Fix You (The Irish Rogues #3)

Chapter Four Raphael

A s the plane started its descent into Boston, Leandro continued pacing around the cabin. “Sit down,” I growled.

“Fuck you,” he muttered.

Since the moment we’d taken off, Leo’s anger and frustration had kept him roaming about the cabin much to Gianni’s and my annoyance.

Jabbing a finger at him, I said, “Once we land, you’ve got to get a hold of yourself. This alliance is precarious enough without you being a hot head and blowing up on Callum or his brothers.”

Leo glared at me. “I can’t believe you agreed to attend this fucking reception.”

Cocking my brows at him, I countered, “What was I supposed to do? Tell my sister who had just been kidnapped into marriage that despite her pleading I was too big of a jackass to come to her wedding reception?”

“Absofuckinglutely!” Leo snapped.

I snorted contemptuously. “Like you’ve ever been capable of telling Caterina no.”

Leandro’s expression softened slightly at the mention of our sister. After four days in Sicily, my father had located the Irish bastards who had taken Caterina. Out of all the Irish families, it just had to be the fucking Kavanaughs from Boston. Once a powerful family both in the states as well as Belfast, their reputation had been tarnished a year ago when the heir to the clan, Callum, had murdered his father in cold blood.

Trust was a fragile thing in the mafia world. It was hard making an alliance with someone who had killed their own family. That action would cause some serious trust issues in anyone.

Callum’s past was part of the reason I’d lost my shit when I’d received a call from Caterina on her wedding day to the bastard. To my surprise, my sister wasn’t despondent about her new marriage like I had imagined. Instead, she was actually happy with her new role as the wife of a clan leader. The arranged marriage was sweetened with the fact that Callum had promised to let her go to college and have a career, which had always been Caterina’s dream. I had no idea the bride stealing fucker was so progressive.

Just as I was reeling from Caterina’s news, she and Callum threw me for a loop by telling me that my father had tried to kill not only Callum, but Caterina as well. At first, I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that my father would order his men to fire on the car Caterina was escaping in. Not to mention they had men stationed at the airport to take them out.

But Gianni corroborated the story. Father had ordered him to stay at the hotel when he went to “rescue” Caterina. I wondered if the real reason he’d sent me and Leandro to Philadelphia was to prevent us from foiling his plans to murder Caterina.

After I’d promised Caterina to attend her wedding reception, I’d hung up and sat staring ahead for close to an hour. In that hour, I didn’t consult Leandro or Gianni. After all, I was the future capo–it was my decision to make and mine alone.

Once I had my head sorted, I phoned Father. As soon as he answered, I said, “I know you tried to kill Caterina.”

Silence hung heavy on the line. “What do you presume to do about it?” Father finally replied.

“I’m glad you didn’t try to deny it. That would’ve made things even more complicated.”

“Do you honestly want your sister spreading her legs for that mick stronzo and bearing his mongrel children?” he snapped.

“Watch your fucking mouth when you speak of my sister!” I shouted.

“Or what, Raphael?” he countered.

“I’ll fucking end you like Callum did his father.”

“Is that what you already plan to do about my assassination attempt on Caterina?”

“Regardless of what I want to do, I have the Famiglia to think about. Killing you would send more than just our family into chaos. So for now, I’ll keep you alive.”

Father chuckled. “Now you’re sounding like a capo.”

“But hear me when I say this. I’ll burn the Familigia to the fucking ground if you so much as ever think of harming Caterina again. Do you understand? I’m talking fucking scorched earth of everything you’ve worked so hard to build.”

“Fine. You have my word,” he snarled.

“To be crystal fucking clear, that means you lay off of any assassination attempts on Callum. Caterina is an extension of him now, and she is to remain safe and sound at all times.”

Father exhaled a harsh breath. “As you wish.”

“Good. I’m glad we could be in agreement.” Leaning forward in my chair, I said, “Caterina has requested us to attend her wedding reception on Saturday, and by us, I mean her brothers only.”

“I’d rather you shoot me than attend it.”

“Fucking bastard of a father,” I muttered.

“Is there anything else you need from me?”

“We’re to meet with Callum at the reception to discuss the benefits of our alliance. I will let you know what is decided upon.”

“I appreciate that.”

And then he’d hung up on me.

Now I found myself within just a half an hour of having to face the man who had kidnapped my sister. The pressure was already intense enough without Leandro being on edge.

As the plane skidded across the runway, Leo finally collapsed down into the seat next to me. Cocking his head at me, he asked, “You’re sure she sounded happy?”

