Chapter 4

Catalina

Two weeks flew by faster than I wanted them to. I tried to stay busy, pretending my life wasn’t about to change, pretending I was stable, not a kite about to be lost to the wind. With my degree, I wanted to interview at the art galleries, playing on Mama’s sentimental thoughts of me pursuing my dream.

Papá agreed to the interviews with the stipulation that actually accepting a job would be up to Dario. After the first interview, I canceled the others. If my husband allowed me to work, it wouldn’t be in Southern California. It would be in Kansas City.

There wasn’t much more I knew about my future husband than I had the night of my party. Using Papá’s computer, I found a few pictures of him. If I were auditioning him for a Hollywood role, I could admit to his good looks. Dario was downright handsome in the way that made your eyes scan his features, from his black wavy hair to his dark eyes, his prominent cheekbones, and his chiseled jaw. There was something dangerous about his presence as he nicely filled out his dark suits. I wondered if I didn’t know he was in the Mafia if I would guess.

As far as information about the man himself, I had a difficult time finding out more about him than the basics. The Luciano family was prominent in Kansas City and beyond. Dario would be heir to a fortune. One article was about their mansion in the Ozarks. At least the photos gave me an idea about my wedding venue.

While Papá dealt with cartel restaurants and clubs, it seemed the Lucianos had similar establishments under their umbrella of businesses. If it was the same as the cartel’s venues, they were mostly legal and a means for other less legal activity: laundering money, prostitution, and drug sales.

Personal information on Dario Luciano was virtually impossible to find.

The few intriguing articles I found were purely speculation and observation—handsome, single, and wealthy.

With each passing day, I wondered if he’d been married before or why a thirty-five-year-old bachelor wasn’t married before now. Maybe he didn’t prefer women. That behavior was commonly accepted outside the criminal organizations. Within the cartel, it was an unacceptable weakness. I didn’t know about the Mafia, but I doubted there were many gay made men.

The afternoon of the Lucianos’ visit, my little sister, Camila, sat on my bed, legs crossed, watching me as I tried on my dress for the big night. While I referred to her as my little sister, Camila was eighteen, and if Dario had preferred a younger wife, I have no doubt Patron would have willingly offered her in my stead.

“What if you don’t like him?” she asked.

“I don’t think that matters.” I gave her a sad look. “This isn’t about like or love.”

“I’m not marrying anyone unless I’m in love.”

Her conviction made me grin. “If Em and I have anything to say about it, you can do that.”

“But if it’s Papá…?” She looked up at me with round emerald eyes the color of mine.

“Papá does what he has to do. I’m not sure he’s happy about my engagement, but he didn’t have a choice.”  

“If I would have known, I would have walked into Papá’s office the night of your party and told Patron no.”

I shook my head. “You can’t do that. It reflects badly on Papá.”

Camila got off the bed and walked toward the windows. “Patron won’t be here tonight.” She turned to me with a sliver of hope in her expression. “Maybe you can talk to Dario and tell him you really don’t want to marry him.”

“Patron would be furious and take it out on Papá.” I spun toward the full-length mirror. Mama and I shopped for this dress together. While it was technically longer than the dress for my party, the last five inches were a sheer trumpet skirt with the same mesh panels for my neckline and back. Despite it being a bit more modest, the curve-skimming cut showed that I was a woman with the accompanying shape. With my five-foot-six height, the dress also showed enough leg.

“You look pretty,” Camila said, tilting her head. “Just think, next year at this time, you won’t be able to wear a dress like that.”

“Why?”

“Kansas City in December. You’ll be dressed like an Eskimo.”

Picking up a toss pillow, I threw it her direction. “Stop it. I would just need a coat to wear over it.”

“I’m going to miss you.”

Swallowing a lump in my throat, I shook my head. “Not yet. I’m not leaving here until it’s the last minute. Maybe I’ll catch a plane to the Ozarks a few hours before the wedding.”

Camila laughed as the bedroom door opened and Mama came in. Her gaze was completely on me. “Oh, Cat, you’re stunning.”

“Are they here?” I asked nervously.

“Luis received word from their security team that they’d landed.”

Luis was Papá’s head of security. I took a deep breath. “How does Papá feel about Italian Mafia in our home?”

