Page 14 of Merciless Queen (Moretti Mafia #1)

Harlow

Serenity filled my senses when my eyes fluttered open and the sound of soft breathing echoed through my ears.

For a moment, I forgot where I was, panic creeping up my spine like icy tendrils before I realized the arms wrapped around me were soft.

This woman, the one holding me like she was scared I was going to break, was Caterina Moretti—fearless, vindictive, and merciless leader of the Moretti crime family whose very name made Vincenzo shudder in disdain.

She saved me, but she kidnapped me with ill intent.

She had every intention of killing me for being Vincenzo’s willing wife .

When Vincenzo spoke of her, it was always laced with malice, his hatred for the woman running deep through his veins.

Rumors from the girls included her being dominant, powerful, and ruthless.

She was a force of nature, like an unexpected rainfall that turned into a category five hurricane.

All I knew was that she led one of the most feared Italian crime families in the country.

She dealt with illegal drugs, prostitution, and weapons trade.

Did I get taken from one monster just to get trapped with another?

What if she decided I was worthless for everything but pleasuring men and forced me to work for her?

The thought spiraled and descended with rapid force, and my breathing became more erratic as my skin burned.

My breaths came in quick, faltering gasps, now unable to take a full breath.

I refused to go back to that life. Caterina sensed my panic and her grip tightened slightly, but it didn't help the havoc in my chest. Then a sob rattled through my chest, escaping my lips like a pathetic whimper of fear, and she jumped up, her eyes trained on the room, looking for an intruder before she finally looked at me.

“Breathe. No one can hurt you.”

“I-I can’t go back to that l-life. I—If you w-want me to be a whore, j-just kill me.”

She made a face. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I know you sell women. Vincenzo talked about the competition with y-you and you-your whores. I refuse. I don’t want to.”

She grimaced. “I don’t sell women. Not like he does.

Elizabeth informed me of what happens in his clubs, and that doesn’t happen at my hotel or my clubs.

If someone decides to sleep with someone for money, it is their choice.

Sex work is work, but I won’t force anyone to do it.

You can choose anything you want to do in this life.

No one can hurt you, and I promise I am going to make him pay. ”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” I muttered under my breath. I took a deep inhale. “I’m sorry. It’s hard believing I am safe when my only use is sex. Why help me when I am worthless?”

She cringed, disgust planted on her face. “That wasn’t sex, and you aren’t worthless. Your choice was stolen from you, just like your life. What did you enjoy before you were taken?”

“A-Art. I liked to paint and draw. I wanted to be a teacher, but it never happened. I also enjoyed reading, but I haven’t done it in ten years.”

“I’m sorry your life was taken from you, and I will do everything I can to help you heal and move on to what you deserve.”

Caterina slid out of the bed, pulling her hair up into a high ponytail, causing the hem of her t-shirt to ride up over the curve of her butt, giving me a sneak peek. My breath got caught in my lungs as I watched her in awe. She was gorgeous, but ogling her felt wrong.

“Get dressed and meet me downstairs. I need to talk to you before you see Dr. Moore.” I nodded as she left the bedroom.

Therapy.

Sitting in a room for an hour talking to a stranger about the ten years’ worth of trauma I’d endured at the hands of a repulsive man with a sick obsession.

Where would I even begin? Thinking about him brought me to panic.

His grip was like a vise; even when I was physically away from him, he still had control over me.

I banished it to the depths of my mind for now.

Lingering on it would be pointless when I had to confess my trauma like a sinner confessed their sins.

The black cami dress was loose on my frail frame as I pulled the floor length cardigan over my arms, securing it tightly around my waist. Elizabeth brought a lot of her old clothes to my room while I was asleep.

It was still hard believing she was real and alive after seeing those pictures Vincenzo showed me.

When I woke up and saw her striking blue eyes, I surely thought I was dead.

When I finally descended to the kitchen, Elizabeth was in a man’s lap, giggling and so full of life.

He was handsome with a scar across his face and golden-brown eyes.

This man looked at Elizabeth like she was the only girl in the world.

Caterina was at the coffee pot, making a fresh cup as she talked with Antonio.

She changed into black pants and a flowy, red button up shirt.

I shuffled into the kitchen, making my presence known as I took a seat across from Elizabeth and the man. She beamed up at me, her focus on me. “Good morning, Harlow.”

“Morning.”

“Harlow, this is Luca. He is my boyfriend.”

Caterina scoffed, but not in a hateful manner. “Just introduce him as your husband. We all know you two will get married within the next year.”

