*Elio*
‘Well,’ I thought numbly to myself, ‘that’s one way of getting rid of a raging hard-on.’
I weaved my way through the small cluster of people to get to the private office toward the back of the house. I hadn’t the slightest idea what Alessandro needed to talk to about, and honestly, I didn’t really have much focus to give at the mont.
Today had already felt like a whirlwind of emotions. I’d been excited that everyone was willing to co out to celebrate the news of becoming the new Don in the States, only to then have my father pop whatever bubble of elation I’d felt.
His words from earlier still felt like lead in my stomach. I should have known better than to think I could delay telling him anything. I rolled my eyes in bitter exhaustion... as if anything was capable of getting past his notice.
I just hadn’t thought it would happen so soon. I’d thought I’d at least get my feet wet in the new business with Antonio and prove to my dad that I had everything under control and that he didn’t need to feel so negatively about my position. But it didn’t matter, it seed.
And Cat’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect. At first, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be around anyone. Whenever it ca to facing my dad with an open-ended issue, I wasn’t exactly the easiest person to be around. But Cat saw right through my anger and refused to leave to face it alone.
It should’ve been considered illegal how much I loved this woman. She truly knew how to make feel better, and she also got heavily aroused within seconds. I wasn’t kidding when I made that salacious remark about bending her over the hood of so car, and I had to try not to think about it as I kept walking toward my eting with Alessandro.
Cat knew just the right way to grab my attention and rile up at the sa ti. As appreciative as I was for everyone’s support in , I was really looking forward to the end of the evening when I could finally get Cat all to myself again.
I finally made it to my office and quietly slipped inside to find Alessandro waiting for . I closed the door behind and was instantly handed a glass of bourbon.
I cracked an amused smile. “You wanted to speak to ?” I asked.
Alessandro’s features softened while he let out a deep chuckle.
“I wanted to properly congratulate you for tonight,” he said evenly. “I’m happy that I finally have soone I can trust should things ever go wrong....”
My brows pulled together as his voice trailed off.
“What do you an?” I questioned.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about the sudden change in his tone, having just been congratulated. Sothing solemn passed over Alessandro’s face that caused an unsettling feeling to creep down my spine like a cold hand.
Oh.
“Believe , it’s not a topic one likes to harp on,” he explained. “But it is sothing that needs to be thought out just in case, you know?”
I nodded my head while still trying to gain control of my thoughts. Of all the things to be discussed, this had to have been the last on my ntal list.
“So, as I was saying, should things go wrong, at least I know I have soone reliable and level-headed to step in for .”
To say I was stunned was, in fact, an understatent. I was certain that Alessandro had dozens of other guys who were more than capable of stepping in to take his place should the need ever arise. Yet here he was, suggesting that I was the man he wanted for the position.
“In fact, I think it would be just easier to say that I want you to take over if anything should happen to ,” he stated firmly.
It was a strange mixture of astonishnt and pride that filled my chest. I briefly struggled to find the right words.
“I... well, what can I say? I’d be honored to,” I told him.
Alessandro patted my shoulder and smiled. We both took a tentative sip from our glasses as though we had given a silent toast of sorts. It was one thing to be officially appointed as Alessandro’s counterpart here in the States, but to think that the man was insisting upon taking ‘his’ official place over in Italy... I felt like I’d slipped into a daze.
“But, what about Cat?”
She’d proven on nurous occasions that she was ready and willing to be a part of this sort of life. Granted, the matter left in a never-ending cycle of frustration and defeat. Every ti sothing potentially dangerous arose, I made it my job to make sure that the threat never touched her.
But then there was Caterina, who constantly claid that she needed to be involved. She refused to remain on the sidelines when things got hairy and by God, at tis it took years off my life.
Alessandro finished the remainder of his drink and nodded his head in understanding.
“I adore her tenacity,” he started. “And her willingness to be involved in every aspect of your life is nothing short of admirable.”
I recalled hearing stories from both my dad and a few other relatives about struggles that ca when trying to find the right woman. And the older I got, the more I ca to understand what they were all telling . This life was a lot to take on.
