18. Evelyn
My anxiety increased with every passing second as we rode the elevator down to the mezzanine level of Duarte’s personal nightclub. Massimo had told me the drug lord loved to party, and he had a clandestine club in his own building.
We wouldn’t be venturing out into the open, beyond Duarte’s defenses. I wouldn’t get an opportunity to slip away from the cartel.
I wouldn’t dare to make a scene in front of a bunch of criminals, even if Massimo hadn’t teased me to the edge of madness to ensure my compliance. My plan was to remain as small and unobtrusive as possible for the next few hours. I’d dealt with cartel members before, on the night the Zetas had kidnapped and beaten me. Massimo had said that Duarte wouldn’t allow anyone to harm me, but I didn’t intend to test that.
Unconsciously, I edged closer to my dark protector, pressing my body close to his powerful form. His big hand spanned the small of my back, sending a pulse of warmth through my belly.
“You’re all right, dolcezza. No one will dare to touch you.” He dropped a kiss on the slightly tender spot on my shoulder, where I knew I bore the mark of his teeth. He’d chosen a daring red silk gown for me that left it on display, and I hadn’t put up a fuss. If his claim protected me from being victimized by the cartel again, I would gladly let everyone know I was with Massimo.
The elevator doors slid open, revealing the VIP area of Duarte’s club. Low music with a deep, sensual beat pulsed through the sleek, thoroughly modern space. Golden lights illuminated the empty dance floor—the guests were gathered near the bar, socializing for the moment.
“Stay with me,” Massimo commanded, steering me toward the small crowd with his hand firmly on my back.
I huffed an irritated breath at being ordered around, but I was too nervous to defy him. I had no intention of leaving his side, so there was no point in arguing.
My footsteps stalled slightly as we neared the other guests—the other criminals.
Massimo’s thumb traced soothing circles over my bare skin that was exposed by the low back of the silky dress. A light shiver raced over me, and my sex pulsed despite my budding fear; it wasn’t strong enough to quell the lingering desire from his wicked mouth on me. My body burned for him: heated with embarrassment and lust. I was keenly aware of the slickness on my inner thighs. Would everyone else be as adept at reading me as Massimo was? Would they know how hot and needy I was for my captor?
My cheeks burned, and I glanced over to find him smirking at me. He was far too smug and pleased with himself for reducing me to a panting mess.
I pinched my lips in irritation, holding in acerbic words. Challenging Massimo would definitely attract attention, and that was the last thing I wanted.
“Good girl.” His thumb continued to trace lazy patterns on my back, stoking the heat at my core despite my indignation. “You’ll get your reward soon.”
An outraged sound like a small growl caught in my throat. He just chuckled in response, as though he was thrilled at our game. He was enjoying playing with me.
I clung to my anger as we approached the cartel members. It was so much easier to bear than debilitating fear.
I glanced over at him again, and he winked at me.
Oh. Was he goading me on purpose? To distract me from feeling fear?
Between the puzzle of this gorgeous man and the lingering pulse between my legs, I was definitely distracted. I didn’t have any room in my psyche for terror to take hold, not when my infuriating, alluring protector was toying with me.
“Massimo,” a woman greeted warmly, “it’s so good to see you. And your lovely guest.”
My attention snapped from him to the stunning brunette who was striding toward us, the crowd of men parting for her. They either respected or feared this woman, judging by the way none of them looked directly at her as she passed them by. She had a regal bearing about her, and I imagined she’d look quite natural wearing a crown.
Her caramel eyes assessed me, memorizing my face before dipping to the mark on my shoulder. Her mouth pinched in a small frown, and her eyes went cold when she turned them back on Massimo.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” she asked pointedly.
Massimo’s hand flexed against my back, but he offered her a smile that was dazzling enough to knock the air from my chest. “It’s wonderful to see you too, Carmen. Thank you for inviting us.”
She did not appear charmed. A single dark brow arched, expectant.
“This is Evelyn,” he introduced me. It seemed he didn’t have a choice. Whoever Carmen was, she held power here, and Massimo was her guest.