Luca glared at Caterina, but gave me a gentle smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Harlow.”

I gave them a meek smile. There were too many people in here, but Lizzy was here. “Happy?” I asked Lizzy instead.

Lizzy kissed him gently. “Very happy. It took a long time, but he is the sweetest man I’ve ever met.”

“Get a room,” someone barked out as they walked into the kitchen. It was the older woman who was terrifying. “Good morning, Caterina.”

Caterina grunted. “Moira, haven’t I told you to call me Cat? Everyone else does.”

“No one else raised you or changed your diapers. I will call you the name your mother gave you, not a nickname,” she grumbled, but said nothing more to the woman before she turned to face me. “Good morning. You look better than you did yesterday.”

I shrugged. “Accept it, dear.”I nodded and she let it go. Moira was terrifying in a good way. She was not the type of person I would be scared of if I ran into her on the street, but she invoked a sense of both reverence and unease, her words sharp and demanding, but never devoid of compassion.

Caterina stepped next to me, and I looked up at her. “While Antonio prepares your breakfast, can you step outside with me, please?” I nodded, scooting from the chair and walking with her to the back patio.

The view was gorgeous, with acres of trees and a beautiful garden.

The garden stretched out in a harmonious blend of natural beauty.

Nature was always my favorite muse when I would paint.

Something about capturing the natural beauty and incorporating the colors into my canvas was invigorating.

The vibrant greens of a forest, colorful tones of reds and pinks for flowers, and rich, earthy tones of autumn leaves.

Nature spoke to me, and I loved turning that conversation into art.

The thought of holding a paintbrush or trying to create something beautiful terrified me. It was an odd feeling when I loved it, but everything I loved was ripped from my hands in an instant. I didn’t want to live in fear, but fear had been my only stability for the last decade.

Feeling despair taking hold of me, I changed the subject, focusing on Caterina and why she needed to speak with me. “What is it?” I asked.

“I know how I am going to protect you from Vincenzo.”

“How?”

She pulled out a velvet box and my breath faltered. “You will marry me.”

I looked back at her slowly. “Is that a question or a demand?”

She smiled, but it wasn’t a true one, and it sent a chill down my spine. “It’s a fact. You will become my wife and in return, I will keep you safe.”

An ultimatum. My safety and protection from Vincenzo for…marriage? Was that all she wanted? “This isn’t a deal,” I muttered quietly. “It’s a gilded cage.”

“A cage that no one can break into. This is how I keep you safe. My name will protect you, and you will have everything you never had before.”

I swallowed hard, but didn’t look away. “And in return?” I wanted to believe she was different, but she was the same kind of monster copied and pasted in a different font. “What do you expect me to do when the door is closed?”

She didn’t flinch or feign insult. “I’m not going to touch you, Harlow.

This marriage is in name only. It is a way for you to breathe without being scared.

I need a wife so the other families will leave me alone.

I am a leader, a woman, and a lesbian. I don’t need nor want a man to help me lead.

With you as my wife, they will leave me alone. ”

A bargaining chip and a fake marriage. “You will be my wife, Harlow. You don’t owe me anything. You can attend school, paint, read. Do whatever you desire. You will have access to my credit card and every other luxury that the Moretti name offers. Being my wife won’t be unfortunate.”

“What choice do I have.” It was a statement, not a question. “I’ll do it.”

Caterina Moretti was my only chance at freedom.

A life where I could be free to live. One where I would never see Vincenzo again or experience the same traumas I had for the last ten years.

I always dreamt of my wedding, but when he took my life from me, I knew it wouldn’t be my reality.

Hell, I thought I would be dead before I turned twenty, because I thought Vincenzo would tire of me instead of putting a ring on my finger.

“You will always have a choice with me.” Did she not hear her own contradiction?

I had a choice, but I was being forced to marry her?

She didn’t give me a choice in the matter.

Caterina gently grabbed my left hand before sliding the diamond ring onto my ring finger.

“I’ll make the announcement, and we will have an engagement party in a few weeks and a wedding soon after.

Vincenzo will know you are in my possession, but I will not let him harm you.

” I glanced at the ring, the beautiful diamond not nearly as heavy as Vincenzo’s. “You can have a normal life.”

Normal.

There was that word again.

“I’ll never be normal,” I muttered, twisting the ring. This ring was too fancy for a fake marriage, binding me to a woman who wanted me bound to her like Vincenzo wanted me bound to him.

I would take the small victory. It could be worse.