“To grieve? She hasn’t seen James for over twenty-five fucking years, Joseph. What is there to grieve? He kicked her out when she told him the truth. She was better off without him,” I say, my anger now unleashed as I start destroying the room. Flipping the desk, throwing the chairs. Nothingis safe right now.
“She never stopped loving them, Luciano. He was her soulmate and how much time apart doesn’t matter—the grief will always be hard.” He places the last folders on the bar. “I will be back tomorrow morning to make it look like we are putting everything in place after Caterina’s death.” With that, he walks out the door, leaving me alone amongst the mess I’ve just created in the office.
What just happened? She can’t leave us. I won’t let her. I storm out of the office and up to Caterina’s suite. I knock on the door, but no answer. “Caterina?” I open the door and yell out, “Caterina?” Still no response. I have never dared to enter her room before, but today I need to find her. But she isn’t here.
I’m running down the stairs and nearly collide with Rosa. “Slow down, Luciano,” she calmly says to me.
“Where is Caterina?” I demand.
She gently pats my chest, reassuringly. “She just left. She needs some time alone.” How is she okay with this?
I push past her and run out the front door. Yelling at the soldiers stationed at the door, “Get me a fucking car, right now.”
But I’m too late. She’s already disappeared.
37
Charlie
Iwake up and instantly know something’s off. This isn’t my bed. Whose arm is wrapped around me? My brain’s foggy, like someone hit the reset button and forgot to save. No clue how I even got here. I look around me. The room screams luxury—a master suite, by the look of it. I push myself up, every muscle protesting, my head pounding, and see the arm belongs to Izzy. I give her a quick shove. She stirs slightly but doesn’t wake, so I decide it’s best to let her sleep.
I stumble downstairs to the kitchen and grab a coffee, my kind of lifeline right now. Leaning against the counter, I wait for this hellish hangover to drag me under.
Rosa walks in, eyes immediately locking on me. “Oh, Charlie,” she says, pulling me into a hug that’s too gentle. Her hand strokes my back, but I can feel the weight of everything unsaid. “I’ll make you my special smoothie. It’ll knock that hangover out in no time,” she promises, pulling back to study my wrecked face.
“Thanks,” I mutter, turning toward the door. But I stop and spin back. “Rosa, I would like to move into the master suite. Can you please ask Anna and Laura for our rooms to be swapped? Don’t put her belongings into storage just yet. I would like to go through them.”
She nods like she’s been waiting for me to say it. “Yes, dear. Anna and Laura already know.”
My jaw tightens. How the hell does she know everything? The whole charade is suffocating. I walk away, the weight of having to pretend crushing me.
In the office, I sink into Luciano’s chair, the one that usually holds his iron grip. This place, this throne, it’s mine now. Mattia slides in, scrunching his nose like he walked into a garbage dump. “You look awful,” he says bluntly.
“Gee, thanks. Real smooth,” I snap at him.
“Maybe shower? You reek of booze.”
“I get it.” I wave him off, my irritation starting to grow. “I fucked up and drank too much last night.”
He lounges himself into the chair in front of me. “How you holding up?”
“I’m fine. Where are the others?” I ask, looking for a distraction.
“At our place with Luciano.” I roll my eyes at his words. Of course, they’re loyal to a fault.
“Can you help me set up a meeting with the capos and soldiers?”
He raises an eyebrow. “What for?”
“Because I want to address them.”
“Is that smart?” he asks.
I slam my fist on the desk. “Can everyone stop babying me and let me run this my way?”
Mattia just nods, quickly backing out. “Got it, Red. Meeting’s on for this afternoon.”
I pick up my phone as he leaves the study and dial. “Joseph, can you be at the estate within the hour?”
