Page 92 of Devil Mine

“What kind of classes?”

“Hmm...dance?”

Not what I expected her to say, but completely harmless. If that’s what’s been keeping her busy, I don’t mind, even if it takes her focus away from the cartel.

“You better not be lying to me. I’ll find out what happened to Adriana, but you stay out of this. I don’t want to have to worry about you too,” I add.

She opens her mouth to answer when she spots something, or someone, in the distance. Whoever or whatever it is that she sees, she blanches. Her skin pales, losing its healthy color.

“I-I have to go,” she says, stumbling away from me.

I turn and scan the people behind me to see who could have spooked her like this. No one stands out.

“Vale,” I start, turning back towards her, but she’s already gone. “Hijueputa,” I curse. She’s fucking slippery and I’m annoyed I haven’t been able to nail her down and figure out what’s going on with her.

“Macallan, neat,” I order, taking an immediate drink when the bartender places it in front of me.

My mind wanders, wondering how this expensive scotch would taste on Tess’s skin. There’s no reason I shouldn’t drink every one of my favorite liquors off her body. As it is, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to drinkaguardientein a glass again. She took a drink that I’ve always associated with my father and in one evening made it so that I’ll never be able to have it without thinking ofherfirst.

“Jefe.”

I turn, hiding my wary reaction behind an expressionless mask. There are only a handful of people at this gala who would refer to me by that moniker and I know them all. The owner of this voice is not one of them.

A woman I’ve never met before stands behind me, a bright smile on her face.

“Who are you?”

She doesn’t let my unwelcoming tone shake her confidence, her smile turning beaming.

Something about it rankles.

“I’m Claudia. Claudia Cardenas.”

That name means nothing to me. Distantly, something deep in the back of my brain tells me I know it, but I don’t bother to dig for the memory.

Not interested.

“Am I supposed to know who you are?”

She takes a step forward, almost closing the gap between us. Her boldness makes my jaw twitch.

“I’m Leandro Cardenas’s daughter,” she says, and I suddenly remember where I’ve heard her name before. Batting her eyelashes coyly, she adds. “Your father thought I should introduce myself.”

On the outside, I bring my glass up to my lips and drink, but internally I groan loudly. This is the woman my father suggested I take as a replacement bride when I was still looking for Tess. Clearly, he’s upgraded from mere suggestion to taking action if he’s pushing her on me like this at an event.

Frankly, I’m surprised by it. Tomás da Silva believes in the sanctity of marriage having been married to my mother for twenty one years before her death. Having this woman approach me while my wife is in attendance is contrary to anything I’d expect from him. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cardenas family saw a clear opportunity for advancement and decided to foist her upon me regardless of what my father said.

She puts her hand on my arm and officially pisses me the fuck off. Everyone in the cartel knows I got married two weeks ago and by touching me, she’s disrespecting my wife.

???

Chapter Thirty-Six

Tess

Dagny and I spot each other from across the room at the exact same time. We run to each other, shrieking inappropriately and drawing attention to ourselves. She jumps into my arms and gives me the best hug I’ve ever received.

“It’s so good to see you, Tessie. I missed you so much. Next time you decide to run away from your life, take me with you, okay?”

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