Page 42 of The Fates We Tame

And then we move.

It’s uncomfortable as the truck bounces over potholes in the road. The few minutes feel like an age as I hear Sophia’s small gasps of panic. When we finally stop, Catalina rips the cover from over us.

Her face is lined with anger. “You want to tell me why we’re kidnapping a fucking Italian mob princess?”

“Sicilian,” Sophia offers. “I mean, it’s technically part of Italy, but I consider myself Sicilian.”

“Does it look like she’s talking to you?” Niro says. “You seem to want to get my good friend who doesn’t know any fucking better right now killed.”

Sophia shrinks back.

“Steady, Niro. You’re talking out of concern for me, which I appreciate, but I’m not gonna take you talking to Sophia like that.”

“He’s right, though,” Catalina says. “They were the Sicilian serpents. Two brothers who helped with the cleanup of smaller gangs in New York as part of the Viscuso vendetta. It put them at odds with Cillian and his Irish mob.”

“Who is Cillian?” I ask. “Wait. Never mind. I have to go. Thank you for lending me your truck.”

I make a move to take the keys from Catalina, but Niro blocks me and takes them from Cat. “Dude. I can’t let you just ride off knowing who you are fucking with.”

“Then just move out of my way. I love Sophia,” I lie. “Now you know why I need to give her my legal protections to make sure she remains mine.” I look back down the road we just traveled. “It’s not going to take them long to realize Sophia isn’t there anymore. And they plan to transport her to Sicily to marry some old mobster’s son back home for the sake of the family.” My sarcasm is heavy on the last two words. “I can’t let them do that.”

“Then come back to the clubhouse. We’ll follow you. Just…don’t do anything rash.”

Another memory. Cue Ball yelling at Niro for fucking something up. He was young. His hair longer.

“I can’t. Please. Just give me the keys.”

“We’re following you. Wherever you go. So, you might as well tell me.”

“Fine. We’re going to DC.”

Catalina folds her arms. “Why?”

“Because you can marry the same day there.”

Niro turns his gaze to Sophia, and I put my arm around her, pulling her close. She’s a little unsteady on her feet.

“What the fuck are you roping him into?”

I tuck Sophia beneath my arm. I’ll process why she feels so good there some other time, but something about all this feels inexplicably right.

I shake my head. “This is all my idea. They can’t marry her off if she’s already married.”

“So?” Niro asks.

“Please. Niro. I can’t risk waking up one morning in that fucking rehab to find she’s been taken from me. I need the fucking keys.”

Catalina frowns. “We can’t let them do this. King will lose his shit.”

Niro glances at the two of us as Sophia wraps her arms around my middle. Whatever he sees convinces him. “Babe, I fell in love with you the moment you pistol-whipped me.”

She rolls her eyes, but there’s a hint of a smile. “You did not.”

Niro grins. “I did. We gotta help ‘em do it. I’m a big believer in true love these days. Plus, it’s been a while since I pissed King off.”

She sighs. “Fine. But I’m gonna tell him you made me do this as the ranking officer.”

Niro hands me the keys and the pain relief medication I asked him to grab. “This is fucked up. But if you’re going, you’re not going alone. Cat will ride with me on my bike, and we’ll keep an eye out in case we’re followed. And Sophia should probably drive. Or Cat.”