CHAPTER TWENTY #2
Lindsay filled her in on the whole reason I even invited her in the first place. Safe to say, Vicky was beyond amused. Before I can tell her to shut up, movement catches my attention.
Ignacio Navarro begins to approach us at the doors. And he brings Liliana with him.
My entire body goes rigid.
"Matteo,” Ignacio extends a hand towards my brother. “It’s a pleasure to have you all here.”
“The pleasure is ours,” Matteo rumbles. “The Don sends his regrets but he had scheduling conflicts and will be unable to attend.”
Scheduling conflict is bullshit. Salvatore just couldn’t give a damn about coming. He and Valentina are on babysitting duty tonight.
Then Ignacio turns toward his daughter.
"Allow me to introduce Liliana."
I blink. Matteo blinks.
Introduce? As though I didn’t spend weeks with her. As if I’m not intimately familiar with her. As if even now my body doesn’t thrum with the need to have her back in my arms.
My jaw tightens but I swallow my reaction. That’s what this is about. Ignacio’s simply looking for a reaction from me. He hasn’t even glanced at me once, keeping his eyes on my elder brother instead.
Which is fine with me. I’m far too busy staring at the woman at his side.
When her eyes meet mine, the world stops.
I see all my pain and heart ache mirrored back at me and it fills me with some measure of hope.
Then she looks at the woman who has her arms around me and her expression lightens. I glimpse amusement in her amber eyes.
A tiny twitch threatening her mouth.
"As you are all well aware, Liliana was recently returned to the family to take her rightful place."
Ignacio sounds ridiculously proud. Liliana smiles politely.
"It’s nice to meet you all,” she says, playing her part well.
My jaw grinds. Then Vicky steps forward. For a moment I brace myself, expecting… hell I don’t even know. I brought her here to make Liliana jealous.
Instead Vicky beams.
"It’s so nice to meet you too. You're even more gorgeous than I expected. I’ve heard a lot about you. My name is Victoria Torres. But you can call me Vicky.”
I stare at her.
Liliana offers her a small smile. “You’re Rafaelle’s date?”
“Yes, he invited me here so he wouldn’t be alone and I just couldn’t turn him down, the poor thing.”
What the fuck?
That is so not how this was supposed to go. Irritation flares within me. They’re both smiling and Liliana is completely at ease, not a single jealous flare in sight. It’s pretty clear she saw right through my pathetic ruse and has no intention of rising to the bait.
Thankfully Ignacio chooses that moment to steal Liliana away. I turn to Vicky once they’re gone.
“You’re awful at this,” I say annoyed.
Lindsay who has barely been able to hold in her laughter speaks up, “That was amazing. And you were transparent as hell, Rafaelle. I’m glad she saw through it. She’s pretty cool.”
I don’t reply, huffing out a breath before turning my attention back to Ignacio and the beautiful woman he’s practically using as a trophy.
People trip over themselves trying to meet the cartel princess who appeared from nowhere. I should stop staring. I know I should.
But I don't. My eyes follow her everywhere.
Every polite smile. Every movement. Every glance.
She's magnetic.
I knew it the first night I saw her standing beneath stage lights.
Now everyone else knows it too.
The realization annoys me. I preferred it when she was only mine.
I watch as a man approaches her. He’s tall and clearly charming since he made her smile. He speaks to her father for a minute before turning to her.
Liliana listens politely as he says something. Then he extends a hand.
An invitation to a fucking dance. She hesitates. Her eyes dart over to the direction where I’m standing. Then I see her expression turn resigned as she accepts.
Something ugly twists inside my chest. Low and dangerous. I watch him place a hand against her waist. Watch him lead her onto the dance floor.
The room suddenly feels too hot. The music too loud. The whiskey in my hand tastes like shit.
"Rafaelle,” Matteo murmurs, already able to tell that I’m about to lose my shit.
Across the room, the man says something that makes Liliana laugh.
He tries again, “Rafaelle, wait.”
I've had enough. Without another word, I set down my drink and cross the ballroom.
People move out of my way instinctively, my reputation a deterrent causing fear to flash across their faces. The song continues playing. Liliana is still dancing with him.
Her back is turned to me. She doesn’t see me as I approach.
Until I step between them.
The man looks terrified. As he should for daring to touch what’s mine. He seems to be the head of one of the small cartels in the city. But I couldn’t give less of a fuck.
"I'll take it from here."
The words leave no room for argument.
His gaze flicks from me to Liliana. Then back again.
Smartly deciding he values his life, he retreats.
Coward.
Liliana stares up at me. Those amber eyes immediately finding mine. The rest of the room disappears. Just like it always does. Slowly, I extend my hand.
For a second she simply looks at it. Then she places hers in mine. The instant her fingers touch my palm, something unclenches inside my chest. Air finally reaches my lungs. I pull her against me. Closer than necessary. Closer than appropriate. But I find I don't care.
Not even a little.
Because for the first time since she left me standing in that warehouse, she's here. In my arms.
Exactly where she belongs.
For a long moment neither of us speaks. Classical music floats over to us and we sway softly, pretending for a moment that no one else exists but us.
It's pathetic. I know it is. A woman shouldn't have this much power over me.
Especially not this woman. Yet the tightness that's been lodged in my chest for weeks eases the second I pull her against me. Like some part of me has finally found its way home.
I hate it. Almost as much as I love it.
“You look good, Rafaelle,” she says, surprising me by speaking first.
There’s no missing the nerves in her expression, the tremble that passes through her body. She’s scared. She’s worried about what I’ll say.