“Evelyn,” she repeated, my name heavy with condemnation. She eyed the mark on my neck again, and I barely resisted the urge to sweep my hair over my shoulder to cover it.
“It’s good to meet you,” she told me, her voice a touch warmer. Moving with smooth grace, she looped her arm through mine as though we were best friends. “Let me get you a drink. We have an excellent selection of mezcal.”
She tugged me away from Massimo, but he simply followed, as though his hand was attached to my back by a magnet.
“Not you, Massimo.” She waved him away, flicking her fingers in an imperious gesture. “Stefano is eager to talk to you. Evelyn and I can get to know one another while you two catch up.”
“I’m sure you’ll want to be present for that,” Massimo protested smoothly. “We can all have a drink together.”
Carmen let out a melodic laugh that grated down my spine; there was no real humor in that laugh, only warning that her patience was wearing thin. “We’ll join you soon enough. Please go entertain Stefano before he gets too bored. You don’t know how difficult he can be when he’s bored.” She made a pained expression, dramatically put-upon. “It’s past time for the party to get started, and he’s been waiting for you.”
My stomach flipped. I didn’t want to be separated from my dark protector. I edged closer to him, and Carmen’s keen eyes caught the small shift. The smile she offered me was kind, genuine.
“I just want to talk,” she assured me. “No one here will harm you.” She said it as though it was a guarantee, something within her power to promise.
Who was this woman? She obviously knew Massimo, and she’d mentioned Stefano Duarte twice. She had to be associated with the cartel, but she was looking at me with soft concern.
My heart skipped a beat. This might be my opportunity to escape. Carmen clearly held sway here. If I got her on my side, she might let me leave. No one would have to get hurt, and I would be free to return to America, away from cartel violence.
“Okay,” I agreed, stepping away from Massimo to join Carmen. His fingers brushed my back as I broke contact, as though he didn’t want to let me go. “Let’s talk.”
“Carmen—” Massimo began, her name a low growl.
“Stefano is waiting.” She cut him off breezily and steered me away from him, guiding me to a quieter corner where we could have a private conversation.
I glanced back at Massimo and found him scowling at Carmen. Another man stepped in front of him, creating a barrier between us with his body. Massimo was broader and taller, but he didn’t toss the man out of his way to get to me. Instead, that dazzling smile slid back into place, and his focus shifted to address the slightly smaller man.
“Don’t worry about Massimo,” Carmen patted my hand in comfort before she extricated her arm from mine. She settled herself in a plush red leather armchair, making it appear like her own personal throne. Despite her powerful aura and regal poise, her sharply beautiful features softened when she looked at me.
“You’re Evelyn Day,” she said. It wasn’t a question.
My mouth went dry. “How do you know my name?”
She pursed her lips, but her distaste didn’t seem to be directed at me. “I make it my business to familiarize myself with my enemies and the people close to them. You’re George Crawford’s fiancée, aren’t you?”
I swallowed hard. Maybe I’d made a terrible mistake in thinking that Carmen would be on my side.
“I didn’t know anything about his involvement with Los Zetas,” I said quickly. Even now, admitting to the fact that George was corrupt sent pain knifing through my heart, but I ignored the discomfort. I had to keep my wits about me if I was going to navigate this situation.
“I believe you,” she replied, placating. “My concern now isn’t with Crawford; it’s with Massimo.” She glanced pointedly at the bite mark. “Is he mistreating you?” Her eyes stared at something I couldn’t see, and all the warmth drained out of them. “I will not stand by and do nothing if there’s an abusive man in my home.”
Her home? She lived here, with Stefano. She was definitely associated with the cartel, even if she was currently concerned for my wellbeing.
When I didn’t answer right away, her eyes narrowed, her gaze spearing him like daggers flung across the room.
“I don’t care if it’s an insult to the Camorra. I will kill him for violating you.”
The Camorra. So, Massimo was with the mafia. I’d already known, but the confirmation made my blood run cold.
“I’m going to tell my husband to take our charming Italian guest to the basement. Stefano will make sure he regrets touching you before he finally allows him to die.”
