37. Daniela
Sal’s quad bike skids to a halt ahead of us at a crossroads.
Dense leafy plants grow everywhere, and twisted tree trunks form a natural barrier between the man-made path we’re on and the jungle terrain.
While his engine idles, he rotates in his seat and shouts over at Matheus, who’s driving our quad.
“Follow the track around that bend.” He points into the jungle. “Keep going through the forest until you see a clearing. You won’t miss it.”
Sal crooks his hand at Tomás, who’s just pulled up beside us on a quad bike of his own.
“We go this way, Tommy,” Sal informs him. “I’ve got a bottle of your favorite liquor waiting for you. We’ll have a nightcap together before you marry my sister. Dante might even make an appearance too.”
Matheus is quick to respond. “You okay with that, Tommy? I mean…you’re heading away from us.”
Tomás shrugs. “We’re all family now. Which means I should trust the fucker. If he cuts off my head, make sure you show him who the boss is…” He winks. “Souza style.”
Matheus’ shoulders bounce, his deep laughter earning a wicked smirk from his big brother.
And there he is.
The real Tomás Souza.
The boss they’d go to war for.
The brother they love and admire.
Tomás nods. “Good luck, Mat.”
Tingles sprinkle my scalp when they shoot off in the opposite direction and we’re left in the middle of a tropical rainforest, unarmed and minus provisions.
“Good luck? Was he trying to be funny?” I mumble next to Matheus’ ear, unimpressed. “We don’t have any weapons.”
My arms circle his waist, and my damp cleavage is plastered against the back of his shirt.
Although the temperature is warm, the humidity is clammy and uncomfortable. I have sweat gathering everywhere.
“We’re not exactly dressed for a jungle expedition.” I continue. “Whoever planned this trip needs a bullet in the dick. Where’s the insect repellent and nets to keep out reptiles?”
“Everything we need was sent ahead,” Matheus explains.
“Are we staying in one of those flimsy canvas tents where slinky little reptiles hide in your clothes?”
When Matheus laughs, I feel it rumble through me. “Are you scared of lizards, little firecracker?”
“Of course not,” I lie. “I’m not a fan of bugs that lay eggs in my hair or creepy-crawlies that climb all over my face while I’m sleeping.”
“Who said I’m going to let you sleep?” he jokes.
I have no problem with sleep deprivation whatsoever if he’s the one doing the depriving. The shiver that thought gives me rattles my bones.
The path ahead is hazy under our headlights as scattered low energy solar lamps guide us deeper.
Matheus opens the throttle, and the quad bike hurtles over rough terrain. He expertly navigates the dirt track and shouts for me to duck under low hanging vines.
After what feels like a few minutes, we pull up in a clearing that somehow glows as if the sun is shining at night.
I look up and blink wildly. Hundreds of fairy lights hang in strips from a wooden treehouse built into the trunk of a monster-sized tree.
A thatched roof slants over the top and covers a deck that juts out over the forest. Tiny lanterns perch along the ledge, warming the darkness, and a rope bridge stretches overhead.
Matheus turns off the engine and waits for me to dismount before climbing off. I can’t stop staring up at the treehouse.
It’s so pretty.
I could easily spend the rest of my days here and never face the rest of humanity again.
“What do you think?” Matheus’ voice rumbles over my shoulder and his fingers graze my waist.
“I guess it’ll do,” I joke, bunching the length of my dress in my fists. “Let’s see who gets up top first, yeah?”
“Oh, really…you want to go there?” He cocks a brow. “What do I get when I win?”
“Me,” I giggle, speed walking to a set of rickety steps that scale the fat trunk of a neighboring tree.
They lead to a cool rope bridge with sturdy planks for my feet. Matheus closes in behind me. It wobbles and groans under our combined weight.
If I wasn’t wearing block-heeled sandals, this would be easy, but the thin straps are cutting into my feet, and the stupid heels keep getting wedged between the slats.
“Time out!” I mutter, yanking my foot free for the third time. “I’ll end up breaking my ankle in these god-awful sandals.”
“There’s no time out when you’re being chased by a hitman.”
Locks of dark hair drape his brow and the whites of his eyes glisten under the glow of pretty lights.
He’s discarded his tie and undone the top buttons, but his shirt is still tucked into his tailored suit pants.
He should look out of place in his smart clothes, surrounded by thick branches and trillions of leaves.
To me, he’s constant perfection in any setting.
My heart pitter-patters.
“If you were a decent hitman, you would have taken your shot by now, smartass.”
“Or maybe I’m biding my time. Perhaps I’m planning to toss you off this very high bridge?”
Almost toe to toe, he lunges forward and effortlessly throws me over his shoulder.
My squeal echoes far and wide. Not from fear of him actually tossing me over, but from the thrill of his playful energy when he lightly swats my ass.
He quickly covers the final planks like he’s participating in an army endurance test and with care lowers me onto the deck.
The earthy smell from the understory isn’t as strong up here. The air is fresher and it’s easier to see the constellations.
I sweep messy strands out of my lashes and take in the view. We’re nestled high in the treetops and thick pillar candles contained inside tall glass jars litter the deck.
It’s breathtaking.
“Think you’ll be alright up here?” he asks, taking my hand.
I nod, oddly emotional. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Never dreamed about a vacation in a treehouse with a man who makes me feel so many big things.
He walks me to a rustic bench fronting the cute wooden house, sits me down, sinks to his haunches, and unbuckles my sandals one by one.
Despite my stubborn independence, I let him without hesitation or fuss. And God, it feels good to surrender control to this man.
Matheus looks right at me.
The way he’s staring is different now. Everything twists and my lungs trap air, not sure why his mood seems so contemplative.
I frown. “You, okay?”
“Yeah.” He straightens. “It’s been a long day. Stay there.”
