The Twelve Vitali Ch. 25

"We should," she agreed. "Maybe make a date night every so often with dinner and dancing?"

"Sounds like a plan," he smiled, thinking that it was a plan that would have to wait until after he caught the fucker messing with their heads. He swept the dark thoughts away as he twirled Cat yet again to the final chords of the song he had chosen for this dance, 'Everything', a Michael Bublé song.

During the following few songs, Cat laughed as she seemed to be passed to a new partner every other minute until she claimed to need a drink and was escorted from the dance floor by Frankie, who was surprisingly light on his feet for a man of his age and stature.

"It must be my turn to make your husband jealous," Massimo said, approaching where she stood with Frankie and Anna.

"It must be time I met your wife," Cat countered with a smile.

"It seems I have lost track of her, much as you have lost track of your husband. We should search for them together," he grinned.

"You will never grow up, Massimo," Anna said, shaking her head.

"Where would the fun be in that, Zia Anna?" Massimo chuckled with a wink.

"Anna is your Aunt?" Cat asked, not understanding all of the links between the families.

"Yes, she grew up as a Farnese before marrying a Vitali," he nodded. "All of the families are linked in some ways."

"Did your wife come from one of the families?" she asked as they walked through the tables scattered through the ballroom.

"Yes, she was a Gambaro before taking one look at me and begging to change her name to Farnese," he smiled widely.

"Who could blame her?" Cat said with a perfectly straight face, even though her eyes were dancing with laughter. "I don't suppose you can see Matteo from all the way up there?" she asked.

"No, but here is Connie," he smiled. "Catriona Vitali, may I introduce Concetta Farnese," he introduced the two women.

"Hi," Cat said. "I wanted to meet the woman who managed to tame this giant child. I imagine he is a handful to look after on a daily basis."

"Finally, someone who understands my burden!" Cannie said dramatically, eyeing her husband. "What did you do to her that she knows what a naughty boy you are so soon?"

"Nothing!" Massimo proclaimed innocently. Cannie raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Okay, I may have snuck into her bed this morning and taken a picture for Matteo."

"I bet he loved that on his wedding day," she rolled her eyes at her husband. "You poor dear, are you traumatised?"

"A little," Cat said, trying to hide her smile.

"Go and get us some nice wine," she ordered her husband while pulling out the chair beside her for Cat. "Welcome to the family," she smiled as Cat sat, trying to tame the skirt of her dress to fit into the space between Connie and the woman beside her. "Have you met Ally?"

"No, I'm afraid I'm the one here who knows the least amount of people, it's embarrassing, really. I don't come from a big family, and this family is beyond anything I could have ever imagined," Cat said cheerily.

"I believe you've met my brother-in-law, Nathanael?" Ally asked, trying to put Cat at ease and show how she was linked to the family.

"Oh yes. Nathanael's so lovely," Cat nodded. "When I first met him, I thought he was so serious, but it's just his humour, he made me laugh so hard this morning at breakfast."

"His humour?" Ally asked as if astounded by this information.

"You don't think he's funny?" Cat asked, tilting her head. "Maybe it was just the atmosphere this morning. I think those men like to tease each other when they get together, and they were telling me stories about Matteo when he was younger. With that serious attitude though, Nathanael delivered the best lines that had me in stitches. He even made Massimo speechless at one point."

"That's something I'd love to see. Where is he?" Connie looked around.

"I'll grab him," Ally said, standing up and looking around. "He and Phil have been tight all night; no doubt he is over with the Sergi somewhere. Here, you can keep my seat warm, Matteo," she said pleasantly, seeing Matteo approach the table.

"Thanks, Ally, I was just checking on my beautiful wife," Matteo said, leaning down to kiss Cat's cheek. "I saw Massimo trying to abduct you again and thought I better come to rescue you," he grinned as Massimo returned to the table with a bottle of wine and fresh glasses.

"It was me abducting him, because I wanted to meet Connie," Cat laughed.

"You're running off with my friends after only a few hours of marriage?" he shook his head sadly.

"Apparently, we make her laugh," Nathanael said in a deadpan voice as he approached the table.

"You couldn't make a clown laugh," Massimo rolled his eyes, chuckling.

"Seem to be doing pretty well so far," Nathanael said with the same deadpan delivery, eyeing Massimo, making both Connie and Cat giggle.

"Remind me why we're friends again?" Massimo grumbled at Nathanael.