Mama turned toward Camila.

“She’s eighteen,” I said. “She knows what’s happening.”

“He hasn’t said,” Mama replied before lowering her voice. “Your brother, on the other hand, isn’t happy. He’s had Luis and Miguel double the guards on the outside. Em’s concerned about how many men they’ll bring.”

Why does every encounter have to be a game of chess?

“Of course, the capo and his eldest son couldn’t travel without bodyguards.” Miguel had been my and Camila’s bodyguard since we were children. Originally, he’d also watched Em. Now he answered to him.

Times changed.

“Your father wants you to meet Dario before meeting the rest of his family; however, Patron said it wasn’t right to exclude Vincent.”

Even from a thousand miles away, Patron was running our evening.

“Does that mean Papá wants me to be downstairs when they arrive?”

“No, Lola will come for you when the men go to the office.”

My eyes widened. “You won’t be there?” I was a twenty-three-year-old woman, but I found security in having my mother present.

“Andrés said no.”

My breasts pressed against the bodice of my dress. In less than six months I’d be married to Dario, living with him far away from my family. He said he wanted to marry a woman, not a child. While I didn’t like my thought process, I knew Papá was right. I needed to face Dario as a capable woman.

“Camila,” Mama said, “would you please go change for dinner?”

My sister met my gaze. “You’re about to get the sex talk.”

“Camila,” Mama scolded.

After my sister left my room, closing the door behind her, Mama took my hands in hers and met my stare. “Cat, according to your father, no one has questioned your virginity.”

“Mama.”

She stood taller. “It’s important, especially to a family like the Lucianos. It’s why most men choose younger women to marry. I’m not asking you if you’ve saved yourself.”

My lips were sealed, wondering where she was going with this.

“I’m imploring you to tell Dario that you are pure. If you don’t marry in a white dress, it could reflect poorly on Dario and as the future capo, he doesn’t need that.”

I am a virgin. Those words were on the tip of my tongue. Instead, I asked, “Are you telling me to lie to my husband?”

Mama pursed her lips as disappointment shone in her eyes. “I’m suggesting that you start your relationship fresh. There are causes for the rupture of a hymen besides sex.”

“Is anyone asking Dario the same questions?”

Mama stood taller. “Men have needs.”

“And women don’t?” I asked.

“That’s not what I mean. The Lucianos are a respected family.”

“I’ve never had sex,” I said truthfully. “I’ve never had the opportunity.” Well, other than Aléjandro’s disgusting offer. “And I guess I wanted it to be special.”

Joy and relief radiated from my mother’s expression. “You’ve always been a good girl, Catalina.” She squeezed my hands. “You never cease making me proud.”

A knock came to my door. Leaving Mama with her happy tears, I went to the door and opened it, finding Lola on the other side. “Señora Ruiz, Señor Andrés wants you to be present when the guests arrive.”

Mama nodded to Lola and smiled at me. As they left, I heard Mama asking about the preparations for the evening. She had a seven-course dinner planned for our VIP guests.

I paced around my room as I waited for my summons.

Finally, it came.

Miguel knocked on my door. Opening it, I met his familiar stare. “Have you met him?”

“Sí. He and Capo Luciano.”

“Did they bring a lot of guards as Em was concerned about?”

Miguel shrugged. “Each side is being cautious. It’s why I’m here to escort you.”

“Will you stay in the office with me?”

“Only if Dario’s man stays.”

I forced a smile. “Chess.” It was what Miguel always said. One could plan a few moves ahead, but it was important to always be ready for the opponent’s countermove.

“Sí,” he said with a smile.

The hallways were empty as Miguel and I made our way toward Papá’s office. The doors weren’t fully closed, and as we approached, I could hear male voices. While the conversation seemed pleasant enough, as soon as we entered the room, the tension was palpable. I scanned the faces—Papá, Em, Luis. That was where the familiarity ended. My breathing caught as I took in the other three men. Based on age, I believed the older man was Dario’s father, Vincent. The shorter man was about Dario’s age, and I recognized my future fiancé by the pictures I’d seen. He had the same handsome features I’d found in the photos, except in person, his presence seemed even more intimidating. If he was supposed to be happy about this evening, he hadn’t alerted his expression.

