12. Dante
TWELVE
I leaned back in my chair, the seat creaking beneath me as I regarded the investor across the table. Alessandro Marconi was a powerhouse in Miami’s real estate scene, with a portfolio that spanned luxury hotels, upscale restaurants, and prime beachfront properties—precisely the kind of player that could help legitimize my expansion plans.
“As I mentioned, Mr. Reyes,” he continued, sliding a glossy brochure across the table, “this property on South Beach is prime real estate. With the right vision and investment, it could become the crown jewel of your entertainment empire.”
I nodded, flipping through the brochure and taking in the sleek renderings of the proposed development—a towering high-rise with a rooftop lounge, multiple restaurants, and a state-of-the-art nightclub—a respected business venture to diversify the cartels’ interests and potentially build a much safer future for the family without the drug trade.
As Alessandro droned on, extolling the virtues of the location and the profit potential, my mind began to wander. Suddenly, thoughts of a different kind of empire crept in, far more tempting than any real estate deal.
Eva. Stunning, delicious, mysterious Eva Morales.
I could almost taste her on my lips, a heady mix of sweetness and sin. Her heated skin against mine, our bodies entwined in a rhythmic dance of lust, each thrust and gyration etched into my memory.
I recalled the way her nails had raked down my back, the desperate noises she’d made as she unraveled beneath my touch. The memory alone was enough to make my cock twitch, hardening against my pants.
A soft touch on my arm jolted me back to the present, and I blinked to find Alessandro’s assistant, Vanessa, if I remembered correctly, leaning in far too close. Vanessa was a leggy brunette with a predatory gaze that lingered a little too long on my body.
“Sorry, Mr. Reyes,” she purred, her voice like honey. “You seemed... distracted.”
I cleared my throat, shifting in my seat and putting more distance between us. “Not at all. Please, continue Alessandro.”
But even as the words left my lips, my mind drifted again.
I had to discover Eva’s darkest secrets, peel back the layers, and learn what lay beneath that sultry exterior. But more than that, I wanted to lose myself in her once more, to drown in the unexplainable sensations she had so effortlessly unleashed.
“Dante?”
The sound of my name snapped me back to reality, and I realized that both Alessandro and Vanessa were staring at me.
“My apologies,” I said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “I’m afraid my mind is elsewhere today.”
Alessandro frowned, but Vanessa’s gaze held a glint of understanding – or was it calculation? Her hand found my arm again, her fingers trailing along the fabric of my sleeve in a way that was clearly meant to be suggestive.
“Maybe we should take a break, Mr. Reyes,” she purred. “Get you relaxed; work out all that tension. There’s a plush suite upstairs. I could show you the way, make it worth your while...”
Her hand slid along my thigh, brazenly mapping the contours of my leg through the fabric of my trousers as she pinned me with a smoldering, fuck-me gaze, those sinful red lips parted in blatant invitation.
I bit back a scowl and removed her hand gently but decisively. She was a knockout, no question. But she was also here to sweeten the real estate deal with her dangerous curves and sultry pout, the sort of vixen I would’ve leaped to take six ways from Sunday not long ago.
Not today. Today, like yesterday and the day before, Eva consumed my thoughts. The silken slide of her skin against mine, the erotic symphony of her moans and sighs as I drove her to shattering orgasms, over and over...
“Excuse me a moment,” I said, standing abruptly. “I need to make a quick call.”
Alessandro nodded, a smirk playing about his mouth as he waved me off. “But of course. Take all the time you need.”
I strode out of the restaurant, pulling my phone from my pocket as I stepped into the muggy Miami heat. I had no one to call, and there was no pressing business. I just needed a fucking moment to clear my head.
“Hey there, handsome.”
I spun around at the sound of my sister’s voice and spotted Sofia walking towards me with a quizzical look on her face.
“Hey, Sof,” I said, forcing a smile. “What brings you to this neck of the woods?”
She shrugged, falling into step beside me as I started down the sidewalk. “Just running some errands. What about you? I thought you had that big investor meeting today.”
I nodded, shoving my hands into my pockets. “I am. Just needed some air.”
Sofia gave me a sidelong glance, her brow furrowing. “Everything okay? You seem... distracted.”
I barked out a laugh, shaking my head. “That’s one word for it.”
“I hope you’re not so distracted that you can’t make it to Palm Beach this weekend. Mami’s been asking about you.”
I groaned, running a hand over my face. The last thing I wanted was to spend an entire weekend trapped in conversations with my father and his endless lectures about the cartel’s future.
“I don’t know, Sof,” I hedged. “I might have to stay in Miami for business.”
She raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing at her lips. “Business, yeah? Maybe only the woman from the other night could drag you away, then?”
I felt my cheeks heat and looked away, clearing my throat. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
Sofia laughed, punching me lightly on the arm. “Oh, come on, Dante. Eva. I know you like her. And I may have invited her to Palm Beach.”
My head snapped up, and my pulse quickened. “You did what?”
She grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I ran into her yesterday. We talked, and I thought it would be nice to include her in the family gathering. You know, since you two seem to have hit it off, kind of.”
I gaped at her, my mind reeling. Eva, at a Reyes family dinner? The thought of her in the same room as my father, as the rest of the cartel’s inner circle... Fuck, it was thrilling and terrifying at the same time. It could end up a fucking disaster.
“So?” Sofia prompted, nudging me with her elbow. “Are you coming or not?”
I hesitated for a moment, but as crazy as the idea was, the thought of seeing Eva again, of being near her, touching her, being deep inside of her...
“I’ll be there,” I said finally.
Sofia beamed, clapping her hands together in delight. “Perfect! I can’t wait to see the look on Mami’s face when she meets your new girlfriend.”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” I said, but the words lacked conviction. Honestly, I didn’t know what Eva was to me. All I knew was that I couldn’t get her out of my fucking head.
“Sure, sure,” Sofia said, waving off my protest with a flick of her wrist. “Just promise me you’ll be on your best behavior. No talk of business, okay? This is strictly a family affair.”
I nodded, my jaw tight. “I’ll be the perfect gentleman.”
Sofia snorted, rolling her eyes. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”
We parted ways soon after, Sofia heading off to finish her errands while I made my way back to the restaurant. But as I walked, my mind was already racing ahead to the weekend.