After I Fall

Ch 20: Lex

The way Caterina is looking at me—she's turned on from her defiant attitude in the office and now the look of lust and admiration swirling in her eyes. If I knew putting people in their place is what gets her turned on. I would have done that days ago. I want to punish that sweet cunt of hers. The sexual tension between us will soon boil over. I expected Caterina to be clingy—I did take her virginity.

I regret bringing back the Petrov because she is the reason Caterina hasn't become a needy bitch for my cock. The Petrov is distracting her, and I don't like it. Yet, Petrov has proven herself useful. Caterina has been texting her former employees at the docks. Routine check-ups, but nonetheless, I now know the exact location of each shipper for the Russians, Germans, and Mexicans. To my surprise, the Japanese have a container at her docks.

"Before I forget." I stop walking, pulling the black box out of my pocket. The ring had arrived the next day, but I've been holding onto it. I meant to give her the ring back in the office, but Caterina can never just sit down and shut up. Pissing me off is a sport to her and I lose my train of thought every time.

"What is it?" She takes the box out of my hand.

"Open it, and you will find out." I stuff my hands into my pocket. I scan the backyard and nod to some people looking our way. I can see my parents making their way toward us. "Just put the damn ring on." I look down at Caterina as she admires the engagement ring. "My parents are heading this way."

Turning her body slightly into mine, she slips the ring on her finger and the box back into my pocket. The ring looks perfect, especially on her finger. A strange possessive feeling washes over me. I don't dwell on nor acknowledge what it could be.

"Alexandro," My mother opens her arms, engulfing me in a hug. "And you must be Caterina." She pulls Caterina into a hug. I'm shocked. My mother isn't overly friendly to strangers. When Matteo brought home his wife-to-be, my mother disliked her. She stated she could tell that the woman would bring nothing but problems to our family. I believe that contributed to Matteo killing his bride-to-be—even though he was going to do it anyway. He wasn't ready to settle down.

"I'm Martina. Alexandro's mother." Mama steps back, giving Caterina a once-over. "Wow, you are stunning. I can't wait to see what our grandkids will look like." She tells my father, who hasn't once taken his eyes off Caterina.

"Papa," I warn him. It's no secret my father has a wandering eye. When I was seven, I caught him fucking our nanny at the time. As my brothers and I got older, we made sure father knew cheating on our mother was no longer allowed. He thought we were bluffing and found out the hard way. Matteo put a bullet in his shoulder, Rafael gave him a black eye, and I made him step down as Don. If he didn't, our mother would become a widow.

"Son, she looks like a true Donna." He wraps his arm around my mother's waist, averting his eyes to me. "I chose wisely."

"Mama, Papa. Caterina and I need to make our rounds. I promise to bring her back to you." I say more to Mama as her smile flatters.

"It was lovely to meet you both." Caterina smiles, placing her hand in the crook of my arm. "You didn't need to whisk me away because your papa liked what he saw. I'm not into married men. Your mother seems like a sweet woman."

"Don't be fooled by her looks. She is a great shot. I saw her assassinate people as if she was picking out groceries." My mother is sweet, yes, but she is deadly. Only a few know, but my mama was the head of the Valentino before getting pregnant with Freya. My father only became the Don because Mama wanted to focus on Freya and then the rest of us came along.

"As long as I stay on her good side. I'm fine."

We move around the backyard, greeting one family after the next. Every family but Caterina's. I don't see her father anywhere, but Erick is at a table with the De Lucas, sharing a laugh. I don't mention the lack of her family presence, but she did say her father was coming with the maid. My eyes catches the duo I didn't want together. Rafael and the Petrov. They're tucked away in the corner, and the conversation looks heated.