6. Dante
SIX
I tapped my nails against the town car’s side window irritably, cursing under my breath as Pedro whipped around yet another corner. This detour was burning daylight, and the hairs on my neck told me we had unwanted company.
That sleek black Cadillac had been trailing us since we left the mansion, maintaining a discreet but unmistakable distance. At first, I’d chalked it up to a coincidence, but my instincts kicked into high gear after a few strategic turns failed to shake our pursuer.
“What do you think, Mr. Reyes?” Pedro’s gruff voice crackled through the intercom, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror.
“My hunch was right. We have a tail, Pedro,” I said, my tone clipped.
He gave a curt nod, his knuckles tightening around the steering wheel as we merged back onto the thoroughfare. I leaned back in my seat, and thoughts flooded my mind as I contemplated the potential threats.
It could be the DEA, still trying to gain a foothold in our operation after the disastrous warehouse raid six weeks ago. Or one of our rivals, like Javier Cruz, was making a bold move to encroach on our territory. Either way, the situation needed to be handled.
When the familiar restaurant building came into view, I was fifteen minutes late, and Sofia would undoubtedly give me an earful for my tardiness. Not that I was looking forward to the evening’s festivities–meeting her new beau held about as much appeal as a root canal. I’d been avoiding it for weeks. My sister finally gave me an ultimatum: show up tonight or prepare to be scorned forever. Even I didn’t dare challenge that.
As the town car pulled up to the valet stand, I saw the Cadillac lingering a block away, its tinted windows concealing the occupants. A muscle twitched in my jaw as I exited the vehicle, straightening the crisp lines of my suit jacket.
“Pedro, stay close,” I muttered under my breath. “And have Marco investigate that tail. I want to know who they are and what they want.”
Pedro peeled away from the curb with a curt nod, leaving me alone to stride into the restaurant. Pedro was a good guy, solid and loyal.
The ma?tre d’ greeted me with a polite smile, his eyes widening as he recognized me.
“Mr. Reyes, welcome. Your party is already seated. Right this way, please.”
I followed him through the dimly lit dining room, my gaze sweeping over the well-heeled patrons as they sipped their wine. Sofia spotted me first, her expression a concoction of relief and exasperation.
“There you are!” she exclaimed, rising from her seat. “I almost thought you’d stood us up.”
“Fashionably late, as always,” I quipped, leaning in to brush a kiss against her cheek. “You know how I like to make an entrance.”
Sofia rolled her eyes, but her smile took any sting out of the gesture. “Dante, this is Allen Hawkes,” Sofia said, her voice brimming with affection. “Allen, my brother.”
My gaze shifted to the man sitting beside her, and I felt an immediate hint of dislike as he rose from his seat, extending a hand that I took with reluctance. His grip was firm, almost too firm, as if he were trying to assert dominance.
Allen Hawkes exuded an air of… I don’t know; maybe it’s arrogance and entitlement. His slicked-back hair and designer suit screamed “trust fund brat,” and how he was eyeing Sofia made my protective instincts flare.
“Pleasure to finally meet you, Dante,” he drawled, his voice dripping with false sincerity. “Sofia has told me so much about you.”
“I wish I could say the same,” I said coolly, holding his gaze in a silent challenge.
Allen’s smile faltered for a moment before he recovered, slinging an arm around Sofia’s shoulders in a possessive gesture that made my hackles rise.
“Well, now that we’re all acquainted, why don’t we order some drinks and get this party started?” he suggested, overly cheerful.
As the evening wore on, Allen’s true colors became increasingly apparent. He dominated the conversation, rarely letting anyone else get a word in, and was more interested in impressing Sofia than getting to know her as a person. But, judging by the occasional sideways glances Sofia shot me, it was clear she was into the fucker.
During a lull in Allen’s endless prattling, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. After excusing myself from the table, I stepped to the bar and answered the call, my jaw tightening as Marco’s voice crackled.
“We’ve got a situation, Dante,” he said without preamble. “That tail you noticed earlier? It’s the DEA, and they’ve been tracking your movements for the past few days. Not sure what is going on, but they are up to something.”
I ended the call with Marco. My jaw clenched tight as I processed the information about the DEA tail. Those bastards were up to something, alright.
I slipped the phone back into my pocket and noticed the presence beside me. A woman, her back turned as she leaned against the bar, nursing a glass of red wine. Even from this angle, I could tell she was stunning—the kind of beauty that demanded attention.
I inched closer to get a better look, my curiosity piqued. The woman was wearing a dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, the deep crimson fabric a striking contrast against her sun-kissed skin. The neckline plunged just low enough to tease at the swell of her breasts while the skirt ended mid-thigh, showcasing a pair of legs that went on for miles.
