Page 67 of Urgent Vows
"There is no loyalty in deception."
"You must be wrong about Sara. Francesco never complained about the change in brides."
I will ask my own mother about this, but it is clear that Lora has an idealized vision of her dead brother.
"I am not wrong. You saw for yourself what he did to Catalina."
"As I said, he had his reasons. It wasn't right, but he resented her for causing Sara's death."
I will not let this lie stand. It sickens me even more now than the first time I realized how Francesco had blamed his own cruelty on his innocent daughter. "Catalina didn't put Sara in the hospital a dozen times over the life of her marriage and she did not shove her mother down the stairs the day she died. Francesco did that and Catalina tried to save her mother but fell down with her instead."
"No, that's not right. Why would Catalina lie like this? My brother is dead. Speaking ill of him is just wrong."
I am done with this woman. "After the funeral, you and Giovi will return to Detroit. You no longer have a place in the New Yorkfamiglia. My mother will make the arrangements for the funeral and you will be informed its time and place."
I hang up to her squawks of protest.
Catalina believes her aunt and uncle love her. I'm furious with Lora for being so deluded about her brother. She justified his treatment of Catalina because he blamed her for Sara Jilani's death. Even if it were true, nothing could excuse a grown man beating a defenseless child.
The fact that it is a lie only makes it worse.
I call Luigi and instruct him to have Catalina's things retrieved from her room in the Jilani home. She is never going back to that place. I text my mother and tell her that under no circumstances do I want Lora or Giovi Revello to be alone with my wife.
I then text Aldo with the same instructions and add that I want whatever guard is with my wife to interfere by whatever means necessary if Lora begins speaking to Catalina about her mother, her father, or her sister.
I will not allow her to be hurt by her aunt's fantasy view of Francesco.
Chapter 22
SEVERU
I return to our suite to wake my wife.
Emilia offered to have one of the maids style Catalina's hair. I declined. Undoubtedly, the maid's ability will be useful before my wife's injuries heal completely, but today I want no one to touch Catalina except me.
Dark possessiveness rolls through me, and I make no attempt to force it to abate.She is mine.
I run her a bath, putting some of the anti-inflammatory Epsom salts into the water. I add bath oil so her delicate skin will not dry out before I return to the bedroom. I pull the duvet and sheet back, surprised when she does not stir. Lifting her into my arms, I revel in the feel of her soft naked body against me.
I'm still wearing the suit I put on earlier. Holding her naked while I am dressed sends a sexual thrill straight to my cock. I picture myself fucking her exactly like this, only unzipping my slacks and pulling my cock out to make it possible.
I force myself to save that fantasy for another time and carry her into the bathroom. I shake her a little, "Catalina, wake up."
She mumbles something and turns her face into my chest. She's so damn sweet.
I release her legs, letting them drop down, but I don't trust them to hold her up when she's like this, so I keep one arm around her. I manage to get my jacket, my tie and my shirt off before she stiffens like she's finally waking up.
"Severu? What are you doing?"
"Getting you in the bath." And trying to do it without dunking my bespoke suit.
"We showered earlier."
"You need to soak." I lift her legs again and take the final step to reach the jetted tub that is large enough for me to recline in. It's practically a swimming pool for her.
I lower her into the hot water.
She sighs. "Mmm, that feels good."