“Catalina,” Papá announced, gesturing for me to come closer. “Gentlemen, let me introduce my daughter, Catalina Ruiz.”

My flesh warmed, and I hoped I wasn’t blushing.

The older man took a step forward. “You’re lovely, Catalina. I am Vincent Luciano, and this is my son, Dario, and my son-in-law, Rocco.”

Dario was a head taller than Vincent and Rocco. The way Rocco looked at me, unashamedly scanning me from head to toe, made my stomach turn. I nodded to each one. “Hello.”

I don’t know if Dario saw Rocco’s lascivious look, but as he scowled, Rocco turned away.

“Shall we leave Dario and Catalina alone?” Vincent asked.

My pulse increased as the room emptied, leaving me alone with Dario.

Clasping my hands behind my back, I met Dario’s gaze. “Would you like to sit?”

He took two strides toward me, close enough for the spicy scent of his cologne to tickle my nose. I lifted my chin to maintain eye contact, wondering if he would reach out to touch me or hold my hand.

The tips of his lips curled slightly upward. “I was told of your beauty” —the baritone timbre of his voice reverberated through me— “Catalina. I must admit you’re even more gorgeous than I could imagine.”

My cheeks flamed from heat that I feared was also reddening my neck. “Thank you.”

He tilted his head. “Tell me the truth. Are you marrying me of your own free will?”

I inhaled, wanting to ask him the same question.

“You see,” he said, “in my world, women are often promised without their consent. I was told you were only recently informed of our plans.”

I lifted my chin. “Yes, Dario, I’m marrying you of my own free will. I understand the world in which I was born and loyally accept my duty.”

He nodded. “This is why I didn’t want to marry a child. Your understanding is appreciated. As mine, you’ll forever be safe and protected.”

Dario reached into his jacket, and I had a quick peek of a holster. Before I could give that more thought, he pulled out a small velvet box and opened it. Inside was a stunningly large round diamond solitaire on a white gold band. It didn’t have the filigree or small diamonds I’d seen on other rings. It was simple, stunning, and huge.

Dario plucked the ring from the satin lining. “Catalina, this ring has been in my family for generations. I’m honored that you’ve agreed to wear it, for now and forever.”

Is that a proposal?

I supposed it wasn’t. It was a confirmation of what had already been decided.

Dario’s words hit me as he placed the ring on my finger.

Now and forever.

Staring down at my left hand, I saw the ring for what it was meant to signify. It was the outward sign that I was now taken. As Dario said, I was his.

He reached for my fingers. His warm touch sent shivers throughout my body. I looked up.

“I want you to know,” he said, “that it’s all right with me if I’m not your first as long as I’m your last.”

Sex.

We were talking about sex as our second topic of conversation.

“Dario…”

He clenched his jaw. “For purposes that are only important to the famiglia, you will wear white, and I will swear on my life that it is merited.”

Swallowing all the words I considered saying, I nodded. “I will wear white.”

“We don’t need to speak of this again, and I trust you won’t share unnecessary information that would make anyone in my family question it.”

“This is just between us,” I said, unsure why I didn’t tell him the truth. Instead of reassuring my fiancé and asserting my purity as my mother suggested, I was lying by omission and letting him believe I wasn’t pure.

Dario offered me his arm. “I believe there’s a meal waiting for us downstairs.”

I obediently laid my hand on his arm. Despite my smile, I couldn’t fight the sadness that he hadn’t tried to do more than briefly hold my hand. No attempt at a kiss.

Swallowing that uncertainty, I walked alongside my fiancé out of the office, down the staircase, and into the dining room, where people were just beginning to sit. Mama had me seated at one end of the large table next to Camila. Dario’s mother, Arianna, and his sister, Mia, were also at the end with the women. Em, Papá, Dario, Vincent, and Rocco were seated at the other end.

Lola and Isla served the different courses.

The women congratulated me and took turns looking at my ring while the men ventured into conversations about their different organizations. I learned that Rocco was Mia’s husband. There was another brother, Dante, who was busy with business and unable to attend the engagement.

Not once during the meal did Dario turn my way. Yet more than once, I noticed my brother’s less-than-friendly expression as he assessed my new fiancé.