Page 14 of He Found Me

“Special? But no ring?” The older woman eyeballs my ring finger.

“Leo hasn’t found anything quite special enough just yet, but he will; plus, Katherine isn’t a materialist like some people I know.” Mrs. Guerra gives both ladies a big smile. “If you’ll excuse us, we have very important people to speak to.”

We move to a seating area and are brought fresh drinks and canapes.

“Promise me, Katherine. As soon as you get the chance, speak to Leo about what happened with your mother and how you lost touch.”

“I will. I promise.”

“You remind me a little of myself, Katherine.” And that’s all she says as we are joined again by Leo and his father. His parents dismiss themselves, leaving us alone.

“You know, Leo, you didn’t have to force me to marry you to get me here. I would have jumped at the chance to meet up with you again,” Leo huffs a sarcastic laugh. I ignore him and continue.

“For years, I hoped we would bump into each other, I looked online for you a few years ago, but I didn’t find anything.”

Leo raises his eyebrow, looking at me more intensely but not saying a word.

“I have thought about you a lot, even dreamt about you.”

Leo stands.

“Enough talking. We have people we must speak to.”

I’m introduced to many people. Leo tries to keep the conversations in English, but they quickly turn to Italian. Most of it is boring small talk or business, but I have found out a few interesting facts. There’s something big happening tomorrow night, something which Leo wants to take the lead on, and the two ladies I met while with Mrs. Guerra are the mother and daughter of Leo’s father’s business partner. Although they all interact friendly enough, I sense there is some animosity between them.

It’s late when we return to the house. I had hoped I could finish our conversation, but Leo insists on being on his own. I get into bed, but my mind is in overdrive. I need to understand what is going on. I will let Leo have tonight, but tomorrow, I will insist he speaks to me and explains.

Chapter 7

Leo

Katherine’s excuses tonight have me thinking of the past. The painful memories I have chosen not to think about return to my mind in full force. The heartache and desperation I felt as a teenager when my contact with Katherine suddenly ended. She was my escape, my sense of calm that made my troubled life bearable. After months of unanswered letters and calls, I thought the worst had happened. It took me years to find her, but with the help of an investigator, I found an address. Immediately I travelled to England to find her. Knocking on the door of the address, my heart pounded. When there was no answer, a neighbour asked if she could help me. I explained I was looking for Katherine. She told me there was no Katherine living there, only a Katie and a Paul.

“Here they come now.” The lady had pointed to a couple walking arm in arm down the street. It was her. The realisation hit me hard. My Katherine had moved on.

She was living with another man and changed her name so I couldn’t find her.

My heart completely broke.

Leaving before she saw me, I threw up in someone’s front garden.

When I returned home, my life and family were in a state of war.

My older brother had been executed. He had been fed to the wolves by his fiancé. The person he loved and trusted the most had cruelly deceived him. Unbeknown to him, he had fallen in love with the daughter of my father’s biggest rival. After much disagreement, the fathers eventually held a truce so they could be together. But it was all a trick—a plan to break our family.

The night it happened, I was supposed to be with my brother. I should have been there to protect him. Things may have been very different. But I was not there; I was in England searching for a woman who had betrayed me. That was the moment I realised women were never to be trusted. They are liars and cheats. Fury builds inside me. I throw the bottle of scotch I am holding against the wall of my office.

I was not meant for this life. My brother was supposed to take over from my father, not me.

Marco appears at the door.

“Esci il cazzo!”Get the fuck out!

Marco is my cousin, friend, and underboss. He has been by my side since my brother passed. Guiding and training me, turning me into the Don I need to be. Unlike my brother, who was born to reign, I have had to fight against my natural instincts to become who I am today. But I will not let our legacy down. Our family has suffered enough. It is my duty.

It feels like whatever I do just isn’t good enough. Long-standing deals are being abolished. Trades and deliveries are being intercepted. Men are going rogue in their duties. There is a weak link somewhere which, for the life of me, I cannot find.

Father thinks I need to earn more respect. He has insisted I marry, start a family and continue the legacy. It was the last thing I wanted. I do not trust women.

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