11. Natalia
ELEVEN
I sipped my wine, savoring the rich, fruity notes as they danced across my tongue. The dim lighting of the restaurant bar cast an intimate glow, the soft murmurs of conversation swirling around me. Being Eva, I wore my most seductive outfit, an emerald green dress that hugged my curves. The color was deliberate, meant to catch the eye and hold it. And I was hoping it would catch one eye in particular.
It had been days since my steamy encounter with Dante Reyes, and despite my best efforts, our paths hadn’t crossed again. Going straight back to Club Diablo was out of the question. It would make me seem too eager. Meeting Dante again had to look like a coincidence. So, I’d been frequenting all the usual haunts, the exclusive clubs and upscale restaurants that were known playgrounds for Miami’s elite, hoping to glimpse those piercing blue eyes and that devilish smirk.
But so far, no luck.
I was just about to signal the bartender for another glass of wine when I felt a presence at my elbow. Turning, I faced a stunning woman, her dark hair falling in glossy waves around a face that was all high cheekbones and full lips.
Recognition hit me straight on: Sofia Reyes, Dante’s younger sister.
“Eva, right?” she said, her voice warm and inviting. “I remember you from the other night with my brother.”
I forced a smile, my head abuzz, trying to think on my feet. I hadn’t expected to run into any of the other family besides Dante, let alone be approached by one of them.
“That’s right,” I said, extending my hand. “And you’re Sofia, if I’m not mistaken.”
She grinned, taking my hand in a firm grip. “Guilty as charged. Mind if I join you?”
I gestured to the empty stool beside me. “Be my guest.”
As Sofia settled onto the seat, I took a moment to study her. She was younger than Dante, probably in her mid-twenties, with a fresh-faced beauty that belied the darkness of her family name. From what I remembered from the files, she was the only Reyes not directly involved in the cartel’s illegal activities.
“So, Eva,” Sofia began, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “I have to ask - what’s the deal with you and my brother?”
I nearly choked on my drink, caught off guard by her bluntness. “I’m sorry?”
She waved a hand, laughing. “Oh, come on. I saw the way he was looking at you the other night. And he hasn’t stopped talking about you. Dante doesn’t get that...intense about just anyone.”
I bit my lip, choosing my words carefully. “To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. We only just met.”
Sofia nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Well, whatever it is, it’s got him all twisted up. I haven’t seen him this distracted in... well, ever. And I think it’s good for him.”
I felt some satisfaction at her words, even as I tried to tamp it down. Dante’s interest in me was a means to an end for me, nothing more. But as I studied Sofia’s face, I saw nothing but sincerity in her warm brown eyes.
“It’s just refreshing, you know?” she continued, leaning closer as if sharing a secret. “Seeing Dante with someone like you instead of those escort women he usually hangs around with.”
I raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. “Escort women?”
Sofia waved a hand, rolling her eyes. “Oh, you know the type. All flash and no substance. They are just arm candy. But you? You seem different. Real.”
I fought back a twinge of guilt at her words. If only she knew the truth - that I was the furthest thing from real, that my entire persona was a carefully crafted lie designed to infiltrate her family’s inner circle.
But I couldn’t let my true feelings show. Instead, I offered Sofia a small, enigmatic smile. “I’m flattered that you think so, Sofia. But like I said, Dante and I barely know each other.”
“Well, we’ll just have to change that, won’t we?” she said, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I have the perfect idea.”
I tilted my head, curious despite myself. “Oh? Do tell.”
“Every couple of months, my family gets together at our estate in Palm Beach. It’s an entire weekend of sun, fun, and way too much tequila.” She grinned, her excitement evident. “You should come with us!”
I blinked, taken aback by the unexpected invitation. A chance to spend an entire weekend with the Reyes family in the heart of their inner sanctum? It was an opportunity I couldn’t afford to pass up.
But I couldn’t appear too eager. I had to play my cards just right.
“Oh, Sofia, I don’t know,” I said, hesitating. “I wouldn’t want to intrude on your family time. And I’m sure Dante wouldn’t want me there.”
Sofia scoffed, waving away my protests. “Nonsense! You wouldn’t be intruding at all. And trust me, Dante would love to have you there. He’s just too stubborn to ask you himself.”
I hesitated, letting the moment stretch out as if I were genuinely considering her offer. My mind was jumping in excitement, already planning my next move.
“I don’t know, Sofia,” I said again, my voice soft and unsure. “It’s a lovely offer, but...”
“No buts!” she declared, her eyes sparkling with determination. “I insist. You’re coming with us, and that’s final. Dante will just have to deal with it.”
I let out a little laugh, shaking my head in defeat. “Well, how can I refuse when you put it that way?”
Sofia beamed, clapping her hands together in delight. “Perfect! I’ll text you the details. Oh, this is going to be so much fun. You’ll love Palm Beach, Eva. And I know you and Dante will hit it off.”
I smiled back at her, letting her enthusiasm wash over me. If only she knew the actual reason behind my acceptance, the dangerous game I was playing.
