Page 52 of Merciless Queen (Moretti Mafia #1)

Caterina

I was late coming home and wanted to see my wife.

It was odd coming home to someone who was eager to see me.

Moira always lectured me about something going on in the house and the rest of the staff scurried away from me.

That was more Moira’s doing than mine. That woman was terrifying when she was angry.

I wouldn’t trade her for anyone, though. She kept everyone here sane.

Harlow had her therapy session with Serena today, and said she was learning how to cook with Antonio tonight.

I was stuck dealing with issue after issue at the club.

The girls wanted to do something special for Angel’s birthday in a couple of weeks, so I was arranging that.

Gianna also kept pestering me about the hotel opening back up.

After Angel’s death, I closed it until further notice.

Once we dealt with Vincenzo, I would get it opened again, but I wasn’t risking anyone's life for money.

Gianna and I made a plan to utilize the strip club for extra activities, but I told her we needed lots of security, and every client would be searched thoroughly before being alone with one of the girls.

No one else would be hurt to get to me. If I lost one more person or if Vincenzo touched my wife again, I would start a war.

We’d been monitoring and keeping track of everything, but other than a few shipments being destroyed, Angel’s death, and the video he sent of him raping Harlow, there were no other retaliation tactics, which told me he was planning something.

When I walked into the kitchen, Harlow was wearing an apron covered in flour and cutting pasta.

Antonio looked the same. It looked like they both took a bath in flour instead of using it to cook.

She looked up at me and beamed. Her face was also smeared with flour with streaks of it in her dark hair.

It looked like Antonio had been in here for hours teaching her how to make pasta.

“Did you have a food fight?” I asked, examining the white blanket of flour on the floor and counter.

“Me and cappelletti pasta had an argument, and I slung it across the room.”

I shook my head as I walked closer to her. “And did Moira see this mess?”

“She stated, and I quote, ‘I will ring your tiny little neck if there is a speck of flour anywhere on my kitchen floor,’ and then she told Harlow she was an angel before she left in a string of curses,” Antonio explained. “I said it was worth it. I’ll deal with the cleaning later.”

“I wanted to learn, so I’ll clean it up.”

“I’ll help. Are you two done making pasta?”

Antonio nodded. “Yep. Be prepared for a week's worth of pasta. She did a good job.”

“And it’ll be delicious. You can go, Antonio. Thank you for doing this with Harlow today.”

“It was my pleasure. Give me a few more weeks and she’ll be a certified chef.”

Antonio left the kitchen, and I walked to Harlow, pressing her against the counter. “I missed you today.” She wrapped her arms around my neck, the flour-covered apron dirtying up my clothes. “How are you feeling today?”

“I missed you, too.” Harlow pressed her lips against mine in a soft kiss. “I’m better. Therapy was hard, but it’s getting easier to talk to Serena.”

“I could get used to you in my kitchen. Maybe naked so I can properly feast.” I licked my lips, tasting the hint of flour left behind. In an instant, her hands flew to my chest, cupping my breasts and leaving perfect flour handprints behind.

“Perfect.”

I grabbed Harlow, picking her up and placing her on the counter as her arms wrapped around my neck and her lips crashed against mine.

This kiss was vivacious and hungry as she deepened the kiss.

I might have initiated this, but she was one hundred percent in control.

She tasted sweet like strawberries, but there was a hint of flour from the mess she created in my kitchen.

I already knew this would take a while to clean, but I would enjoy this moment with the woman I loved.

Harlow pulled away from me and pressed her forehead against mine. “Are you really going to help me clean?”

I laughed, kissing the tip of her nose. “Let’s get this done with so I can take you to bed.”

“After a shower.”

Someone wanted to get stabbed. It was the only explanation for them calling me at this hour. I peeled myself away from Harlow, reaching for my phone and answering whoever it was that called me. It was important because no one called me this late, but I was still bitter.

“What is it?”

“Vincenzo torched the docks. Another shipment was destroyed, and this time, he killed someone,” Cornelius said, annoyance in his voice.

I sat up in bed, careful not to wake up Harlow. “Who died?”

“Homeless man sleeping in one of the containers. He didn’t have any family.”

Roman wouldn’t do anything to help even with an innocent man dead. Their treaty only involved his family being harmed or betrayed. “Pay for a service regardless. I’m sure he had a friend or two who will miss him. Was everything destroyed?”

“Yeah. Weapons are destroyed, and the shipment of marijuana, as well.” I needed that marijuana to make up for the previously lost shipment.

“We will deal with it. Make sure the dock is clean. I’ll make some phone calls in the morning to get this situated. I am about to have pissed off clients and angry families.”

“I’ll see what I can do to get you something to give to the buyers. Maybe that way, it wouldn’t get destroyed if they didn’t know.”

“Let me know. I’ll set up a meeting in a few days to figure everything out.”

“Copy, boss. Go back to sleep.”

I disconnected, running my hands through my hair.

Vincenzo was starting to piss me off. It was one thing to target me, but he was destroying my livelihood.

We would be fine regardless, but I didn’t need to have a war started because I failed to deliver.

My reputation was slowly becoming squandered because of him destroying shit for a childish vendetta.

Harlow was mine, and he would never harm her again.

Roman needed to help me. I knew it was the only way to successfully get rid of him without harming Harlow.

If she wasn’t involved, I would find a way to deal with his childish games.

I wanted Vincenzo destroyed so I could have a normal life with the woman I loved.

The thought of ever wanting a domesticated life with a wife, my Dobermans, and maybe a couple of kids was something I never thought I’d want until Harlow.

I saw forever with her, and I wanted a life that wasn’t surrounded by our family’s name.