Chapter 2 #2
There was silence between us with maybe a hint of annoyance, but that allowed me to bask in him in his entirety. He wasn’t dressed like any other man in the restaurant, the five-star establishment requiring appropriate attire.
His aura told me he was a rule breaker and that instantly attracted me even though I considered myself a staunch follower of rules, laws, and moral decency.
From the soft pleat of his tailored yet casual cream linen pants housing muscular thighs to the stunning ultramarine-blue jacket accentuating his broad shoulders and lean waist, my mouth was watering.
That was so not like me.
When you threw in the too-tight tee shirt hugging his sculpted physique and clearly defined abs, my mind insisted I’d died and gone to alpha male heaven.
Get a grip, girl. Snap out of it.
“I am so sorry. I should have been paying attention to where I was going,” he said, his English flawless while his Spanish accent remained full of promises of romance.
I was instantly drawn to him, my breath stolen for a few precious seconds until I realized I had my hand placed directly in the center of his chest. The realization felt far too personal, so much so I curled my fingers, pulling my fisted hand away.
“No need for apologies. I wasn’t looking where I was going.” Most men would back away once knowing the person they kept from falling on their face was perfectly fine.
Not this man.
He crowded my space instead, narrowing his eyes as he peered into mine.
There was a blatant, fiery chemistry between us, a knowing hunger that I knew was rare since I’d never found it before.
Not that I’d been looking. He placed his hand on the wall next to me and I noticed the tattoos stamped on his fingers, the letters in Spanish.
Even his hands were gorgeous, strong and powerful like the rest of him.
The need crawling through me was insatiable like the darkness my father commanded in all aspects of his life.
The mystery man pressed the full weight of his body against mine and I was no longer just breathless, I was strangely mesmerized even if there was a slight nagging in the back of my mind. I never allowed anyone to get close. Yet it appeared he wasn’t taking no for an answer.
“ Mi velada se volvió mucho más satisfactoria desde que un ángel entró en mi vida .” His words were little more than a husky whisper said right before he captured my mouth.
My evening just became much more satisfying since an angel walked into my life.
I’d been kissed before, but not like this. Nothing in my world had prepared me for a rough kiss that literally took my breath away. I sensed nothing about the man was gentle. He was drowning and I was the only one who could save him.
I was almost instantly tipsy although I’d only had two glasses of champagne, the lightheadedness enough I was forced to wrap my fingers around his shirt.
The moment he slipped his tongue past my lips, I involuntarily arched my back.
The scent of him was incredible, hints of dark wood and citrus mixed with exotic spices evoking filthy visions.
The kiss was so entirely unexpected that I would have thought myself frozen, but I wasn’t, instead shifting my hips back and forth. The man was hard as a rock while my nipples were fully aroused, my pussy throbbing.
He tasted of warm liquor and mint, the mixture intoxicating. He was rough and unforgiving, holding me hostage as if I was his possession.
When he finally pulled away, I dragged my tongue across my bottom lip. If anyone else had done something so erratic, he’d have experienced my displeasure as a sharp crack of my hand.
His smile was on the devilish side, which exaggerated the dimple in his chin.
“Do that again.”
I was so breathless that I barely recognized what I’d just demanded.
“Be careful asking something like that of a man like me.”
“I’m not asking.”
He didn’t give me any time to catch my breath before kissing me again, immediately thrusting his tongue past my lips. He fisted my hair, holding me in place as if I dared want to go anywhere else. Everything about the moment was sinful, a decadent taste that I should never have allowed.
But I never wanted it to end.
When he was finished, he traced a line down my neck with his lips, the light scratch of his beard creating a wave of gentle yet insistent quivers.
He pulled me away from the wall and I allowed my head to lean back as he rubbed his groin back and forth.
He wanted me to realize how hard he was for me.
At that moment, I couldn’t care less who was watching or why I was there in the first place. If he wanted to drag me into the bathroom and have his way with me, I wouldn’t stop him.
He cupped my face, pulling back enough to gaze into my eyes as he rubbed his thumb across my cheek.
