Page 7 of Dangerous Seduction

“Oh, and Dante?” I glanced over my shoulder, meeting his piercing gaze. “Don’t let your... curiosities cloud your judgment. We’re at the brink of a war with the DEA, and in war, there can be no room for weakness.”

His words hung in the air like a lingering threat, a reminder of the consequences that awaited me should I stray from the path he had laid out. With a curt nod, I exited the study.

My life was fucking complicated. One foot in my father’s gruesome world, the other in my dream of a curated fleet of establishments, clubs, bars, and hotels in South Beach. Away from the violence and politics among the cartels and their leaders. What was their goal, anyway? More money? More power? Was it worth the price we paid, the pieces of our souls we chipped away with every brutal act?

I shook my head. Now was not the time for contemplating and daydreaming. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t abandon my father. I was born to one day replace him as the head of the cartel. I couldn’t afford to look weak, not now, not ever. I had a job for my father—and a club to run for myself.

I caught sight of my sister, Sofia, in the study, pacing back and forth, her phone pressed to her ear. She was engrossed in conversation, her free hand gesturing animatedly as she spoke. Curiosity peaked, and I moved closer.

“I know, right? And it’ll be fine. Don’t worry!” she gushed, her voice filled with excitement. “I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

Suddenly, she looked up and noticed me standing there. Her eyes widened, and she quickly wrapped up the call. “Hey, listen, I’ve got to go. My brother just walked in. I’ll call you back later, okay? Bye!”

She hung up the phone and turned to face me, her brow furrowing with concern as she took in my expression. “Dante? What’s wrong? You look upset.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “It’s nothing, Sof. Just got out of a meeting with Dad, that’s all.”

Her eyes softened, and she nodded in understanding. “Ah. I see. One of those meetings, huh?”

A humorless chuckle escaped my lips. “Yeah. You could say that.”

Sofia knew better than to press for details. Growing up in the Reyes family, we learned early that certain things couldn’t be discussed openly. The family business was a complex web of secrets and lies; the less she knew, the better.

“I’m sorry, Dante,” she said, squeezing my arm. “I know how much pressure Dad puts on you. But you know you can always talk to me, right? Even if it’s just to vent.”

I smiled, grateful for her support. “I know, Sof. And I appreciate it. But trust me, you don’t want to know the details of this one.”

She held up her hands in mock surrender, her perfectly manicured nails glinting in the soft light of the hallway. “Say no more. I know the drill. But now that I have you here, I need a small favor.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what might that be, dear sister? Another one of your schemes?”

Sofia grinned, her eyes sparkling with the kind of mischief that had gotten us into trouble more times than I could count when we were kids. “Well, I was thinking... how would you feel about a dinner date with me and Allen?”

I groaned, shaking my head. An evening of forced conversations with some random guy, likely looking to take advantage of my sister, was my least favorite way of spending a night. Her guys never last more than two weeks tops, anyway. “Sofia, I’m sorry, but I don’t have time. With business going crazy, you know. By the way, who’s Allen?”

She pouted, her lower lip jutting out in that infuriatingly adorable way that always got to me. “Allen is new in town, and I really like him. I want you to meet him to ensure he’s good enough for your little sister. Plus, you gotta eat!”

I sighed, feeling my resolve crumble in her pleading gaze. Sofia was always my weakness, the one I could never say no to. Even when we were kids, she had a way of wrapping me around her little finger with just a bat of her eyelashes and a well-timed “please.”

I looked at her, taking in her face. Her dark hair was pulled back into a messy bun, and her brown eyes were wide and pleading.

“Fine,” I relented, throwing up my hands in defeat. “If you guys are still together in a month, I’ll think about it. This Allen dude better be a nice guy to you, or–”

Sofia squealed with delight, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug that nearly knocked the wind out of me. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’re the best brother ever, you know that? And don’t worry, I can take care of myself. But it’s sweet of you to be so protective.”

I chuckled, hugging her back and ruffling her hair affectionately. “Yeah, yeah. Just remember this the next time I need a favor from you. And for the record, I’m not being protective. I just don’t want to deal with you moping around the house if things don’t work out.”

She laughed, punching me lightly in the arm. “Please, as if I would ever mope. That’s more your style, Mr. Broody.”

I clutched my chest in mock offense as Sofia’s words hit me. “Mr. Broody? Ouch, little sis, you wound me.”

She rolled her eyes, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. “Oh please, don’t be so dramatic.”

I laughed. Sofia was the one person who could remind me not to take life too seriously.

“Alright, alright. I’ll leave you to enjoy your evening,” I conceded, affectionately ruffling my sister’s hair. “Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

She batted my hand away, sticking her tongue out at me. “That doesn’t leave much out, does it?”

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