"Our fathers told us we had to be friends with poor little Matt here. Proximity, mostly, is my guess," he shrugged.

"So, it's your fault I have to put up with this.... Guy," Massimo turned on Matteo, and changing the initial word he was going to use at a kick under the table from Connie.

"Sure, and my evil plan worked," Matteo said easily. "I wouldn't complain too loudly, Mo, I think you got the better end of the deal. Did Mo tell you he was in bed with Cat this morning?" he asked Connie with a smirk.

"Honestly, I'd have more luck getting my five-year-old to eat Brussel sprouts than trying to get him to behave!" Connie said with an exaggerated sigh and an eye-roll at her husband.

"I don't want your Brussel sprouts either," Massimo grimaced, but grabbed his wife to kiss her affectionately.

"You wanted to see me, Cat?" Nathanael inquired, trying not to smile at Massimo's antics.

"I think it was Connie, actually, but since you're here I should be mingling. Maybe you could introduce me to your family?" she asked hopefully.

"I can do that," Matteo said, helping her to her feet. "Let Nathanael stay with Ally and annoy Mo a little longer."

"Okay, but I thought with so many people here we could divide and conquer the room," she said lightly. "I also find out so much about you from your friends when you're not hovering around," she laughed. "I wish I had met Emilio Donati, it sounds like he was just as bossy as you."

"In that case, you should talk to Phil," Matteo said.

"But I like talking to Nathanael," she laughed. "It's a challenge to make him smile, and if he manages to laugh, jackpot!" Cat grinned at Nathanael, and she could tell he was doing his best to maintain his serious expression. Cat noticed Ally was looking at him oddly and wondered if maybe she didn't know him as well as Cat thought she would. She wanted to ask questions she knew would be inappropriate and decided to pay attention to her new husband instead. "I guess I will have to console myself with your smile tonight," she leaned up and kissed him.

"Tough break, Matt, but the girl has taste," Nathanael commiserated with him.

"Nate!" Ally exclaimed in a high whisper.

"What?" he asked innocently. "You can't blame her, can you?" he let a small smile appear on his face and at Ally's dubious look and gave a soft chuckle.

"Win!" Cat laughed. "That's two. I can go in search of Phil now, and then Dante, I think." She listed off the four men who had arrived in her bedroom that morning.

*****

Cat realised she was being babysat throughout the night, as either Ricco or Lucca shadowed her if she became separated from Matteo. She wasn't surprised when Lucca approached her as she sat with some of Matteo's cousins, and she smiled up at him.

"Mama would like to see you," he said after leaning down to talk quietly close to her ear. He offered her his hand, and she excused herself from the small group she had been talking to. She followed Lucca to where Theresa sat with Roberto and Stefano, as well as a few of the older members of the family, and seeing Cat's approach she stood and gathered the young woman by her arm.

"It's time for you to change into your going away outfit, some of the older members of our family would like to leave and won't go without the going away ceremony," Theresa explained as Matteo and Ricco appeared beside them.

"Oh, I was having such a good time, I didn't even think about that. Of course, I'll go and change now, it won't take me long," Cat said. "I'll just find Edith and Kate, I kept this dress a secret too, so you don't need to come with me," She said to Matteo.

"Take Lucca or Logan with you, if you don't want us to come," Matteo said, unhappily referring to himself and Ricco.

"I'll be faster on my own. Besides, you have a bad habit of distracting me so that I run late for important things," she reached up and cupped his cheek before leaning up to kiss him.

"Take Lucca and Logan or Sebastian," Matteo repeated, and she realised he wasn't going to let her go to the ante-room attached to the ballroom without a minder. Giving in, she nodded and turned to Lucca and smiled.

"Sorry you've been on babysitting duty all night, let's go find our friends," she tucked her arm into his.

"It's not babysitting, and even if it were, I wouldn't mind. I like your company," Lucca said easily.

"You're very sweet," Cat said, and approached the two ladies who had created both of her dresses for today as they sat talking quietly with Marina and Peri. "It's time," Cat said softly, smiling at them both. The small group walked to the side of the ballroom and into the room that had been put aside for her use during the reception.

"Mrs. Vitali only," a security guard said as they approached.

"That's not happening," Lucca said, immediately stepping in front of Cat, eyeing the security guard. Cat went to step back, but found that Sebastian had moved close behind her.

