Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 613 -

*Elio*

"Hey, Al," I said casually, watching as Cat fled from me, holding onto her left wrist.

She glanced at me one final time, a cautious look to her as she shut the door, and I was left alone in the middle of her driveway.

"You said you had a tip for me?" Alessandro sounded as rough and straight to the point as ever.

I smirked at the hint of exhaustion I could hear behind his voice, probably from dealing with so much shit over the years.

But I had to admit, he was still one of the best Dons the family had ever had. Ever since he had taken the title, it had been smooth sailing for all of us in the States and for them back in Italy. "Isn't it like two AM over there?" I asked, amused.

"Don't remind me," he growled. "What did you replace?"

I rolled my eyes, not paying his rough attitude any mind. My uncle was a lot of things, but polite, especially at two in the morning, was not one of them.

"I've got my own shit too, so I won't hold you. There's been some activity over here that we think can trace back to... you know, him." I said vaguely, glancing at the house in front of me.

A light turned on in the top window, the one I knew to be Cat's room. I could see her shadow cross in front of the curtains, no longer the skinny figure of the little girl I'd first met all those years ago, now a woman with curves in all the right places.

"Is Caterina and her mother safe?" Alessandro asked urgently. "Did you inform Tallon yet?"

I shook myself out of my thoughts, beginning the short trek back to my own house next door. I held my phone between my shoulder and ear as I opened the door and walked inside.

"No, I wanted to tell you first," I told him. "I wasn't sure Tallon could be objective about it, but the Leones are safe for now. I sent you everything I know through the private server. It's not much, but I figured you'd have more resources over there to replace them."

"I'll get it on it," he sighed. "Keep them safe."

"I always do."

I hung up, tossing my phone onto the coffee table as I collapsed onto the couch with a heavy sigh of relief. My whole body was aching from exhaustion after the long day, though I still felt pretty good.

I threw my hand over my face, brushing my lips against the skin of my palm and I flinched, remembering the soft and warm touch of another's against mine.

Cat.

Cat was gorgeous. I knew that long before the kiss, but ever since she'd come back from college, it was like I'd been hit by a brick with it. She'd truly blossomed into a woman when I wasn't looking... and an especially well-endowed one at that. I found myself drawn to even just her walking-her hips swaying with every step, her firm ass and large chest that looked so soft and sexy. It was like every inch of her body was enticing me closer without her even realizing it. And it didn't help that she wore those skin-tight leggings either.

And that kiss her lips had been so soft, so warm and full of life. I could still remember the heat of her mouth connected to mine, our tongues intertwined as we devoured one another like we were starving, my hands on her skin, pulling her into me until I could barely remember where she stopped and I started.

And that little moan she let out, probably not even aware she had done it... I wasn't sure I could have held myself back from taking her right then and there if her mom hadn't dropped us back to reality.

I was never one to ignore things and hope they went away, though I knew Cat was. I liked to tackle things head on, even if there were repercussions. My mom always said I was tactless and stubborn like my father, which was fair since she was right.

But in this case, there was no way Cat would approach me about the kiss considering the awkwardness that hung between us ever since it happened. But we would have to address it sometime, and I was tired of beating around the stupid bush.

It was going to be up to me.

Though considering Cat's personality, she wasn't going to be happy about it. She probably felt as weird about it as I did, I thought, considering we met when I was a full adult and she was still only a child.

I'd never looked at her like that-romantically-at least not until a few days ago, but we were both adults now. And adults can be attracted to one another without making such a big deal out of it. Shame had nothing to do with it. Besides, considering the age gap of the couples in the family, our difference was barely even on the scale.

I brushed my hair from my face, getting to my feet as I grabbed my phone and headed upstairs. I pushed open the door to my bedroom, glancing out my open window to see the light in her window still on.

I smirked to myself, laying my phone on the windowsill and leaning out to feel the slight chill in the breeze. On speakerphone, the phone rang loud in the empty room, and I saw the silhouette in Cat's rooms dip out of sight for a moment before there was a click and a cautious, "Hello?"

