2. Caterina
Isneak back into my house before my dad wakes up and catches me. Despite how annoying Emilio De Luca was back at the club, he’s right about one thing—my dad didn’t know I snuck out.
And he’s not going to find out.
I tiptoe into my room and gently shut the door. It’s not until I’ve changed into my pjs and am under the covers of my bed I relax and release my breath. Didn’t get caught. Win for me.
It’s frustrating, though, how I’m twenty-one, but I still have to follow my dad’s rules. It’s the way of the Mafia. They like to protect their daughters.
I’ve known what my dad does for the past five years. When I was little, he kept it from me, but I figured it out. Men in suits coming and going from our house. My dad working all hours of the night. Our money. It didn’t take me long to realize what he did for a living, and when I asked him about it, he didn’t deny it. He said it would be better for me to know, so I can make smarter choices.
I don’t think going to the club without him knowing was one of those “smart” choices he was talking about.
I know I could have gotten hurt. Mafia men can be dangerous, and who knows who they could go after. But I just wanted a night of fun.
Ok, granted, I wanted a lot more than just one night. Which is why I’ve been sneaking out to the club for the past year now. It took me this long to work up the courage to do it, but ever since I got a taste of freedom, I’ve been addicted.
All I do is dance and flirt. Nothing else. I’m not that stupid. I don’t need to wind up pregnant and have to explain that to my dad, so I’ve kept the touches to above my waist. I know what’s expected of me someday—marriage.
Ugh. Marriage to some Mafia man I’m most definitely not going to want to be married to.
That’s why I’m getting my freedom where I can.
I’m careful not to drink anything, lest I end up roofied and wake up in a bathtub with my kidneys missing. I’m careful to only smile and dance and flirt with men.
But I wish I didn’t have to be so careful.
The little bit of freedom I’ve experienced has been great, but I’m desperate for more. I want to go where I want, when I want, with whom I want without worrying about my dad’s disappointment.
Because that’s the thing—my dad thinks of me as his little princess. I swear, he still sees me as a five-year-old. And I don’t want to change that because if he started seeing me as an adult, he’d never let me leave the house. Right now, it’s so easy for me to sneak out because he trusts me so much.
Do I feel bad about deceiving that trust? Yes. But I don’t feel that bad when I’m dancing at the club.
I would’ve spent more time there tonight if that stupid idiot Emilio De Luca hadn’t spotted me. I lied to him when I said I didn’t know him. At first, I didn’t, but after I heard his name, I knew exactly who he was. I attended the wedding of his brother, Massimo, just six months ago. It was a huge affair with hundreds of people. I’m honestly shocked—and a little flattered—Emilio remembers me.
We never spoke. My dad wanted me at his side. I went to the reception, had a fun time dancing with my dad, then left.
I hadn’t thought about the De Lucas since then. But everyone in this city knows them. At least, the ones within the Mafia do. They’re the head honchos. The top dogs. Everyone knows to fear and respect them.
My dad works for Rocco De Luca, Emilio’s older brother. He’s spoken about the three brothers before, but since I’d never met them, I wasn’t worried about listening that hard. I never guessed I would run into one at the club.
And that he’d scold me for my clothing choices and threaten to tell my dad. I can’t believe him! I get he’s powerful, but he’s not my husband, brother, or father. He has no say in my life. And even if he was one of those things, he still wouldn’t get to boss me around like that.
My own father doesn’t boss me around. I’m not going to let some man who has no connection to me do it.
I should’ve ignored him and walked right back into the club, but I could tell he was serious about calling my dad, and I can’t have my dad find out I’m not his little princess anymore. It would break his heart, which would break mine.
All my freedom I’ve experienced would be gone.
I try to push Emilio from my mind as I fall asleep. It works … until I dream about his face.
When I wake up, I feel even more annoyed with him for disturbing my dreams than before I went to sleep.
* * *
“Good morning, pumpkin,”Dad says when I shuffle into the kitchen. He has breakfast ready for us. No maid for our family. My dad loves to cook, which I know he gets judged for. Mafia men are supposed to be manly. And manly men don’t cook. I think that’s a load of bullshit, so I appreciate that my dad cooks for us.
“Hi, Daddy.” I give him a kiss on the cheek, then take my seat. He smiles like he’s so proud of me. I feel the tiniest bit guilty I’ve been lying to him for months about sneaking out at night to go to the club. “Breakfast looks good.” I take a bit of my pancakes, then start to chew slowly when I see he’s still smiling at me.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“I have exciting news, pumpkin. I’ve finally found a husband worthy of you.”
I almost spit my pancakes out of my mouth. So, this is it, huh? I knew this day was coming. I just have to hope that because my dad is so excited, he really did find me a good man to marry. And who knows? Maybe marriage won’t be so bad. If he’s handsome and kind and likes to dance and is great at kissing, then that doesn’t sound so bad.
“Who is it?”
Dad is so excited he’s practically bouncing in his chair. “It’s a surprise. I’ve invited him over later today.”
I frown. “Daddy, why can’t you just tell me now?”
“Because you’re going to love the marriage match I’ve made for you. I want to see your expression when you realize who it is.”
“I take it he’s … powerful?”
“He is. But I can’t say more. Just get dressed and get ready.” He stands up, kisses my head, then starts cleaning up the plates. “You’re going to make me so proud, darling.”
I can only sit there, feeling shaken up. Who is this mystery man my dad has signed my life away to?
My dad is wealthy, but I know he’s not the wealthiest man in New York. There are tons of other men who make a lot more than him. I wonder what he could offer to a more powerful man in exchange for marrying me.
I guess I’ll have to wait and see because my dad isn’t telling me more. I stuff down the rest of my pancakes, then get up, so I can get ready to meet the man who will be my husband.
