Page 26 of Dangerous Seduction

“Hey, Sof,” I said, forcing a smile. “What brings you to this neck of the woods?”

She shrugged, falling into step beside me as I started down the sidewalk. “Just running some errands. What about you? I thought you had that big investor meeting today.”

I nodded, shoving my hands into my pockets. “I am. Just needed some air.”

Sofia gave me a sidelong glance, her brow furrowing. “Everything okay? You seem... distracted.”

I barked out a laugh, shaking my head. “That’s one word for it.”

“I hope you’re not so distracted that you can’t make it to Palm Beach this weekend. Mami’s been asking about you.”

I groaned, running a hand over my face. The last thing I wanted was to spend an entire weekend trapped in conversations with my father and his endless lectures about the cartel’s future.

“I don’t know, Sof,” I hedged. “I might have to stay in Miami for business.”

She raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing at her lips. “Business, yeah? Maybe only the woman from the other night could drag you away, then?”

I felt my cheeks heat and looked away, clearing my throat. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

Sofia laughed, punching me lightly on the arm. “Oh, come on, Dante. Eva. I know you like her. And I may have invited her to Palm Beach.”

My head snapped up, and my pulse quickened. “You did what?”

She grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I ran into her yesterday. We talked, and I thought it would be nice to include her in the family gathering. You know, since you two seem to have hit it off, kind of.”

I gaped at her, my mind reeling. Eva, at a Reyes family dinner? The thought of her in the same room as my father, as the rest of the cartel’s inner circle... Fuck, it was thrilling and terrifying at the same time. It could end up a fucking disaster.

“So?” Sofia prompted, nudging me with her elbow. “Are you coming or not?”

I hesitated for a moment, but as crazy as the idea was, the thought of seeing Eva again, of being near her, touching her, being deep inside of her...

“I’ll be there,” I said finally.

Sofia beamed, clapping her hands together in delight. “Perfect! I can’t wait to see the look on Mami’s face when she meets your new girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I said, but the words lacked conviction. Honestly, I didn’t know what Eva was to me. All I knew was that I couldn’t get her out of my fucking head.

“Sure, sure,” Sofia said, waving off my protest with a flick of her wrist. “Just promise me you’ll be on your best behavior. No talk of business, okay? This is strictly a family affair.”

I nodded, my jaw tight. “I’ll be the perfect gentleman.”

Sofia snorted, rolling her eyes. “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

We parted ways soon after, Sofia heading off to finish her errands while I made my way back to the restaurant. But as I walked, my mind was already racing ahead to the weekend.

THIRTEEN

NATALIA

I drew in a long, deep breath, gathering my thoughts, as I turned onto the long, winding driveway that led to the sprawling Reyes estate in Palm Beach. I watched the imposing, ornate gates as they parted, and I cautiously guided my vehicle forward, passing beneath the iron archway.

I had spent hours preparing for this family dinner, carefully selecting a figure-hugging red dress that accentuated my curves and a pair of sky-high stilettos that added an extra sway to my hips. My hair was styled in loose, sultry waves, and my makeup was flawless, highlighting my features perfectly.

But behind my sleek facade, my thoughts were consumed by the mission. I had mentally rehearsed every possible scenario, every potential conversation, and every subtle clue to look for once inside the Reyes’ inner sanctum. Agent Morrow’s advice echoed in my head as I slowed the car to a stop in front of the lavish mansion. “Listen up, Ramirez,” Morrow had said, his voice gruff but tinged with concern. “You’re about to step into a viper’s nest. Stay sharp, trust no one, and always watch your back. These bastards won’t hesitate to put a bullet in you if they smell weakness.”

A young, sharply dressed male valet stepped up to take my car. He greeted me by name with a bow and said Sofia was expecting me. He told me he would park the car and have my bags delivered to my room in the house.

This was it - the moment of truth. I was about to face Dante’s family, the people I had sworn to destroy. One wrong move, one slip of the tongue, and my cover could be blown sky-high.

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