Katherine
Jumping in my car, I start the engine and try to ignore the fact Antonio is following me. I turn the stereo up just as I Want to Break Free by Queen comes on. I soak in the lyrics, trying not to think about the pain I had seen in his eyes when I came out of the house. I had to quickly turn away so he wouldn’t see the tears filling my eyes. Winding the windows down, I try to get lost in the music as the fresh morning air washes over me.
I drive up the long driveway to the front steps of Dominic’s place and glance around at the manicured lawns and beautiful picture windows. It’s like stepping into a different world when I’m here. As I shift the car into park, I Was Made for Lovin' You by Kiss starts to play. I reach out, turn the car off and groan. Leaning forward, I bang my head against the steering wheel. What the hell was that? It's like even the radio station is trying to say something to me. Fuck. Pull it together, you got this. Serves me right for listening to the classic station.
I straighten myself, take a deep breath and flip the visor down to check my lipstick. That's when I notice Antonio sitting in his car behind me. Shit I hope he didn’t see my little performance. Stepping out of the car, I keep my back to him as I hurry up the steps and knock on the door. I sense him move up behind me and freeze as he puts his arm out. For a moment, I think he is going to touch me but instead he reaches for the door handle and opens it. I breathe in and inhale his scent. I catch myself leaning a little toward him. Pulling back, I take a quick glance at his face but he's not looking at me, his eyes are on the ground and I feel a pang in my heart knowing this is the way it has to be. Pushing my shoulders back I take a step forward.
“Kitten," he whispers and reaches out.
I hurriedly take another step and head inside before he has a chance to touch me. Fuck what would I do if he touched me? A shiver prickles my skin before I make a beeline toward the living room. Brooklyn is at the kitchen bench and I head straight for her.
“Something smells good, Dollface.”
Taking her eyes off the bowl where she is mixing something, she looks up and gives me a bright smile. “Kat, wow you look amazing.”
“You don’t look too bad yourself, Dollface."I step around the bench and give her a big hug
“Thanks, I feel great actually. It's as if a huge weight has been lifted off me, like I can finally breathe again.”
“I guess you've seen the news?”
Nodding her head, she stares through the glass doors with a smile on her face. I turn to see what she is looking at and notice Evie playing in the pool with Dominic. I turn back to Brooklyn and notice the shadows which usually dim her eyes are no longer there.
“I’ll just head out outside." Antonio’s deep voice comes from behind me and it runs through my body like a high voltage live wire.
“No worries, I think Dom wanted to talk to you." Brooklyn answers him before giving me a funny look.
I head to the sink and wash my hands, giving myself something to do.
“What do you need done?" I throw over my shoulder, not ready to look at Brooklyn just yet. I need a few moments to gather myself again. He didn’t even touch me, he wasn’t anywhere near me how can his voice affect me this way? I remember the whispers in the dark when he thought I was sleeping, the way his voice vibrated through my body.
I’m drawn from my rambling thoughts when Brooklyn speaks. “Do you want to talk?”
I turn, lean back against the sink and sigh. I really do want to confide in her but I can’t do it. I cannot unload my shit on my best friend when everything is starting to look up for her. I shake my head not trusting my voice to answer her.
“I’m not weak anymore, you can talk to me you know. We have been friends forever you can trust me." Her voice is low with almost a hurt edge to it.
“I have never thought you were weak Brooklyn and I know I can trust you."
“I was weak. I should have left sooner. I should have done something before it got so bad."
She wipes away the tears that have escaped and run over her cheeks. I pull her into my arms and we hug.
Stepping back, I lay my hands on her shoulders and give a reassuring squeeze. “You did what you thought was best in a shitty situation, I probably would have done the same as you if he had threatened my child. So, stop being so hard on yourself, it’s in the past and you can finally start moving forward. Be the woman you should have been, the woman I knew was hidden beneath the fear, babe." I sniff a little and pull her back into my arms.
Tears slide down my cheek when she whispers in my ear not to be too hard on myself, and when I’m ready to let go, she will be there to help pick up the pieces. I move away and we both wipe the tears from our eyes as Evie bounces in with Dominic and Antonio hot on her heels.
