Page 31 of Defy

Adriana… Libby… forgive me.I say a quick prayer that their goodness will find its way to me once more and save me when I need it.

My whole revelation takes maybe five seconds but it’s long enough that when I turn to look back at Camila, she has a demanding, haughty expression on her face.

She called Libby a whore.

I reach out with my right hand – which can move almost normally now - and grab Camila by the throat. Not enough to cut off her air supply, but hard enough to make a point…and probably leave a bruise.

I see her smile even as she gasps. Desire flares clearly in her eyes.

I murmur low in her ear as I pull her back against my chest this time, my hand still firmly in place around her neck. “I’m tired of this game. This jealousy. This possessiveness. Who Ifuckis none of your business and if you ever want the opportunity to swallow my dick again, I suggest you watch how you talk to my brother as well.”

Might as well try to get Luis on my good side while I’m at it. If the Van den Tweels are teaming up with Mateo, I’m going to need all the help I can get.

Camila’s personality seems to have grown bitter and sarcastic over the years, but apparently her sexual appetite remains unchanged. Despite my threats and warnings, she’s arching her back and rubbing herself against my cock which is getting hard over the attention despite the fact that the attention is unwanted. I let go of her neck and spin her around to face me. “I suggest you keep your mouth shut about our visitor and treat her well. Her family’s better than yours. You’d do well to remember to that. I’ll come to you when I’m good and fucking ready.”

It’s a struggle to get the words out without dry heaving. My dick anywhere near Camila is no longer my idea of a good time but she’ll tell me anything I want to know if I give her what she wants and my time for coming up with a plan to get Libby out of here is running out.

I turn to look at my brother who looks stunned at the exchange. I’m hoping it means he’s appreciative of the way I stood up for him. I can do this if he’s against me, but it will be a helluva lot easier if he’s on my side.

“There’s the Dom I remember,” Camila coos. “For a second, I thought maybe she’d made you soft.”

“There’s nothing soft about me. There never was, and there never will be.” I grab my coffee, ready to leave this conversation when Luis stops me.

“I need to talk to you.Alone.” He flashes Camila a look that keeps her from arguing.

Out on the veranda, Luis drops his voice. He seems sober enough but sometimes it’s impossible to tell. He also seems uncomfortable as he shifts his weight, his eyes scanning the back of the house like someone might be listening to our conversation.

Hell, maybe they are.

“I thought you should know that our father seems to think that you pose a flight risk to our house guest.” He goes silent waiting for me to respond or lash out or desperately defend myself.

Instead, I just shrug a shoulder and calmly ask, “Why are you telling me this?”

He lets out an offended sigh. “I’m not as big of an idiot as you seem to think, Dominic.”Debatable.“And you aren’t exactly great at hiding your feelings for her.” He claps me on the shoulder, causing my eyes to follow his hand. I don’t like to be touched. “Come back to the club with me tomorrow. We’ll bring Irina and Camila and you can have the chance to show him you aren’t a threat. You know, throw him off your scent.”

I’m all set to decline until he adds, “It’ll shrink the target on Libby’s back. Besides, if he thinks you’re getting your fill somewhere else, then perhaps he’ll be less inclined to have me watching your every move. I do have better things to do with my time, you know.”

Omar is having Luis follow me? This is news. It’s entirely possible my brother is lying right now because I’ve never missed a tail in my life. In fact, it’s likely that heislying considering our father has shared his frustration over Luis’s behavior on multiple occasions already.

Then again, Omar’s been just as hot and cold with me as well. Perhaps this is his way of putting us in the arena together and seeing who comes out alive.

If I don’t take Luis’s suggestion seriously, then I do make Libby a bigger target. If I do take his suggestion, then all I confirm is something I’m pretty sure Luis has known from the start. Seeing no other choice, I agree.

“Sure. Count me in.”

My wheels are turning. I need to get Luis out of the picture fast before the lines get any more blurred.

~

I’VE MANAGED TO GARNER a small wardrobe since arriving. At least this shit fits. I was growing tired of trying to fit a forty-six-inch chest into a shirt that was tailored for a man with a chest size at least four inches smaller than mine. I leave the top three buttons unbuttoned on my black shirt and fasten a plain, silver chain around my neck. Not wanting to risk losing it – or having it taken from me – I place my “A” pendant in my nightstand.

I roll the cuffs of my shirt up my forearms and slide on gray pants and if I’m honest with myself, it doesn’t feel as bad as I expected. In Aruba, my wardrobe was board shorts, ratty t-shirts, and tactical pants. I like those too. In fact, I like thembetter.

I just happen to not hate this look as much as I thought I would.

I was able to check on Libby earlier today. Our interaction felt strained. She could tell something was wrong and I couldn’t come right out and tell her of my plans with Camila and Irina this evening. I’m usually a great liar, but not to someone who reads me as well as she does. She tried to call me on it, but I didn’t cave.

I couldn’t.

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