I’m tempted to use a fake name, but I won’t do that to my kitten. “This is Valentina.”
Massimo’s pleasant façade doesn’t falter for a second, but I know him inside and out, same way he knows me, and he knows the name isn’t a coincidence. He knows who she is.
“These are my good friends, Massimo and his wife, Catarina.”
“My friends call me Cat.” Cat thrusts out her hand, shaking Valentina’s. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Valentina has composed herself, and her tone is confident, her expression cautious but friendly.
“Nice to meet you.” Massimo leans in, pressing a kiss to her cheek, and a growl tumbles from my lips unbidden.
Massimo quirks a brow while Cat is full-on beaming now. I stare at my buddy for a few beats before turning to Valentina. “Go to the bathroom, kitten. I’ll be right here when you come back.”
“Okay.” She grips the strap of her purse, moving to walk off, but I reel her back, clasping her face and kissing her deeply.
“Now you can go.” I tap her ass, fighting a smirk as her eyes narrow ever so slightly at me.
We watch her walk toward the bathroom in silence, and tension is thick in the air. As soon as she’s out of sight, Massimo rounds on me.
“What the hell is going on, Fiero?” He drags a hand through his hair. “Have you lost your goddamned mind?”
“It’s possible.”
“What don’t I know?” Cat’s confused gaze bounces between me and her husband.
“That’s Valentina Ferraro,” Massimo says. “She’s married to the Miami underboss who’s up to his fucking neck in secrets and debt to the cartel.”
Shock splays across her face. “She’s married, Fiero? What are you thinking?”
“I love her.” I just put it straight out there. I’m not going to bullshit them or insult their intelligence by using the excuse I took her to drill her for intel on her husband as it’s disrespectful to all parties and Massimo will never believe it now anyway.
Massimo almost keels over in shock. “What?”
“I. Love. Her.” I fold my arms over my chest and sharpen my gaze on him. “Didn’t think it would ever happen for me, but she stole my heart the second I saw her.”
“How long has this been going on?” my buddy asks, shoving his hands into the pockets of his dress pants.
“Not long, only a few days, and Dominic knows.”
“Okay, now I’m seriously intrigued.” Cat runs her hand up and down her husband’s arm in a soothing gesture.
“No hitting,” I preface before I give them a summary of what’s gone down.
Cat punches me in the gut the second I’ve finished explaining. “What is wrong with you?” She looks completely horrified. “You have railroaded that poor woman! How could you do something like that?” She shakes her head, and I’m not gonna lie, but the look of disgust on her face makes me feel ashamed. “I feel like I don’t know you at all, Fiero. You’ve always been so respectful towards women but this, this, sickens me.”
“I know it was an asshole move, but that was before. It’s different now, and everything that has happened between us is consensual. You do know me, Cat. You know I’d never force myself on any woman, no matter how I feel.”
“What kind of husband agrees to something like this?” she snaps as Massimo pulls her into his arms, offering comfort.
“You know what kind,mia amore.” Massimo smooths a hand down her long, wavy dark-blonde hair. “I’m pissed too, but we know Fiero. We know he’s been treating her like a queen, and there’s more to it than meets the eye.”
“I have and there is.” I glance over at the bathroom.
“She’s been in there a while. Can you check she’s okay?” I ask Cat. “Talk to her a bit. And then join us for dinner so we can explain it more fully.”
“We’ll do that,” Massimo says. “Cassio and Armis are at the house, they’ll watch the younger ones.”
Cat kisses Massimo, shooting me some serious stink eye before she stalks off toward the bathroom.