"I've been given strict instructions, Matteo and Catriona Vitali only," The guard said with a hint of belligerence in his tone.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered, stepping to the side. "I am Catriona, as you can see, just let us in," she said, rolling her eyes. "Seriously, you can't tell by the wedding dress?"

"You can go in, but they," he indicated the men and women with her, "Must stay here."

"Problem?" Kalum said, coming to stand with them.

"Idiot rent-a-cop!" Lucca growled.

"No problem," Kalum said, and hit him without warning, and then stood over him as if daring him to make a sound as he slumped forward holding his nose. "Keys," he held out his hand and waited patiently.

"It's not locked!" the guard whined.

"Great, so we don't need to bother Mrs. Vitali anymore then," Kalum grabbed the man by the arm. "Sorry, Cat, I'm new to the family, I don't have all the protocol's down yet," he winked at her and turned, leading the man into the room. "Let's see who else is in here, shall we? Give us a minute, Cat," he winked at her.

"Well, that's one way to do things," Sebastian chuckled and followed Kalum into the room, leaving Cat with Lucca and the two ladies.

"Is everyone babysitting me tonight?" Cat sighed; looking around, hoping people hadn't noticed the small kerfuffle, but seeing Cosimo and two other large security guards walking towards where she stood.

*****

Jacobi had left his very pregnant wife to bask in the love of her brothers once the ceremonial part of the evening was over, and had sought out Ricco while keeping an eye on Vanessa and her fiancé, Mario. He'd enjoyed seeing so many of the men he knew from the other families as he and Ricco socialised with the leaders and futures members of the thirteenth table. He'd been standing reasonably close to the anteroom, talking to Theo Martino, when Kalum had accosted a security guard, and he frowned, wondering what the hell was going on.

He turned, looking for Cosimo or his cousin, Thomas, and noticed an odd look pass between Vanessa and Mario. He didn't have time to think about it as Cosimo approached the room and disappeared inside after Kalum and Sebastian. Jacobi looked back at Mario, who seemed to be having a serious conversation with Vanessa. She didn't look happy in the same way she had at the end of the photo shoot at the church, and he found himself torn between making sure she was okay and finding out what was going on with Kalum.

His eyes scanned the group, seeing Lucca, who looked relaxed, despite hovering protectively beside Cat. He looked around and saw Matteo and Ricco surveying the scene but not interfering, so he stayed where he was for now and turned his attention back to Vanessa, as Theo began speaking again about the joys of fatherhood and his disappointment that his wife and new son couldn't accompany him to the wedding.

Unable to resist the pull of the obvious issue at the side of the room, Jacobi took a look at his sister, gauging her mood before excusing himself to go and see Lucca and Cat.

"What's going on?" he asked softly as he approached Lucca.

"Another look-alike was hiding in the ante-room," Lucca murmured. "She's gone, and Cat is changing now, so you missed it all. No doubt we'll all be filled in eventually."

"How did you find her?" Jacobi asked, not doubting his assumption of who it was that the interloper looked like.

"The security guard was an idiot, and Kalum made him see just how stupid he was if he thought any of us would leave Cat alone for a moment tonight," Lucca chuckled. "It was a swift but direct education."

"They've taken the look-alike to another room here?" Jacobi asked.

"Honestly, Cobi, I have no idea what they did after they took her away. I was too busy trying to shield Cat so that her wedding day wasn't ruined entirely. If you can find Thomas, he would know," Lucca suggested.

"Yeah, I might have a look around, Uncle Sal will probably know more than anyone else," Jacobi nodded and clapped Lucca lightly on the shoulder before walking back toward the table he had been sitting at. Vanessa and Mario had left, and he saw them hurrying from the ballroom together. Jacobi considered where they would be going before the bridal couple farewell, and frowned. Forgetting his curiosity about the interloper, he followed his sister and her fiancé. He tapped Chase's shoulder as he followed them, knowing his cousin would follow him. They were all on alert tonight after the appearance of a ghost on Friday and the threatening note Cat had received.

"Ness!" Jacobi called out. "You can't leave yet?" The couple kept walking as if they hadn't heard him, and Jacobi hurried to catch up to them. "Ness!" He quickened his stride and grabbed her arm. "Vanessa!" He took in her pale face and anxious eyes as he stopped her.

"What?" she asked abruptly.

