CHAPTER EIGHT
Out for blood
— CATERINA —
The bed shifts and I slowly awake. Everything is normal for the first few seconds. Then I remember Mattia is gone and pain, along with sadness, hits me hard. The last few days I wake up and experience the same thing all over again.
Today is my wedding day. It should be a day filled with joy, but instead I feel this day is dipped in sadness.
Clemente stalks out of the bathroom and heads for his closet. He hasn’t left my side once over the last few days. Where we went head-to-head the first few weeks after we met, the last few days felt as if we were friends about to become lovers.
Sweet caresses, soft words of adoration, taking care of my every need. He’s been amazing. Well, between his anger, annoyance, and frustration. But that’s due to the fact that they haven’t been able to find Daniel.
“Where are you going?” I ask in a groggy morning voice.
Clemente zips up his slacks, puts on a white dress shirt, and starts to button up as he stalks toward me.
He reaches out and slides his knuckles over my cheek. “Get some more sleep. We have a big day today. I have to handle something first. I’ll be back later or I’ll meet you at the altar.”
He continues to button up his shirt, tucks it into his slacks, and fastens his belt. Like I said, the last few days he’s been glued to my side and now—the day of our wedding—he suddenly has to leave? And did he really say, “I’ll see you at the altar.” Seriously?
I throw the covers back, jump out of bed, throw panties, a bra, and a summer dress onto the bed and stalk into the bathroom.
When I’ve quickly handled my business, I stroll back into the bedroom where Clemente is waiting for me right next to the bed where I threw my clothes. His arms are crossed in front of his chest, and I have to give it to him, there’s no glare.
And yet I can clearly notice by the way his lips are pulled into a straight line that he’s anything but content by my jumping out of bed and getting dressed.
“What are you doing?” he asks with repressed calmness.
I shrug out of his T-shirt—which I’ve been stealing each night since I like sleeping in his large shirts—and grab my panties.
“I’m going with you,” I casually reply.
He slowly shakes his head, adding the words, “No, you’re not.” as a second level of reprimand.
I mimic his stance and snap, “We’re getting married in a few hours and you are about to walk out that door with a simple, ‘See you at the altar.’ I’d say you fell out of bed and landed on your head if you think I’m okay with that.”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Is that so?”
I drop my hands and defensively plant them on my hips. “Yes. That is so.”
“So, you would like to come with me?”
He waits for me to answer but I get the serious vibe this is one of those trick questions one should never answer. I cross my arms in front of my chest again and keep my mouth shut. He knows I want to come with him, why does he need to keep asking?
“Even if I’m heading out to kill someone?”
Oh. Really? I guess that’s a good reason to be sure if I would like to come along. But, seriously. “Kill someone? Dressed in a suit? Wouldn’t you dress more...I don’t know, disposable?”
A chuckle slips past his lips and he takes a step forward. He cups the back of my neck and pulls me forward, brushing his lips against mine. “Get dressed. I’ll make you some coffee and then we need to go.”
I make my way into the kitchen and the whole, “heading out to kill someone,” made me change my choice in clothes three freaking times.
I finally settled with a black sleeveless turtleneck and a black, over the knee skirt with black pumps.
He was probably kidding with the whole killing part, right?
Unless there have been some developments.
Clemente places a cup of coffee in front of me. “So, me wearing a suit isn’t appropriate when you’re heading out for some killing, but you wearing heels is?”
I shoot him a glare and wonder if he saw me change clothes a few times before coming down.
Deciding to ignore his question, I ask one of my own. “Did you guys manage to find Daniel?”
“We did,” he simply states and watches me with hawk eyes.
I keep sipping my coffee and wait for him to expand on that. He doesn’t at first, but when I raise my eyebrow in question while keeping my eyes locked with him, he eventually sighs and starts to explain.
“We have two major issues at this point. Well, there was one issue which had priority before I added Daniel and Dustin to our ‘to do’ list. Then we had a development with the gambling parties when a guy showed up at our whorehouses in an effort to steal away the women to come work for them. We took the guy who came back to the whorehouse and suddenly there’s a direct hit on us. And the words Daniel said—”
“You took one of ours, we take two of yours.” I can feel my eyes widen. “You now know Daniel is connected with the new gang.” I place my empty coffee cup on the counter. “Maybe even the one running it.”
