Page 45 of Bound By A Promise

Camila shook her head. “It’s so much. There’s too much pressure. I wish my parents were here and supportive, but that was their choice when they wouldn’t listen to me.” She exhaled. “Honestly, I’m happy to not have all the eyes of the cartel and Mafia on me. Or on our sheets tomorrow morning.” She reached over, laying her hand on my arm. “This is better.”

I exhaled. “Your parents, Jorge, and Dario…they’ll all be upset.”

“We’re here at Aléjandro’s home. He’s number two.”

“The location implies consent,” I said, putting the car in park.

“Does he really support us? If he does, that should help us withel Patr?n.”

“Mia has gotten to Aléjandro. He’s supporting us for her.”

“I wasn’t sure if she’d help me when I called.”

I reached for her hand and squeezed. “She’s on your side. Having two weddings she didn’t want has turned her into an advocate for the woman in these marriages.”

“She didn’t want to marry Jano? They seemed happy at their housewarming party.”

I shook my head. “She didn’t want to, but obviously, they worked through it.”

Camila looked down. “I suppose things could have worked out with Rei.” She looked up, turning to me. “But I don’t want him. I want you. I want this.”

“Me too.”

As we walked toward the house, Camila stopped. “Are my lips…? Will they know we kissed?”

I stared for a moment at her lips, her features. Her lips were pinkened and still swollen. Her vibrant emerald eyessparkled with anticipation and trust. Camila Ruiz was fragile and breakable. Yet I never wanted her to be broken. My desire was for the whole world to see Camila shine in all her glory. “Let them speculate.”

“What if they think we did more?”

“Then I’ll kill them.”

Her eyes opened wide. “What?”

“No one discusses our sex life or speculates about it. If they do, I’ll cut their throats.”

“So, no one will look at our sheets tomorrow?”

“No.” I meant what I said.

A minute later, we entered Aléjandro’s home. Mia was waiting near the entry, smiling at Camila. If she saw anything in Camila’s lips, my sister didn’t say. Instead, she wrapped my fiancée in a hug. “We’re going to be sisters-in-law.”

Camila nodded.

Mia went on, “The priest is here, but if you want to go upstairs and get ready, there’s time.” Mia wrapped her arm around Camila, leading her away. “I’ve been searching my closet for something that might fit you. I’m obviously bigger than you are…”

Camila smiled over her shoulder as Mia led her up the stairs and their conversation disappeared into the bustle of the first floor.

Silas was out on the pool deck, stringing lights in a make-shift arch.

“Dante,” Aléjandro said, placing his hand on my shoulder. “Let me introduce you to Father Gallo.”

It felt as though I was in a dream where everything was in front of me, yet I was watching from far away. I pushed the sensation away and shook Father Gallo’s hand. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

The priest went on to explain that the ceremony would cover the religious commitment and then he’d guide us through the online process, making our marriage a legal union.

“Our license will have today’s date?” I asked.

“As long as we hurry.”

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