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Yeah, I understood their fucking language. I started taking lessons as soon as Umberto took me under his wing. It was part of my formation, he had said. Right then, I hated the fucking lingo. Something ugly turned and knotted in my gut seeing Roman and Catherinelle sharing it; another thing that made her so like them and made me so fucking different. This was her famiglia, her people. I was just the muscle who had to carry her around.
I was fine with my place in life. I accepted it when I was fucking seven years old, and I made it further than many of my enemies. Someday – maybe soon, maybe later – I’d die in peace because I went from the streets to live a life of luxury. I gained two brothers along the way, Roman and Gino, and bought myself a few good years with a gun in my hand. It started to become clear than on my dying bed, she would be my only regret.
If a whisper got out that I had dared to touch Catherinelle Nucci, Gino would cut my hand off. She was meant to marry someone great, with a name and loads of cash, an Italian pure bred. I bet they’d all go fucking nuts with joy if she’d walk in one day announcing she fell for Roman. The taste of jealousy felt strange and bitter in my mouth.
“You two wanna stay here and chat all night? I’m freezing my ass off,” I grunted and started walking to the house without waiting for an answer.
Roman caught up with us in a few strides.
“You don’t look so happy tonight, fratello.” It was true; he was my fratello giurato – my sworn brother – and unfortunately for me, he could see when I was in a mood.
“I don’t like these parties.” Which was partly true.
“Ah, come on! We’ll have a whiskey and smoke some Cubans. If you’re nice, I might introduce you to Maria, the concierge from the hotel I’m staying at. Long black hair, legs that run for miles.” He slapped me on the arm. “Just how you like them, my friend.”
A few days ago that proposal would have peaked my interest but not anymore. Cat gave a nasty look and frowned.
“You guys are disgusting. Hugo, take me inside.” I was glad to see the feeling was mutual.
All three of us walked to the front door where a young butler dressed like a penguin welcomed us. He took Roman’s coat and hat while I placed Cat on her own feet.
“Miss, can I take your coat?”
“Please,” she said, smiling and turned so he could take it off her shoulders.
The moment the fur came off her shoulders, my heart fucking stopped. There was no blood flowing in me, no air going into my lungs. All I saw were stunning legs and thigh-high boots, a neckline that uncovered the valley of round breasts, and Catherinelle looking like she was on a fucking red carpet. I thought she had picked a simple black dress; the thought that it might be split twice, revealing so much of her, didn’t cross my mind. I loved it and hated it at the same time.
Roman let out a long whistle and took her hand.
“Spin for us, carina.” He turned her around a couple of times. “Gino’s right to worry about you, you know? You turned into such a beautiful woman. We’ll have to chase men away from you with shotguns.”
She laughed and gave him a hug. A fucking hug. Her tits touched his chest. It took all my willpower to stay put and not push her back, drag her to the car and lock her in the trunk.
“Thank you, Roman. You’re too kind.”
“Nah, Cat-cat, you’re beautiful. Love you, kiddo.”
When the fuck did this turn into the Catherinelle-and-Roman-fucking-sentimental-show?
“Love you too.”
They had to be fucking kidding me. Before they got a chance to say wedding vows, the butler intervened.
“Go through the back glass doors to the tent.”
Roman and Catherinelle started in that direction, but I stopped her grabbing her elbow.
“Roman, go ahead, I have to make sure Catherinelle knows who’ll drive her back. I’ll be drinking.”
He looked at me with his eyebrows raised.
“O…k.” He put two fingers to his eyebrow. “See you in there, brother.”
As soon as he was out through the doors, I pushed Cat into a separate hallway.
“You don’t have to worry about driving. Caroline told me they have drivers on standby to take everyone home.”
“I don’t fucking care about driving back. I’ll walk if I have to.”
