Page 30 of Branches of Betrayal

“Your reputation,” Peyton whispered as she guided her fingertips higher, “Was already ruined the second you decided to fall in love with me. Sorry, not sorry.”

Hadina opened her eyes, those dark irises gazing down at Peyton with a devotion so deep that it almost brought tears to her own eyes. “I’m not sorry about it. Falling in love with you was the best thing to ever happen to me, and to the rest of my family. You make us better,tentadora.”

Peyton allowed herself a second to linger in that look, and that confession, before she sniffed and shook her head. “Okay, enough of this cuteness. We’ve got to get ready.”

“Some of us are already dressed,” Hadina commented with a smirk.

“Well, some of us actually have to put work into our appearances, missI-roll-out-of-bed-and-look-this-good.”

“Baby, you’re the only person in the world who never needsanywork to look as absolutely breathtaking as you always do. And if anyone tells you otherwise, let me know so that I can rip their limbs from them.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Peyton said, chuckling lightly. Her smile dropped almost instantly when a thought popped intoher head. “I mean, we both do know one person who could do without a few limbs.”

Hadina put her arms around Peyton’s waist, bringing her close. “Trust me, baby, her days on this earth are numbered. And when her time comes, she’ll be losing more than a few limbs.”

They arrivedat a beautiful rooftop restaurant calledRosario’sand Hadina immediately had Peyton hand in a vice-like grip. It was a small act of protection and possessiveness, but it still sent delighted shivers down Peyton’s back.

“Do you think they’ll like me?” Itza asked from Peyton’s other side. She reached down and grabbed the young girl’s hand, bringing it to her lips in a soft kiss of endearment. “There isn’t anyone in the world who could dislike you, Itza.”

Itza beamed, clinging tightly to Peyton’s side. Peyton could almost imagine her as a small child, running around her legs and looking up at her with those big doe eyes. She had never exactly craved having kids or being a mom—the world was a fucked up place and she hated the idea of bringing a child into that—but Itza had wormed her way into Peyton’s heart in an indescribable way and she hated the idea that they would have to say goodbye.

“I’m glad mytíahas you, Peyton.AuntPeyton.”

“And I’m glad she hasyou,little one. That now we both do.”

The second the elevator door opened, Itza spotted Darío at the table and took off running. “Papá!”

Darío grunted as Itza collided with him, chuckling as she threw her arms around him in a tight hug. Standing together, it was a beautiful thing to see father and daughter embrace each other. Peyton glanced at Hadina and saw that she was feeling the same, though a hint of sadness was etched into the woman’ssmile and Peyton knew she was thinking how impossible it would be to deny Darío taking his daughter for them to be together.

Peyton hated that Hadina would have to make yet another sacrifice, hurting her own heart more just to please other people. One day…One day, Hadina would stop having to give up pieces of herself for others.

As they walked to the table, Peyton felt Hadina’s grip on her hand tighten. Standing beside Darío was Vicente, whom Hadina had described askind, respectful, and absolutely deadly. On his other side was Kat, who Peyton had taken an immediate liking to, also. Both Vicente and Kat were strong, determined people and Peyton could feel the energy pulsing off them in waves. She knew that there was something happening between the three of them, but she wasn’t going to pry. Still, she hoped it worked out for them all.

Standing between two handsome, muscled men, was a young woman with long, dark hair cascading down her back. When she turned her gaze to them, Peyton almost gasped. The resemblance to Vicente was uncanny, their honey brown eyes and angled noses exactly the same. Her men—really, there was no other way to describe them after seeing the possessive stance they’d immediately taken up beside her, not unlike the way Hadina was standing at her side—assessed them both, ocean blue and emerald green eyes staring them down. The woman stepped forward, but one of the men pulled her back, forcing her to stand behind them slightly.

Dismissing their show of strength, which seemed futile when they were only there at Hadina’s behest, Peyton forced her gaze away. She let her eyes wander around the rooftop terrace, taking note of the closest exits, how many knives were on their table, and just where the visitors’ clothes didn’t sit quite right, meaning they were concealing their weapons beneath.

“Hadi, I’d like for you to meet the rest of my familia,” Darío said as they took their place at the table. “Little Curse is Vicenta, Vin’s twin sister and these are her men, Romero and Alvaro.”

Hadina raised her brow slightly at Darío’s words, her gaze sliding over Romero and Alvaro as their dynamic clicked into place.

Alvaro, the taller of the two men, held Vicenta’s hand. His shaven head was almost as striking as his blue eyes, icy and vibrant like the ocean. Romero was the dark to his light, with a head of almost curled black hair, dark brows, and mossy green eyes. He slipped his arm around Vicenta’s waist as Peyton smiled, both men sharing a look with each other.

“Mucho gusto, Vicenta.Esta es mi novia, Peyton.” Hadina held out her hand to the woman, a peace offering to dispel the imposing atmosphere around the table.

“Mucho gusto,Hadina.” Vicenta shook her hand kindly, then turned to do the same to Peyton. “Pleased to meet you, Peyton.”

Once introductions were finally complete and everyone chilled out with theirI’m so powerfullooks, wine was served and conversation began to flow. Peyton noted that Vicenta and her men chose to stay relatively silent unless spoken to directly, their watchful gazes always on high alert every time someone moved an inch.

Itza seemed to be enjoying the time with her father, getting to know his friends. Vicente already had a way with the kid, both of them sharing secret smiles and laughing at whispered jokes.

When the dinner plates were almost cleared and everyone was relaxed and full bellied, Peyton leaned forward to speak to Itza. “Did you tell yourpapíwhat you want for your quinceañera?”

Darío’s brows furrowed before he leaned forward. “¿Qué pasa, hija?Tell me what you want and I’ll get it for you.”

She looked up at him with a face that could get away with murder. “You promise?”

“Calro, mijita,” he promised, making Hadina sigh in her seat.

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