"You can't leave now, no one would forgive you for not joining the farewell circle," he said, looking at both Mario and his sister. Mario had a tight grip on Vanessa's arm, and Jacobi frowned at it, watching Mario loosen his grip slightly.

"We're just getting some fresh air, aren't we, babe," Mario said urbanely. "We'll be back for the big finale."

"Great, there you are," Chase smiled broadly, trying to work out what was happening and taking his cue from Jacobi. "Theresa sent me to gather the bridal party in one spot. She has one last speech or something before the happy couple leave."

"No time for fresh air, now you'll just have to breathe bad air like the rest of us," Jacobi laughed and went to guide Vanessa back to the ballroom, only to find Mario still maintaining his grip on her arm. "Is there a problem?" Jacobi raised an eyebrow.

"Nope, no problem at all," Vanessa looked up at Mario. "We can talk about our wedding later. I understand what you said, it will be okay. Once the bride and groom leave we can go back to our hotel," she leaned up and kissed him, feeling his grip on her relax. "It won't take long."

"I'm going to get some air, I'll be back for the big farewell," Mario said shortly, and turned on his heel, walking away from the siblings.

"Seems you and I need to talk," Jacobi murmured to Vanessa as they walked back toward the ballroom.

"If you can fix this fuck up it will be a miracle," Vanessa sighed.

*****

Cat emerged from the dressing room with her companions and smiled widely at Lucca, who gazed appreciatively at the dress she now wore. It was a decorative ivory satin, pearl and gold beaded, sleeveless mini dress that hugged her body tightly. Around her waist was a matching beaded belt of gold and pearl from which hung long lengths of soft chiffon that played peek-a-boo with her long legs and the matching shoes.

"Thank you for waiting," she said. "I guess we find Matteo now?" She took Lucca's proffered arm and walked with him back through the nearby tables to find Matteo where they had left him talking to his parents.

"Wow!" Matteo breathed into her ear as he gathered her into his arms. "No wonder you didn't want me in there distracting you," he chuckled and kissed her chastely in front of his parents.

It took Theresa and her sisters-in-law less than fifteen minutes to gather the guests into a large circle for the happy couple to move around to thank and farewell everyone before leaving, even though they wouldn't be going on a honeymoon immediately. Cat was relieved that, despite the small kerfuffle with her change room, Matteo seemed relaxed and enjoying the evening. She had so wanted this to be the wedding he wanted with his family and friends, and she was pleased he seemed so happy.

She felt for Ricco, that he would never have a day like this, and even though he said he would be here right alongside Matteo today, it wasn't the same, and she wondered how she could make it up to him. They moved in opposite directions around the large circle, meeting halfway and moving on before finally coming together again. They walked toward the exit to the sound of the song 'I'll Keep You Safe' by Sleeping At Last. Cat loved that he had chosen this song for them, even though it wasn't something she would normally have listened to. It made her realise how little they truly knew all the little things that people usually found out when dating. They'd talked about favourite things once, but that hadn't included music or anything of real importance. They'd only covered flowers and colours, as far as she could remember. She possibly knew more about Ricco's personal taste than she did about Matteo's, and she vowed to remedy that.

"It's been so much fun, I am sad it's over," Cat said quietly.

"It doesn't have to be, my friends and brothers would love to come up to the penthouse and keep the party going, if you're up for it, though you and I might need a quick detour, that dress is really something," he grinned as she spoke close to her ear.

"Really? You wouldn't mind?" she asked in surprise.

"Whatever makes you happy today is alright with me," he chuckled as they reached the elevators. It would also give him the opportunity to keep abreast of what was happening with Cosimo's investigation without alarming her.

"You make me happy," she laughed and hugged him tightly.

"I'll get Lucca to organise the party," he leaned down and kissed her. As the lift rose, he called Lucca and grinned as he said, "Give us half an hour or so, okay?"

"Why Lucca and not Ricco?" Cat asked curiously.

"Ricco is busy with something," Matteo shrugged as if it was no big deal. He stopped her from asking any more questions by kissing her and backing her into their penthouse. He noted both Knox and Hugh, along with two other security men. Matteo swept Cat into his arms and walked quickly toward the bedroom, kicking the door closed as he placed her on her feet and pulled her against his body. He kissed her hard, taking possession of her mouth, cutting off any complaints she might have about the men standing in the living room when they arrived. Within seconds he felt her body relax against him and her hands sliding up his chest to wrap around his neck.