The Twelve Vitali Ch. 28

"You said you could work from anywhere, and I guess, with Lucca taking on more and more in the running of the company, I can loosen the reins a little more to work from there, at least part-time," Matteo said. "As long as we have both homes set up to support it. We're going to need to have an Athenaeum here as well, so we better start looking into that as well. I think we need a table meeting to make sure we have covered all our bases and give people time to consider their roles and what they will need going into the future that our fathers haven't considered with the new technologies available."

"I'll go out with Cat and the architects this week and start scoping out the surrounding land. Maybe we could meet next week? Without the old men?" Logan suggested.

"Yeah, that will give me time to consider the space here, and where I want to place the spaces we now need to have in the building," Matteo agreed. He checked his watch, wondering if it was too early to have a drink. His head hurt, and he worried about Cat and if she was as happy as she said with him now that the table had been announced.

*****

Cat lifted her hands above her head and squealed in delight as the large pirate ship swung to its peak and her body lifted slightly from her seat before it whooshed back in the other direction. This was her third ride on the huge attraction at Luna Park, and she wondered why she had never come here before... Money, possibly, and time. She'd always had to work, and her free time was mostly taken up by David and his football until recently. She turned her head to grin at Lucca, who, like her, was acting like a big kid at the amusement park that afternoon. She had needed this escape from the world and the pressures of her life now, and she was beyond grateful to him for bringing her here.

Lucca watched Cat and the way her face lit up with genuine happiness, as if all her worries about her past, as well as her future, seemed to melt away as their afternoon progressed. It was hard to believe she had never been to Luna Park or any of the places he had asked about that he had loved growing up. He found himself wanting to show all of them to her, and it was a constant jolt to his system to see the glittering ring on her finger, reminding him that she was off-limits to such thoughts. He understood why Matteo had been in such a rush to marry her, and why Ricco had remained in love with her, even after she had left him for good and moved interstate.

'They were better men than him,' he thought to himself as he helped her from the ride, placing his hands on her waist to steady her. He couldn't imagine ever wanting to share her if she was his. Allowing himself a small moment of uncaring that she was married to his brother, he took her hand and walked toward the nearby refreshment stand where Bradbury and Hugh waited for them. He'd done nothing wrong and had been a perfect gentleman all day, but he felt a pang of guilt as Hugh's eyes lowered to where he held her hand in his.

"I guess it's time to go back to reality," Lucca said. "Are you hungry? Would you like to have dinner before we head back to HQ?" He asked, wanting to prolong the day and the time he had alone with Cat, knowing it would possibly never happen again.

"Dinner sounds great, but I should probably check in with Matteo to let him know," she smiled. "It's been a fun day, it would be nice to have dinner, and I am still curious about your secret indulgence."

"You can call him when we get to the car," Lucca suggested with a smile, and they turned to walk towards the entrance. Hugh moved ahead to get the car and pull up closer to the entrance for them, while Bradbury remained to shadow their progress through the park.

Outside they stood and waited as the car pulled up and Bradbury opened the door for her as Cat climbed inside. Cat had barely gotten her leg in, and Lucca had one leg in the car when it took off. There was a sickening thud as Lucca fell to the ground, his head bouncing against the concrete as Bradbury took off running after the car and the woman he was supposed to protect. He already had his phone in his hand and was pressing the alarm button, swearing profusely as he ran ineffectually after the disappearing car.

"Just sit back and relax, no one wants to hurt you," a figure that had been crouched in the front passenger's seat said to Cat as the car built up speed. "Once we have what we need you will be returned to your husband. Give me your phone and purse," he requested, holding out his hand. Cat handed them over. If nothing else she was a survivor, and she had spent years surviving bad situations, this was no different, she told herself.

The car stopped, and she was pulled from it and pushed into the back of an ambulance. She had barely acknowledged her new surroundings and the men inside the vehicle when it moved out into the traffic with sirens blaring and lights flashing. She caught a brief glimpse of the car and her personal belongings behind them, and she closed her eyes, wondering how Matteo would find her now. She worried about what this would do to him and how Lucca would cope with having to tell his brother they were ambushed because he wanted to show her a fun time at an amusement park because she had never been to one.