“They’re here!” Dad exclaims, pulling me against him and rubbing my arm. “Are you ready, pumpkin?”
As ready as I’ll ever be. I force a smile on my face. “Ready.”
Dad answers the door and motions for whoever is on the other side to come in.
The first man to walk into the room is tall with dark hair and an imposing stare. He looks familiar.
And then the next man walks in behind him, and I realize exactly why the first man looked familiar.
It’s because he looks a lot like the man I met last night at the club.
The first man is Rocco De Luca.
And the second man is Emilio De Luca himself.
I feel the smile drain off my face and my blood run cold and my palms go clammy.
I know Rocco De Luca is married. My dad has mentioned his wife, Lara, before.
Which means …
Emilio has to be the one my dad wants me to marry.
But I don’t like Emilio. In fact, I can’t stand him for how he bossed me around last night. I can’t stand his smug, handsome face. I hate he has a handsome face because it would be so much easier to hate him if he had an ugly face.
“Surprise,” Dad whispers to me. Raising his voice, he says, “Emilio, Rocco, this is my daughter, Caterina.”
Rocco nods. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Caterina. I know you were at Massimo’s wedding. We didn’t get the chance to speak.”
No, we most definitely didn’t.
Emilio steps forward, his expression unreadable. “Caterina, is it?”
I try to not flinch. I never told Emilio my name last night. I thought I was being flirty and cute, but now I see he’s going to use it against me.
What if he tells my dad? Oh god. I’m doomed.
“It is,” I say, instilling my voice with confidence.
His eyes flick to my dad. Here it goes. The moment he tells my dad what I was up to last night. That I wasn’t in my bed in the safety of our house like he thought I would be.
“Francesco, it’s nice to see you again,” Emilio says.
“You, too.” Dad puts his arm around me. “Isn’t she great?”
I keep my gaze locked onto Emilio’s. I’m silently begging him to not say anything.
Emilio stares at me for a good long moment. I swear, he’s trying to make me sweat. But why does he get to have this power over me? Legally, I did nothing wrong. I’m an adult. I’m allowed to go out to the club if I want.
Let him tell my dad. I’ll just give my dad my big puppy dog look, and hopefully, he’ll forgive me in an instant.
Emilio opens his mouth to speak. “She is,” he says. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Caterina.” He grabs my hand and kisses the back of it. I’m so shocked by the gesture I almost blurt out the truth.
His eyes bore into mine, silently telling me he won’t say anything, but he’s going to hold it over my head.
I rip my hand away from his. “You, too. But next time, I’d appreciate it if you asked my permission before you kiss my hand.”
Everyone looks shocked.
Emilio’s expression settles into one of annoyance. “I don’t need your permission.”
“Well, I say you do.”
Dad chuckles, rubbing his hand on my arm. “Isn’t she a firecracker? Caterina, pumpkin, play nice.”
“Sorry, Daddy,” I say in my sweetest voice.
He softens into mush. “It’s all right.”
Emilio looks back and forth between my dad and me. I throw him a smug look. See? You can’t get me into trouble with my dad. He loves me and will forgive me anything I do.
“So, you’re a daddy’s girl?” Emilio asks, frowning.
“She sure is,” my dad responds. “Always has been. Caterina is my pride and joy. Now, come in, gentlemen. Come sit down.”
We settle into the living room, and I purposefully sit beside my dad, so Emilio can’t sit beside me and try to freak me out with his dark eyes. It’s like they can see into my soul or something. It’s freaky, to say the least.
Emilio and Rocco sit opposite us.
“Francesco,” Rocco says, “It will be an honor for us to work even more closely together.”
“I agree.”
“What is it you’re getting from my dad?” I ask.
“Why does it matter?” Emilio responds. “Business is between the men.”
I snort. “Ok, Mr. Sexist. But I was just wondering what you’re getting from my dad in exchange for me.”
“His access to a drug operation,” Rocco says bluntly. “He works with another man I want to work with, and Francesco is my best bet in. He said he’d only do if I married Emilio to you, which I agreed to. Does that satisfy you?”
“It does,” I say surprised Rocco told me the truth. “At least some people trust me with knowledge.” I look pointedly at Emilio.
Rocco and my dad laugh awkwardly while Emilio looks like he’s fuming.
Win for me.
You don’t get to boss me around and treat me like I’m less than human just because you’re a De Luca.
“You’re a load of fun, Caterina,” Emilio says. “What’s your favorite hobby? Dancing?”
I close my mouth. Damn him. He knows he can use that secret over me for the rest of my life. So, because of that, I need to get ahead of him. “It is,” I say. “How did you know?”
“Call it a lucky guess.”
“Daddy,” I say, turning to him.
“Yes, pumpkin?”
“You know I love to dance.”
“I know.”
“Would it be so bad if I were to go out to a club, so I could dance in public?”
He frowns. “Well … no. Not exactly. But I want you here where I know you’ll be safe, darling.”
Dammit. It was worth a shot.
I can’t tell my dad the truth because I don’t want him to be disappointed in me.
It’s Emilio’s turn to look smug. He knows what I was doing by testing the waters with my dad and that I just lost.
“You know, I was thinking you looked familiar,” Emilio says. “Like I’d met you before.”
“Probably at your brother’s wedding.”
“Right. That’s it.”
Rocco looks between Emilio and me with a frown. “Well, you two seem to be hitting it off.” I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or if he’s just that blind. Clearly, Emilio and I are not hitting it off. “Can we go through with the wedding?”
“I’ll do my duty,” Emilio says, staring me down. “So, yes.”
Everyone looks at me.
I can’t let Emilio look better than me, so I sit up straighter in my seat and announce, “Yes. I’d love to marry Emilio.”
I smirk as I look at my future husband.
He’s not going to win this challenge.