She was one woman I would never want to go up against.
“Bambina!” a woman’s cry surrounded us, making me look up as my arms tightened around Colin. Seeing a small woman with raven hair rush from the main house, I said nothing as Catarina cried, running into the woman’s embrace.
Sophia Demarco was a small woman. Standing only five-foot-two, her small frame hid the strong woman beneath. Her hair was the same color as Catarina’s. They were the spitting image of each other, right down to their cute button noses. I was hoping that Catarina’s parents would be here to welcome their daughter home when we arrived. Though I wasn’t sure what Giovanni told them, just seeing them here was enough for me.
I knew Cat would need her parents, her mother, especially as she got reacquainted with life in the family. Though we were not legally married, I planned on rectifying that situation as soon as possible. There were just things I needed to take care of first before that could happen.
Benito, Catarina’s father, walked over to the weeping women, wrapping his arms around them both. Like many Italian men, he was strong, capable, and dangerously protective of the women in his life. So, when Benito looked up and saw me, I wasn’t surprised when he scowled at me, warning me to do better.
I got the message loud and clear.
“Papa!” Cat cried while embracing her father as Giovanni and the rest of the family came out to welcome us home. Looking at all the smiling faces, I never really knew how big my family was. For a while, it was just Massacre and me, but being home, surrounded by everyone, I was taken back at exactly how many there were of us. I mean, there were a lot of us. I grew up here, for crying out loud, but seeing them all now, after everything that happened, it felt good…like I was finally home where I belonged.
My cousin Giovanni walked right over to me and asked. “Are you home for good?”
“We can talk about that later. I need to get Colin and Catarina settled.”
Giovanni said nothing more as he ushered everyone inside the large house.
Colin quickly adapted to his new surroundings. Of course, it helped that my mother, Cat’s parents, and cousins bought every damn toy known to man. The damn living room looked like fucking Disneyland on steroids. As for Catarina, it was like she never left. I’d never seen her more comfortable and relaxed. A sense of peace seemed to float around her as she laughed, hugged, and talked with everyone like her past had never happened.
If only that was true.
It was something I would never forget.
As it was, knowing that vile piece of shit was downstairs, stripped, chained, and probably already bleeding, did nothing to quell the churning anger that was slowly boiling inside me. I wouldn’t be able to rest for one minute while he was in this house, breathing the same air as my woman. Yet, watching her now, she was oblivious to whom my cousins had waited for me in the basement.
Looking at my watch, I noted the time.
It was going to be a while before I could have my fun.
I had to find a way to pass the time. If not, I was going to go mad.
“Reggie, let’s talk,” Giovanni said, getting to his feet.
Following him, I said nothing, not caring where he was taking me.
I just wanted five minutes with fuck-face downstairs.
Just five minutes to sage the rage building inside me.
Walking into his office, he closed the door behind me and ordered, “Sit down.”
Sitting, I leaned forward, my elbows on my knees as I examined my hands. I tried to get control of my breathing, but all it did was fuel my rage.
“I am having Giuseppe move Hughes.”
My head snapped up. “What?”
“Just to the warehouse. You will still have your revenge, but he can’t be in this house. You are about to blow Reginald. Having him here is not safe for anyone. We can all see the rage in you. What can I do to alleviate it?”
“I want him to pay.”
“And he will, but not right now. Now is the time to make sure your family is settled and taken care of. Right now, you need to spend time with your mother. Retribution will come, but not right now.”
“You don’t understand, Gio. What he did….”
“I know everything, cousin. I have received detailed files from Sypher, and I know everything. That’s why I had him brought here. There were things in Sypher's report that caught my attention. This man isn’t just yours to talk to. I’ve had Giuseppe with him ever since he’s arrived.”