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The door to my suite bursts open, and my brother, Benedicto, strolls in with a scowl on his face. “Pack up, hermana. You’re going back to Colombia.”
“The fuck I am,” I say defiantly. “I am a grown woman, single and without any family obligations. I’m not going back, not until I’m good and ready.”
“Dammit, Valentina, do not test me on this.”
I let out a bark of laughter. “Oh Jesus, test you? Have you forgotten, dear brother, that I don’t answer to you? I’m not one of your whores or your minions.” From the day he was born, Benedicto was molded in Papa’s image, a role he took to heart. Too much, if you ask me, but nobody ever does.
His nostrils flare, and his hands ball into fists, open and closed. “Valentina.”
“No,” I shout and shove past him to the next suite over where Papa is staying with his security detail. I step inside with the sweetest pout on my face. “Papa, Bene is being ridiculous. Tell him that I am staying as long as I want to.” I bat my eyelashes for good measure, knowing that Papa can’t resist his little girl’s every whim.
Papa blinks up at me as if mesmerized. I know I resemble my late mother, and it sometimes catches him off guard. I’m not ashamed to admit I use it to my advantage. Often.
“Valentina,” he sighs, and I know he will agree with Bene by default.
“No,” I shout again, more defiant than ever. “I was a good little girl and did as you requested by marrying Alejandro. He was stupid enough to get himself killed, but that’s not on me. I want to see the sights and shop on Rodeo. I want to enjoy being free.”
My eyes plead with my father, and I grab his hands in mine, batting my lashes and pouting like the little girl I haven’t been for years.
His shoulders sag, a sure sign he’s going to give in. “Fine, hija, you may stay. But you don’t leave this hotel without Santiago, si?”
“Yes, Papa. I promise to keep Santiago close.” It’s a lie, and we both know it’s a lie, but this is part of the game. Around the clock protection is the price I pay for a small amount of actual freedom. “Thank you, Papa.” I kiss his cheek. “I love you.”
He smiles happily. “Love you too, Valentina.” He assesses me with a penetrating gaze, and I start to back away. But then Papa grips my hands tightly. “Now tell me, how do you know this biker?”
I shrug easily. “We crossed paths when I was in Costa Rica gathering information for you.”
“Information you didn’t find,” he can’t help but add, a subtle reminder that I would never be as ruthless—or as shrewd—as my brothers.
“Well, if you hadn’t set me up to fail, perhaps I would have been more effective in achieving my goals. You sent me to find out who was there with no other information. Should I have seduced every suspicious man in hopes of finding what you wanted?”
“Valentina,” he growls at my salty language. “Don’t be crude.”
“I won’t if you stop acting like you gave me a fair chance. You wanted me to fail so I would marry Alejandro.”
I understand he will never allow me to be more than his daughter in the family business. I know he wants to protect me from the outside world. But I won’t allow him to keep me locked up in a gilded prison for the rest of my time here.
Papa nods and gives my hand a final squeeze before releasing me. “You can stay,” he concedes again.
I rise and smooth down my black dress with a smile. “Thank you, Papa. I’m going shopping,” I say, heading back to my room.
“I will bring the car around,” Santiago says from the entryway of my suite.
“I’ll be down in a few minutes,” I assure him. Today, I won’t escape from my bodyguard.
Tomorrow is a different story, and it all hinges on Jake.
CHAPTER THREE
Dix
Maria is here in Angel Harbor. My Maria is here except her name isn’t Maria. It’s Valentina Rojas. Shit, the hottest fucking time of my life–with the daughter of a cartel boss. Son of a bitch! I can’t wrap my mind around this fact or the fact that all I can think about is getting inside her sweet pussy once again.
“You listening?” Ace’s annoyed tone pulls me from my thoughts, and when I look up at him, he’s frowning and smirking.
“Yeah, I’m listening. What’s up?” We’re in the new state-of-the-art computer room at the clubhouse, and Wild Man and Gia have been digging up some info on the LTC.
Wild Man smirks, and Gia outright laughs, leading me to believe I missed something. Instead of calling me on it, Wild Man turns back to his fancy computer and pulls up photos of the Rojas family.
