by Bethany-Kris
“No, I’ll tell you. It’s just not something I openly share with the rest of the world,” Dante said, sighing. “When I was a little over two-years-old and my mother was pregnant for Giovanni, my father took our family on a trip to Italy. Business for my father, as he wouldn’t take a vacation otherwise. The rules weren’t as strict at the time about ensuring people had the proper vaccinations before traveling. My mother didn’t believe in vaccinations, which was her choice and one she regretted when there was an outbreak of rubella in the villages we were touring.
“I didn’t have my vaccine and was immediately high risk because of my age, but it was too late,” Dante explained, trying to remain unaffected as he told the story. It wasn’t often he did tell it because despite how he tried to move past it, he couldn’t.
“Because they were trying to control the outbreak and the medical facilities where they quarantined the sick were rudimental at best, it became a wait and see situation. My mother, being pregnant, was forced to stay away for the safety of her pregnancy. Rubella can cause termination and even severe disabilities or deformities. My father remained with me. I got better, we came home. That’s it.”
“That can’t be it.”
“It is,” Dante said, lifting a shoulder as if to explain away what was unsaid. “It’s rare for a man to become infertile from rubella, but it happens. Especially when the outbreak is allowed to roam throughout with no treatment to prevent it from infecting the southern region of the body. When my parents got back to the States, they were informed of what might be my possible prospects. When I was old enough, I had testing done and was found to be sterile in the thick of puberty. And again in my early twenties, I got the same results.”
Catrina frowned. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’ve known for a long time children wouldn’t be a part of my future. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that’s not something I would ask from you. Ever.”
“And you have no desire for love,” Catrina said.
“No. As I said, why bring a woman into a life where she will have little but me, and I don’t have a great deal to give her back. I’m perfectly fine like this.”
Dante pushed his chair away from the desk, spinning it around so his back faced Catrina. Usually he wouldn’t turn his back to a woman, especially one like Catrina Danzi, but she wanted something from him, which meant she wasn’t liable to hurt him.
The metal, fireproof safe rested on a large stand behind his desk. Dante spun the dial after typing in a ten digit code on the electronic pad. The quiet click of tumblers falling into place sounded before the door popped open. He grabbed a small jewelry box on the top shelf, closing his safe when he was done.
Turning back to face Catrina who hadn’t moved an inch from her spot, Dante placed the jewelry box to the very edge of the front of his desk. She didn’t make a move to touch the box and see what was within.
“Are you Catholic?” Dante asked.
“I am.”
“In good standing?”
“With the church, but God is an entirely different situation.”
Dante let her dark humor soak into him again, laughing loudly.
“For curiosity’s sake, how did you weed your way into my streets as easily as you did?” Dante asked, folding his arms over his chest as he rested back in his chair. “Seems to me a Queen Pin of your caliber wouldn’t be slumming in on the streets to push product. I don’t know how you had the smarts to get that kind of thing done.”
“Simple, your main men aren’t there nearly enough, certainly not as hands-on as they should be. That’s not to say they’re not good at their jobs, because clearly they are if they’re still turning a profit, but they’re missing people like me slipping in. Their soldiers—or yours, if you prefer—might have a little too much free rein on certain things.”
“Thank you,” Dante said. “I’d like for you to tell that to my men at the next tribute meeting as well so they can be aware of their mistakes and correct the issues.”
Catrina’s brow lifted, a smile staring to form. “Oh?”
“Yes, and I’ll be there, of course.”
“Of course,” she echoed.
“There’s a few other things you should be aware of, too.”
“Like what?”
“Like the fact this marriage can’t appear to be some kind of sham,” Dante said, gesturing between them. “I need us to appear as a solid, formidable unit in every aspect of public life. Simple as that. We can’t live apart, I’ll need you at my side for a great deal of things, and even if you don’t want to act like a mob wife, there are times you’ll have to wear that mask and do it with a smile.”
“You have extra bedrooms in this condo, don’t you?”
Dante tried not to laugh and failed. “Is that what you’re worried about in all I just said?”
“Well, yes. Unless you mind sleeping on the couch.”
“There’s an empty room at the very end of this hallway. Pick whatever you want inside it, and I will fill it for you, Cat.”
Dante leaned forward and opened the jewelry box to showcase a four-carat square cut diamond set in white gold and encircled in smaller jewels like a tiny crown. Catrina’s eye caught the piece immediately but she stayed silent.
“Do not be so surprised that I already have something for you. It’s an heirloom and it belonged to my mother’s mother. I’ve had it in my possession ever since my grandmother died a decade ago as she left it to me. Wearing this will help with the initial disrespect you’re sure to receive for being a woman in a man’s territory at tribute from my men.”
“I think I can handle them. I unsettle men, remember? Not the other way around.”
“Like I said, wearing this will help. I’ll accept your offer, Cat.”
Catrina smirked. “I thought you would.”
“High horses don’t look good when a beautiful woman is riding one. Don’t be so smug just yet.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you still need to meet my mother,” Dante said. “This coming Sunday seems like the perfect time. Our family always has a large dinner with several guests. My brothers still stay over occasionally the night before, but I’ve been too busy with work, so I don’t think that would be a good time to try and fit it in. I can meet you after church, however, and take you to dinner with me, if you’d like.”