Dominic rounds the bench and pulls Brooklyn into his arms at the same time Evie jumps into my arms.
“Hey Babydoll, been good for mommy?”
“Yes," she replies with a bright smile.
I glance toward Brooklyn as Dominic speaks. happiness warms my body with the way he cares for Brooklyn and Evie.
“Is everything ok, Angel?" Dom asks my best friend.
“Everything is just fine Big Man." She stands on tiptoes and plants a kiss to his lips. “Kat and I are getting things ready for lunch. I was thinking, it’s such a nice day, maybe we could eat by the pool. What do you think?”
“Whatever makes you happy, Angel. Antonio and I have some business to go over and a few issues to sort out, then I’m all yours.”
“Oh, I like the sound of that." Brooklyn laughs as Dominic pulls her into his arms tighter.
I tune out the rest of their conversation, as much as I love seeing Brooklyn happy it hurts knowing I could never have what she has. I glance toward Antonio, he's leaning against the wall staring straight at me. I look away and hug Evie a little tighter in my arms.
“Hey Babydoll, do you want me to help you get some dry clothes on?”
Evie nods her head into my shoulder and in a small voice asks, “Aunty Kat, why were you and mommy crying?"
“Oh huni, they were happy tears, I promise." I kiss her forehead and head toward the stairs.
Antonio
I lean against the wall watching Kat. My eyes are drawn to her, she is an absolute vision even with tears in her eyes. I was relieved when she pulled into Dominic’s driveway because I would have probably ended up in jail if she'd actually been going to see another guy. When I parked the car and saw her rest her head on the steering wheel as if in distress, it took every ounce of control I had to stay put. This is going to test my patience, but I’m going to try my fucking hardest to give her the space she says she needs.
I notice the small plaster on her wrist, and I’m hoping to Christ it’s an old one. I can't bear the thought of something happening to her, I need her here with me. She probably thinks because the plaster is under her watch band that no one will notice, and maybe they won’t, but I do. I notice everything about her, from the way her hips swing as she walks, to the sway of her hair. I know when her smile is fake and when it’s real, the way it reaches those sky blue eyes of hers. I’m startled from my thoughts when Dominic calls my name.
“Antonio."
“Si Boss."I nod and follow him to his office, close the door behind me and take a seat in front of his desk as he heads to the bar.
“Bevenda,"(drink) he holds up the scotch in his hand.
“Si grazie.”
I accept the glass he hands me, take a welcoming sip and relish in the familiar burn as it slides down my throat. I'm happy I’m actually able to feel something, instead of being numb and feeling nothing at all.
“Looks like you needed that brother.”
I nod because I don’t know what to say. How can I begin to explain something when I don’t have the slightest clue as to what the fuck happened? Dominic doesn't question my silence but pulls out a file and slides it across the desk toward me. I pick it up and flick through the pages.
“Johnny called me this morning." Dominic takes a gulp of his drink and frowns. "Joey beat the shit out of one of the Chinese's women. I can't believe the stronzo has the balls to do it and still call himself part of our family. He knows how I feel about the abuse of women. He knows I don't tolerate it. You need to track him down and deal with him for good. I want him gone, understand?"
“Fuck, si I understand. But, what’s this guy got to do with it?" I hold up the file in my hands.
“Theo tracked him down this morning as the last known person to have contact with Joey. I want you to find him and if he doesn’t give you what you need take him to the docks.”
I nod before standing and drink the rest of my drink. After placing the glass on the bar, I turn and head for the doors, pausing when Dom calls out.
“Capo Bastone, I need it done today. We don’t need the extra shit going on right now. And while I think of it, now that piece of shit Darren is dead, we can ease back on the security on Katherine.”
My stomach twists at the thought of not being close to my Kitten anymore, but maybe it’s for the best.
“Si Boss" I nod and head toward the kitchen where I hear laughter coming from the girls. I pause in my tracks, there is no point going in there so, I turn and head for the front door. I need to get this shit sorted out and maybe that will give Katherine enough time to? To what? I don’t fucken know.