“What?” I gasped, horror chasing away my conflict over Massimo’s criminal lifestyle. If Stefano was Carmen’s husband, it was no wonder she wielded so much power here. She would order Massimo’s execution, and the drug lord would carry out the sentence.
“No! Massimo didn’t rape me. I…” The admission that I’d enjoyed every deviant moment of his erotic game stuck in my throat, too humiliating to utter. I’d willingly kissed my captor. I’d allowed him to touch me in ways no man ever had, and I’d begged for more. “He saved me,” I said instead. “He’s been protecting me.”
Carmen’s gaze snapped back to mine, those keen eyes peering into my soul. “I see,” she said after a moment. “I understand that desire can be…complicated. If you’re with him consensually, I won’t say another word about it.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’m with him,” I countered. “I mean, he saved me from George and Los Zetas. And he hasn’t forced himself on me.” My cheeks warmed, but I continued on, “But I don’t want to be here. I told him I want to leave, and he won’t let me go.” Hope budded in my chest. Carmen cared about my wellbeing. She cared about my consent. “Will you help me?”
She cocked her head at me, long, wavy hair swaying around her lovely face. “What is it that you want? To be away from Massimo? You just said he’s protecting you. And you’ve been with him willingly.” She eyed the bite mark again, a pointed reminder of the fact that I’d eagerly kissed my captor and welcomed him to ravage me.
I breathed through my embarrassment and pleaded my case. “I just want to get back to Albuquerque. I can’t stay here.”
“Why?” she asked, a soft challenge.
I considered my next words carefully. She was Stefano Duarte’s wife. I couldn’t risk pissing her off. “I don’t have anything to do with the cartels, and I don’t want to. If you help me get out of here, I will leave Mexico City and go back home to America, where I belong.”
Her jaw firmed. “You became associated with the cartels because of your fiancé’s poor choices. I understand that isn’t your fault, but that doesn’t change the facts. You’ve been in my home. You’ve seen my face. You know who I am and what I do. I can’t risk sending you back to the American authorities.”
“I won’t say a word to anyone, I swear.” I tried to reason with her the way I’d reasoned with Massimo. “I would be dead if it weren’t for Massimo. That’s not a debt I can repay. I would never betray him, and there’s no way I could tell the DEA about you without involving him. You have nothing to fear from me.”
She laughed softly, genuinely amused. “I know I don’t. I don’t think you could hurt a fly. But I didn’t get this far by taking stupid risks. I have an empire to run, and I don’t intend to lose it. I’ve worked too hard to get to where I am, to be happy. I brought you over here to speak to you privately, so that I could find out if Massimo was abusing you. He’s not. In your own words, he’s protecting you from Crawford and Los Zetas. There’s no need for me to be worried about you staying with him.”
“I’m not staying with him,” I said bluntly. “I’m his captive.”
She shrugged. “Life is full of gray areas. The situation can be as difficult as you choose to make it. Believe me, I know.”
“What do you mean?’ I couldn’t understand her cryptic words.
She eyed the man who’d blocked Massimo’s path to us, her lips curving with unmistakable affection. “Let’s just say that my relationship with Stefano had an unconventional start.” She sighed and made a point of looking for a server. “Where is our mezcal? Honestly, you’d think they’d know to serve the women first. Come on.” She grasped my hand and stood, tugging me toward the bar. “Let’s get back to the men before Massimo decides to stop playing nice and drags you away from me.”
Our conversation was clearly over. The cool queen was back, the concerned woman disappearing behind her regal mask. Carmen was satisfied that I wasn’t in immediate danger, and she wouldn’t do anything more to help me.
She hummed conspiratorially as we neared Massimo. “He is a big one, isn’t he? Stay close to him. With his mark on your neck, no one will dare to breathe the same air as you. I would tell you to come talk to me if anyone bothers you, but I have a feeling they wouldn’t be alive by the time you got to me.” She sobered slightly, her coy smile firming to something more serious. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He would kill every man in this room to get to you. Massimo will keep you safe, Evelyn. That’s what matters. He might even make you happy, if you let him.”
I didn’t have time to formulate a reply before we reached the men, and Massimo’s big hand settled on the small of my back once again. Without thinking, I leaned into his possessive touch.