The Twelve Vitali Ch. 26

"We weren't exactly model step-children to her either," Ricco admitted.

"She warned me not to be intimidated, that I held all the power. She said it in several different ways, but it always boiled down to the same thing, that I had the power and I shouldn't give it up to anyone else, or the consequences could be devastating, not just for me, but for you both," Cat admitted. "Those words rang in my head when I challenged your Uncles in the Athenaeum to prove themselves to me the way they expected me to prove myself to them. I was sad and mad and terrified in there, and then I went straight into a meeting with your Aunts with everything that had happened buzzing around in my head. Can I just say that Sonya tried to intimidate me before anyone else had said a word?"

"I want to know what she said," Matteo tried to keep his voice even, despite feeling his temper rise.

"She asked how my time with the Battaglia was, then she said she knew changes were being made at the Battaglia facility and that it was my fault. She gave the impression to the other women and me that my trial did not go well, and she knew the details of why that was," Cat said. "It was a much longer conversation where she tried to make out that even my basic understanding of the tables and the women's role in the family was lacking, but that's the gist of it. Marina didn't want us to think any worse of my time with them at the facility, so she came to reassure me that Sonya knew nothing and beg forgiveness for yet another misunderstanding."

"So, you stood up to Sonya and told her you would force her to take early retirement?" Ricco asked.

"I said that I would miss her wisdom and expertise, but perhaps if she felt she couldn't work with someone obviously so lacking that she should consider early retirement from family duties," Cat parroted the words that still rang in her mind. "She said she would not be retiring. There was a little bit more said, and I basically challenged them the same way I did the men, and then I left and got the women of my circle. They hadn't even invited Maryanne or Kari, who had every right to be there with me. I invited all of the younger women, including your sisters."

"Wow!" Matteo laughed, "How did that go down?"

"I think Aria is my new best friend, but I doubt Sonya or Angela will be sending us Christmas cards this year," Cat shrugged.

"I can live with that. How about you?" Matteo turned to Ricco.

"I don't have a problem with anything she said or did," he shrugged easily. "In fact, I'm quite proud of the way she handled it all. Except..."

"Yeah, we need to discuss the whole flirting with Logan issue," Matteo said seriously, making her giggle.

"He is adorable. Come on, you have to admit he's a cutie, the way he is just dying to measure up to his brothers. Sebastian was so judgey of me. Why wouldn't I tell Logan how much I like him?" she grinned. "I imagine Lucca would like to beat you two at something one day too, and if being my adorable friend gives Logan a little boost, then why not?"

"I'm not sure how much of a boost he'll feel once he realised you alienated his mother and big brother," Matteo chuckled.

"Problems for tomorrow," she said, feeling much better now that they knew what had happened. She yawned and stretched. "I need sleep; it's been a very long day."

"I need sleep too," Ricco said, yawning with her. He stood and picked her up in his arms and turned toward the bedroom.

"I'll be a minute or two," Matteo said quietly. He followed them inside and then went to his office.

"What's he doing now?" Cat asked curiously.

"Checking on Vanessa and Mama, no doubt," Ricco said. "He can't help but look after everyone. Even when he was a workaholic, he always found the time to make sure everyone knew he was there for them. He's a good man, your husband, and lucky for us he loves us both." He placed her on her feet and bent his head to kiss her properly for the first time in days. "I've missed this."

"I've missed you too," she breathed. "I was worried when you didn't come home last night."

"It was your wedding night, and I needed to be with Nessa," he said softly, beginning to undress her as they spoke quietly. "We will have our time, but tonight you are tired and emotionally drained, so sleep, my love," he guided her into bed and quickly stripped off his remaining clothes before crawling into bed beside her and cradling her in his arms. "Sleep, we have all the time in the world to be together," he murmured in her ear and kissed her neck. He was beyond tired himself, and felt his eyes closing, even as he encouraged her to sleep, safe in his arms.

Matteo slipped into the bed over an hour later, moving close to Cat, who slept soundly in Ricco's arms. He loved them both and felt no jealousy, which continued to surprise him, but somehow, because they had never hidden anything from him about their past or their continued attraction to each other, he didn't feel threatened. He reached out, placing a hand on her thigh, and closed his eyes, content that all was right in his world, as much as it could be tonight.

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