Chapter twenty-one: Behind these walls

"I wasn't your bride, Luca." She said as calmly as she could.

"So you say." He steps forward, studying her closely. "Both of our fathers had taken care of all of the necessary arrangements for us to marry."

"I never consented to marry you."

"You broke an arrangement." He bites out, causing her to stop speaking, for fear of angering him. Hughes, she can taunt, but not Luca. He grips her chin firmly, forcing her to look at him. "Not only did you break my heart, but you also shot my mother." Her heart lodges in her throat, nearly choking her. "I should kill you where you stand."

She swallows hard, holding onto little Charlie, praying Luca does not kill her in front of Charlie. "Please, not in front of him."

He blinks in surprise. "I wouldn't kill you in front of the boy. However, the heart is such a weak and foolish organ." He exhales as he takes a step away from her, causing her to exhale in relief. "You were not involved with the Shelby family at the time. My mother had no right to kill your husband."

"She was….in pain, she needed someone to blame."

"Still as kind as I recall," his eyes narrow slightly. "unless it's an act to hope that I show you clemency."

She arches a brow. "As if I could get anything like that past you, Luca. You're not a fool and I'm not that good an actress. Any lie I'd try to tell you, you'd see through in a second, so I'm not going to waste my time bothering to lie to you."

"Good to know." He's silent for a long time before walking around her slowly. "You will stay here until father Hughes retrieves the boy. He will want him."

Kate shakes her head. "I've heard about what he does to boys. I won't let him have this child."

"He's Thomas Shelby's brat, it doesn't concern you."

"I made a promise to Charlie's dying mother that I'd take care of him, so it does concern me. Mr. Shelby took me in, gave me a job and I will not allow his little boy to be hurt in whatever dangerous game all three of you are playing."

"I've made an arrangement with Hughes to let you go. If you come with me now," he steps towards her. "you'll be free."

She blinks. "I really wish that was a tempting offer, but I know that you expect me to leave Charlie."

"You're not stuck here. Let's leave England and tell Shelby to f**k off."

"I can't." she breathes. "I made a promise."

"I seem to recall you broke a promise once." His tone is sharp. "Breaking this one shouldn't be that hard for you."

"And be indebted to you for the rest of my life? I know how your conquests go. I'd never be free to come and go as I please."

"And Shelby lets you go free?"

"As a matter of fact, he does." she exhales sharply. "God, Luca, can't you see why we wouldn't have worked out? You're asking me to abandon a baby boy, for my own freedom. How cold and callous of you!"

"And is that why you had to marry a German?" he demands. "Was I really that bad?"

"It had nothing to do with you; it had everything to do with my heart." She bites out. "I loved Emmett, which is why I married him. I am truly sorry, Luca. I didn't mean to break your heart-

"But you did." He steps towards her, his gaze intense. "I wanted to marry you and have a life with you."

"I didn't love you Luca." She inhales. "I didn't get to enjoy as much time with my husband as I could have had, but, I wouldn't have wanted to be with anyone else but him."

"There are rumors," he bites out. "that you're Shelby's newest whore."

She snorts. "And what woman would get into bed with a man who played a part in her husband's death?"

He smirks. "There it is."

"There's what?"

"The spark of resentment. As I said before, you owe Shelby nothing, come with me."

"Not without Charlie." Charlie throws his arms around her neck, giving her a slobbery kiss on her cheek, causing her to smile. "Not without him." Luca says nothing. "I'm done talking Luca…I'm not leaving. Please, if you're not going to help, then just go."

She should have been surprised that he actually obeyed her, but she wasn't. There was no more to be said and for now, that might have been for the best. She sighs as she sinks back onto the pallet, turning Charlie free to play in their small cell as her thoughts stray to that day. One of the days, that was one of the best and worst days of her entire life.

Kate ran down the street, her heart pounding in her chest. "Katherine?" at the sound of Mrs. Changretta's voice, she spins around. She's outside of Emmett's office and Mrs. Changretta was the last person she wanted to see. "What are you doing here?"

Last week, her father had said that Luca Changretta had asked for her hand in marriage. Kate had met him numerous times, but, truly hadn't ever seen any signs of attachment on his side. When her father had informed her yesterday that she and Luca would be getting married, whether she liked it or not, Emmett finally realized that there was no persuading her father. They'd decided to meet at his office, his boss would be a witness and Kate's friend Noni Fitzgerald would meet them at the courthouse as a witness.

"Kate?" she spins around at the sound of Emmett's voice. He doesn't even notice Mrs. Changretta, for he's agitated. "We'll have to grab someone at the courthouse. My boss isn't willing to step in as a witness."

"Witness?" Mrs. Changretta asks from her position in her carriage. "What for?"

"I'm marrying Katherine today." Emmett says before she can stop him. Mrs. Changretta's grey-green eyes widen in shock.

"Emmett," she says quickly. "that's Luca's mother."

