We say no more on the subject as Caterina rejoins us. I pull her against me, inhaling her sweet vanilla and clove scent and feeling happier than I could possibly deserve. I look forward to taking her to our hotel room but, for now, I’ll tolerate a little more time with my brothers-in-law for the sake of her happiness.
38
Caterina
The young guard from my parents’ house drives us to our hotel (after Alessio has threatened him within an inch of his life for allowing me to coerce him to bring me to Nico’s), and we’re alone in the backseat. “I wanted to believe it would work out this way, but I’m still afraid this is a dream I’ll wake up from.”
“I want to believe you’ll learn a bit of self-preservation in the future before you barge into a meeting like that again,” Alessio grumbles from beside me. I lean my head against his shoulder, too happy to mind his grumbling. “Do you have any idea how risky that was?”
I have to bite my lip to fight the insane urge to giggle at the question. It was madness, especially knowing how traditional the Don is, but Alessio seems to bring out a bit of madness in me. “I couldn’t stay away, Alessio. I love you too much to wait in the wings. And to be fair, it was my brother’s house I was barging into. I know you want to protect me at every turn but-”
“But you are strong and not content to stay behind sometimes.” I close my mouth despite my surprise over his words. He pulls my hand into his lap, lightly stroking the inside of my wrist where a billion nerve-endings must reside. “You said you wanted a purpose beyond being Mrs. De Luca. Do you still feel that way?”
“Yes,” I answer, a breathy exhale.
“So what did you have in mind?”
I figured he would tell me what I might do, not that he would ask. “I… I don’t know for certain. I’m not sure what I’m good at. I haven’t been to college, and I don’t have any special degrees or training.”
“Navigating life in the mafia isn’t something they hand out degrees for, Caterina. You have good instincts. Usually. You read people well. Usually. You are hard to say no to. When it comes to me at least. You may know how to fire a gun and handle a knife, but there’s no way I’m putting you in harm’s way.”
“I know that. I told you I don’t want to do the things you must do.”
“Though you are very smart, many of my men will always underestimate you simply based on your sex. I cannot name you my Consigliere. They would question my judgement too much.”
I’m shocked he would even suggest such an important role. “Of course, you can’t. I’m not part of the Trio and could never be a Made Man anyway. Armando could be your Consigliere or perhaps a more seasoned man who you trust.”
He smiles knowingly at my gentle prodding. “Maybe both. Armando’s father is a wise man."
"From what I know of him, Giovanni strikes me as a good choice, and I think you would listen to his council."
"Yes, but he's still a soldier. It would ruffle many feathers, though it's time some things were changed. Perhaps I’ll have my own little trio of advisors. You will be part of it. I won’t involveyou in the dirty side of the business, and you will have no official title, but I will come to you from time to time seeking your counsel, and I’ll let it be known that I’m unafraid to do so.”
This time my jaw drops. It’s a very bold move. Many of the men who swear their loyalty to him will not like it. The more traditional ones will argue to his face while the plotters will scheme behind his back. But I know my husband, and I know he will silence them all with either logic or lethal force as required.
“As you are willing to make a break with tradition, I would like to help with some others,” I say at last.
“Explain.”
“It’s not the easiest life to be born into for us women either. We have no power, no say. I think it would be a nice start to a new era if the women in your territory knew they had a fellow woman who had their Capo’s ear who they might turn to with their concerns.”
“Their complaints, you mean.” I playfully smack his chest but it’s true. “I suppose you’d like to be that woman.”
“I would. Not having a voice is very hard, Alessio. If we are expected to raise your children and provide you refuge from your daily cares, we deserve better than just a pretty cage to grow old in, don’t we? We deserve better than to become a forgotten ghost story that’s only whispered about, too.” I hold my breath, knowing how hard it is for him to think about what happened to his mother. No matter what she planned behind Silvio’s back, it wasn’t right what he did to Stefania.
“You’re going to want to save every girl from an unwanted marriage if the groom doesn’t promise to treat her like a princess, aren’t you? You’d do away with the Seconda Notte, too, no doubt.”
I raise my chin and look him in the eye. “So what if I want to?”
He chuckles, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and kissing my forehead. “Traditions die very hard in our world, butyou may try. I would expect nothing less from the woman I fell in love with.”
Once the car pulls to a stop, he helps me out, leading me into the luxury hotel. The glass and gold elevator takes us up several floors, and my hopes rise with it. I’ll be realistic. Not every woman will feel comfortable opening up to the Capo’s wife. Not every husband and father will give them the chance to seek me out, but it may be the start of something good. I will try to be their advocate, and I love my husband all the more for being willing to let me try.
“I was thinking…” he says, drawing my attention back to him. “Once things are a bit more settled, where would you wish to go for a honeymoon?”
“A honeymoon?”
“My wife should have a proper honeymoon.”
