Revenge (33 page)

Under his breath, he cursed Dom for putting
him in this position. If Dom had just kept his mouth shut, Enrico
could have kept Kate under wraps for a while longer, could have
given them both time to sort out how they felt about each other,
could have given her the option to leave.

But now that Don Battista was aware of Kate,
most likely so was La Provincia. Which meant Enrico’s judgment
would be called into question. He would have to account for his
actions. He’d endangered the
cosca
and started a war with
Carlo Andretti that probably wouldn’t end until one of them was
dead.

But he’d figure it out. He always did, didn’t
he?

Kate stirred, and Enrico had the pleasure of
watching her awaken. Her eyelids fluttered before opening, and she
took a deep breath, her nostrils flaring slightly. Then her green
eyes took him in. A moment of anxiety flashed through them before
she recovered and smiled. It was a definite improvement over
yesterday morning. “Hi,” she said, then bit her lip, her shy
gesture seeming most fetching to him.

“
Ciao
,
bella
.” He leaned over
and kissed the tip of her nose.

“How long have you been watching me?”

“Long enough to realize you are even more
amazing than I thought.”

“And all I was doing was sleeping. Imagine
how much more impressive I’ll be while awake.”

He gave her a wolfish grin. “I was thinking
about that. Debating whether to wake you.”

“You’re insatiable.” She smiled.

“It is all your fault.”

She arched a brow. “Blaming the woman for
your lack of self-control, are you?”

How right she was. That was how they’d ended
up in this mess. “If you were not constantly tempting me, I would
be a model of restraint.”

She chuckled. “I doubt it.”

He growled and lunged at her, pinning her to
the bed while he ravaged her with kisses. “I am such a beast, yes?”
he asked when she dissolved into giggles.

“A very ferocious one.” He rubbed his hard
cock against her and she bit her lip again, this time holding his
eyes suggestively. “Very ardent too.”

“As I said, it is all your fault.” He pressed
a kiss to her lips. Then he pulled back and looked at her a moment,
debating whether to tell her who he was. Was now the right time? Or
should he wait?

“What has you so serious all of a sudden?”
she asked.

He shook his head. He’d wait until he’d
spoken to Don Battista. Much depended on his counsel. “Our meeting
today with my godfather.”

She looked up at him, questions in her eyes,
then she said, “It means a lot to you, what he thinks of me,
doesn’t it?”

He nodded, his heart twisting as he wondered
where his own father was, what he would think of Kate. Enrico
wanted Rinaldo’s approval too. But it was Don Battista’s that
mattered most.

She stiffened underneath him. “Enrico, I
haven’t promised you anything. I haven’t decided to stay.”

“I know. But I want you to keep an open
mind.” When she nodded, he kissed her quickly, then rolled off the
bed, the easy mood between them broken. “We had better hurry. He
expects us for breakfast.”

They took a small motorboat around the
island, Enrico easily guiding it to a secluded inlet on the
northern shore. He tied off at the dock and helped Kate out of the
boat. They walked hand in hand toward a simple whitewashed house
nestled among a grove of palm trees. Sun streamed down on them, and
Kate was glad she’d chosen a light flowery dress that fluttered in
the breeze. Near the end of the dock, Enrico stopped short. “Can
you wait here a moment? There is something I want to discuss with
him.”

She frowned. “More secrets?”

“It is a business matter.”

“Why can’t I hear about it?”

“It is his business; he would not appreciate
me disclosing it to a stranger.” He gave her a pleading look. “It
will take only a moment.”

“All right.” She sat on one of the pilings,
watching him head toward the house. She didn’t like all these damn
secrets. She was going to force them out of him if she stayed.
If
she stayed.

Kate thought back to the sadness on his face
when they’d talked about this meeting, about his father. She’d been
afraid to say anything at that moment, afraid some quaver in her
voice would give her away.

Damn him. The way he’d been looking at her
then, he’d made her want to say yes, that she’d stay. That she’d
risk him breaking her heart. That she’d stand by him, that she’d
trust him to keep her safe from Carlo. But she was afraid to make
those promises, afraid to let him have her heart. Afraid to break
her resolution to leave.

Enrico found Don Battista on the stone patio
at the rear of the house. He was sipping espresso, and he put the
cup down when he saw Enrico. “Rico, my son,” he said, his wide
smile revealing the small gap in his upper teeth. He rose and
embraced Enrico, kissing him on the cheeks. “Where is this lovely
American of yours?”

“She’s on the dock. There’s something I need
to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“She doesn’t know who I am. What we are.”

The old don’s face turned stern. “Then why is
she here?”

“I wanted you to meet her. To give me your
opinion. I’m afraid….” He trailed off.

“Afraid of what?”

Enrico had trouble meeting his eyes. “I’m
afraid I don’t see her clearly.”

“How do you mean?”