Something, she would never be sure why or what it was, passed between Luca and Mrs. Changretta. After a moment, she opened her carriage door. "I suggest the two of you get in then." Emmett took her arm and helped her inside the carriage. Kate was stunned beyond belief. "For God's sake Katherine, don't look so shocked."

"I-I am." she stammers. "I'm not marrying your son."

"No." she folds her hands. "I love my husband and as a woman, I'd want for you to be as in love with your husband as I am with mine. You don't look at Luca the way you look at this young man. And my son deserves better than to marry a woman in love with someone else."

"I'm sorry," Kate says as Emmett sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I don't mean to involve you in this."

"Do!" she smiles happily. "This is rather exciting, like Romeo and Juliet."

One scant hour later, Kate had become Mrs. Emmett Webber. Mrs. Changretta had given them a ride back to her father's house and had lent them the use of her carriage to get a few of her things down. Kate had already packed up her clothing and taken a few personal belongings.

She'd gone inside that house, her heart pounding in her chest. She'd spotted her maid and had promptly flagged her down. "Get a few other servants and have them bring down my bags and put them in Mrs. Changretta's carriage. Immediately!"

Her servant had nodded and hurried up the stairs. "Katherine?" her father bellows from the library. "Step in here."

Kate turns to her husband, who nods. "Come on."

"No. wait outside the door, give me a minute to break it to him."

He nods. "Alright. I'll be listening."

She exhales and looks at her husband, who nods at her. "It'll be alright. I'll be right outside the door if you need me."

Kate pushes the door open and stands in the doorway, Emmett stands by the door, his hand on hers, waiting to appear to her defense if necessary. "Yes?"

"Don't stand there and gawp, we have guests." She observes Mr. Changretta and his son, Luca there.

She inhales, deciding to blurt it out. "I can't stay, I just got-

"I don't care. Tonight, we celebrate your betrothal to Luca Changretta."

Kate laughs loudly. "I'm sorry, but no, I'm not going to marry Luca."

Mrs. Changretta walks calmly into the room. "Vicente, Luca, it's time to go home."

"No one's f**king going anywhere!" her father roars. "The wedding is two Sundays' from now."

"Hey," Vicente says in irritation. "don't bellow at my wife."

"My apologies, I was meaning to bellow at my stubborn daughter. Luca's a good man." He shouts. "Not only is it good for business, but the man loves you! You will marry him!"

"Listen to me-

"You don't have the right to say anything!" He shouts. "You're my daughter and you will do as I say!"

"Let her speak," Luca says as he steps forward, his gray eyes studying her face. "if I'm to marry her, I want to hear her objections. Not yours."

"What she needs is a good belt, which I trust you'll give her once in a while!"

"I wouldn't." Luca studies her carefully. "So, why won't you marry me Katie?"

Kate trembles slightly, she hates this, she hates hurting people. Luca is a nice enough man, she just doesn't love him. She really wishes know that she had told him about Emmett right from the beginning, but she hadn't seen the need. "Luca, it's not I won't marry you, it's that I can't marry." she holds up her left hand showing her gold band off. "I got married today."

The silence is unbearable for a moment. Kate squeezes Emmett's hand and he enters the library. That's when hell erupts around her. Her father pulls out his gun, aims and fires! Emmett shoves her out of the way, catching the bullet in the shoulder himself!

There's a ton of screaming and incoherent shouting as the world becomes a kaleidoscope. Emmett is assuring her that he's alright, Mrs. Changretta is shouting for help. Mr. Changretta is attempting to wrestle the gun from her father's hand. Luca, is just standing there, looking at them as Emmett helps her to her feet and leads her away from the library as Rosemary runs down the stairs looking at her, tears in her big, brown eyes.

"Kate? What's going on?"

"Get the f**k out of my house!" her father bellows, straining against the hold from Mr. Changretta. "You f**king German and take my whore of a daughter with you! Rosemary, get away from that trash!"

Rosemary defied her father and threw her arms around Kate's waist. Kate instantly threw her arms around her sister kissing her forehead. "Be brave Rosemary. I love you and promise me that when you marry, you'll marry for love as I did."

Rosemary nodded as tears started pouring down her cheeks. With that, Kate exited the room with her husband and that was the last time she'd ever seen her father or sister. Her mother had already died, so apart from her husband, she was all alone.

Now, her husband was gone and what did she have now? Someone else's child that she was sworn to protect, so, she wasn't truly alone. Charlie dropped onto the mattress, his face in her lap and his backside slightly up the air, causing her to smirk slightly. He always slept in the weirdest positions. Thomas would be here soon, she kept telling herself and she wouldn't let anyone touch Charlie.

Very soon,…this whole mess would be all over.

Idcam: Not quite in on the kidnapping, but those two clearly had a history together at some point. Yes, Kate and Luca were engaged, but as you read, it wasn't really her idea.

MeriemDjez: I did suggest it in chapter 13, with Tatiana questioning her about her betrothed. Yes, it was, however, her husband is now dead….soooo, who knows, right? There's another one fore Tommy to worry about now!