Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Rio
The black tie event we are at reeks of money and power.
The only thing keeping me sane right now is how beautiful my new wife looks while she makes small talk with my sister across the room.
I've been to a hundred of these galas and I’ve hated them every single time.
This room is full of wealthy idiots hiding the most disgusting secrets.
"You've done well for yourself, nephew," comes a smooth voice beside me, making me cringe internally.
My uncle Raul stands at my shoulder with a champagne flute in hand. His smile is just as shiny as the designer watch on his wrist. I force my face into a neutral expression, hoping to change the subject off of my wife.
"Uncle," I nod, keeping my eyes on Liana as she accepts a drink from a server across the room. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"I make it a point to attend the important events."
His gaze follows mine back to Liana.
"Your father mentioned the arrangement was…unexpected. I trust she is behaving."
The way he looks at her makes my skin crawl. I've seen that look before on him…too many times. It’s like he's assessing merchandise.
"Business arrangement," I say, keeping my tone casual. "The Manitellies have useful connections. She has been the proper wife."
"Ah, yes. The Italians."
He swirls his champagne and smirks.
"Beautiful stock and good breeding. Always trained properly. Useful connections indeed. Though I hear this one has quite the spirit."
I clench my jaw but maintain my smile as I silently plot the demise of whichever sibling has been running their mouth about my affairs.
"She's adjusting."
My uncle chuckles.
"You know, if you need a little help with adjusting…"
“I’ve got it handled,” I say, cutting him off quickly, making him laugh again.
I watch as Liana makes her way over toward us, her eyes taking in the two of us with a mixture of caution and curiosity. She should be cautious, not curious right now. My chest tightens as she comes closer and I feel my uncle straighten himself.
"Here she comes now. I've been eager to meet the newest Sanchez seeing as how I missed the wedding."
I scowl as Liana reaches us and she looks at me confused, before putting on a polite smile. I place my hand at the small of her back, a gesture that is both possessive and protective all at once.
"Liana, this is my uncle, Raul Sanchez."
"So nice to meet you," Raul takes her hand, bringing it to his lips in a gesture that lingers just a fraction too long. "I've heard so much about you."
"All good things, I hope," she responds.
Her voice is steady despite the tension I can feel in her body.
"My nephew is not one to share his treasures," Raul says with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "And you are quite the acquisition. So sorry I couldn’t make the wedding."
I feel her stiffen at the word acquisition. Like she's a fucking asset we purchased.
"I prefer to think of it as a mutual arrangement," she says, her smile never wavering. A sense of pride rolls through me at the way she handles the interaction, especially when she doesn’t have a clue about my uncle.
His eyebrows lift slightly, clearly amused.
"Spirited indeed."
“So what do you do? Are you part of the family business?” Liana asks boldly
"My uncle oversees a different part of our business," I explain, watching her face carefully. "The import side of things."
"Import?" she asks, her eyes flickering between us.
"People have needs, my dear," Raul says smoothly. "We simply facilitate meeting them. Some desire exotic goods, others…exotic experiences."
I take the opportunity to squeeze her waist. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to give her a warning.
This conversation needs to end and she needs to watch her responses.
Her face remains perfectly composed, but I see the flash of understanding in her eyes.
Human trafficking. The side of the business I've kept my distance from since I was old enough to understand what it really meant.
My father gave that division to Raul years ago, knowing I wanted nothing to do with it.
"It's a complex market. Nothing you would be interested in learning about," I say, attempting to end the conversation.
"One that's been particularly profitable lately," My uncle says, his smile widening like he knows what I’m trying to do.
‘Fucking asshole.’
"Perhaps you'd be interested in seeing that side of operations sometime, Liana? We have quite the selection process."
I grit my teeth and tighten my hold on Liana. This time it’s enough to feel her body jerk slightly and it makes me quickly loosen my hold again. I smooth my hand over her side, hoping I didn’t accidentally hurt her and turn to my uncle to respond but Liana beats me to it.
"I'm still learning about Rio's business," she says with a smile, her voice smooth. "One step at a time."
My uncle laughs.
"Smart girl. Maybe someday in the future. I see that some other associates have arrived and I have business to discuss." He nods to me. "Rio. Always a pleasure to see the family expanding."
He walks away and I feel Liana exhale beside me while I do the same.
"Charming," she says quietly with a hint of sarcasm.
"That's what makes him dangerous," I reply, guiding her toward a less crowded area of the ballroom.
"What did he mean by 'selection process'?" she asks once we're out of earshot.
I knew she was going to ask questions and I debate how much to tell her. A smart man would keep her in the dark, but she would probably figure it out eventually anyways. I already lied to her once about my identity and we are still working through that mess. The truth is better in this instance.
"Human trafficking," I say quietly, watching her face. "It's the part of the business I don't touch."
Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn't pull away from me.
"Why not?" she asks, and the question surprises me.
"Because there are lines even I won't cross," I reply honestly. "I'm not a good man, Datura, but there are levels of hell even I choose to avoid."
She's quiet for a long moment before speaking again.
“So my family…”
“Yes, some of them are or were involved in that side of things too.”
She cringes and I pull her in close to me, wrapping my arms around her.
“I could have been sent to your uncle,” she murmurs into my chest.
“Yes,” is all I reply because it’s the truth. My father could have arranged her to be with my uncle, my brothers or hell, even himself. But he didn’t. Instead, he chose to give her to me.
“You really didn’t want this arrangement either, did you?”
“No,” I say honestly. “I had no desire to settle down.”
“And now you do? Why?”
“I never had anything of my own until you came along. You’re mine, Datura. It took me longer than necessary to realize the importance of that statement. But you are mine. Mind, body and soul. And one day, you’re going to realize I’m yours too.”
She just stands there in my arms with her head and body pressed against me and I’ve never felt so calm.
"Thank you," she finally says. "For telling me the truth."
A sense of hope washes over me. I realize how desperately I want her forgiveness, how much I need her to see me, all of me, and not run. To see every good and bad part and choose not to hate me.
"Dance with me," I say, taking her hand and pulling her towards the dance floor.
I lead her to the dance floor, pulling her close as the music slows. Her body fits against mine perfectly, like she was made for me.
"Your world is more complicated than I imagined.”
"Our world," I correct.
"Our world," she repeats as I pull her closer, breathing in the scent of her hair.
For the first time in my life, I feel a need to win something more than a fight in an underground cage or a war with a rival gang. I need to win this woman’s heart. Because the truth is, I don't just want to keep Liana. I need her.
And that terrifies me more than any enemy ever could.