I remain seated, not sure what else to do, and watch as he pushes hair back off his forehead. He saunters inside and returns seconds later, looking exactly the same. Magnificent—and noticeably on edge.
He wanders across the deck and stops next to a bunch of flickering candles.
“Come here. I want to show you something.”
I push off the bench and pad barefoot until we’re facing each other. Without thought, I inch closer and place my hands on his chest.
“Show me.”
My voice comes out quiet, because I’m suddenly breathy and my heart thumping. I don”t know why, but an unusual vibe’s coming from him.
Firmly sliding his hands into my hair at either side of my head, he drags my face to his and covers my mouth, kissing me hard.
“I love you, Dani,” he exclaims, his mouth against my lips seconds before pulling away.
In a heartbeat, he’s lowering to one knee, removing a tiny black bag from his pocket, and holding out a ring.
I suck in sharply and feel my heart rate soar. My face tingles and my hands shake when I reach for him.
“Daniela Blanco, you deserve romance. You deserve respect. You deserve a happily ever after. You deserve to be loved. And I’ll do whatever it takes to give you all that stuff and more. In return, all I ask is that you love me forever as my wife. Will you marry me, baby?”
What…this is unbelievably surreal.
I feel so happy I could cry. I draw in a tattered breath and stop myself from ruining the moment.
While he gazes up at me, holding the ring in his hand, my belly does a somersault and my poor heart thunders.
I love this man more than anyone. And that’s one dangerous admission for a woman like me to make. But it’s also the honest truth.
I’d sooner die first than live without him—and happily slaughter any person who tries to hurt him or cut up any woman who dares to touch him.
That’s how messy this love of mine is.
Heavy emotions make my knees go weak and I sink down to his level, fighting hard to hold back a silly sob.
“I’ll marry you on one condition,” I whisper, dropping my gaze to the thick gold band encrusted with diamonds.
Matheus thumbs my chin and nudges my jaw, bringing our eyes in line.
“Anything.”
I swallow hard. “Don’t break my heart, Mat.”
He smiles. A wide, devastatingly handsome smile that makes my blood heat.
“I’m all yours, Dani. Every single part of me belongs to you. Where you go, I go. I’ll take good care of your heart. I promise.”
“You’d better,” I mutter. “Or I’ll put a pillow over your face when you’re sleeping.”
We both laugh and he wipes a tear from the corner of my eye before it falls, sucking it into his mouth.
“Such a gentle way to kill your loving husband,” he says and chuckles, the deep texture of it hoarse. “So…is that a, yes?”
I nod, and he leans in to kiss me. His lips linger a breath away and he adds, “Say it, Dani. I need to hear you say yes.”
I circle my arms around his neck, instantly feeling our warm connection.
“Yes…I will love you forever as your wife, Matheus.”
“Thank fuck,” he declares and sighs, relieved. “Once this ring goes on, there’s no backing out, comprendes?”
“Comprendes.”
I draw my lips between my teeth as he gathers my left hand, slides the engagement ring onto my finger, and presses his lips to my knuckles.
The band must be an inch wide and the jewels are buried deep in the gold, so they sit flush. It’s beautiful and practical, and I never want to take it off.
“It doesn”t seem fair.” I stare at the twinkly stones.
In the distance, nocturnal insects chirp and an owl hoots.
“What do you mean?”
“I get to wear this ring of ownership, which I love, by the way.” My gaze cuts to his deep-set frown. “But you don’t have anything to wear that tells people you’re mine.”
Matheus laughs, deep and raspy. “Really, Dani? So, there’s not an epic buffalo skull inked onto my skin for life?” He smirks. “Don’t worry. I’ll happily wear a wedding ring and slay the hearts of every woman on TikTok when they find out I only have eyes for my hot little firecracker who’d slit their throats.”
How this guy manages to make me blush is a mystery. But he does. And I’m warm all over.
I do my best to hide the giveaway smile that would signal to him I’m giddy. Me…giddy. Who would have thought?
These emotions…feelings are so new to me—raw and compelling.
My attempt fails and I end up grinning when he shirks off his shirt.
“You saw this, right?” He jokes, twisting his torso. “It”s not hard to miss.”
I touch his bicep and instantly feel his body heat. An electric current charges through my hand and shoots straight to my chest as goosebumps burst over my bare skin. Matheus stops chuckling, sensing our chemistry growing red-hot.
Lunging at me, he shoves his hands into my hair, secures my head before him, and dives in for a slippery, wet kiss. The pressure starts off hard and hungry, then slowly reducing in intensity. He gently dips his tongue in and grazes my bottom lip.
My stomach swoops. I feel so happy and high—tingly and a hundred percent certain I will stay devoted to this man for the rest of my life.
The tip of his nose brushes mine.
“This dress needs to come off. Treehouse rules. No clothes until Tommy’s wedding tomorrow.”
“What will your brothers say about our engagement?” I ask, shrugging the straps off my shoulders and shuffling around so he can unzip me. “Do you think they’ll be happy for us?”
“They know I’d never be happy without you in my life,” he tells me, gently pulling the zipper. “I told Tommy I was going to propose, and he suggested doing it here. I gave him a list and Dante’s team set it up.”
I suck in a breath. “I can’t believe you planned all this…for me.”
“You’re worth it, Dani,” he says. “Wait until you see what’s inside.”
He stands and offers me his hand. I grab on and let him help me to my feet.
Before I get the chance to question what’s inside the treehouse, he sweeps me into his arms and carries me toward the front door, kicking it open.
“Well…are you going to tell me?” I smile, nuzzling his neck.
“What would you like to find?” he asks, his tone a touch darker and hinting at his filthy mood.
“All I need is you.”
“Good answer, little firecracker,” he murmurs. “Because that’s exactly what you’ve got.”