“Yes. Everything points in this direction. Even more when Arturo followed through on a hunch. We have one doctor in the district with a gambling addiction. Last night we had a few soldiers pay him a visit and they stumbled onto Daniel, who apparently the doctor was looking after. He’s in pretty bad shape, but we have him. ”
A tiny smile due to pride hits me. “Mattia managed to hit him good?”
Clemente returns my smile. “He almost killed him. That’s why he was staying with the doctor because he needs the medical attention.
Well, not for long he doesn’t. But we’re going to try to squeeze a few details out of him before we kick him from this world.
The rumors of gambling parties are still going strong.
He’s tied to it but clearly not the main player.
Because if he would be the one running it completely on his own, why risk going after you by himself? We need to know who’s connected.”
“Well, let’s go squeeze him for information so we can off this asshole. We’re wasting time standing around, and we’re getting married later today. I need the extra time to do my hair,” I simply say and grab my purse as I head for the door.
“I think I adore you even more when you casually chitchat about offing a guy and getting married in almost the same sentence.”
I stop and have to roll my eyes. “That’s what you get when your almost husband is the head of the mafia Famiglia. But keep thinking of adoring me some more and one day I might actually give you my love in return.”
Holy shit, did I really blurt out those words?
I stiffen before I feel his hand on the back of my nape.
He buries his head into the crook of my neck and says, “It only takes a fragment of a second to switch from thinking to realizing, and ultimately to knowing. You, mia cara, are a rarity I’ve been blessed with.
That one day might come sooner than you think for both of us.
But for now, I can’t wait to make you mine tonight. ..our wedding day.”
A shudder rips through me due to the husky promise in his voice.
Daniel’ attack left a huge impact. Not only with the loss of Mattia, but somehow the connection between me and Clemente changed; we grew closer at rapid speed.
He laces his fingers with mine and guides me toward the limousine that’s waiting for us.
I don’t know how long the ride is or where we are since my mind is reeling with the realization that tonight is my wedding night. Yes, I have known for a while but it just hit me when Clemente reminded me we will have sex in a few hours.
It’s thrilling as well as nerve wracking because I don’t know what to expect other than the things my grandmother was all too happy to blabber about and all the things I’ve read. Oh, yeah, the nerves are really starting to give me clammy hands all right.
“Relax,” Clemente says as he places his hand on my knee and gives me a gentle squeeze. “This won’t take long. You can stay in the car if you like.”
Ugh. He thinks I’m skittish because of the whole torture and kill thing. Daniel’ time was up long before he killed Mattia. I don’t have one single inch of remorse, or...hell, I don’t even want to waste one single emotion on this asshole.
“I couldn’t care less what’s about to happen. I was thinking about having sex for the first time.”
His hand slides up my thigh and he buries his head into the crook of my neck again.
It’s most definitely his favorite spot on my body and I have to say the feeling of his lips on my skin there when he starts to place soft kisses, little nibbles, or his hot breath on a soft caress, always makes my body light up.
“You won’t be able to think when you finally become my wife and I claim your body.
First, I will lick that sweet pussy, making sure you come on my tongue so you’re wet enough for me to slide my cock deep inside you.
I’ll claim your body and your fucking soul so you know to whom you belong.
” His words make my body shudder and I swallow hard.
“I belong to you,” I whisper.
A low rumble of approval flows from his lips before he says, “Damn right you do.”
The limo comes to a stop and Gian opens the door for us. We’re standing in front of a large warehouse but I don’t get to take in my surroundings because Clemente is guiding me inside.
Arturo and Leandro are leaning against the wall until they notice us. Well, notice me. They glance at each other and when their eyes land on me again they both give me a reassuring grin.
Leandro shoots me a wink and says, “Are you sure this pre-wedding-gift is a smart thing to do, boss?”
“Not a gift, Leandro,” Clemente snaps and gives my hip a squeeze when he says, “This is foreplay for us.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“Too much information, boss,” Arturo fake grumbles and shakes his head. “Too. Fucking. Much.”
“He’s not talking,” Leandro states, easily switching to business they need to tend to.