“I think I could do that,” Cat replied, smiling. “No church for me?”
“One thing at a time, Cat. And privacy is important for my family. I’d like to introduce you first. Get what I mean?”
“Sure.”
Their conversation continued well into the night. Longer than Dante realized because he found it easy to talk to this beautiful, intelligent woman. Shortly after Dante escorted Catrina out of his condo and locked his front door, he called a familiar number. It was late—too late, really—but Dante didn’t care.
“Ciao, son,” Antony’s tired, grumbling voice greeted. “For the record, this is an unacceptable time for you to call.”
“I accepted her offer.”
Antony fell silent. Dante knew his father wouldn’t ask who he was talking about. He hadn’t even fully discussed Catrina’s offer with his brothers after her show the week before in Gio’s club. But he immediately talked to his father.
Sure, things weren’t perfect with Antony, but he was the only man who would give Dante an unbiased, honest opinion.
“I hoped you would,” Antony finally murmured. “She seems like a good fit.”
“Maybe. We’ll see. She will be coming to dinner Sunday evening, and I’ll formally announce it then.”
“Is she coming to church?”
“No, I figured we could do that next Sunday.”
Antony hummed on his end. “I’ll prepare your mother.”
Dante wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. He had only been slightly kidding with Catrina earlier. Antony didn’t sound like he was joking at all.
• • •
“Mamma,
I would like you to meet Catrina Danzi. My fiancée.”
Cecelia said nothing and did nothing at her son’s introduction. She simply stared at Catrina with a sort of disregard that Dante had rarely ever witnessed from her before. His mother was not a rude woman—pleasantry and politeness were her middle name. Cecelia Marcello was proper in every aspect.
Yet, there his mother stood, watching the woman at Dante’s side like she smelled something bad. He didn’t know what to make of that.
The room was too quiet for Dante’s liking. His brothers milled around the kitchen island, observing the scene in silence. Jordyn and Kim continued chopping vegetables, their gazes down on their work. Antony sat at the table with Johnathan in his lap, holding a teether for his grandson to chew on.
“Tesoro?” Antony asked.
Cecelia’s lips drew a thin line, fighting to fall into a frown. Still, she stayed quiet.
“Our family and guests will be coming soon to eat, Cecelia,” Antony added quieter.
The unspoken words were loud and clear. Whatever issue Dante’s mother was having with this introduction, she needed to fix it and fast before the rest of the people showed up.
Dante didn’t have a clue what his mother’s problem was. God knew when Lucian and Giovanni brought their respective partners home, she took to them like a moth to a flame. Instantly, she was in love and happy with Jordyn and Kim. She took no issue with the fact their relationships with her sons had come about because of dangerous, or even improper circumstance. She didn’t care that there had been little dating before they were married. She just … adored them. Took the two women in with a joyful grace and open arms.
Why wasn’t she doing that for Catrina?
Catrina’s fingers woven with Dante’s tightened briefly, as if she could sense his discomfort. She remained quiet at his side, waiting for the matriarch of the Marcellos to speak first. Dante had to give his new companion credit for her nerves. Cat didn’t blink a lash to show she was upset over Cecelia’s clear shunning.
It wasn’t as if Dante needed his mother’s permission to marry Catrina, but her acceptance of his choices would be appreciated. Being Italian for their family meant more than large dinners, loud gatherings, and Sundays spent sitting in a pew. They were close and always had been. The last thing Dante wanted his marriage to do was pull those tight knots his family was made of apart, especially because of his mother’s disapproval.
Unfortunately, he didn’t have a choice. He needed to marry and soon. Catrina was the one person who would make that happen for him. She needed something and so did he. Neither of them coerced the other into the arrangement. It was all business and would remain that way for as long as they needed it to.
“Hello,” Cecelia finally said, her voice strained with forced civility.
Catrina smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“And you,” Cecelia replied tightly, her stony expression unwavering.
The tension in the room only seemed to skyrocket as the two women watched one another.
Catrina examined the food preparations spread across the counters and asked, “Would you like another pair of hands to help?”
“No, I think we have it handled just fine without adding another to the mix. But do explore the house while we wait for the rest of the guests.”
As easily as Cecelia regarded Catrina in disdain, his mother released his fiancée from her stare with a dismissive grace that spoke volumes without even saying a word.
Dante stood stunned. His mother’s actions were so out of place. Maybe not so much for helping in the kitchen, except for the fact that was the very first thing she invited his brothers’ wives to do.
“Ma,” Dante said, hoping his displeasure and warning was clear.
There wouldn’t be a thing he could do about his mother’s disapproval, but he couldn’t stand for Cecelia to disrespect Catrina, especially not in front of others. If people saw his mother treating his future wife in a less than appropriate way, they would assume Catrina was unsuitable and act the same toward her.
Catrina shook her head slightly, tugging on Dante’s hand gently to catch his attention. “It’s fine, Dante. The house is beautiful, and I wanted to see the property in the back, anyway. Come find me when you’re ready. Okay?”
“Sure.”
