AllFreeNovel
Share Us
28
“It’s about time,” Nicu piped up when I laid out my plan of how to win Cat back. “Finally, you’re manning up.”
I threw daggers at him with my eyes. My little brother existed to annoy me. Glimpsing over at Alex, who was sitting beside Tatum on one of the couches in my living room, I figured that was most likely how he felt about me. Good, annoying the hell out of each other was proof that everything was right in our world.
My nocturnal visit to Cat yesterday had been a revelation on several fronts. First off, I had no idea Cat could be so stubborn. In my hubris, it hadn’t crossed my mind that she would be anything but thrilled at my declaration. Considering the alternative was a lifelong marriage to Simu, I assumed she would fall on her knees with gratitude. Turned out, I was an idiot.
Her refusal revealed her integrity, which confirmed that her snooping had been an aberration of character. That she was willing to defy the blood bond and accept a life sentence with Simu was remarkable. And irritating as hell. I was hoping that she believed in me enough to know that I would protect her brother and set her free from Simu.
Cat was a sheltered teenage girl, and yet she stood up to the challenge, making a decision that carried a high toll of sacrifice. I was touched that she was partly motivated to protect me from Simu. I chuckled to myself. As if she could hold sway over a monster like him. The man had no soul. That, and the very idea that the fucker could get to me, were ludicrous.
After listening to her, I realized that I had come off as unfeeling and relentlessly focused on Simu. Since it was clear that nothing I said would change her mind, I decided on a tactical retreat. But I wasn’t giving up. It was obvious that she loved me, but she was scared. I could relate to that, so I’d prove myself to her. Not only would I fulfill her demand, but I’d raise her one. There was only one thing Cat cared about, outside of her family and me, and I was going to get it for her.
But first, we needed to set up a meeting with Nelu.
“He’s going to gut us,” Tatum predicted, rapping his fingers on his knee as he calculated the potential cost of my plan.
“Isn’t that the point,” I retorted.
We were going to ask Nelu to side with us and break the engagement with Simu. Since we’d be giving him enough money to satisfy most of his debt with the Hagi clan, there was no doubt it would work. After Nelu paid off what he could, Alex and I would fly out to Cali to negotiate with the Hagi boss for Cristo’s life. To pull this off, my brothers and the Popescus needed to believe that I was ready to go through with marrying Cat, which I was. Once Cristo was safe and I killed Simu (because that fucker was living on borrowed time), she and I would decide what was best for us. If she still wanted her freedom, I’d give it to her.
Alex side-eyed him. “Money’s not an object. It’s worth it, if only because it’s the first time Luca capitulated to one of my demands,” he said slyly.
“And we’ll do right by our custom of the blood bond,” Nicu added. “You can’t put a price on that.”
“You’re obsessed with this,” I complained.
“Hey, I’m not the one who fucked a mafie virgin. That was you,” he launched back at me.
“Alright already, let’s do this before something comes out of your mouth that makes me change my mind,” I snapped. “Or beat you to a pulp.”
“Ha, you wish,” he replied.
“I’ll set up the meeting,” Alex stated. “Simu is going to be furious. Our offer will satisfy Nelu, but no amount of money is going to placate Simu. This will be the second time you’ll have taken Cat from him. Only blood will satisfy him. Specifically, you bleeding to death.”
Tatum nodded in agreement. “Simu will leave us no choice. We’ll have to take him out.”
“If we do that, we’ll start a war. He’s like a son to Nelu,” Nicu argued.
Having thought about this long and hard through half the night, I proposed, “What if we set him up to come after me? Then, when I’m forced to kill him, it will be self-defense.”
Alex stroked his chin, thinking. “That might work, but he could also kill you in the process. Mama would never forgive us if you got offed, even if it was unintentional,” he teased.
“Ha ha, you’re a riot today. Nina must’ve been extra giving last night to put you in such a damn humorous mood,” I taunted.
A smug smile spread over his face. “Nina’s the most generous woman in the world. No one can top her, and yes, last night was particularly…enjoyable. I will never be accused of leaving my woman unsatisfied.”
“Yeah, were you fucking her against the front door or what? I could hear you in the hallway on my way home,” Tatum griped.
Alex guffawed and slapped his knee. “A gentleman never tells.”
“Christ,” muttered Nicu, clutching his head. “Stop already.”
“Wait until you find the right woman,” Alex challenged. “You’ll be more obsessed than the two of us combined.”
“Never happening,” he grumbled. “I will not end up neutered like you and Luca.”
“Famous last words, brother,” murmured Alex with a grin.