As my gaze traveled upward, I took in the cascade of dark, glossy waves that tumbled down her back, the soft curls brushing against her bare shoulders. She had one elbow propped on the bar, her slender fingers wrapped around the stem of her wineglass, and her nails painted the same shade of red as her dress.
She must have sensed my stare because she turned then, her eyes meeting mine with an intensity that nearly knocked me off my feet. They were a deep blue, framed by long, dark lashes that fluttered enticingly as she regarded me with a blend of intrigue and amusement.
Her lips, a lush, berry hue, turned into a slow, seductive smile that made my pulse quicken. Her high cheekbones, delicate nose, and jawline that could cut glass came together to create a face that was nothing short of breathtaking.
But it was more than just her physical beauty that drew me in. There was something about her—an air of confidence and mystery that was alluring and dangerous. She carried herself with the poise of a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it.
It was almost as if I’d met her before, but I knew that was impossible. A woman like this? There was no way in hell I would’ve forgotten her.
As she tilted her head to the side, studying me with those mesmerizing eyes, I realized I was staring like a fucking idiot. I cleared my throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure, but she spoke before I could say a word.
“See something you like?” she purred, her voice sultry, with just a hint of a challenge.
Her voice was like honey, rich and smooth, with a whisper of teasing sending a tremor of desire rippling through me. I recovered quickly, flashing her my most disarming grin. “Maybe I do,” I said, my tone equally playful. “But I haven’t decided if you might be trouble.”
She laughed then, a rich, throaty sound. “Oh, honey,” she said, leaning in close enough that I could catch the scent of her perfume—something dark and exotic, with a bit of spice. “I’m definitely trouble. The question is, are you man enough to handle it?”
“Never met trouble I couldn’t tame,” I shot back, locking eyes with her, bold as brass.
She didn’t so much as blink, holding my stare like it was a game of chicken she had no intention of losing. Anticipation buzzed through my veins—this woman was no delicate flower waiting to be plucked.
“Dante Reyes,” I said, extending my hand. “And you are?”
She regarded me for a moment, those smoldering eyes seeming to strip me bare, before slipping her hand into mine. Her grip was firm and confident, her skin like silk against my calloused palm.
“Eva Morales,” she purred, her lips curving into a smile promising delicious secrets.
Eva. Even her name rolled off the tongue like a decadent indulgence. My curiosity was piqued in a way it hadn’t been in years.
“Well, Eva Morales,” I said, holding her gaze. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
She tilted her head ever so slightly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Is it, now? And what makes you so sure of that?”
A chuckle escaped me, and I leaned in closer, invading her personal space in a way that would’ve had most women swooning. But Eva didn’t flinch, didn’t back down an inch. If anything, the challenge in her eyes only intensified.
“Call it a hunch,” I said. “Something tells me you’re…different, Eva.”
Her full lips curved into a slow, seductive smile that went straight to my groin. “You have no idea, Dante Reyes.”
The tension had me yearning to close the distance between us. But before I could act impulsively, a familiar voice cut through the haze of desire.
“Dante! There you are!” Sofia appeared at my side, looking furious. “I was beginning to think you’d ditched us.”
I forced my gaze away from Eva’s captivating presence, offering my sister a sheepish grin. “Sorry, sis. Got caught up talking to this lovely lady.”
Sofia’s eyes widened as she took in Eva’s striking look, and I could see the questions forming behind her gaze. But before she could voice them, Allen sidled up beside her, his arm snaking around her waist in a possessive gesture that made me want to punch him in the throat.
“Everything alright, babe?” he drawled, shooting me a look of equal parts disdain and challenge.
A bit of rage welled up within me, my protective instincts flaring at the sight of his pawing hands on my sister. But before I could spit out a clever line, Eva fixed those dark, smoldering eyes on me, and damn, it was like she lit a fire in my pants. “It was a pleasure, Dante. Who knows, our paths might cross again.”
I composed myself and handed her one of our Club Diablo cards. “Let’s make sure of that. Stop by my club tomorrow. I guarantee you’ll have a good time.” I smirked, cocky as hell.
She winked, took the card, and glided through the crowd. As I watched her sexy strut, the skirt hugging her curves, I knew I wanted to get her alone.
“Whew, bro, who’s the bombshell?” Sofia asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
I shook my head, still dazed from the encounter. “Eva Morales,” I said, the name rolling off my tongue.
Sofia’s brow furrowed. “She seemed... interesting.”
“That’s one word for it,” I muttered, my mind still spinning. Eva Morales was not your average chick.