Page 16 of Set Up By the Cartel

Reaching out, I grasped his hand in mine, needing the anchor of his touch to steady me through the admission."But make no mistake, mi amor... I would walk away from it all in a heartbeat if it meant keeping you safe and by my side. You are more valuable to me than any amount of wealth or power."

And yet, I didn't think that what I said was sufficient. Not at all.

Kael pulled back then, searching my face as he processed the weight of my confession. What he was really thinking was going to come out now.

A kaleidoscope of emotions flickered across his expressive features - shock, disbelief, anger, hurt, and finally a grudging acceptance warring for dominance.

"You've been lying to me this whole time,"he affirmed, pain lacing his tone even as he tried to keep the accusation light."Keeping your true identity secret, letting me believe you were just some rich businessman instead of the leader of a notorious crime syndicate. I feel betrayed."

Guilt twisted in my gut at the betrayal reflected in his eyes, even though I knew that revealing my connection to the Nightshade Wolves would put him in danger. Better for him to remain unaware of the darkness lurking beneath the surface of my crafted persona.

"I wish it was different,"I began, hating the weakness in my voice."I never wanted to deceive you, mi amor. But telling you the full truth would have placed you in harm's way. Some people would do anything to see me brought down — including using someone close to me as leverage. That's one of the reasons why we don't go out often."

Kael flinched as if struck, drawing his knees up to hug them against his chest."So, you decided to lie instead? To hide behind half-truths and vague innuendos rather than trust me enough to share the real you?"His voice cracked on the last word, raw emotion bleeding through despite his efforts to appear unaffected.

Shame burned hot under my skin at the censure in his tone. He was right — I had been a coward, too afraid of losing him to risk baring my soul. And now I may have lost him anyway through my own foolishness. But I wasn't going to give up.

"You have to understand,"I pleaded, reaching out to cover his hands with my own."In my world, vulnerability is seen as a weakness to be exploited. Showing any hint of softness can get you killed faster than you can blink. I've spent years building walls around myself, learning to compartmentalize different parts of my life."

He searched my face, blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears."And what about us?"He whispered."Was our relationship just another part to be segmented off and controlled?"

"No!"I denied right away, squeezing his fingers tight enough to whiten my knuckles."What we share is real, Kael. More genuine than anything else in my existence. But I was concerned about scaring you away if I revealed the depths of depravity I've sunk to to survive."

A single tear tracked down his cheek as he bowed his head, shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs."I don't know if I can handle this,"he confessed."The idea of being involved with someone capable of such violence..."

My heart clenched at the anguish threading through his words. I'd known there would be obstacles to overcome once he learned the truth, but witnessing the doubt and fear clouding his beautiful face gutted me deeper than any physical wound evercould. I thought I was prepared for this moment, but it turned out I wasn't.

Cupping his chin, I tilted his gaze up to meet mine once more."I would never hurt you,"I swore, thumb brushing reverently over his lower lip."Not intentionally. Yes, I am a dangerous man leading a dangerous organization. But I would sooner cut off my own arm than allow any harm to come to you because of my actions."

His brow furrowed even as hope kindled deep within the fathomless pools of his eyes."How can I be sure?"He asked."That this won't change everything between us moving forward?"

Scooping him into my arms, I cradled him against my chest, one hand sifting soothingly through his hair while the other rubbed slow circles along his spine."It will be an adjustment,"I admitted, pressing a kiss to the top of his head."But nothing worth having comes easy. We'll figure it out together, day by day."

For a long moment, he simply clung to me, breathing in sync as the gravity of our situation settled upon us both. When he spoke again, his voice emerged small and uncertain:

"What happens now? How does this work exactly?"

I sighed, knowing there were no easy answers."We take things slow,"I replied, stroking his back."You learn about my world one day after the other, in manageable pieces. I introduce you to key members of the cartel who need to know about you without overwhelming you with information all at once."

"And what about my job at Club Nocturne?"He inquired, tilting his head to peer up at me."Will I still be able to work there or will you insist on keeping me locked away somewhere safe?"

The thought of confining him to these grounds filled me with unease. As much as I craved his constant presence, I also recognized the importance of allowing him autonomy andindependence away from my influence. I would need to assign someone to keep guard over him.

"We can discuss that later,"I hedged, not wanting to make any rash decisions in the heat of the moment."For now, let's focus on enjoying each other fully tonight without worrying about tomorrow."

Kael studied me for several beats before nodding slowly."Okay,"he agreed, snuggling closer until every inch of his body aligned with mine."One step at a time."

Relief crashed over me like a tsunami, leaving me dizzy with its force. He wasn't running screaming from the room after all! Somehow, we would find a way to make this work despite the odds stacked against us.

Tucking his face into the crook of my neck, I breathed in the clean scent of his skin mingling with the lingering aroma of sex and wine. This... this was worth fighting for. Worth weathering whatever storms lay ahead as long as I had him by my side.

Chapter 7

Mateo

As I drove down the darkened highway with Kael riding shotgun beside me, my mind raced with all kinds of possibilities. Ever since a certain encounter at Club Nocturne, something hadn't sat quite right with me regarding his reactions and knowledge base. It was almost as if he knew more than he was letting on.

At first, I chalked it up to paranoia born of years spent looking over my shoulder, always scanning for threats lurking around every corner. But the more time I spent in his company, observing the subtle ways he navigated social interactions, the stronger my conviction grew that he possessed secrets yet untold. But for now, I wasn't going to press him about them.

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