Dante waited until he knew Catrina would be out of hearing range before he rounded on his mother.
“What was that, Ma?” Dante asked, his tone edged sharp like the blade of a knife.
Cecelia turned to bend down and check her oven, seemingly unbothered by her son’s anger. “I don’t know what you mean, Dante.”
“That, with Catrina. What in the fuck—”
“Watch it,” Antony muttered darkly, cocking a dark brow in caution.
Dante ignored his father. He was twenty-eight-years-old for Christ’s sake; he wasn’t going to tread around his father on light feet anymore. Antony would have to suck it up and deal with it. After all, he was the one who pushed Dante from his side.
But Dante was surprised as hell that his mother said nothing about foul language being used in her kitchen. That wasn’t like her at all. When did he get dropped into the goddamn Twilight Zone?
His brothers and their wives had all but turned into stone, each sporting a mask of confusion and shock. No doubt they were just as unsure about Cecelia’s strange manners as Dante was.
Cecelia popped back up, closing the oven door and tossing a dish towel to the counter. “Have you two picked a date?”
Dante blinked at the complete one-eighty his mother seemed to turn with that one question. “Seven weeks.”
“So soon,” Cecelia said quietly, giving Antony a look from across the room that voiced her unhidden displeasure.
Antony wouldn’t meet her gaze.
“There isn’t really a reason for us to hold it off and the sooner, the better,” Dante said.
“Oh?”
“Yes.”
“You’re cutting it terribly close to Lent,” Kim said.
Dante shrugged. “It’s after, so nothing stops the ceremony in that regard.”
Antony stood before sitting Johnathan in his bouncy chair. “Catholic doctrine requires six months couple’s counseling before a ceremony can be performed. You know this.”
“I’ll handle it,” Dante replied.
“How?” Cecelia asked.
“Lucian had his classes nearly tripled weekly to have his wedding when he wanted.”
“I still did the classes,” Lucian put in.
“And I needed to have my finishing rites before we could even begin the classes,” Jordyn said.
Dante waved them off. “Giovanni didn’t get married in the church at all and didn’t have any trouble getting his marriage recognized by the bishop after you stepped in. It took you what, two weeks to get their marriage validated in the eyes of the church, Ma?”
Cecelia’s gaze narrowed. “That wasn’t the same and you know it.”
Gio looked like he wanted to skip out of the room and as quickly as possible. “Keep my marriage out of this.”
“Yes, please,” Kim muttered as she rinsed off diced potatoes.
“I won’t be asking Father Peter to ignore the required counseling, Dante,” Cecelia said.
Dante shrugged. “I didn’t say you had to. I said I would handle it.”
“And I asked how.”
“In whatever way I want to, Ma. It’s like this, either you want me married in our church by the man who christened me or you don’t. If you don’t, then that’s fine. I’ll have the ceremony elsewhere and get a convalidation of marriage afterward. Honestly, that’d be a hell of a lot easier, and my marriage to Catrina won’t be any less official by law because of where it takes place. That’s all I need, Ma, just a marriage certificate and then everyone else will be satisfied I’ve done what they wanted.”
Cecelia scowled. “Exactly, Dante. Everyone else will be so pleased.”
“Dante has a point, Ma,” Giov
anni said. “His marriage can happen anywhere. And he’s considered devout to the church. His convalidation will be easily granted with or without your input. I don’t know what you want—”
“Shush,” Cecelia ordered. “I am aware, but that doesn’t mean I agree.”
“You don’t have to,” Dante said.
“Catrina seems … nice,” Jordyn said softly, shrugging.
“Sure, if you’ve never seen her in action,” Dante replied.
Lucian sighed, eyeing his wife. “Bella mia, Catrina is not your usual Catholic Italian, despite her accent and seemingly innocent face.”
“So I’ve heard as well,” Cecelia muttered, never taking her gaze off Dante.
“Is that your problem, Ma?” he asked.
“No. Look at my husband, Dante. Do you truly think that is what would bother me about her?”
“I don’t understand,” Kim said, giving Gio a look. “What’s wrong with her?”
“For our kind of family? Not a lot, really. She’s a Queen Pin, so the girl ought to fit right in at the dinner table without feeling out of place.”
“Gio,” Dante growled.
“Listen, asshole, my priorities don’t include lying to my wife.”
“Seriously?” Jordyn asked, her jaw falling slack. “Like, top of the food chain drug dealer?”
“Sì,” Antony answered before anyone else could. “She’s a very popular and successful one in her business because of her higher end clientele. That’s not to say she doesn’t have people on the streets, because clearly she does. Which was how she came to Dante’s attention in the first place. At her age and without a family backing her trade, her accomplishments are quite a feat.”
Antony flicked his hand in Jordyn and Kim’s direction. “Now, move on from Catrina’s profession please. We don’t discuss business in the kitchen inside this home.”
“Sorry,” Kim and Jordyn mumbled together.
“Catrina is a hellish woman that I wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley,” Giovanni said, making Lucian chuckle. “But she’s exactly what Dante needs, both in his private life and business.”
“Let’s disagree on the private life, but I’ll give you the business side of things,” Dante said.