"Hey, are you busy?" I asked, straight to the point, no explanation.

There was a brief pause, and all I could hear were her soft breaths before she answered. "No, why?"

"Great. Be ready in thirty. I'll pick you up."

"What?" she exclaimed, the exasperation in her tone putting a grin on my lips. "Ready for what? And even if I'm not busy, what makes you think I want anything to do with you? I'm perfectly okay staying at home. I've got work to catch up on for my transfer to UCLA, and so much paperwork to go through. I don't have time"

"Cat," I said firmly, unintentionally using the tone I used to use when she would refuse to do her homework.

She went dead silent on the other end.

I coughed, correcting myself. "I'm going to take you out... thirty minutes."

"You can't just order me around, Elio," she sneered, "and you still haven't said where to. I'm smart enough not to follow strange men to unknown locations."

"I'm not a stranger," I bit back casually. "I've known you since you were a kid, Cat."

"I didn't say you were." There was a hint of smugness in her voice. "I just said you were strange, which you are."

Well, touché.

I grinned. "Just get ready."

A pause fell over us and I could almost hear her overthinking through the phone, debating with herself but ultimately, we both knew what she would choose. She sighed and I smirked in victory. "Fine. What do I need to wear to this 'mystery adventure?""

I could practically see the way she rolled her eyes at this, the quotation marks seeping in sarcasm.

I thought back to the outfit she was wearing when I'd just seen her.

"What you were wearing is fine." I shrugged. "Nothing fancy, just casual. Make sure to wear a jacket though."

"Ugh!"

The phone went dead, and I chuckled to myself, pushing off the windowsill and heading to the bathroom. I pulled off my shirt, dropping it to the floor, and discarded my jeans just as easily, reaching into the shower to turn on the hot water. Steam immediately poured out, fogging up the bathroom and I shut the door, paying no mind as I glanced at the mirror. I tilted my head, smirking at my image.

I knew I was good-looking. I didn't mind admitting it, since it wasn't due to anything I had done. I was just lucky. I'd inherited the strong genes of my father paired with the soft doe-eyes of my mother, with golden tan skin and the vibrant brown curly hair that ran in the Valentino genes.

I was rather lazy when it came to my appearance, so I kept my hair a medium length with a fade on either side, the curls just long enough to dip in between my eyebrows. I was a perfect blend of my parents' best features. Covered in the T-shirts and jeans I often wore, it was hard to see from the outside, but I kept my body fit and active, even down to the dip where the mirror couldn't see.

I rolled my shoulders as the steam coated the window, obscuring my vision as I stepped into the shower, breathing a sigh of relief as the heated water pounded on my body. I relaxed, taking my time in the overly hot water, as high as it could go, which was nearly burning.

By the time the water was running at a tepid temperature, I finally stepped out, shutting off the water and drying myself off. I wrapped the towel around my waist, grabbing clothes from my closet, casual but still nice-simple blue jeans with a dark gray T-shirt and a black blazer over the top.

I dried my hair, glanced at my phone, and then looked through the window to see Cat's room. I could see her silhouette moving back and forth but I couldn't see anything more, which was a relief and if I was being honest, a disappointment. But at least if I couldn't see anything, no weirdos on the street would be able to either. I couldn't complain about that.

I pocketed my phone and keys, pulled on my shoes, and locked up the house at exactly twenty-nine minutes after I'd called Cat.

I leisurely strolled over to the house next door like I had done a thousand times before. I climbed the front porch steps, pausing at the last step.

I frowned, tilting my head, confused. There was a fluttering in the pit of my stomach, like a mixture of excitement and anxiety that I wasn't prepared to feel. It felt like when I was a teenager heading to my first date with my crush at the time. But that was impossible.

Cat was pretty and I was attracted to her, but that was all. Right?

I shook off those crazy thoughts and walked straight up to the door and into the house.

I had to be mistaken. There was no possible way I was falling for Caterina Leone. We were just two adults attracted to each other. That was all it was.

I was sure of it.