Page 18 of Seduced by a SEAL

Chapter 5

Camila ducked into the café on the corner of the crowded street in Bogota, her vibrant sundress swishing around her as she wove her way between tables to get to her friend in the back. The top of the dress hugged her breasts, and a few men glanced up from their own table, eyeing her appreciatively.

“You made it,” her friend Rosa said, tossing her blonde streaked hair over her shoulder. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t be able to come.”

Camila dropped her shopping bags onto the tile floor, clutching her designer purse as she sat down in one of the chairs and crossed her legs. Expensive sandals showed off her new pedicure, and the men seated a few tables away glanced at her again, eyeing her toned legs.

“Barely,” Camila said. “My meeting ran longer than I expected.”

“Meeting?” Rosa asked with a laugh. “Looks like shopping.” She took a sip of her coffee, blowing on it as steam rose from the top.

“A little of this, a little of that,” Camila said. “And then I had to wait until someone could escort me here,” she said, tilting her head toward the windows at the front of the café. Her eyes settled on two of her father’s men, standing outside. Tattoos wound their way up their muscled arms, and it was no secret they were carrying firepower. Each stood there threateningly, scanning the busy street as if it were the most natural thing in the world to hover outside of a café armed to the teeth.

Rosa raised her eyebrows. “You need two bodyguards now?”

Camila shrugged. “According to my father, yes. According to me, no. I’ll try to see if I can lose them later. Nothing like trying to browse around and shop with two brutes on my tail.”

Rosa laughed. “I’m sure they didn’t mind admiring your backside.”

Camila threw her arms in the air, rapidly muttering in Spanish. “My father pays them to watch out for trouble—not to be ogling me.”

“I’m just saying,” Rosa, said, taking another sip of her coffee. “They were watching you quite intently when you walked inside here a few minutes ago.”

Camila resisted the urge to shudder. “Men always want what they cannot have, no? My father is more concerned about his rivals than them. Those two have been with him for years.”

Rosa eyed her knowingly. “Be careful, Camila. With all the threats going on lately....” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “You know those other cartels want your father gone. Even men within the Rodriguez cartel itself want to take him out. He’s been in power far too long for other men to not crave what he has.”

Camila brushed her long, dark hair back over one shoulder. “I can take care of myself. Always have, always will. I refuse to rely on a man for anything—including my own father.”

Rosa’s eyes narrowed. “This isn’t a joke. Maybe you could turn down a rich man at a nightclub, but a member of another cartel? A group of men after you? It’s better those bodyguards are with you at all times. Whether you like it or not.”

Camila pressed her lips together. Her brief escape to Miami a week ago had been wonderful—literally a breath of fresh air. No need to watch her back every moment. The freedom to come and go where she chose. She didn’t have to be escorted by armed men everywhere she went.

And then there was the extra night she stayed.

Colton.

She’d teased and taunted him for sure.

But he’d met her move for move. Kissing and caressing every inch of her skin until she was writhing on the bed, literally begging him for more.

A waitress walked over to their table, and Camila’s thoughts were instantly back in the café. On her friend. Her eyes darted again to the men outside, now conferring intently with one another. She ordered a coffee and eyed Rosa as their waitress walked away. “It’s been this way for a while now. The rival cartels looking to take over the market. The new members wanting to unseat my father from his position of power.” She shrugged. “My father always comes out ahead. Everyone knows this.”

Rosa shook her head. “If your father’s own men turn against him? That’s not anything you can stop.”

“Pffft. Too many of the men have been with him for years. They’re seduced by the allure of money and power and women. Why would they go against him?”

“Because they want it ALL. Not just whatever Miguel Rodriguez is willing to hand out to them. Besides. Three more women have gone missing.” She raised her eyebrows, pointedly eyeing Camila.

Everyone in Bogota knew why the women had vanished. Maybe they didn’t know the specific location, the specific men who had taken them. But the why? The how?

The Rodriguez cartel had been kidnapping more women left and right. The entire city was afraid—and rightfully so. Camila and Rosa might be safe, but other women their age?

“You know I don’t have a say in my father’s operations. I don’t think it’s right either, to kidnap and sell innocent women. But what am I supposed to do? Even the police won’t do anything to find them. My father has them under his thumb even more than his own men.”

“Money talks,” Rosa said, rubbing her thumb and fingers together.

Camila laughed. “I have money, sure. But my father pays them far more than I ever could. And if he found out I went against him? That I did something to impede his entire operation? He’d sell me off to the highest bidder.”

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