But I couldn’t dwell on that. I had to focus on the task at hand, on the opportunity that had just fallen into my lap. A weekend with the Reyes family, a chance to observe them in their natural habitat, to gather intel that could bring their entire empire crashing down.
I knew it was a risk, but it was a calculated one, a gamble I was willing to take.
However, getting close to Dante was one thing, but being invited into the family’s private world? That level of intimacy raised the stakes in ways I wasn’t entirely prepared for. I needed Agent Morrow to help me plan my next move.
I exchanged numbers with Sofia, her delicate fingers brushing against mine as she handed me her phone. “I’m so glad we met, Eva,” she said, her voice soft and sincere. “I can’t wait to get to know you better.”
I smiled, feeling a genuine warmth beneath my carefully crafted persona. “Me too, Sofia. I have a feeling we’re going to be great friends.” With a final squeeze of her hand, I turned and made my way out of the bar.
The night air was thick with humidity, the distant chatter from the bar still buzzing in my head. I glanced over my shoulder, ensuring that no one was following me. Satisfied that I was alone, I walked to the corner and hailed a cab.
As I slid into the back seat, the driver met my gaze in the rearview mirror. “Where to, miss?” he asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.
I gave him the address Eva’s apartment. “Thanks,” I said, leaning back against the worn fabric of the seat and closing my eyes.
The ride passed in a blur, the city lights streaming past the windows as my thoughts raced with the possibilities and pitfalls ahead. The connection I’d forged with Dante was thrilling and terrifying, a high-wire act that could lead to the biggest bust of my career or send me plummeting into the abyss.
When the cab pulled up to my apartment, my nerves thrummed like live wires, my determination burning bright beneath the surface. I paid the driver and stepped out into the night, the key to my place – well, to Eva’s place – clutched tightly in my hand.
The door closed behind me with a soft click, the lock sliding into place like a final barrier between me and the outside world. In the stillness of the room, I let out a shaky breath, my shoulders sagging under the pressure of the mission that stretched before me.
I wasted no time setting up the secure video link, my fingers flying over the keyboard as I entered the encrypted passcode connecting me to Morrow. This conversation couldn’t wait.
As the screen flickered to life and Morrow’s face filled the frame, I inhaled deeply, steeling myself for the briefing to come. I knew he wouldn’t be thrilled about the risks, but he also trusted my instincts and abilities.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Ramirez,” Agent Morrow growled, his grizzled face looming on the screen of my laptop running the Zoom session. “Infiltrating a family gathering at the Reyes vacation mansion? That’s a whole new level of risk.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I paced the room. “I know, sir. But this is an opportunity we can’t pass up. If I can gain Dante or Sofia’s trust, get inside their inner circle-“
“You could also get made,” Morrow cut in, his voice sharp. “And then where would we be? Down one agent and no closer to taking these bastards down.”
I bristled at his tone, my jaw tightening. “With all due respect, sir, I know what I’m doing. I’ve been undercover before.”
“Not like this,” he countered, shaking his head. “The Reyes cartel isn’t just another street gang or drug ring. They’re a fucking dynasty with roots that go deeper than you can imagine.”
Of course, he was right. The Reyes family had been running Miami’s underworld for generations, their power and influence stretching far beyond the city limits.
But I also knew that this was our best chance. With Dante’s interest in me and Sofia’s unexpected invitation, I had an opportunity that no other agent had ever managed to secure.
“I understand the risks,” I said firmly, meeting Morrow’s gaze through the screen. “But I’m willing to take them. For Matt and every other life these monsters have destroyed.”
Morrow was silent for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh.
“Alright, Ramirez. You’ve got the green light. But listen up - you keep your head down and your eyes open, you hear me? The Reyes compound will be crawling with cartel muscle, and they’ll be watching for any sign of trouble.”
I nodded, my mind already racing with possibilities. “What should I be looking for, exactly?”
Morrow leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “Anything that could give us a lead on their operations. Shipping manifests, financial records, names, and locations of key players. Hell, even overheard conversations could be useful.”
I made a mental note, committing his instructions to memory. “And if I do manage to find something? How do I get it to headquarters without blowing my cover?”
“Through me. Nobody else. This is the only way,” Morrow said as if it were obvious. “If you find any physical evidence, I’ll set up a secure location where you can leave the intel. But Ramirez - you can’t tell anyone else about this. One wrong move, and it’s game over.”
I swallowed hard, the gravity of the situation sinking in. I was about to walk into the lion’s den, armed with nothing but my wits and a flimsy cover story. If anything went wrong...
“I’ll be careful,” I promised, my voice calm despite the nerves fluttering in my stomach. “And sir? Thank you. For trusting me with this.”
Morrow’s face softened, just for a moment. “You’re a good agent, Ramirez—one of the best. Just don’t let those pretty boy looks of Dante Reyes distract you. He’s a ruthless man who wouldn’t hesitate to kill you the instant he learns your identity.”
I felt my cheeks flush at his words. “I won’t, sir. I know what’s at stake.”
“Good.” Morrow nodded. “Now get some rest. You’re going to need it. And Ramirez?”
“Sir?”
“Give ‘em hell.”
With that, the screen went dark, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
This was it. No turning back now.