Page 147 of Dex

A corrupt man.A man who doesn’t love her.

“Dude.”Rio’s voice is soft.He’s by my side.“Calm the hell down,” he orders.“You fall apart like this, you won’t stand a chance.It’s all well and good getting the company back from the old man, I can take care of that.You need to take care of you.”

I suck in a deep breath, stand taller, nod as I see Daniela’s face in my mind’s eye.I told her I need time, but she took it to mean I’m letting go.

The fuck I am.

The fuck I’ll let her marry that sonofabitch.I need Daniela like I need air to breathe.I can’t function without her.I can’t imagine a day of my life without her by my side.

What have I done?

Instead of giving her time and space, instead of working around the clock with Rio and his brothers, I should have told Daniela what we were doing.

“What will you do, dude?”Rio asks.

I realize it in an instant.My father never expected me to fight for Daniela.He expected me to walk away, like I always do.

He thought that’s what I’d do again, but Daniela has changed me.There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her, but damn it.I messed up.I was so desperate to fix everything.Desperate in the way her father must have been when he asked her to make that deal.

This woman has suffered enough, and I let her slip away from me.There’s only one thing left to do.

Win her back.

I look Rio dead in the eye.“It’s time I brought my wife back home.”

Chapter 38

DANI

I wonder what I am walking into this time.I wonder if marrying Oscar Ramos will be the answer to my problems.

The receptionist greets me with the same too-perfect smile.

I walk in, a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.I can’t work out which was worse, walking into the office to meet Paul Knight that first time, naively and ignorantly unaware of what my father had done, or now—going to meet Oscar Ramos.

Asking him for a favor.

I tell myself it’s just nerves.Just the weight of what I’m about to do, but the truth is… this man scares and repulses me.The only reason I’m here is because I am out of options.

I hate myself for it, but I’m here to beg Oscar Ramos for help.

He keeps me waiting.Typical.By the time I’m ushered into his office, I’ve rehearsed every line, every counterpoint, every calm, emotionless argument I’m going to make.

But the moment I see him, leaning back in his chair like a man who’s already won, I know I’m in trouble.

“Daniela.”He rises, slowly.“You look...tired.”

I hold my head high.“I didn’t come for compliments.”

“No?”He gestures for me to sit.“But you obviously came for something.What do you need from me?”

He knows.

That’s the only reason I’d be here.

“Sit,” he tells me, beckoning at the chair I refuse to sit down in.“I’m not your enemy, Daniela.Talk to me.”

“I’m divorced,” I say, tone clipped.

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