“Fucking positive.”

Leo grunted. “She always wanted to go to college and be a nurse.”

“And Callum is going to allow her to do that. She can even work and be a mother.”

“After Carmine, she hit the fucking jackpot with Callum,” Leo relented.

“Yes, she did.” I gave him a knowing look. “So despite how much we hate the bastardo for what he did, let’s play nice for Caterina’s sake.”

While Gianni nodded, Leo reluctantly muttered, “Fine. But only for Kitty Cat.”

I laughed. “Yes, only for Kitty Cat.”

Two hours after landing in Boston, I found myself on the rooftop of the palatial Kavanaugh mansion in the historic Beacon Hill district. With Irish folk music assaulting my ears, I surveyed the couples dancing. Curling my nose in disgust, I brought the glass of Irish whiskey in my hands to my lips. I don’t know why I wasn’t surprised by the limited choice of whiskey. Despite loathing the taste, I happily drowned the remaining alcohol to take the edge off of the day.

As I watched my sister dancing with her new husband, I had to admit how happy she was. Although I’d never wanted her kidnapped into marriage, I couldn’t ignore how much it had changed her life for the better. She’d never been truly happy in the convent, and now she had the chance to make all her dreams come true.

Despite our alliance, I hated giving Callum Kavanaugh credit for it. Sure, he wasn’t the total bastard I’d once thought him to be, and I would avoid putting a bullet in his head for the foreseeable future. But I still didn’t have to like the methods he chose to take Caterina as a wife.

When we first arrived, Caterina had insisted on joining our meeting. Of course, I balked at the idea since it went against tradition. Surprisingly, Callum had allowed her to attend on the bullshit pretense that she would be a “calming” influence on us. Despite the rocky start, the end result did set our minds at ease that she was indeed not his captive, and she very much wanted to be his wife.

Although I was glad to hear that part, I could’ve lived without hearing that they had already consummated the marriage. But once again Caterina assured me that it was her choice and what she wanted to do.

Like I had anticipated, Leo made it only a few minutes into our meeting with Callum before losing his shit. But in his defense, Callum had goaded him. Thankfully, he got a hold of himself. The result of our meeting had been very productive. Although it wasn’t an alliance I would’ve actively sought, it was going to be very beneficial for the both of us.

Once it had ended, we’d followed Callum from his office up to the rooftop terrace where the reception was taking place. That’s when I headed straight for the bar because I was in desperate need of a drink.

After breaking away from dancing with Callum, Caterina made a beeline over to the bar. “Callum told me the meeting between the four of you went well after I left.” Cocking her brows, she added, “Did it?”

I threw back my head with a laugh. “Already distrusting your new husband?”

With a scowl, she replied, “That’s not it at all.”

“Then why ask?”

“Because I thought he might’ve just told me that to make it easier on me.”

“No, he didn’t lie to you. We actually got along well.”

Her dark eyes lit up. “You did?”

Groaning, I replied, “Don’t get it in your head we were becoming–” I paused to make air quotes, “‘besties’ or some nonsense like that.”

Caterina gave an unladylike snort. “I would ask if you two were braiding each other's hair, but Callum’s is too short.”

A laugh burst from my lips at the thought. “I can assure you that will never fucking happen.”

As I turned to ask the bartender for another glass, a stunning woman caught my eye, and I froze with my glass mid-air. She was leaving the dance floor and heading for one of the tables laden down with food. The long strands of her auburn hair gleamed in the fading sunlight. The color was rare in my world, so it made sense she stuck out to me from the other guests.

Watching the rise and fall of her hips caused me to lick my lips. Of course, her rocking body definitely set her apart from the other women I’d seen. The shimmering green cocktail dress she wore clung to her ample curves and slid effortlessly over her skin. I hadn’t seen an ass so delectable since the last time I’d been in Sicily. Maybe she was the product of an Irish/Italian alliance.

Although I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t help asking Caterina, “Who is that woman over there in the green dress?”

Raising her hand, Caterina pointed at the woman. “Her?” When I nodded, she replied with a smile, “Oh, that’s Callum’s only sister, Maeve.”

Fanculo a me. The best-looking woman at the reception was a fucking Kavanaugh. Even if I hadn’t just signed a binding marital contract, Maeve would’ve been completely off-limits because of who she was. All five of the Kavanaugh brothers would’ve gotten in line to take a piece out of me for evening thinking such thoughts about their sister.

Of course, that just made my traitorous dick desire her all the more.

Tilting her head at me, Caterina asked, “Haven’t you been introduced?”