"Don't drug me, I won't fight you!" she pleaded as a thick rubbery band was strapped around her upper arm above her elbow.

"We just want a blood sample," the man spoke abruptly, holding up an empty syringe and vial. Cat relaxed and let them draw the blood. "Saliva too," he showed her the swab, and she opened her mouth, wondering how that would work, considering her mouth had become so dry with her fear.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked.

"Our employer believes you are family and would like that confirmed before anyone knowing his identity, and he had serious doubts that your husband would allow this testing to occur," the man said in a brusque businesslike tone.

"He was probably right," Cat said, acknowledging that she wouldn't have believed it either. "I don't have a father, none was listed on my birth certificate. How would your employer even know that I was alive, let alone could possibly be related? And what about my brother?"

"It is my understanding that any siblings younger than yourself would not be from the same father," the man said, continuing with the same tone. "As for your other question, all of Melbourne knows who you are and what you look like, Mrs. Vitali." He moved away from her and sat behind the driver, who turned off the siren but left the lights flashing. The ambulance slowed down and pulled over slowly. They sat there for long minutes before the men in the back with her moved to open the door.

"We will be in touch should the results come back positive," he said as the ambulance drove off, leaving the two of them in a side street before she could think to turn around and look at the licence plate. "I trust you will be able to find your way home from here." He said, and left her, moving around the corner into the main street to meld in with the crowded peak hour flow of traffic and pedestrians. It took her a minute to get her bearings, and she walked across the narrow city street and into a hotel lobby.

"Hello, my name is Catriona Vitali," she said as she approached the concierge.

"My god, it is her, isn't it!" the young girl at the reception desk gushed, but silenced herself after a sharp look from the concierge.

"Oh, good, you recognise me! I've just been mugged, and I have no identification or phone or anything, and I am desperate to call me husband! Would I be able to use the phone, please?" Cat asked breathlessly. "I am sure my husband would reimburse you for your trouble."

"Of course, Mrs. Vitali, if you would follow me to our VIP lounge," he offered. Cat followed him through a door and sat as a phone was brought to her, and some iced water. "Would you like me to call the police so you can report the mugging and loss of your belongings?"

"Thank you, yes, I should, but I just want to speak to my husband right now," she said, feeling her eyes welling up with tears as she looked at the phone and tried to remember his number. She'd never had to dial it before, it was always just programmed into her phone. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried and failed to remember anyone's number but her own, and decided to call that, hoping that it would be forwarded to Arturo's phone. She felt overwhelming relief when he picked up almost immediately.

"Arturo," she choked on a sob. "I need Matt!" She dissolved into tears as he demanded to know where she was. The concierge, seeing the predicament, took the phone from her hand and gave Arturo the information and took instructions.

"Mrs. Vitali, I've been instructed to take you to a suite. Can you walk with me?" he asked gently, and she nodded, getting up and taking a breath to try and stem her tears.

*****

Matteo was still in Ricco's office when the alarm sounded on their phones. He spent the next hour with a frantic sense of his world ending as people moved and spoke around him. His whole family and the people who worked for him were trying to find Cat. When Arturo finally barged into the crowd of people around him and said he had spoken to her, his world stopped for a split second, and he ran out of the building to his car. She needed him. It was the only sentence she had managed to get out between sobs, Arturo had said, she needed him, and he needed to be there immediately, if not sooner.

Cat jumped as the door flung open and Matteo swept down onto her, wrapping her in his arms and kissing her tears away. She cried all the more, she was in shock, she knew, but she had no words, just tears that she couldn't seem to stem. She could hear his murmur, but not understand what he was saying as she clung to him. She wasn't even aware of the multitude of people who had followed Matteo into the suite.

"Carry her into the bedroom, Matt," Zachary said, softly patting his shoulder. "I'll need to examine her and make sure she is alright, Papa is with Lucca now," he explained, using the same soft cajoling voice.

"Lucca?" Cat sobbed.

