woman by way of love or a life. In fact, my entire life is Cosa Nostra, has always been, and will remain so. I have no interest in finding love, settling a woman down into a world she can’t control or be a part of, never mind putting her second for my choices. Because she would be second—always. I think that’s incredibly unfair. What woman would want a future she can’t be certain of?”
“Yes, and because of that, I think we’re a good match, Dante. I don’t want a man to love me. I don’t want anything from him beyond business and mutual gain. I have no interest in settling into the life of a housewife.”
Dante chuckled. “A good match, huh? You’ve made me want to kill you twice now.”
Cat appreciated his honesty. “I have many effects on men. That is only one of them.”
“So I’m learning,” Dante said under his breath.
“It’s pretty simple. People like us, we’re not supposed to feel. We don’t get attached. It ruins us. Together, we’ll be the perfect pair. Together, we have nothing to lose. I can provide you with the proper wife you need, you can give me the last name and protection I need to move forward. What’s the problem?”
“When you put it like that, nothing.”
“The only thing I really ask for is that you treat me as an equal, Dante. In life and business, that’s all. I have things to offer your syndicates in New York to make them agreeable if you mix business with me. I won’t seem diminished standing beside you as I am not the kind of woman who is intimidated by men. Your father is quite infamous in the Cosa Nostra world, yes?”
“He is. What about it?” Dante asked.
“Time for you to start making your name, too. What better way than turning everything your men believe on its top by bringing a woman like me into play.”
“What else?”
“Pardon?” Cat asked, confused.
“What else would you want from this?”
Chapter Four
Dante surveyed Catrina where she sat on the couch, his keen eye trying to pick up on any hints she was deceitful or there were ulterior motives behind her offer. So far, he had yet to find one.
“I don’t understand what you’re asking,” Catrina said. “I’ve told you everything I want.”
“On a professional level, sure. Not a personal one.”
Catrina coughed, hiding her surprise miserably. “You mean physically or emotionally, that sort of thing?”
“For starters,” Dante answered.
“I don’t want a relationship with you. I have no interest in fucking you.”
Dante doubted her words, considering the way she looked him over. Women could only mask their attraction for so long before their disguises cracked. He wouldn’t deny for a minute that he thought Catrina Danzi was one of the sexiest goddamn women he’d ever had the pleasure of looking at, and if she gave him the chance, he would probably take her to bed no questions asked.
Dante was nothing if not honest.
“I like your bluntness,” Dante told her. Even if she was lying.
“It’s a learned trait. But if you really want to discuss those sorts of things, we can. Having a physical relationship leads to an emotional one, regardless if someone intends for it to or not. I don’t want an attachment to a man I won’t be able to love. I should also add I won’t act as your docile wife and I have no desire for children, so if you’re expecting that, it won’t happen.”
“Well, you need to have sex to make babies, don’t you?”
“Things happen, Dante. I’m just saying children won’t be one of them.”
“Doesn’t matter as I can’t have children.”
Catrina’s shoulders tensed. “I beg your pardon?”
“I can’t have children, which is yet another reason why I feel like a woman would be shortchanged when it came to marrying me. Something else I couldn’t give her that she might want someday.”
“If I asked what the problem is for you, would you be offended?” Catrina asked.
“No, I’ll tell you. It’s just not something I
“Yes, and because of that, I think we’re a good match, Dante. I don’t want a man to love me. I don’t want anything from him beyond business and mutual gain. I have no interest in settling into the life of a housewife.”
Dante chuckled. “A good match, huh? You’ve made me want to kill you twice now.”
Cat appreciated his honesty. “I have many effects on men. That is only one of them.”
“So I’m learning,” Dante said under his breath.
“It’s pretty simple. People like us, we’re not supposed to feel. We don’t get attached. It ruins us. Together, we’ll be the perfect pair. Together, we have nothing to lose. I can provide you with the proper wife you need, you can give me the last name and protection I need to move forward. What’s the problem?”
“When you put it like that, nothing.”
“The only thing I really ask for is that you treat me as an equal, Dante. In life and business, that’s all. I have things to offer your syndicates in New York to make them agreeable if you mix business with me. I won’t seem diminished standing beside you as I am not the kind of woman who is intimidated by men. Your father is quite infamous in the Cosa Nostra world, yes?”
“He is. What about it?” Dante asked.
“Time for you to start making your name, too. What better way than turning everything your men believe on its top by bringing a woman like me into play.”
“What else?”
“Pardon?” Cat asked, confused.
“What else would you want from this?”
Chapter Four
Dante surveyed Catrina where she sat on the couch, his keen eye trying to pick up on any hints she was deceitful or there were ulterior motives behind her offer. So far, he had yet to find one.
“I don’t understand what you’re asking,” Catrina said. “I’ve told you everything I want.”
“On a professional level, sure. Not a personal one.”
Catrina coughed, hiding her surprise miserably. “You mean physically or emotionally, that sort of thing?”
“For starters,” Dante answered.
“I don’t want a relationship with you. I have no interest in fucking you.”
Dante doubted her words, considering the way she looked him over. Women could only mask their attraction for so long before their disguises cracked. He wouldn’t deny for a minute that he thought Catrina Danzi was one of the sexiest goddamn women he’d ever had the pleasure of looking at, and if she gave him the chance, he would probably take her to bed no questions asked.
Dante was nothing if not honest.
“I like your bluntness,” Dante told her. Even if she was lying.
“It’s a learned trait. But if you really want to discuss those sorts of things, we can. Having a physical relationship leads to an emotional one, regardless if someone intends for it to or not. I don’t want an attachment to a man I won’t be able to love. I should also add I won’t act as your docile wife and I have no desire for children, so if you’re expecting that, it won’t happen.”
“Well, you need to have sex to make babies, don’t you?”
“Things happen, Dante. I’m just saying children won’t be one of them.”
“Doesn’t matter as I can’t have children.”
Catrina’s shoulders tensed. “I beg your pardon?”
“I can’t have children, which is yet another reason why I feel like a woman would be shortchanged when it came to marrying me. Something else I couldn’t give her that she might want someday.”
“If I asked what the problem is for you, would you be offended?” Catrina asked.
“No, I’ll tell you. It’s just not something I
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