Cat truly had no idea how much it ant when I said that I was lucky to have her. Most won wouldn’t have given or my family’s background a second thought. She had proven herself to be part of the rare breed capable of embracing both the good and the bad when it was necessary.
I honestly couldn’t imagine myself to be with anyone else... ever.
Caterina Leone was it for .
For a brief mont, I truly thought that Alessandro and I were on the sa page when it ca to her. Unfortunately, his deanor shifted, making my muscles tense.
“It’s true, I think she’s a perfect match for you and this kind of life. However, it’s imperative to not let her beco too involved,” he noted, “at least from this point onward.”
My mouth fell open and a humorless laugh nearly escaped.
Fucking what?
Did he seriously think that there was so internal switch in my head that was going to make purposely push her aside?
I’d lost count of the number of tis Cat had verbally ripped in half because she discovered that I had kept things from her. She did not, by any ans, appreciate being kept in the dark.
I gave Alessandro a wavering glance.
“I don’t think that’s going to be possible,” I comnted.
“You’re going to have to make it possible then,” he countered. “I know she’s one for being hands-on in certain matters, but you need to make her realize that things are different now.”
I tilted my head down.
“Al—”
“This isn’t just a revenge tour anymore. This is a business.”
Alessandro understood and even comnded Cat’s need for involvent. But maybe that was because the business imdiately pertained to her. It was her father who’d been killed by Antonio, after all. So, of course there wasn’t this sudden need to keep her at a distance.
“Going forward, this position ans a hell of a lot more than just protecting her from potential enemies. Keeping her separated from this would save her from ever getting caught up with the law. Understand?”
I silently nodded my head as he went on.
“The less you tell her, the less likely she is to end up in jail should sothing go wrong.”
God, my stomach knotted at the thought of Cat being dragged off in handcuffs all because of her stubbornness to stay firmly by my side at all tis. Though nothing would have pleased more than to have a legitimate reason to finally keep her away from the business side of things, the very thought felt impossible to achieve.
Al must have noticed the strained look on my face. He reached out to rest his hand on my shoulder to snag my attention.
“Hey, look. I’m not expecting you to lie to her. Just slowly move her out of the active role she put herself in,” he said.
All I could do was nod my head. Honestly, I agreed with everything he was saying. I never wanted this part of my life to touch Cat. But sothing in the pit of my stomach told that this sort of endeavor was not going to end well.
I threw back whatever liquid was left in my glass and savored the bitter burn that lingered on the back of my throat.
I felt a desperate need to change the topic at hand. I’d find a way to deal with Cat, but what Al needed to know was where my father stood on all of this.
“I got a call from Dad earlier,” I told him. “Needless to say, he’s far from happy about my choice to be the Don here.”
Alessandro cast his gaze toward the far side of the room. “Yeah, I wasn’t going to ntion it at first, but Gio gave a call as well,” he admitted. “It’s no surprise why he’s so against this setup. After all that happened when he was Don, I’m sure he’s just thinking of your wellbeing.”
I scoffed while tightening my hold around my glass.
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t like the man’s been trying to keep my best interests in mind,” I said dryly.
Al offered a small smile. “Then allow to leave you with this bit of thought, yeah? When it cos to business like this, the only person you really need to listen to is yourself.”
Without so much as another word, Alessandro nodded his head and slipped out of the office. I should’ve followed after him, if not to speak more to him then to at least find Cat again.
‘Oh, God.’ My thoughts were crashing through my head. ‘What am I going to do about her?’
I wandered over to the antique bar cart and poured myself another drink. With slow, aningful sips, I recounted all that was told to . Al made a number of good points, but the million-dollar question still remained at the forefront of my mind.
How on earth was I going to do this to Cat?
‘Just slowly move her out of the active role she put herself in.’
Caterina was so strong-willed and smart, there was no way she wasn’t going to catch on to what would be happening around her. But Alessandro was right. At the end of it all, it was about keeping her safe. And there was nothing that I was going to allow to jeopardize that.
I hastily finished up my drink and made it out of my office, where I imdiately stumbled into Cat, her eyes were filled with curiosity as she spoke.
“What was all that about?” she asked.
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