Chapter 236 236

Chapter 236 236

GIANNI

I can't remember the last time I had to load a dishwasher.

If Roger caught me being this domestic, there would be no end to the sarcasm. There's a reason I wanted us to be as alone as possible tonight. That meant giving almost everyone the night off except for the guys down by the gate. Not that I'm afraid of getting caught scouring a pan, but I need my crew to respect me. I don't know that they could if they caught me up to my elbows in soap suds.

That's what I get for trying to give Caterina and Charles a little space. Neither of them needs me hanging around while she navigates this impossible conversation. I keep an eye on the patio, ready to jump in if it looks like things are going south, but I need to give her father a little more credit. It's not like he would hurt her—that much, I know for sure. Nonetheless, I wouldn't put it past him to throw furniture into the pool when he can't control his rage.

Maybe I'm projecting my anger management issues onto him.

Finally, the table is clean and the sink spotless while the dishwasher hums quietly. There's nothing left for me to do except check on them. Drying my hands, I head for the door, watching as Caterina presses her face to Charles's chest. They're both in tears, and with good reason, but at least there's no fighting.

For years, they were all each other had. I can relate to the feeling. Amalia was MIA for virtually all of Tatiana's childhood, only popping in when she wanted something before breezing out again. Half the time, she asked to meet somewhere besides the house. She was that determined not to set eyes on her daughter.

I can only imagine how difficult it must be for Charles to step back and allow someone else into her life. I'm witnessing the final moments of the two of them existing on their own—the two of them against the world.

He lifts his head, wearing a smile, and Caterina is beaming when she looks up at him. The last of the tension that's plagued me all night loosens, and I can finally breathe as I slide the glass door open. “Everything all right out here?” I ask while stepping out.

Caterina wipes her eyes with her hands, still smiling as she crosses the patio to give me a hug. “Everything's fine,” she announces, then murmurs, “He'll be okay.”

After much sniffling and clearing his throat, Charles slowly approaches me. I'm not going to take the lead on this. He knows what needs to be said, and considering his pained expression, he knows it, too.

“Say, Gianni. I, uh... well, you see...” He scrubs a hand over his short, dark hair before rubbing the back of his neck while grimacing. “I'm having a hard time deciding what to say.”

No shit. “Take your time, whatever it is.” Caterina squeezes me a little, even growling under her breath. Let her growl. I've waited a long time for what's coming. I refuse to rush things.

“I'm sorry,” he finally announces. “I'm sorry for a lot of things. I was wrong, and I made many mistakes. I can't promise I won't make more, but for now, thank you for going out of your way to help with...”

I'm not a completely heartless bastard, so I throw the man a lifeline. “I understand. I'm sorry there was nothing more I could do.”

“What else could have been done? As I told Caterina, it doesn't change anything beyond showing me how wrong I was and how much I have to make up for.”

“All that matters now is that we can all move forward and perhaps put some of this behind us.”

“I would like that.” I'm not fooled. I see the way his jaw works as he grits his teeth before extending a hand to shake. It's not going to be as easy as putting everything behind us. However, for now, it has to be enough that we're both willing to meet halfway for the sake of the girl in my arms.

A girl who releases a shuddering sigh when she watches us shake hands. “I'm a mess,” she announces, unwinding her arms from around my waist. “If you'll excuse me, I'm going to clean myself up.”

“Don't take too long. I'm not sure if I can trust myself around the tiramisu that's in the fridge.”

Charles perks up. “Tiramisu? Now I wish I had saved a little room.”

“It was one of the few things she didn't insist on making from scratch,” I murmur once she's in the house. “I managed to convince her to pick some up at a bakery. It meant a lot to her for everything to go well tonight.”

“After all the shit I put you through, I'm amazed you let me through your front door.”

“Let's be fair,” I offer as we follow in Caterina's footsteps, returning to the kitchen. “I'm no angel. We both know that. Although, I am willing to put all that behind us for her sake and our family's sake.” His jaw ticks at the wordfamily, yet he's gotten better at keeping his thoughts to himself. Maybe there's hope of all of this working out, after all. Stranger things have happened, I'm sure.

“I have to say, if there's one thing I never expected, it was one day being part of the same family.”

“That makes two of us.” As I reach into the refrigerator to pull the pink cardboard box from its shelf, another box that the velvet box in my pocket reminds me of a conversation I want us to have. With Caterina occupied in the powder room, this might be the perfect time.

Right away, my pulse picks up speed and a cold sweat covers the back of my neck. I've brokered deals with men who tortured people for fun, and I can't find the words to ask a man for his daughter's hand.

“Charles, I—” It's the ringing of the doorbell that cuts me off, and I grunt under my breath at the interruption. “Who the hell would show up at this time of night?”

He follows on my heels, chuckling. “I would expect you to have somebody answering the door for you.”

I'll choose to take that comment at face value and not read into it. “I gave almost everyone the night off. I wanted it to be just the three of us tonight.”

“I appreciate you trusting me that much.”

“As we said, we're putting all that in the past.” Still, I can't help but scowl at him when he falls in step beside me. “And I know you wouldn't do anything to upset Caterina.”

“Good point.” To my surprise, he grabs my arm as I reach for the doorknob. “You're sure it's safe?”

“I still have men down at the gate. They wouldn't let anyone up who couldn't be trusted.” Still, I'm slow to open the door, scanning the area before looking down to find a plain cardboard box on the doormat. I glimpse up to find a brown truck rolling down the driveway, its taillights disappearing before I bend to pick up the package.

“Probably something Tatiana ordered,” I murmur, checking the label and finding her name. “Sure enough. I'm starting to think she's collecting mailing labels at this point.”

“How is she, by the way?” he asks as I close and lock the door.

“She seems to be getting better. She's been going out more, which is a big step up from locking herself in her room day and night.” I toss the box onto the table beside the door, where she can pick it up once she gets home.

“I'm pleased to hear that.”

And here we are, awkwardly staring at each other for lack of anything else to say. “Were you going to ask me something before we were interrupted?” he prompts, sliding his hands into his pockets, lifting his brows.

“Yes.”

From where I stand, I can see the powder room door. It's still closed, and the faint sound of running water tells me she's busy washing her face. If I'm going to do this, I need to do it now. Here I am, a man some have called heartless, brutal, and countless other names on top of that. Nevertheless, I can't find the words to express what's in my heart. Especially not to this man, who already thinks so poorly of me no matter how hard he tries to hide it.

“I'm going to say it all at once, since it's not easy for me to talk about these things. I love your daughter very much. She is the most important thing in my world besides my own daughter—and the baby, of course. I would stop at nothing to make her happy. While she's with me, she will never know anything but love. You can be sure of that.”

“I believe you.”

“Thank you. I know we haven't done things the traditional way, but I want to make things official with the baby coming and with me already sure of my commitment to her.”

He looks like he regrets he ever stopped drinking, his eyes widening as he gulps. “I see.”

The ring box is heavier than ever. I've looked at the ring so many times since picking it up from the jeweler that I see it clearly in my mind's eye. The pair of delicate platinum bands wound together into something more substantial, symbolizing the way our lives have intertwined. The brilliant cut, four-carat diamond that I would swear holds fire in its center—I've never seen a stone throw off the sort of light it does.

And engraved inside, the wordsForever Mine. I'm aching to slide it onto her finger.

“I wanted to do this right,” I explain while my fingers itch to pull the box free. “I want to marry your daughter. I hope for your blessing—or at least your acceptance, if your blessing is too much to ask for right now.”