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I screamed out his name as I came, and his lips crashed down on mine once again with a snarl. His hot seed lashed into me, branding me as his. Our souls were entwined even more tightly than our bodies, an irrevocable and eternal bond.
I would always belong to Mateo, and he would always be mine. I sealed the wordless, possessive vow with my lips on his, laying claim to him with a devastating kiss. Even though I was the one who was often in bondage, Mateo would never be free of me. I didn’t intend to ever let him go.
Chapter 2
Sofia
“Sofia!” A familiar voice exclaimed on a delighted laugh, and I was swept up in a warm embrace.
“Valentina.” I breathed her name on a soft sigh of relief, some of my budding anxiety melting away. I didn’t have to be anxious when the boss’ wife had my back.
I would never quite understand how this sweet, good-hearted woman was in love with sadistic, fearsome Adrián Rodríguez, but right now, I was grateful for her show of support. I could practically feel Carmen Ronaldo’s keen eyes on me from across the room, assessing.
“Don’t worry about them,” Valentina said in an undertone so that no one would hear over the pulsing music that emanated from the club below the mezzanine level where we were all gathered. “We’re going to dance tonight while they take care of business. We can have fun. Stefano and Carmen always have the best music playing at these events. They know how to throw a party.”
I swallowed hard. Mateo had warned me about the Mexican drug lord’s infamous charisma. Stefano Duarte would slide a knife into your heart with a stunning smile and then continue dancing with Carmen, his fiercely beautiful partner. His charm masked his sociopathy and ruthlessness, a distraction to put people off-balance, whether they were enemies or allies.
His loyalty and alliance to Mateo’s boss, Adrián, made working with the dangerous man a necessity. He controlled the cocaine trafficking route through Mexico from Colombia, and Adrián relied on their partnership.
Usually, Mateo kept me completely removed from knowledge about these business dealings, but he’d decided that warning me about Stefano was too important to shield me from it. And I still experienced a shadow of fear around Carmen, who had once kidnapped me and delivered me to her cruel brother in a power play. She hadn’t known about his vicious plans for me, and she’d tried to make amends. But I didn’t think I’d ever be able to fully shake the remembered terror of that awful night when Mateo had cut his way through a small army of men to save me.
But she was now a trusted ally, and Mateo had grudgingly forgiven her. Still, he’d made sure to thoroughly distract me from my fears tonight with his wicked, brutal seduction.
Heat bloomed in my cheeks at the fresh memory of how he’d claimed me thoroughly, making me forget about everything but him. I was completely safe in his strong arms, and there was nothing for me to fear at this party. Even if we did have to be separated while he stood at Adrián’s back, his massive body and menacing scowl making any potential enemies think twice before they betrayed his cold-blooded boss.
I sighed again and forced my attention from where he stood with the cartel bosses in a shadowed back corner. They would conclude their more serious business eventually, and he would be able to join me again. For now, I would dance with my friend and avoid Carmen for as long as possible.
Valentina threaded her slender fingers through mine and tugged me toward the dance floor. There were only a handful of revelers on this level of Stefano’s club, which was located in the high rise building he owned in the heart of the city. He kept tighter security up here, shrewdly protecting his business interests—and Carmen—while maintaining that unnerving façade of a jovial, hedonistic host.
Everyone on this level would be personally connected to the cartel, trusted by Stefano and Carmen. I didn’t have anything to worry about, despite being surrounded by criminals.
I shook off the uneasy thoughts. When I’d chosen Mateo, I’d chosen to be part of this world. I’d always been a part of it, even if I hadn’t known about my father’s criminal activities as a child.
And there hadn’t been a choice when it’d come to Mateo. And not only because he’d kidnapped me. I’d been obsessed with him ever since I’d first laid eyes on him at fifteen. When he’d taken me as his hostage, I’d been helpless to resist him in every way.
I was his now, and he was mine. There was no going back or escaping this underworld, and I could live with that.
So, I forced myself to relax and followed Valentina onto the dance floor. It only took a few swaying steps for my muscles to become fluid, the hypnotic beat soothing my frayed nerves. Music was my passion, my purpose. My soul soared as I lost myself in the rhythm, and an ecstatic giggle bubbled from my chest when Valentina tugged on my hand and urged me to twirl.
I wasn’t sure how much time passed; I was thoroughly absorbed in the addictive beat and the dance with my friend. Waiting for Mateo was much easier when I allowed myself to let go and live in this sweet moment with Valentina.
My contentment shattered when a masculine presence pulsed into my personal space, a strange man dancing inches too close for comfort. There were few enough people in the club that there was no reason for him to crowd us.
Valentina’s delicate features pinched in a small frown, and she spun me away from him.
He followed in a few lithe steps, long fingers capturing my wrist in a loose shackle. His dazzling smile was sharp and a touch predatory. My stomach flipped at the keen light in his pale blue eyes. The flashing club lights played through their icy depths, chilling me despite the heat in his appreciative gaze.
“Ciao, bella.” His deep, rich voice rumbled over the music, and he shifted his gentle grip on my hand to lift it to his lush lips. They brushed my knuckles as his thumb caressed my palm, an act of practiced seduction by a man who was fully aware of his own beauty and sensual allure.
My breath caught, and I stopped dancing, freezing like a spooked doe. He wasn’t threatening me or groping me, but those sharp eyes tried to peer straight into my soul.
I blinked hard to shut him out, taking a step back. I bumped into Valentina’s petite frame, and she wrapped a protective arm around me.
“Who are you?” she asked him, her usually soft voice uncharacteristically hard.
His gaze flicked to her before fixing on me again. “My name is Massimo.” His thumb caressed my palm again. He was still holding my hand in that gentle but sure grip. “I haven’t met you yet, Valentina, but Adrián spoke highly of you.”
No wonder he didn’t even dare to look at her; Valentina’s fiercely possessive husband must’ve forewarned the guests to stay away from his beloved wife.
