“Not right now.” My voice firms. “We have a little time. Eat some food. Try to rest. Give yourself a break, Cat, and everything else will follow.”
She makes an incredulous sound. “I couldn’t even take my daggers when Gio offered them to me.”
I nudge her. “You seem to have discovered a penchant for steak knives, however.”
Her eyes glitter as she mock shoves me. “I need sharper ones. Not ones that bounce off people’s heads.”
But her face softens. “Real.”
Instead of answering, I lift up her hand. Press it against my chest, so she can hear the thumping of my heart inside my chest. “You hear that?”
She nods, and I cup her cheek. “My heart only beats like that for you.Ti amo, Caterina.”
And the weight in my chest lifts, when she whispers it back. “Ti amo, Stefan.”
After a few minutes, I climb off the bed, and she glances up at me. “Where are you going?”
My eyebrow lifts. “I heard something about a family lunch? I wouldn’t want to miss it.”
She grins at me then, even if it’s not as vibrant as it could be. “It’s an experience.”
“Well, then.” I help her up, and she moves to the wardrobe in the corner. “I want all of the experiences with you, Caterina Corvo. We may as well start with lunch.”
10 – Caterina
Stefan’s hand is tight around mine as we skirt around the piles of boxes in the entrance hall and walk into the bright, airy kitchen. The low murmur of conversation greets us, and I have to stop.
To take it in.
Luc is chopping something at the black granite counter, Gio leaning beside him with his arms crossed. Two beers sit on the counter beside them, icy cold droplets sliding down the glass bottles. Music is coming from somewhere, low and inviting.
And at the table—
Dante grins at me. “She’s very clever, ourfiglia.”
And he sounds soproudin that second that a lump appears in my throat. Slowly, I move my gaze to Alessia. She sits in his lap, her entire attention focused on the pasta heaped on the plate in front of her.
Every inch of space within two feet of her iscoveredin sauce.
Beside me, Stefano coughs in what sounds suspiciously like amusement.
Including Dante.
He doesn’t seem to care that his pristine white shirt is splattered with sauce. Even his face and neck are covered, what looks like small fingerprints spread out on his cheeks. Instead, he watches as Alessia reaches for another piece of pasta, squishing it between her fingers.
Her own face is covered in orange sauce. Some of her curls stick out with it, and she burbles to herself before she shoves the entire piece of pasta in and chews it thoughtfully.
I take a step forward without thinking, but she swallows without hesitation.
Slowly, I make my way around the table. Dante follows my movements, his smile fading as I take a seat opposite them.
Avoiding his gaze, I keep my eyes on Alessia. Watch every movement she makes, as Dante returns to feeding her – or trying to.
A glass of wine appears in front of me, and I look up at Luc. He still looks exhausted, but he offers me a smile as he passes a beer to Stefano. “I ordered some supplies. Including clothes. They’re in the hall.”
I glance down at the white shirt I’m wearing as a dress. “Thanks.”
His hand brushes against my shoulder before he returns to the meal. I glance to the door as Gio slides into the seat beside mine, watching Dante and Alessia. “Has anyone seen Dom?”
