13. Natalia
THIRTEEN
I drew in a long, deep breath, gathering my thoughts, as I turned onto the long, winding driveway that led to the sprawling Reyes estate in Palm Beach. I watched the imposing, ornate gates as they parted, and I cautiously guided my vehicle forward, passing beneath the iron archway.
I had spent hours preparing for this family dinner, carefully selecting a figure-hugging red dress that accentuated my curves and a pair of sky-high stilettos that added an extra sway to my hips. My hair was styled in loose, sultry waves, and my makeup was flawless, highlighting my features perfectly.
But behind my sleek facade, my thoughts were consumed by the mission. I had mentally rehearsed every possible scenario, every potential conversation, and every subtle clue to look for once inside the Reyes’ inner sanctum. Agent Morrow’s advice echoed in my head as I slowed the car to a stop in front of the lavish mansion. “Listen up, Ramirez,” Morrow had said, his voice gruff but tinged with concern. “You’re about to step into a viper’s nest. Stay sharp, trust no one, and always watch your back. These bastards won’t hesitate to put a bullet in you if they smell weakness.”
A young, sharply dressed male valet stepped up to take my car. He greeted me by name with a bow and said Sofia was expecting me. He told me he would park the car and have my bags delivered to my room in the house.
This was it - the moment of truth. I was about to face Dante’s family, the people I had sworn to destroy. One wrong move, one slip of the tongue, and my cover could be blown sky-high.
As Eva Morales, I pushed those fears aside, channeling all my training and experience into a confident, alluring, and unflappable persona—someone who belonged in this world of wealth and power.
The door swung open before I could knock, revealing a smiling Sofia Reyes in a stunning cocktail dress. “Eva!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a warm embrace. “I’m so glad you could make it. Come on in. Everyone’s dying to meet you.”
I returned her smile, allowing myself to be swept inside the grand foyer. The mansion’s interior was just as impressive as the exterior, with soaring ceilings, gleaming marble floors, and priceless works of art adorning the walls.
Sofia led me through the house, chattering excitedly about the dinner and the guests who had already arrived. I nodded and smiled at all the right moments, but my attention was focused on absorbing every detail of my surroundings, committing the house’s layout to memory.
As we entered the sprawling living room, I felt several gazes land on me. Dante was there, of course, looking sinfully handsome in a tailored suit that hugged his muscular frame. His blue eyes widened when he saw me, heat passing between us before he quickly adjusted himself.
Beside him stood an older man with salt-and-pepper hair and a stern, aristocratic face. I recognized him instantly from the files - Ricardo Reyes, the patriarch of the family and the mastermind behind the cartel’s operations.
Ricardo’s gaze was assessing as he looked me over, his dark eyes seeming to strip away the layers of my disguise. For a heart-stopping moment, I feared that he could see right through me, that he knew exactly who I was and why I was there.
He smiled, a cold, calculating thing that didn’t quite reach his eyes. His voice was smooth as silk as he welcomed me. “Sofia’s told us much about you. It’s a pleasure to have you here.”
I forced a smile in return, extending my hand to shake his. “The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Reyes,” I said calmly, despite the nerves fluttering in my stomach. “Your home is stunning.”
A waiter appeared with a tray of champagne flutes, and I quickly grabbed one for liquid courage. The introductions continued, and I felt Dante’s gaze boring into me the entire time. I had to use every ounce of my willpower to keep my focus on the job at hand and not meet his stare.
The Reyes family certainly knew how to throw a dinner party, with no expense spared on the lavish decorations and free-flowing drinks. I was just about to head over to Sofia when a familiar presence appeared at my side.
“Eva,” Dante said, his voice low. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
I glanced up at him, his blue eyes making my heart skip a beat. “Of course,” I said, keeping my tone light and casual.
He led me away from the crowded living room and into an empty adjoining space, closing the door behind us with a soft click. The sudden privacy was thrilling and unnerving, and I was acutely aware of Dante’s proximity, his body mere inches away.
“I wanted to apologize,” he began, running a hand through his dark golden hair. “For my sister’s little matchmaking scheme. She can be a bit... enthusiastic when it comes to my love life.”
“It’s fine, Dante. I’m sure Sofia meant well. And maybe...” I paused, biting my lip as I met his gaze. “Maybe I didn’t mind so much.”
A rush of desire passed over Dante’s eyes. He took a step closer, his hand brushing a stray lock of hair from my cheek. “Is that so?” he said, his voice rough with emotion.
I tilted my head up, my lips parting as Dante leaned in, his breath ghosting over my skin.
For a moment, I forgot about everything else - the mission, the danger, the lies I had spun to get to this point. All that mattered was the man in front of me and the electric current flowing between us.
But just as our lips were about to meet, a sudden noise from outside the room made us spring apart, the spell broken. Dante cleared his throat, running a hand over his face as he took a step back.
“We should probably get back to the party,” he said, his voice strained. “But Eva, before we do... there’s something you should know.”