"He's hurt, but we have to worry about you right now," Matteo said, holding her close as he walked the few meters to the bedroom, followed by Zachary. The only one who wasn't hurt was Bradbury. Thank god someone was able to raise the alarm, or the consequences could have been far worse. Not that they weren't bad, he had a traumatised wife, and his brother was unconscious in a hospital bed, and he didn't know what was happening there. He had never felt so out of control in his adult life.

"Did they inject you?" Zachary asked, seeing the cotton ball and tape on her arm.

"No, they took blood and a swab of my cheek," Cat hiccupped slowly as her sobbing began to subside. "They said their employer wanted a DNA test and that he knew Matteo would never allow it. They never harmed me, not physically," she whispered. "What happened to Lucca? He fell when the car took off suddenly."

"The police are here, and they want to interview you," Ricco said quietly, coming into the bedroom. "Your belongings were recovered with the car. Thomas is bringing them. Kalum is doing crowd control here at the hotel."

"And Lucca?" she asked, hoping he had heard something. She saw a look pass between the three men who hovered over her. "He's hurt, Cat, he's in the hospital, but Paolo is with him, and he has the best care."

"This is all my fault, I am so sorry!" she looked at the three men. "He gave me such a wonderful day, and I did that to him!" she broke into fresh sobs.

"You didn't do anything!" Matteo said adamantly. "Ricco, tell the police they will have to wait until the doctor is finished examining her." He looked up at Zachary. "Tell me, why was it so wonderful to spend the day with Lucca?" He stroked her hair, willing her to calm down again by trying to get her to talk about other things.

"He's very much like you. I think we need to find him a wife before I fall in love with another one of your brothers," she teased sadly. "Did you know he has a secret indulgence? He thinks no one knows, but someone must in this family. I doubt anyone has any real secrets."

"It wouldn't be much of a secret if I knew, would it?" Matteo chuckled. "You really need to stop falling in love with my brothers and cousins. Luckily, Zach, here, is already married and immune to your charms!"

"I wouln't say I was immune," Zach joined in the teasing banter.

"Good grief!" Matteo sighed exaggeratedly, and put a hand to his forehead as if getting a headache thinking about it. "Lucky I got in first and put a ring on it," he growled, but his wide smile ruined the growl's effect.

"I love you," she reached up and took his hand and held it tightly. "From the moment they let me go, all I wanted was to see and hear and feel you, and I couldn't remember your phone number, or anyone's phone number. I called my own number hoping someone would pick it up." Anxiety over the feelings flowed through her again. "So much for my tough chick from the wrong side of town routine, huh?" she gave a lop-sided smile. "I just can't seem to stop crying today, and I feel sick, like I might throw up," she admitted.

"I just want to check that they didn't put anything harmful in your arm when they took the blood. Do you think you could pee?" Zachary held up a specimen jar and indicated the bathroom. Cat took the jar and got up from the bed, feeling light headed, and headed into the bathroom without a word.

"She was pretty adamant that they just took the blood," Matteo said, looking at Zachary with a raised eyebrow.

"The shock of the situation could be made worse because she is hormonal. It wouldn't be the first time the Vitali men hit the jackpot when they began trying for a family," he murmured softly, making Matteo gape at him. "It's been well over a month since she came off birth control, and I don't want to give her medication for the shock, if there is a chance. The test results will change what I prescribe, you understand. It's pretty accurate."

Matteo blew out a huge breath but said nothing, merely nodding his understanding. He considered the idea and wondered if it may be too much of a shock for her, on top of what had already happened today. He wasn't sure he could take the news either right now.

"Don't tell us," he said suddenly. "Not until after Cat speaks to the police. I think we're both dealing with enough right now, and that should be a happy occasion, not this chaos," Matteo said.

"Okay," Zachary said warily. "After the police leave, though. It will be important when she asks for a drink later if it's positive. Red wine, one glass at most, even if it's negative. Alcohol is not the solution here."

"I get it," Matteo said quietly, still nodding his head. "I'm good to go, though, right? Something tells me I'm going to need something to help me sleep tonight."

"I'm sorry," Cat said sadly, coming back into the room. "I am so sorry this is happening to us." Tears welled in her eyes again.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Kitten," Matteo gathered her into his arms again as she handed the sample to Zachary and he disappeared into the bathroom with some indicator strips. "Do you think you can manage to see the police now? It might be better to get it over and done with."