“No. So far, I’ve only met Callum.”

She smiled. “We’ll have to remedy that then. After all, you’ll be working with all of them in the alliance. Well, all except for Eamon I suppose since he’s only sixteen.”

A very attractive woman with dark auburn hair streaked with gray appeared before us. Once upon a time, it might’ve been the same beautiful color as the mystery woman. “Caterina, dear, I have more people who are just dying to be introduced to you,” she said.

I bit back my laugh at the deer in the headlights look that momentarily flashed in Caterina’s eyes. Although she was the woman of the hour as the bride, I knew how much she loathed being on display.

Caterina nodded. “Of course. But first let me introduce you to my oldest brother.” Turning to me, she said, “Raphael, this is my mother-in-law, Orla Kavanaugh.”

Smiling, I extended my hand. “With five sons, I was imagining Mrs. Kavanaugh to be someone who looked much older.”

Orla’s green eyes glittered with amusement. “Aren’t you the charmer, Mr. Neretti?”

“What can I say? It comes naturally around beautiful women.”

“You are incorrigible,” Orla replied. With a wink, she added, “But I love it.”

“Wait until you meet my brothers. We’re cut from the same mold.”

“You Italians really live up to your name, don’t you?”

At Caterina’s horrified look at our interchange, I couldn’t help laughing. “Yes, we do.”

Orla grinned. “Then I look forward to meeting them.”

As Orla led Caterina away, I shook my head with amusement. I wondered if Maeve had her mother’s same fiery spirit and flirtatious nature. Damn, she would be a lot of fun if she did.

She’s not going to be anything to you, you maledetto bastardo! What part of fucking off limits isn’t clear to you?

Turning to the bartender, I said, “Another, please.”

I don’t know why I thought saturating my brain with alcohol would get my mind out of the gutter. If anything, it would make me hornier.

With hornier thoughts in mind and without Caterina to keep me occupied, I couldn’t keep my gaze from Maeve. I don’t know what my fucking problem was. Once I got back to New York in the morning, there would be a horde of willing and ready women waiting to take care of my needs.

Experienced women who knew how to blow my mind, not innocent ones like Maeve. Ones without complications like being the sister of five hothead Irishmen.

Despite the voice of reason in my head, I couldn’t look away. Thankfully, Maeve was oblivious to me staring at her. From her tense posture and expression, her mind seemed to be miles away from the party surrounding her.

It was on my third whiskey I noticed when people would wave or speak to her that Maeve’s smile never seemed to reach her eyes. Don’t ask me why I noticed it. I couldn’t tell you the last woman’s smile I’d been contemplative about. Probably never before.

But I noticed Maeve’s.

I seemed to notice almost everything about her.

I noticed despite originally dancing and being a part of the fray, she’d taken a seat in the corner to avoid the others. I noticed as she ate how her delicate throat bobbed as she swallowed. The slight buzz in my brain had me thinking about her throat bobbing as she swallowed down my cum.

With a grunt of disgust, I stalked away from the bar, trying to put distance between my perverted thoughts and Maeve. Despite moving, the sudden pull Maeve had on me was unbreakable. As hard as I tried to be polite to some of the Kavanaugh clan members by stopping to say hello, I remained distracted. Especially when she gave who I assumed was her younger brother a playful roll of her eyes after elbowing him.

During the toast to Callum and Caterina, I watched her clap wildly with a smile that lit up the terrace in the dying sun. My admiration was momentarily detached when Callum bestowed a smoldering kiss on Caterina at the request of the crowd. My obsession returned at the sight of the laughter peeling from her lips at the exchange between the happy couple.

At the sight of Leandro waving me over to a table, I realized it was time to stop obsessing over Maeve. But when I gave her a final glance, I froze. Her expression had changed. It was no longer disinterested or feigned happiness. It was one of extreme longing. Following her gaze, I realized her focus was on the couples dancing.

A funny ache twisted in my chest at her evident pain. I didn’t want her hurting. I wanted to do something…anything to ensure the private agony was erased from her face. Even when Callum joined her at the table, the hurt didn’t diminish from her expression.

In fact, it seemed to worsen.

No, I couldn’t bear that look any longer. A shudder went through me. I knew what I had to do. As I started moving through the crowd, my eyes remained on Maeve. At the sight of tears sparkling in her eyes, I began to impatiently push people out of the way.

I knew what I was about to do was so fucking wrong. I knew it could have severe repercussions on the alliance I’d just made with Callum. But nothing would stop me. I had to take Maeve’s pain away at any cost.