I raised an eyebrow, my heart still racing from our near kiss. “What is it?”
Dante hesitated, his jaw clenching as he struggled with his words. “It’s my father,” he said finally. “Ricardo. He can be... intense. Suspicious of outsiders. It’s just his nature.”
I nodded slowly, unease curling in my gut. I had read the files on Ricardo Reyes and knew the kind of man he was and the ruthless empire he had built. But hearing Dante’s warning made it all the more real; the danger I was walking into suddenly crystal clear.
“I’ll be careful,” I promised. “And Dante... thank you. For looking out for me.”
He gave me a small, crooked smile, the kind that made my heart skip a beat. “Anytime, Eva.”
We returned to the party and took our seats around the elegantly set dinner table. An undercurrent of tension set my nerves on edge.
“So, Eva,” Ricardo said, his voice cutting through the chatter like a knife. “Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? What brought you to South Florida?”
I met his gaze with a calm smile as I recalled the details of my cover story. “I just moved here a couple of weeks ago. I’m originally from New York,” I said, my tone casual. “But I’ve always loved the sun and the sea. Miami just looked like the perfect place to start fresh.”
Ricardo raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “Starting fresh, hmm? And what exactly do you do for a living, my dear?”
Dante tensed beside me, his hand tightening on my thigh beneath the table. “I work in fashion,” I said. “Styling. It’s a competitive industry, but I’ve been lucky to make good connections.”
A calculating smirk settled on Ricardo’s mouth, and I could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced. “Fashion, is it? And how did you come to meet my son?”
I laughed lightly, placing my hand over Dante’s on the table. “Oh, you know how these things go. A chance encounter at a club, a few drinks, and the rest is history.”
Dante shot me a grateful look, but I could see the worry in his eyes.
The dinner progressed, and soon, I was in a deep conversation with Sofia, who sat across from me with a warm smile. “I’ve always dreamed of traveling the world, seeing new places, experiencing different cultures,” she confided, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “There’s so much out there beyond South Florida.”
Seeing Sofia’s face light up with her passion for exploring the world tugged at my heartstrings. I knew the brutal reality: her family’s criminal empire would suffocate those wandering dreams before they could take flight. Safety issues, for one. A mob kingpin’s daughter would be a big target for rival gangs.
“Forget what anyone else thinks,” I urged, my fingers entwining with hers across the table, “This is your life. Seize your dreams while you’re still young.”
Sofia beamed at me, and it was easy to see the woman she could become if she were free from the shadows of her family’s criminal empire. The guilt gnawed at me, a constant reminder that my deepening bond with Sofia was built on a foundation of lies. But the affection, the need to shield her from the suffocating darkness of her family - that was real, undeniable.
Ricardo’s voice sliced through my thoughts. “The Reyes family doesn’t fuck around, Eva,” he said, his casual tone barely masking the venom beneath. “We have expectations for those who run with us.”
A cold dread crept down my back, but I met his stare unflinching, my voice never wavering. “Mr. Reyes, I understand. My intentions with Dante are heartfelt.”
Ricardo’s eyes turned to slits. “For your sake, I hope that’s true, darling.”
The menace hung in the air, suffocating. But I refused to let fear show in front of Ricardo Reyes.
I maneuvered through the rest of dinner with finesse, wielding my charm and sharp tongue to parry any more of Ricardo’s pointed inquisitions. Dante’s eyes locked on me, a potent cocktail of unease and desire swirling in their depths.
Despite the underlying tension, the evening began to take on a more relaxed atmosphere as the wine flowed and the conversation turned to lighter topics. Sofia and I engaged in a lively discussion about the latest fashion trends in Miami, and I was grateful for the momentary respite from Ricardo’s scrutiny.
A sense of relief washed over me as the plates were cleared and the dinner party wound down. I had survived the first night in the lion’s den and played my part perfectly.
Sofia caught my arm, her eyes sparkling. “Eva, I had the staff prepare a room for you,” she said. “Come. Let’s get you settled in.”
As I followed Sofia upstairs to the guest wing, I felt Dante’s gaze on my back, burning into me like a physical touch.
I could finally relax as I entered the luxurious guest room, the plush king-sized bed practically begging me to sink into its soft embrace. The en-suite bathroom was larger than my old apartment back in Miami.
I hoisted my suitcase onto the bed and stared at it sitting on the beautiful opulent bedspread. Sofia had been so genuinely welcoming, that I felt a pang of guilt for deceiving her. But I couldn’t afford to let my emotions get in the way of my mission.
I unpacked and got ready for bed, and as I slipped under the silky sheets, cool against my skin, my mind wandered to Dante. The intensity of his gaze during dinner kindled a smoldering desire that threatened to consume me from the inside out.
I knew it was wrong. Dante was the enemy. But as I lay there in the darkness, listening to the distant crash of the ocean waves, I secretly and shamefully hoped that he would knock on my door tonight.