24. Dante
TWENTY-FOUR
The scent of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the aroma of sizzling bacon and eggs as I navigated my penthouse’s sleek, modern kitchen. The sun was just beginning to show, casting a warm, golden glow over South Beach. It was a view that never got old, a constant reminder of the empire my father had built from the ground up.
But this morning, my thoughts weren’t on business or the cartel. They were on her—Eva, or rather, Natalia. Last night had been... unexpected.
The memory of her naked body, the way she had surrendered to me in the playroom, sent a jolt of lust coursing through me. I adjusted the waistband of my low-slung sweatpants, willing my cock to behave. There would be time for round two later. Right now, I had breakfast to prepare.
I was just plating the food when I heard the soft pad of footsteps against the marble floor. I turned to see Natalia emerging from the bedroom, her long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders in a tousled, just-fucked mess that made my dick twitch with interest. She was wearing one of my dress shirts, the fabric hanging loosely on her frame, and the sight of her in my clothes did something dangerous to my insides.
“Good morning,” she said, her voice soft and sleepy as she approached me with a shy smile. I could tell she was still trying to reconcile the man she thought she knew with the one who had taken her to the edge of pleasure and pain.
“Morning, mi reina,” I said, my voice gruff with a mixture of desire and something else, something that felt suspiciously like tenderness. “I hope you’re hungry.”
Her eyes flicked to the plates of food on the counter, and she nodded, her smile widening as she sat at the breakfast bar. “Starving, actually. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble, though.”
I shrugged, pouring her a cup of coffee just as she liked it—black, no sugar. “It’s no trouble at all. Besides, I figured you might need some fuel after last night.”
Her face turned beet red when I brought up last night’s raunchy romp, and I felt like a smug motherfucker knowing I was the one who made that sexy vixen blush.
We flirted shamelessly over breakfast, cracking jokes. It was a rare glimpse of a goofy side that I usually kept under lock and key. But with Natalia, it was different. She never judged me or talked down to me. She was the perfect woman for me.
Too bad it was all a fucking lie.
My thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock at the door. I frowned, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was early for unexpected visitors, especially ones who didn’t bother to call first. Natalia’s eyes flicked toward the door, and I could see the wheels turning behind those dark orbs.
“I’ll get it,” I said, setting down my coffee mug, my muscles tensing as I moved towards the door.
I pulled it open to find my sister standing in the hallway, her usual carefree expression replaced by a deep crease between her brows, and her eyes searched my face for reassurance. I felt a surge of protectiveness, an instinctive need to shield her from whatever had her on edge. “Sofia? What’s wrong?”
“Dante,” she breathed, eyes darting past me to Natalia, who watched us from the kitchen. “Thank God you’re home. I must talk to you.”
I guided her inside, closing the door behind her. “Everything okay?”
Sofia took a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling with the action. “I think I was wrong about Allen.”
“What do you mean?” My protective instincts kicked into overdrive at the mention of her boyfriend. “Did he do something?”
She shook her head, eyes darting nervously between Natalia and me. “No, not exactly. But last night, he asked me all these questions about Dad and the family, and it felt... weird.”
My jaw clenched at the mention of my father and the cartel, and I felt Natalia’s gaze on me, sharp and assessing. “What kind of questions?” I asked, doing my best to keep my voice casual.
“He was asking about our family history, our businesses, and Dad’s associates,” Sofia explained, her eyes wide with concern. “I tried to brush it off, but he kept pressing like he was digging for something.”
“The guy is a dick, always has been,” I growled, more pissed off than I cared to admit. “Don’t worry, I’ll find out his deal, okay?”
Sofia relaxed a little, relief flooding her features. “You think he could be hiding something?”
“I don’t know, but I sure as hell intend to find out.” I gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. “You did the right thing by coming to me, Sof.”
Sofia chewed her lip, worry still evident in her eyes. “He can’t know anything, Dante. He just can’t.”
“He won’t, sis,” I promised, giving her shoulder a final squeeze. “Now, go on, get some rest. I’ll take care of this.”
Sofia nodded, her eyes drifting to Natalia, who stood quietly by the breakfast bar. “Oh, hey, Eva,” she said, her face brightening slightly. “Are you free this morning? Do you want to go shopping with me? I could use some retail therapy after all this.”
Natalia shook her head, her eyes apologetic. “Thanks, Sofia, but I have to work. I’m already late.”
Sofia pouted but didn’t push the issue. “Another time, then,” she said, quickly hugging Natalia. “It was so much fun last time we hung out. We should do it again soon.”
“Definitely,” Natalia agreed, returning the hug.
As I closed the door behind Sofia, Natalia gave me one last sultry look before she disappeared down the hallway to get dressed, my mind awhirl with thoughts of what just happened.
The thought of Allen using my sister to get information on our family had me more riled up than I cared to admit. Good thing I had Marco looking into the asshole already. I just couldn’t shake the feeling there was something we weren’t seeing, something bigger at play here.
But at the same time, I felt bad for Sofia. My sister had no clue that I was already looking into her boyfriend or that her new best girlfriend was an undercover DEA agent. Her little safe world was nothing but lies and deception.
Natalia returned fully dressed, her eyes warm, and before I knew it, she was pulling me into a heated embrace, her lips crashing against mine. I felt her tongue tease mine in a promise of future delights.
When we finally parted, Natalia’s cheeks flushed. “That was amazing,” she said, her tone light.
“It was,” I replied, a smile tugging at my lips.
After Natalia had left, I stood at the window, watching the Miami sunrise paint the sky in hues of pink and gold. A strange sense of calm washed over me. Despite the storm raging inside, I couldn’t deny the spark of hope that flickered in my chest.
Natalia Ramirez. DEA agent. My enemy. And yet, the woman who had somehow managed to burrow her way into my heart.
I closed my eyes, remembering the feel of her in my arms, the sound of her laughter, the fire in her eyes when she challenged me. It was all real – I could feel it in my bones. And that realization hit me like a freight train.
Maybe, just maybe, there was a way out of this mess. A path that didn’t end in bloodshed and betrayal, but in something... more.
I turned away from the window, my mind racing with possibilities. What if I could use this situation to our advantage? What if, instead of seeing Natalia as a threat, I could turn her into an ally?
It was a dangerous game, full of risks and potential pitfalls. But as I poured myself another cup of coffee, I felt a surge of determination. I was Dante Reyes, after all. I’m building an empire on taking risks and turning impossible situations to my advantage.
This would be my greatest challenge yet – navigating the treacherous waters between love and duty, trust and betrayal. I couldn’t deny I felt a glimmer of excitement, as I imagined the hauntingly beautiful face of the woman who had managed to capture my heart despite all odds.
Natalia Ramirez.
Eva Morales.
My enemy.
My lover.
My undoing.
My hope.