Page 103 of Now and Forever

My mouth went dry. “Oh, I’m sorry. Why would he do that?”

“He hated her. He thought that having her with me was a sign of weakness.”

“How did Vincent die?”

“Faster and easier than he deserved.”

I didn’t know how to respond.

Dario went on, “His mistress shot him with his own gun. She got tired of being used and abused. The police have come and gone. It’s a simple case of domestic abuse and self-defense.” He shrugged. “Tommaso had to decide if he would stand behind his sister. He knows his time as consigliere is over. The jury is still out on his future.” Dario tugged me closer to his side, the clouds in his gaze dissipating. “As I was saying, Armando told me how you saved the day, knifing that scum, Rocco.”

“Jasmine created the distraction.” I smiled. “It was a team effort.”

We could hear voices coming from upstairs. My circulation quickened at the sound of my brother’s voice. He was asking about me. “Thank you for allowing my family here in your home. Does that mean you trust them?”

“Ourhome.” Dario kissed my forehead. “It means I realized that for this alliance to work, we need more than a wedding; we need a true partnership.”

“What does that mean about our marriage?”

“Cat, our marriage is the foundation. It’s a fucking strong foundation.”

I turned to face him and looked up. “I was scared I’d never get the chance to tell you something.”

“What was that?”

“I love you, Dario. It’s okay if you can’t tell me how you feel. This marriage wasn’t founded on love, but I can’t help that I do love you—allof you.” When he didn’t answer, I went on. “I love the you who’s been good to me and the you who took care of business last night and today.” A grin came to my lips as I took in his freshly washed hair. “I understand that you want to shield me from the filthy parts of what you do but know they don’t scare me. My only fear was losing you.”

Dario inhaled. “I didn’t think it was possible. In my world love is a weakness. Last night, I came to the conclusion that you and Jasmine are my weaknesses.”

I tried to speak, but Dario placed his finger over my lips.

“In two different ways. I do consider her a daughter.” His eyebrows danced. “I have less platonic thoughts about you.”

Warmth flooded my cheeks.

“As capo, I accept that. While loving the two of you gives my enemies targets, I know that I’ll do everything within my power…within my realm to keep you both safe.” He lowered his finger.

“We know that.”

He tilted his head toward the staircase. “If we don’t go up there soon, I think your brother may come down here.”

Wrapping my arms around Dario’s torso, I squeezed, inhaling his fresh scent as my cheek laid against his clean button-down shirt. “I love you.” Releasing the words filled me with hope for our future.

Dario lifted my chin with his thumb and finger. “You’re mine, Catalina, from now and forever. I won’t say it enough, but never doubt that you have my love.”

Epilogue~

Dario

Three months later

I woke with my body wrapped around Catalina, spooning her, my front to her back. Her long hair tickled my nose. My hard cock ached with my need for the woman in my arms. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. In the five months since our wedding, she’d managed to break down the walls I’d placed around my heart. It wasn’t only my desire for her body. It was visceral need I had to be in her light.

That’s what Catalina was to me, a shining light—a beacon—in the darkness of my life. After losing Josie, I made the decision to never open up to anyone else. The marriage was to be part of the alliance, nothing more. There was no way for me to fathom what this woman would do to me.

I’d seen a fire in her based on her determination to continue her education. That was rare in our world. Most of the women in the famiglia were content to be married, pampered, and kept. While some weren’t content, they willingly reaped the benefits of their husband’s wealth.

Catalina surprised me at every turn.

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