Page 3 of Naked Truth

I pull a small envelope from her purse, open it. A single water-stained snapshot lies inside, nothing else. I nod for Valentina to move again and hand the picture to Hernandez.

“Oh, dios mío.”To my shock—and to the shock of most in attendance—the older man’s eyes begin to shine. He glances at Valentina, then drops his gaze back to the picture in his hands. “This… this is not possible. I thought this picture destroyed when my—” He sniffs quickly and swallows several times. “It’s my Camila holding our beautiful granddaughter.”

“My aunt told me that woman was my abuela,” Valentina says quickly. “That child in the photo… That’s me.”

I’ve heard enough. I will not allow some fraud to play on Señor Hernandez’s memories and emotions like this and move in to remove her from the party. “It’s time for you to go.”

“Wait, I’m not done.”

“Oh, believe me, little bird. You are.” I grip her arm and step away from my employer.

“Raoul!” Hernandez’s command once more stops me.

I spin and face him. “Sí.”

“Valentina is a guest in this house, and you will treat her as such.”

¡Mierda!I don’t appreciate being reprimanded, especially in front of others. Heat creeps up my neck as I steal a sideways glance Valentina’s way. “Yes, sir.”

“Since you’ve already proven my most trusted enforcer, I am assigning her safety to you. Guard her as you would guard me. After all, she is familia.”

“We’ll see about that,” I say under my breath, yet loud enough for her to hear. She blinks at me as color splashes her cheeks. I then raise my voice to make sure my employer hears. “Come, Valentina, today is a day for great celebration. We will dance.”

Her eyes go wide. “Dance?” she squeaks. “You and me, together?”

I smile fiercely, holding her gaze as my cock twitches to attention. From how hard I am, my shaft is practically saluting. Valentina may be as nervous and fluttering as a little bird, but there’s no denying the excitement shining in her eyes, the passion burning just below the surface. What would it be like to watch this pretty bird soar, I wonder?

I fully intend to find out. “Together.” I nod, reaching for her again. “I’d have it no other way.”

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