“I meant what I said last night. Every word. I love you, Caitlin. I’m in love with you.”
“Matteo, I…”
He kissed me, stealing whatever words I’d been about to say. And the truth was, I didn’t know. I had so much going around in my head, it was very confusing.
But the second his lips touched mine, everything quieted. My soul rejoicing at being reunited with its other half. I wound my arms around Matteo’s neck, kissing him back with the same desperation and ferocity. Our tongues tangled, his hand drifting down my spine, forcing us closer.
But it wasn’t enough. I needed all of him. More than that, I needed him to need all of me.
“Cait,” he breathed, tearing his mouth from mine. Matteo inhaled a ragged breath, gazing down at me with such reverence I felt winded. “We should talk.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
“Go. I’ll be right there.”
On shaky legs, I managed to get to the couch, and sat down. Matteo made quick work of making the coffee and joined me.
“Thank you.” I accepted the mug from him, grateful for something to hold, to stop me from reaching for him. He was right, we needed to talk first. The rest, I hoped, would come later.
“What do you want to know?” I asked.
Matteo drew in a sharp breath and said, “Everything.”
Chapter 30
Matteo
Caitlin told me everything. She told me about her life growing up with Massimo. She told me about what he used to make her do, the way he’d make her dance and perform for his associates; sick men who got their kicks off watching a child dress up and play stripper. Then she told me how one day it went too far so she ran. Escaped Massimo, her junkie mom, and fucked up life and ran.
By the time she was done, I could barely contain my anger. My body trembled with rage as I stared at her, imagining what life had been like for her. How she’d escaped one monster, only to end up right in the arms of another.
It was almost too much to bear.
“Matt?” she whispered, blinking away the silent tears clinging to her lashes.
“Come here, Tink.” I pulled her into my arms, needing to feel her.
Caitlin was safe. She was safe and she was here. Nothing else mattered.
“I thought… when you said all those things, I thought I’d lost you…” Her walls shattered and she cried into my chest, violent sobs wracking her body.
“Shh, I got you.”
But it wasn’t only her I was worried about. A vortex of anger spiraled inside me, sucking my soul dry. What Massimo and DiMarco had done to her… what she had survived.
Caitlin wasn’t only strong; she was a fucking warrior, and she deserved so much more than the hand she’d been dealt.
“Gosh, look at me.” She pulled away, drying her eyes on the back of her hand. “I’m a mess.”
“You’re beautiful.” I pulled her hands away, using the pad of my thumb to swipe the remaining moisture away.
“What happened last night, Matt?” she asked.
“We thought DiMarco had taken you. But when we interrogated him, it became clear he didn’t know what we were talking about. Nicco had asked our investigator to look into you—”
“He had?” Her eyes went wide.
“Yes. I wasn’t happy about it, but I understood his motivations. I need you to know I trusted you, Cait. I have always trusted you.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m okay. I take it he found something?”
“Your mom… he managed to track her down after finding her number on your old cell phone records.”
“That’s how Massimo found me. He was watching me for a while.”
“Yes. He saw an opportunity to use you as leverage against DiMarco. But that plan went to shit when Zander hurt you and we found you in the hospital.”
I still couldn’t believe how many things had fallen into place to lead us to this moment. It was fate that had brought Caitlin back into my life, there was no other explanation.
“When we talked to Zander, he mentioned that Cabrioles had taken a shine to you at the club, so Nicco reached out to him in hopes that we could use him in negotiations with Lombardi. Luck was on our side, because he jumped at the chance to remove Lombardi from power. Turns out, he’s a very ambitious man who is keen to align himself with powerful players.”
“You mean the Marchetti,” she said, and a faint smile traced my lips.
“He agreed to double-cross his boss in exchange for control of DiMarco’s empire.”
“I… wow. I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, Tink. It’s over. Cabrioles proved himself and I think he was telling you the truth. He isn’t a bad guy, he’s just a guy caught up with bad people.”
“I’m so sorry, Matt. I never wanted to put you or your family in harm’s way. But I’d been running for almost five years, and I knew if I told you—”
“Hey, hey.” I ran my hand over her shoulder and squeezed gently. “It’s okay. Arabella is safe. You’re safe. Everything’s going to be okay now.”
Things could have ended very differently, I knew that. But they hadn’t, and I wasn’t about to punish Caitlin for something out of her control.
“Bella loves you,” I said. “She’s been blowing up my cell phone all morning desperate to see you.”
“S-she has?”
I nodded. “But I thought you’d want space.”
And I needed some time alone with you.
“I don’t know what to say. Everything you’ve done for me; the fact that I’m sitting here now. I owe you my life.”
I slid my palm along her cheek. “All I’m asking for is your heart.”
“It’s yours,” she breathed, leaning into my touch. “It’s been yours since that night eight months ago.”
Cautiously, I leaned in, ghosting my lips over Caitlin’s. Electricity sparked between us, the way it did whenever we were close. And I soaked it up, relished in the feel of her, her warmth and soft skin.
I loved this woman and I would spend my life showing her.
“What will happen to them?” Caitlin whispered against my lips. And I hated that these people were still between us. But she deserved closure. We both did.
Cupping her face, I stared her straight in the eyes as I said, “They die.”
“Are you sure about this?” I asked Caitlin as we pulled up outside one of the Family’s other cabins. This one wasn’t used for family getaways or laying low though. This was where we disposed of our problems.
“I am.” She gave me a weak smile. Neither of us were particularly looking forward to this, but we knew we needed to put the past behind us and move on.
Nicco, Enzo, and Luis were already waiting for us.
“Luis?” Caitlin leaped out of the car and straight into his arms. “Thank God you’re okay.”
“I’m sorry I failed you.” He dipped his head in apology.
“Never,” Caitlin said, squeezing his arm. “Tell him, Matt. Tell him it wasn’t his fault.”