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He called me by my name, my real name.
That’s all it takes before all common sense leaves my head and flies out of the room. It’s all it takes before I shove back all the hatred I’ve felt towards this man and press my lips to his in a heated kiss. He sucks my bottom lip into his mouth on a low growl and I melt into his solid chest. He is warm and smells so good that I get lost in him. I get lost in his absurdities and darkness, I get lost in his lies and his damage. I get so lost that I forget all that I am and all that I’ve worked for, just so I can feel his kiss. Just so I can feel him.
He breaks our kiss and steps back, his hand never leaving my face. He gazes at me for a few moments before he speaks.
“Tonight you are to speak to no one unless I introduce you to them. Just because they are guests in my home, doesn’t mean I trust them. There will be no risk of your safety tonight.”
If he wasn’t so controlling, that statement might actually be sweet.
“Who is coming here tonight? I can’t go out there in a social setting without a clue of what is going on around me.”
He takes in my words and sits with them for a few moments. I can see the wheels turning in his head and I wonder if anyone else can see when he does that because the expression is so small, or if it’s just because my sick obsession won’t allow me to stop staring at him when he’s near.
“A few bosses here and there, some old friends. A few senators.”
My mouth drops at his last word. How can a cartel leader have government officials in his home? Is he trying to go to jail? He sees the questions behind my eyes and chuckles, answering me before I can even get my words out.
“Keep your enemies close,Reinita.”
I try not to gush at the fact that he just called me his little queen and keep questioning him.
“Do they know...about what you do?”
He shrugs at me, fixing his cufflinks as if there is nothing to worry about.
“Some do, yes. But trust me, Esmeralda. Nothing that I do even pales in comparison to the monstrosities they create in your beloved homeland. I just do them favors to keep my identity in their safekeeping. We all have secrets, even your trusted leaders.”
I want to question him more on this, but I already know I will come up short with answers from him. He speaks in riddles and I’m not in a mood to solve them tonight.
“So what, you will just introduce me as the daughter of your sworn enemy? Or will I be known as the girl you fuck when you feel lonely?”
His eyes narrow in anger, and I know I’ve struck a nerve. Good, I’m tired of living behind the scenes. If he’s going to put me in this world of darkness, I need some way of seeing what’s ahead of me.
“Neither.”
He couldn’t elaborate a little more?
“Then what am I tonight, Dante? Your arm candy for the evening?”
He looks down at his shoes, distracting himself before he meets my eyes again. If I could read him better, I’d say the look in them is guilt.
“You’re a guest of Marianne’s. If you want to solidify your story better, you can go a step further and say that you’re her assistant. She’s already been made aware of this and will go along smoothly if such questions arise. She’s been here for the last hour.”
My stomach drops and I turn away from him, taking a deep breath before fidgeting with the material of my dress that still lays across my bed. Not only does he want me to lie about our entanglement, but he’s already informed his stylist of said lie before me. I really am nothing but a notch in his bedpost for him and it makes a wave of nausea hit me. His hand touches my shoulder from behind and I flinch away, gathering my dress to put it on.
“It is for your safety, Esmeralda. I told you I can’t risk anything nor trust anyone. I have to be alert and careful at all times.”
I nod at him, my back still turned as I slide my dress up my body and secure my straps.
“Look at me,” he commands. I wave a hand up, silencing him.
“I can’t do this right now, Dante. I want to finish getting ready and need to be clear headed before I go downstairs. Please tell Marianne to come up here to help me finish and go over what we should say tonight.”
I walk past him and into my closet, grabbing a pair of silver, dangling earrings and a matching necklace from the jewelry drawer. I walk back out and sit down on the bed to adjust my shoes. Dante stands in the same spot and eyes me the whole time, his gaze leaving trails of fire across my exposed skin.
“I’ll go get her now then.” His voice is dark, frustrated and I could honestly care less.
Before he’s completely out of the door, I fire one last question at him.
