“Luis knows,” Nicco reassured her. “Are you ready, Cait?”
She nodded.
“You’re looking good, cous.” Enzo pulled me in for a hug, clapping me on the back. “How is she?”
“Good,” I said quietly. “She’s… good.”
We’d spent two days off the grid at the other cabin. Two days sharing stories about our pasts and hopes for the future. Then I’d loved her, more times than I could count. I’d loved her not with words but my body.
We’d finally surfaced for air after Nicco called to inform me that everything was set.
“I’m happy for you, Matt.”
“Thanks.” I squeezed Enzo’s shoulder before rejoining my woman. She stepped into my body with easy familiarity, as if she belonged there.
And she did. Without a shadow of a doubt, Caitlin belonged with me.
“Let’s get this over with,” I said, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“It doesn’t have to be you,” Nicco said, grimly.
“Yes, it does.” I needed to look them both in the eyes one last time.
“You should be aware that Lombardi is… a mess,” Nicco told Cait, and I gauged her reaction.
She didn’t even flinch.
“Good. I hope it hurt.”
Enzo let out a low whistle as he followed us inside.
The cabin was cold, bare of furniture or décor. Fitting really for a man’s last few hours on Earth before he was forced to atone for his sins.
Caitlin stuck close to me as we moved deeper into the cabin, down the hall to the last bedroom. Inside, Lombardi and DiMarco were each tied to a chair, their mouths taped and ankles bound.
Nicco was right, Lombardi was a mess. One of his eyes was swollen shut and his lip was busted open. He’d obviously put up a fight… and lost. And a sick sense of satisfaction went through me. He deserved more, so much more, but it would have to do.
“Wake them,” I said. “I want to look them both in the eyes when I do it.”
Caitlin tugged on my hand, and I glanced down at her. “Wait over by the door with E, okay?”
“No, I want to be at your side when you...” She inhaled a sharp breath.
“Okay,” I said, withdrawing my pistol.
Luis roughly grabbed Lombardi’s head and the fucker cracked his eyes open. The second he saw the gun in my hand, he began thrashing against his restraints. Luis moved to DiMarco next, slapping his face. He woke with a start, his eyes immediately finding Caitlin and filling with relief.
He’d made his peace with this. But it still didn’t change the fact he’d hurt her.
“Caitlin, do you have anything you wish to say to them?” Nicco asked her.
“I…”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I’m right here. They can’t hurt you anymore.”
She stepped forward, steeling herself. “I will not let you define my future. After today, I won’t even give you a second thought. But today, today I hope you rot in hell.” Her eyes found mine and she nodded. “Do it.”
Two gunshots rang out in the small room, reverberating inside me as I watched their lifeless bodies slump in the chair.
It was done.
And Caitlin was right.
Once we walked out of here, I would never spare them a second thought.
“Cait!” Bella was on us the second we walked through the door, wrapping her slim arms around Caitlin’s waist. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Hey, Bella.” Cait hugged her back. “It’s good to see you.”
My sister jabbed me in my arm, and I frowned. “What the hell was that for?”
“That’s for making me wait to see her. Do you have any idea how hard it’s been?”
“Sorry, pulce. But I needed some time alone with her.”
“Whatever.” Bella rolled her eyes, lacing her arm through Cait’s. “I’m just glad you’re here now. Mama is making—”
“Sorry,” Cait mouthed over her shoulder as I watched Bella drag her toward the kitchen. I chuckled, my heart fit to burst at the sight of two of the most important women in my life all wrapped up in each other.
“Son.” My father came to greet me. “How is she?”
“Good, she’s good.”
“And you?”
“I’m getting there.”
He gave me an understanding nod. “I’m eager to meet the woman who has captured your heart, figlio mio.”
“You’re not angry?”
“Arabella is safe. You have your woman at your side. And Cabrioles will make a better business partner than DiMarco ever did. Things seemed to work themselves out for the best.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Now come, let us eat. Your mama is cooking up a storm.”
Why was I not surprised?
We found Caitlin, Bella, and Mom in the kitchen. Talking like old friends. Cait glanced up and smiled, and it was like a fist around my heart.
“I love you,” I mouthed.
“I love you too.” Her cheeks burned as Mom caught us.
“Oh, Michele, would you look at that.” She clutched her chest. “Our Matteo is all grown up and in love.”
“Okay, woman, let’s not embarrass the boy.” He got us both a beer and handed me one. “It’s nice to finally meet you, mia cara.”
“You too, Mr. Bellatoni.”
“Please, it’s Michele. I can’t be having my future daughter-in-law calling me Mr. Bellatoni, can I now?”
“Dibs on being bridesmaid.”
Caitlin’s eyes were the size of saucers as she gawked at my family.
“Welcome to the family,” I said around a knowing smile as I approached her.
“They’re very… welcoming.” Caitlin buried her face in my shoulder, laughing nervously.
“Hey.” I gently grabbed the back of her neck and steered her face to mine. “They might be joking, but I’m serious. I want that. One day, I want it all… with you.”
“Matt,” she let out a soft sigh, gazing up at me while my family continued planning our entire future around us.
“What do you say, Tink? Want to spend the rest of your life with me?”
“I… yes. Yes, I want it. So much.”
“Good.” I brushed my mouth against hers. “Because you’re mine now, Caitlin. And I don’t plan on ever letting you go.”
Epilogue
Matteo
Something fluttered over my hip bone, stirring me to life. “What the—”
Holy shit.
I must have died and gone to heaven because Caitlin’s mouth was on me, sucking me down like a popsicle she couldn’t get enough of.
“This is one hell of a wakeup call.” My hand slid into her hair as I thrust gently into her mouth, loving the way it felt.
“Good morning.” She grinned before flattening her tongue against my shaft and licking from root to tip.
“Fuck, Cait,” I breathed when she did some little tongue flick at the end.
“You like that?”
“I don’t like that, I fucking love that. But I’d love you riding my dick even more.” I pulled Cait up my body, and her legs fell to either side of my hips as she sat above me.