see me in Reno a couple of weeks ago, and I saw for myself how unhappy he will make Sofia.”
“What do you mean he came to see you-”
“Sofia called me soon after that, saying her father won’t let her out of the marriage.
She was so heartbroken by Carlo cheating even though I knew it was stupid of her to expect more from one of our men.
They all cheat. The Seconda just gives them a tradition to make it sound more palatable.
” My mouth opens to disagree but Frankie carries on.
“There’s something else I can’t tell you, too.
Someone who has agreed to help us. Someone with connections. ”
“Frankie!”
“Just trust me. I may be throwing away my chance to pursue my dreams, but I had a solution to offer her, one that might work, and I won’t let Carlo have her. Not if I can stop it.”
I study my dear friend shrewdly, wondering what kind of solution she envisions and what she refuses to share.
I also worry greatly over what to do about Alessio. He made me promise never to betray him, especially in matters involving the Trio in Las Vegas.
But, we’re in New York and Sofia is Carlo’s fiancée. He will be the jilted groom. What difference will that make to Vegas?
That excuse won’t cut it, I know. Sofia is a De Luca and, much as I want her to escape this marriage and this world if that's what will make her happy, I’m not sure it will work. Either way, it will reflect poorly on her family, including my husband.
“I think it’s best if I don’t know any details, Frankie,” I say at last, overwhelmed with apprehension for tomorrow.
“But you won’t say anything, will you?”
Slowly, I shake my head. I can’t tell on them… no matter how much I fear hurting my husband and my marriage by not doing so.