Page 18 of Fix You

My fists clenched at my side. “Once the contract is signed, he will never raise a hand to you again. You have my word.”

Drea nodded appreciatively. “Let’s sign the contract now then.”

Turning around, we began walking to meet Edoardo. When we reached him, he glanced between Drea and me. “May we proceed to sign the contract now?”

Reaching over, I took Drea’s hand in mine. I slipped the enormous diamond on her finger. “Yes, we may proceed,” I replied.

Once the contract was signed, Edoardo gratefully didn’t request my presence any longer. He said his wife needed longer to plan our official engagement party. Not to mention he didn’t want anyone to think it was in poor taste to be celebrating while Caterina was missing.

As much as I hated to admit it, I appreciated his thoughtfulness. Father sure as hell hadn’t cared what it would look like to be celebrating my engagement while Caterina remained lost to her kidnappers.

At the same time, I couldn’t help feeling apprehensive. I didn’t like how he had lied to me about who Andrea really was. It made me wonder what else he would say or do to deceive me.

After I rejoined Leandro outside, we got in the SUV. He cocked his brows at me. “It’s a done deal, huh?”

“Yes. We just signed the contracts.”

He smacked my back with a wide grin. “Congratulations.”

“If you say so.”

“Despite the complete asshole of a future father-in-law, you’re a lucky bastard. Your bride felt like fucking heaven on me. And her fire?” He growled. “Mmm. Fuck me!”

When I didn’t respond, he cocked his head at me. “Did you hear what I said?”

Rolling my eyes, I replied, “How could I not?”

His brows rose in surprise. “You're not going to give me shit about fantasizing about your future wife’s epic tata’s?”

I snorted. “Why should I care?”

“Maybe because you punched me that time I kissed Kiara Delmonico under the mistletoe.”

“I was fucking her. Drea is nothing to me but an alliance.”

“Damn. You’re cold,” Leo mused.

With a sigh, I replied, “It’s just now that I’ve met her and Caruso, something doesn’t feel right.”

“You didn’t get to cop a feel. Trust me, buddy, everything feltfine.”

Glaring at him, I demanded, “Would you stop?”

“Fine. What doesn’t feel right?”

“Caruso blatantly lied to me about Drea’s obedience and submission.”

“Is that all? Seriously, Rafe, he was trying to sell you on her. You better believe Father did the same thing when he was luring Carmine in even though we both know Caterina doesn’t have an obedient or submissive bone in her body.”

“My worry is if he would lie about that, what else would he lie about?”

Leo’s dark brows furrowed. “Do you think his family isn’t as strong as he’s potentially professing to Father?”

Easing back in my seat, I shook my head. “No. The family is secure. Carusos’s oldest son, Antonio, is under contract to marry one of the Bianchi girls on his twenty-fifth birthday. If they weren’t who they say they were, there’s no way Dino would give away one of his daughters.”

When Father had come to me the other night about my marriage, I imagined it was with one of Dino’s daughters. The Bianchi’s were the most powerful family in Jersey, and it would’ve made sense to align ourselves with them.

Leo patted my shoulder. “It’s probably just cold feet you’re experiencing.”

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