“Enjoy your evening. Perhaps we’ll meet again.” His words were husky and dark, a promise made and one I prayed he’d fulfill.
“Perhaps we will.” I remained where I was, giving him a thoughtful nod as he walked away. His aura was ripe with danger and sensuality, the man wearing power in his casual attire and formidable swagger.
When he walked out the back door, I finally took a deep breath.
“Wow.” Laughing, I touched my lips, which were still tingling from his roughness. What in God’s name had just happened?
At this point, I needed a few minutes to myself. I headed into the restaurant and toward the bar.
“?Qué puedo conseguir para la bella dama? ” the bartender asker.
What can I get for the beautiful lady?
His question was followed by a flirtatious smile.
“Blood-red wine.” I purposely used English, which often disarmed my would-be suitors.
“As the lady wishes.” He tapped the bar, giving me a onceover before turning around to fill my order.
I took a deep breath, brushing my fingers across my lips. The kiss would remain a highlight of the evening.
Within two minutes the wine was brought.
At least the bartender didn’t bother trying to make any headway again.
I leaned against the bar, enjoying the few minutes alone as I thought about the job I’d accepted.
There would be a huge adjustment, something that would take getting used to, but I couldn’t disappoint my father. He’d done so much for me in my life.
The music was nice, the crowd lively, and the next few minutes were peaceful.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
The gunfire was explosive, screams almost instantly following the horrible sounds. I dropped to my knees as I’d been trained to do and within seconds, all hell broke loose. There was additional gunfire, loud shouts, and people running to safety.
Several bolted out the door, almost running me over in the process. I tried to fight my way through the crowd, almost knocked down twice.
“Genevieve!” Emiliano’s voice boomed over the shrieks.
When he captured my location, he pushed and shoved his way through the people, not caring if he hurt them in the process.
When he finally reached me, he wrapped his arms around me, shielding me from everything and everyone else. “We’re leaving. Now.”
“Bella. Where’s Bella?”
“She’s safe.”
I gasped for air, ripping at his jacket in my attempt to struggle free from his hold. “Let me go!”
“No, Genevieve. We need to leave.”
“Not without my father.”
“No, Genevieve. Listen to me. We need to get you to safety,” Emiliano hissed.
Several of our hitmen were running.
More gunfire.
More shouts.
“No! I will see my father.” Somehow, I was able to claw my way free, holding back tears as I slammed my hands against anyone who got in my way. When I managed to push my way back into the private room, I scanned every corner in search of him.
There was blood everywhere, bodies lying on the floor.
Then I saw my father.
“No, Genevieve. I need to get you to safety. The shooters could still be active.”
Active?
The fuckers had attacked my family!
I heard Emiliano’s voice and was cognizant several other hitmen were running toward us, trying to keep me safe, but I only had eyes for my father. He’d always seemed invincible, so strong and caring. He’d done his best to provide his family with a normal life even as danger crowded closer.
Maybe I should have never taken anything about him for granted. He’d had so many enemies, men of power who would do anything to take him away from me.
“Papa! Papa!”
My carefully crafted world suddenly didn’t exist. No matter how safe I’d believed it to be, everything had merely been an illusion. The future I’d thought bright had just come crashing down on me.
“Genevieve. We need to go. Now!” Emiliano tried to drag me away, but I shoved my hands against him.
“No! Find the monster. I want the bastard’s head brought to me on a silver platter.”
Tears sprang to my eyes as I dropped to the floor beside my father’s bloodied body. As I cradled his head in my arms, I threw my head back, allowing everyone in the restaurant to hear my pain.
“ Te amo, Papá. Lo siento mucho. Dios es testigo de que vengaré tu muerte .”
Yes, I would avenge my father’s death if it was the last thing I did on this earth.
That was the moment I knew the young woman who’d seen the world with rose-colored glasses no longer existed. There would be no one who’d ever see me suffer or hear me cry again. No one.
For I was Genevieve Morales, daughter of the most powerful man in Europe.