Page 25 of Fix You

“After Carmine, she hit the fucking jackpot with Callum,” Leo relented.

“Yes, she did.” I gave him a knowing look. “So despite how much we hate thebastardofor what he did, let’s play nice for Caterina’s sake.”

While Gianni nodded, Leo reluctantly muttered, “Fine. But only for Kitty Cat.”

I laughed. “Yes, only for Kitty Cat.”

Two hours after landing in Boston, I found myself on the rooftop of the palatial Kavanaugh mansion in the historic Beacon Hill district. With Irish folk music assaulting my ears, I surveyed the couples dancing. Curling my nose in disgust, I brought the glass of Irish whiskey in my hands to my lips. I don’t know why I wasn’t surprised by the limited choice of whiskey. Despite loathing the taste, I happily drowned the remaining alcohol to take the edge off of the day.

As I watched my sister dancing with her new husband, I had to admit how happy she was. Although I’d never wanted her kidnapped into marriage, I couldn’t ignore how much it had changed her life for the better. She’d never been truly happy in the convent, and now she had the chance to make all her dreams come true.

Despite our alliance, I hated giving Callum Kavanaugh credit for it. Sure, he wasn’t the total bastard I’d once thought him to be, and I would avoid putting a bullet in his head for theforeseeable future. But I still didn’t have to like the methods he chose to take Caterina as a wife.

When we first arrived, Caterina had insisted on joining our meeting. Of course, I balked at the idea since it went against tradition. Surprisingly, Callum had allowed her to attend on the bullshit pretense that she would be a “calming” influence on us. Despite the rocky start, the end result did set our minds at ease that she was indeed not his captive, and she very much wanted to be his wife.

Although I was glad to hear that part, I could’ve lived without hearing that they had already consummated the marriage. But once again Caterina assured me that it was her choice and what she wanted to do.

Like I had anticipated, Leo made it only a few minutes into our meeting with Callum before losing his shit. But in his defense, Callum had goaded him. Thankfully, he got a hold of himself. The result of our meeting had been very productive. Although it wasn’t an alliance I would’ve actively sought, it was going to be very beneficial for the both of us.

Once it had ended, we’d followed Callum from his office up to the rooftop terrace where the reception was taking place. That’s when I headed straight for the bar because I was in desperate need of a drink.

After breaking away from dancing with Callum, Caterina made a beeline over to the bar. “Callum told me the meeting between the four of you went well after I left.” Cocking her brows, she added, “Did it?”

I threw back my head with a laugh. “Already distrusting your new husband?”

With a scowl, she replied, “That’s not it at all.”

“Then why ask?”

“Because I thought he might’ve just told me that to make it easier on me.”

“No, he didn’t lie to you. We actually got along well.”

Her dark eyes lit up. “You did?”

Groaning, I replied, “Don’t get it in your head we were becoming–” I paused to make air quotes, “‘besties’ or some nonsense like that.”

Caterina gave an unladylike snort. “I would ask if you two were braiding each other's hair, but Callum’s is too short.”

A laugh burst from my lips at the thought. “I can assure you that will never fucking happen.”

As I turned to ask the bartender for another glass, a stunning woman caught my eye, and I froze with my glass mid-air. She was leaving the dance floor and heading for one of the tables laden down with food. The long strands of her auburn hair gleamed in the fading sunlight. The color was rare in my world, so it made sense she stuck out to me from the other guests.

Watching the rise and fall of her hips caused me to lick my lips. Of course, her rocking body definitely set her apart from the other women I’d seen. The shimmering green cocktail dress she wore clung to her ample curves and slid effortlessly over her skin. I hadn’t seen an ass so delectable since the last time I’d been in Sicily. Maybe she was the product of an Irish/Italian alliance.

Although I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t help asking Caterina, “Who is that woman over there in the green dress?”

Raising her hand, Caterina pointed at the woman. “Her?” When I nodded, she replied with a smile, “Oh, that’s Callum’s only sister, Maeve.”

Fanculo a me.The best-looking woman at the reception was a fucking Kavanaugh. Even if I hadn’t just signed a binding marital contract, Maeve would’ve been completely off-limits because of who she was. All five of the Kavanaugh brothers would’ve gotten in line to take a piece out of me for evening thinking such thoughts about their sister.

Of course, that just made my traitorous dick desire her all the more.

Tilting her head at me, Caterina asked, “Haven’t you been introduced?”

“No. So far, I’ve only met Callum.”

She smiled. “We’ll have to remedy that then. After all, you’ll be working with all of them in the alliance. Well, all except for Eamon I suppose since he’s only sixteen.”

---