Page 24 of Merciless Queen (Moretti Mafia #1)

Caterina

Bachelorette parties, or whatever they were calling this, were pointless, but Spencer said I needed one even if my marriage to Harlow was fake.

The girls here saw me as family. For some, I was a mother figure, and for others, I was like the older sister they never had, so I played the role.

If they wanted a night without scruffy men and extravagant dresses, then I’d give it to them.

Harlow was dressed in more clothing than people normally wore in the club, but it was what I expected considering her trauma.

She stayed bundled in clothes except when she slept.

Even if most of the people in the club tonight were women, she was still not comfortable letting down her walls.

We weren’t going to stay here long. I hated parties, and Harlow was uncomfortable.

I could see it all over her face, no matter how hard she tried to hide it from me.

Lizzy told me she had a panic attack deciding what to wear, and I knew I needed to be by her side constantly tonight.

I would’ve kept her home and cancelled this party, but Harlow wanted to take this step.

I didn’t like it, but I already told her I wouldn’t take her choice away from her.

If she needed to leave, fuck everyone else.

Angel ran up to us, pulling me into her arms. She still had a scar on her cheek from that asshole assaulting her, but other than that, she seemed to be okay.

Except I knew the physical appearance could be nothing but a mask.

Angel was always chipper and enthusiastic, even after what happened to her.

I’d need to check with the other girls to make sure she was actually okay and not just pretending.

“I never thought I’d see the day you got married!” she chimed loudly.

I took Harlow’s hand and pulled her closer to meet the bubbly woman.

“It was…sudden, but you can’t help falling in love.

” The only people who knew the wedding was a facade were the men close to me, Spencer, Lizzy, and Moira.

She only knew because she was a thorn in my side and could read me like a book.

My father would know after the engagement party in a few days.

Serena knew simply because Harlow let it slip.

The more people who believed our marriage was real, the quicker it would spread like wildfire through the streets of Chicago.

“It’s so nice to meet the girl who stole Cat’s heart.

” She jumped into Harlow’s arms, pulling her into a tight hug.

Angel was one of those girls who did not understand personal space.

Her love language was touch, but she always forgot that some people despised being touched, and forgot to ask for consent.

Harlow was like a statue, her body tense, but Angel didn’t take offense to it as she pulled away. “I’m sorry! I forget people don’t like being touched, but it is really nice to meet you. I have a feeling we will be best friends.”

Harlow gave her a tight-lipped smile and nodded. “It's nice to meet you, too. I’m sorry. I’m not used to crowds or people.”

“It’s okay. You’ll have to get used to me because we are going to be inseparable.”

“Angel, why don’t you go and find Spencer and have her make you a drink?” She nodded, flashing us a toothy smile before skipping away. “Angel will be the only one who touches you. The girl is sweet, but doesn't understand boundaries. Are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah. It’s just intense. When I was in crowded rooms before, it was to entertain men before they hurt me.

” Her body shivered, and I mentally punched myself.

Of course this was too much for her. “I’m okay with staying.

I just need time to adjust. There’s no men here besides yours, so I know I am safe. ”

I nodded, squeezing her hand. “If we need to leave, let me know. There are private rooms you can go to if you need a breather.”

“Thank you.”

Twenty minutes in, I was ready to leave.

Nothing against my girls or their need to party, but this was not my lifestyle.

It was what they expected from the mafia princess, but I was raised by my father to be ruthless.

I never got to do the partying phase. If I wasn’t training, I was studying.

It never interested me to be drunk or party until three a.m., even when I was in college.

There were a few occasions when I would go to the bar with an old college friend and pick up women, but after graduation, it stopped.

The girls pulled Harlow to the dance floor, and while I tried to stop them, she insisted on going.

She was pushing herself too much to get past her trauma, and I saw it all over her face.

My girls were touchy, and I knew it made Harlow uncomfortable.

She ran off the dance floor and vanished into one of the private rooms. I needed to find her, but before I could escape and find her, Malachi stopped me to deal with a shipment issue.

Vincenzo was planning something. He knew I had Harlow, and he was pissed, but he could kiss my ass. We had everything protected, and if he bombed another shipment, so be it. I’d deal with it. He wouldn’t get his grimy hands back on Harlow no matter what he did in retaliation.

Harlow had been gone for a few minutes, and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand tall.

No one would hurt her here, and God forbid Vincenzo sent a mole into my club to get information.

I wouldn’t put it past him to try, but the attempt would be futile.

If anyone harmed Harlow in my club, they would be dealt with. Just like I dealt with Manny.

I walked toward the hallway where she vanished and heard a feminine voice and crying. My pace quickened as I raced down the hallway. My veins turned to fire when I saw Callie caging in a sobbing Harlow, blood dripping from her cheek.

“She’ll never love you, not like she loves me. You’re damaged goods for her to sink her teeth into until she gets tired of you. Cat is mine, and I will have her.”

“I—”

The sound of skin on skin echoed and I pounced, grabbing Callie by her wrist and pinning her to the wall. “Never fucking touch her again. Do you understand me?”

“Cat, baby, please.”

It was taking all my willpower not to wrap my hand around her neck and snap it like a fucking twig.

“Listen to me and listen closely. Harlow is going to be my wife, which means she is a part of the famiglia . Hurting her hurts me. You are lucky I don’t snap your fucking neck for harming her.

Touch her again and I won’t hesitate. Now get the fuck out of my club, and if I ever see you again, I won’t hesitate to shoot you.

” She was lucky I didn’t put a bullet between her eyes, but I wasn’t going to add more to Harlow’s trauma.

Callie went to open her mouth again, but she stopped, seeing the fire in my eyes. She ran off as I looked at Harlow, touching her cheek. Harlow flinched, hitting the wall with a loud thud. I closed the gap between us, allowing her to listen to my steady breathing and heartbeat to calm her down.

I caressed her cheek, wiping the blood away. Harlow looked up at me with her big doe eyes. “I-I’m sorry I ruined the party.”

“You didn’t ruin anything. I’m sorry Callie hurt you.” I wiped the tear that fell from her eyes. “Let’s get you home.”