Page 32 of Defy

I savored the flavor of her during our quick kiss despite feeling like a traitor the entire time our lips were connected. One day, I hope to be able to give her all of me. One day I hope to leave this entire empire behind. But right now, this place and the man I’ve become once again is my reality.

I fasten my belt and head down the hall. I need to make a pit stop before joining the others. Diego’s rooms have always been on the periphery. No one feels comfortable sleeping so close to the enforcer so they gave him a suite on the same floor as the guest rooms – the same floor as my room.

I knock twice.

He answers with a wicked grin on his face. “Dom.”

“I need another favor.” I still owe him for keeping tabs on Irina for me, who thankfully is committed to getting clean. She’s already gotten better color in her cheeks and her eyes appear brighter. Hope will do that to a person, help them achieve the impossible.

“Anything.”

~

IMELDA AND OMAR ARE enjoying a cocktail on the main floor veranda where everyone is waiting for me.

There’s a light breeze tonight but the temperature is warm as usual. My mother can’t stand to be stuck indoors – which is perhaps the one trait I inherited from her - so it’s no surprise that they’re out here.

“Dominic, you look handsome tonight,” Imelda gushes as she kisses my cheek. My skin burns under her touch but I have to let it happen.

“It’s been nice getting to know Luis as an adult,” I lie. And because I’mreallytrying to sell this shit, I throw myself under the bus. “I have eighteen years to make up for.”

My mother beams. My admission of abandonment bringing her joy.

I risk a glance at my father as Camila presses herself into my side and wraps her arm around my waist while I slide my arm over her shoulders, the height difference making it impossible for me to reach her waist. “We’ll try to be quiet when we get back,” I wink at Camila who shudders against me, “But I can’t make any promises.”

My father has a satisfied smirk on his face and his eyes are narrowed. I’m not quite sure if it’s more of anatta boyor anI’m on to youkind of look. I’m curious as to why he hasn’t mentioned his conversation with Marcus Van den Tweel to me yet and it’s one more thing I add to the radar of shit to figure out.

“You kids have fun.” Imelda almost sounds like a normal mother except she’s forgetting that I’m thirty-eight and this isn’t the fucking prom.

My brother will most likely end up too drunk to drive back home. He’ll possibly do a line of cocaine and I wouldn’t be shocked if at any point tonight, he’s got his dick stuck in one woman and his face buried in another.

I cast a quick glance to Irina, hating that she has to come back out in this environment but at least I can keep an eye on her. It doesn’t shock me that Luis would choose her as his date. She and Camila often travel as a pair. Irina is one of the only women that Camila can stand. Probably because she’s one of the only women I’ve never slept with and Irina’s mild personality really helps to make Camila tolerable.

As we turn to leave, I shout to my brother, “I’m taking the G-wagon.” He stops and turns back to look at me.

“The fuck you want to drive that tank for?”

He must’ve thought I’d go for the Ferrari. Truth be told, I wish I was.

“It’s hard to get ridden in the driver’s seat of a Ferrari when you’re six foot three, little brother,” I respond loud enough for my father to hear. I hope like hell that his quiet chuckle means he’s buying this shit.

Once out of earshot of my parents, Irina looks at me over her shoulder and casts me a worried glance. I’m not quite sure what it means, but the panic in her eyes is clear. I mouthI’ve got youto try and ease whatever fear she’s facing and remind her she’s not alone.

Twenty minutes later, the four of us enter the club from the back door. The music is blaring and I try to take in my surroundings with the eyes and mind of twenty-year-old me. The girls are happy to be seen with us and whatever Irina was dealing with seems to have vanished as she and Camila settle into the plush cushions of the roped off couches. We aren’t on the platform by the screens this time but a separate VIP section closer to the dance floor. A waitress comes over to us immediately. She will serve only us for the rest of the night.

Lucky her.

Needing to play my part well, I order a tumbler of high-end tequila. I knock it back in one gulp. One generally doesn’t shoot a $2400 pour of liquor but what the hell do I care? It’s not like I’m paying for it.

Once Camila finishes her drink, she starts to get grabby hands.

“Why don’t you go dance with Irina?” I suggest.

She flashes me a pout but understands that it wasn’t really a request.

It was a command to leave and I’ll only ask nicely once.

She pulls Irina off the couch and the two head off onto the floor. There are enough guards here with us that I don’t really feel like the girls are in any danger so I relax a small amount but I chose my seat so I could keep an eye on the dance floor anyway.

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