“I can’t decide whether to tell her.”

Don Battista picked up the cup and took
another sip of the steaming liquid. “You know what it would mean if
she can’t accept it.”

The knot in Enrico’s stomach, the knot that
had been there all morning, tightened. “I can’t bear losing
her.”

“I’ll give you my opinion after we speak.
That is all I can do.” He set down the cup and put his hands on
Enrico’s shoulders, giving them a squeeze.

Enrico finally looked up, meeting his gaze.
“Thank you,
mio padrino
.”

Enrico seemed a little more relaxed when he
returned for Kate. Taking her hand, he escorted her to the back of
the house, where an older, somewhat heavyset man awaited them at a
table laden with covered dishes. He rose as they approached.

“
Padrino
,” Enrico said. “Allow me to
present Kate Andretti. Kate, this is my godfather, Vittorio
Battista.”

Vittorio stepped around the table and
extended his hands toward her. “At last we meet, Signora Andretti.
I have heard tales of your beauty, but they did not do you
justice.” He took the hand she offered in both of his and kissed
it.

Kate smiled and laughed. “If I didn’t know
you were Enrico’s godfather, I would have supposed you were his
father.” When he gave her a questioning look, she said, “You’re
both so very gallant.”

He looked at Enrico. “I do not know this
word?”

“She means you are a flirt.”

Vittorio grinned at her. “Ah yes, we share a
weakness for beautiful women.” He shrugged. “I hope you will
forgive me.”

“What is there to forgive?” she said,
enjoying the way his face creased up when he smiled. She could see
he’d been very handsome when he was young. He was still handsome
now, but in a distinguished way. He’d lost most of his hair, only a
short grayish fringe remaining around the back and sides, but the
look suited him. His thick salt and pepper moustache and
intelligent eyes gave him an air of vitality. Though he was at
least twice her age, he was far from dead.

Vittorio’s eyes twinkled. “Ah, now who is the
flirt?”

“I cannot help myself around a handsome man
either,” she said.

Enrico slipped his arm around her shoulders.
“You will make me jealous.”

She nudged him playfully with her hip. “I
only have eyes for you.” She surprised herself. It was true. When
had that happened?

They sat down and removed the metal covers
from the dishes. The meal was simple—cold cuts of various meats
alongside olives, cheeses, fresh fruit, and a small pastry. And of
course cups of rich, steaming espresso accompanied everything.

They chatted pleasantly while they ate,
Vittorio inquiring about Kate’s family and what she thought of
Italy. She kept her remarks light and positive, not wanting to
trouble the man. He accepted what she said without comment, then he
surprised her. “
Signora
, I must extend you my regrets
regarding what happened with your husband.”

“Please, call me Kate. And there is no need
to apologize.”

“It was a terrible thing, and I have had some
involvement in the matter.”

“Oh?”

Enrico gave him a look she couldn’t read, but
Vittorio didn’t seem to acknowledge it. “The conflict with the
Andrettis dates back many years. It stems partly from my advice to
Enrico’s father.”

Interesting. “What was your advice?”

“I thought he could do business with Andretti
without getting hurt. I was wrong.”

“You knew who Carlo Andretti is? That he’s a
mobster?”

Vittorio nodded. “I thought he was a
reasonable man. He is not.”

Kate let out a little sound of agreement.
“Far from it.”

“He will want you dead for killing his
nephew.”

She thought for a second, then started to
laugh. The most ironic thing just occurred to her.

“What is it?” Vittorio asked.

“Vince is the one who taught me to
shoot.”

Vittorio smiled. He studied her for a moment.
“You are at ease then, with killing him?”

The smile left Kate’s face. “‘At ease’ is an
overstatement. But I have come to terms with it. And I would do it
again.”

Vittorio nodded. “I can see it on your face.
Most people, especially most women, I think, would not be so
determined.”

“There really was no decision to make. I was
not going to die and neither was Enrico.”

Vittorio took a sip of his espresso. “You are
an unusual person.”

“No, just very practical, in the end. I’m not
happy I had to kill him, but I did learn something important about
myself that day.”

“What was that?”

“I learned what my limits are. What I will
and will not tolerate. And it turns out, my limits are not what I
thought.”

“How so?” Enrico asked.

“You were there, Rico. I wouldn’t let him
rape me, and I wouldn’t let someone else kill for me. I wanted my
revenge on him, for hurting me.” She smiled, but not pleasantly.
“I’m more vindictive than I thought.”

“I think killing him was more about survival
than revenge,” Enrico said.

She gave him a hard look. “Then why didn’t I
let you or Ruggero finish him?”

“I had not wondered about that.”

“Yes, you have. Don’t tell me it didn’t cross
your mind that I could be Andretti’s spy.”

Enrico looked at her in surprise. “It did.
But I soon dismissed it.”