"Okay," she whispered. "You won't leave me, will you?" she clung to him as they spoke.

"Never! Not in a million years will I ever leave your side again, if that's what you want," he smiled. "It might get a little uncomfortable when one of us has to use the bathroom, but I can do it if you can," he tried to lighten the mood.

"That's not what I meant, silly," she smiled, despite everything.

"I will stay by your side as long as you need me, and then probably sometime after that," Matteo reassured her. "Are you ready?" he asked. "There are a lot of people here who want to make sure you are alright."

"Yes, I am fine, honestly, it was just the shock of it all. Are Hugh and Bradbury okay?" she asked, realising she hadn't even thought to ask about them.

"They are both fine," Matteo said, walking with her to the door, not wanting to see the expression on Zachary's face when he re-emerged from the bathroom. He doubted he would be able to refrain from asking now that the idea had settled into his mind.

The police interview went quickly, as she could tell them very little about the people who had taken her. They hadn't hurt her and had released her within an hour of abducting her. She never got a good look at the driver, and the man who spoke to her wore a cap and a clear mask over the top half of his face, distorting his features. The others all wore similar clothes and masks and never spoke with her. The only real information she had was that an unknown employer of the men believed he might be her father and wanted a paternity test, or at least a relative of some description.

"Ric," Zachary said quietly as the police officers stood to leave. "Let Kalum show them out. Join us for a minute, would you?"

"Sure," Ricco agreed, worried now that something else was wrong, other than what he had heard her tell the police. He followed Matteo and Cat into the bedroom.

"How are you feeling now?" Zachary asked Cat.

"Like a crybaby," she sighed. "I am fine. I wasn't hurt or abused in any way. I'm more worried about Lucca now. Have you heard anything from your father?"

"Not yet, but I'm sure he has everyone doing their best for Lucca," he said gently. "I'm not going to prescribe you anything, as you seem much calmer now. However, if you find yourself getting overwhelmed again, call me. Don't self-medicate with anything, and that includes alcohol. Do you understand?"

"Yes," she said slowly, "But I feel fine now, I'm sure you won't have to worry about me."

"I need you to come into my office in the morning, and I need to take a blood test now to send off with the overnights," Zachary continued.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, suddenly worried.

"Do you remember when your last period was?" he asked softly, and smiled as her eyes widened.

"Seriously! You think I'm pregnant already?" she asked in astonishment.

"I'm ninety-nine percent sure that you are, given the test I did with the specimen you gave me. That, combined with the shock of what happened today, would account for your hysteria. Your inability to stop crying earlier," Zachary explained further at Cat's frown.

"Wow!" was all she could say as her head swung between Matteo and Ricco, unsure who she should hug first. "This is good news, right?" she finally blurted as they didn't move.

"The best! I just wasn't expecting that when I walked in here," Ricco finally said, and reached down to wrap his arms around her, pulling Matteo into the hug as well.

"Let's wait until the blood tests come back before we say anything to anyone. Just to be sure," Matteo said cautiously, then grinned at Ricco. "We're going to be Papa's!"

"Cat is truly a little Mama now," Zachary grinned. "Rest tonight, you are in shock. You can have one glass of red wine, a small one to celebrate, but don't be tempted to take any medication until we have spoken tomorrow." He packed up his bag and walked out of the room, giving the trio a few minutes to digest the news.

Cat felt her eyes well up again, and fresh tears threaten. Her emotions were all over the place, and she gave a teary smile.

"It's all too much?" Ricco asked gently.

"The last four months of my life have been all too much, I think I just need a timeout," she shook her head. "What I really need right now though, is to make sure Lucca is okay. Can you take me to the hospital if they haven't released him yet?" Cat asked.

"I will go to the hospital and check on him while you let Matteo feed you. Bradbury said you were on your way to dinner when you were abducted, and you have a little life to think about now," Ricco put his hand over her belly. They had shielded her from how badly hurt Lucca was until now, and, if they could, they would keep it from her tonight, at least until she had some decent rest and came to terms with everything that had happened to her.