Page 45 of Tainted Obsession 1
She shrugs. “Life is full of gray areas. The situation can be as difficult as you choose to make it. Believe me, I know.”
“What do you mean?”
She eyes the man who’s still blocking Massimo’s path to us, her lips curving with unmistakable affection.
“Let’s just say that my relationship with Stefano had an unconventional start.” She sighs and makes a point of looking for a server. “Where is our mezcal? Honestly, you’d think they’d know to serve the women first. Come on.” She grasps my hand and stands, directing me toward the bar. “Let’s get back to the men before Massimo decides to stop playing nice and drags you away from me.”
Our conversation is clearly over. The cool queen is back, the concerned woman disappearing behind her regal mask. Carmen is satisfied that I’m not in immediate danger, and she won’t do anything more to help me.
She hums conspiratorially as we near Massimo. “He is a big one, isn’t he? Stay close to him. With his mark on your neck, no one will dare to breathe the same air as you. I would tell you to come talk to me if anyone bothers you, but I have a feeling they wouldn’t be alive by the time you got to me.”
She sobers slightly, her coy smile firming to something more serious. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He would kill every man in this room to get to you. Massimo will keep you safe, Evelyn. That’s what matters. He might even make you happy, if you let him.”
I don’t have time to formulate a reply before we reach the men, and Massimo’s hand settles on the small of my back once again.
Chapter 18
Massimo
Duarte beams at Evelyn, and the sharp edge to his grin makes me tense with aggression. I want to snap at him not to look at her with that subtle threat in his black, shark’s eyes, but he’s my host. I can’t protect her if I get myself killed for insulting the notoriously mercurial drug lord.
“It’s so lovely to meet you, Evelyn.” He addresses her warmly, as though he’s genuinely delighted to make her acquaintance. Then his cold eyes cut to me. “Massimo has been very…boldin choosing to bring you as his guest. I was under the impression that you’re engaged to someone else.”
She stiffens at my side, and I trace a soothing pattern on her lower back, trying to offer her quiet comfort.
I keep my own charming smile fixed in place.
“Do you see a ring on her finger?” I ask blandly.
Duarte lets out a soft hum. “Interesting. I must’ve been mistaken.”
Carmen steps close to him, and he drapes a possessive arm around her waist.
“Don’t interrogate them, darling.” She kisses his cheek. “Evelyn has chosen to be with Massimo.”
My heart skips a beat, and I look down at Evelyn. Her cheeks are flushed the prettiest shade of pink, and her eyes are downcast. I can’t quite read her reaction to Carmen’s declaration.
Is Duarte’s wife speaking the truth? What did they talk about in their private conversation?
The prospect that Evelyn has indeed chosen me makes my chest swell with pride. The stunning woman at my side has acknowledged my claim publicly. She bears my mark on her neck, and she doesn’t try to conceal it.
“I didn’t realize that the situation with her former fiancé had been handled,” Duarte says, a genial but incisive remark. “It’s good news if he’s no longer in the picture.”
He wants confirmation that Crawford is dead.
My smile twitches at the corners, but I quickly clear away the sign of strain. “Evelyn is my primary concern at the moment.”
I allow the weight of my loyalty to her to deepen my tone. She is my priority. Killing Crawford is an important secondary goal. She won’t be safe until he’s dead, so his days are numbered.
“But I value our friendship, Stefano,” I continue smoothly. “And I always keep my promises.”
He offers me a small nod of acknowledgement, but his displeasure is evident in his glittering black stare.
“Yes,” he agrees, “I hope our friendship lasts a lifetime.”
I hear the threat, loud and clear: my life won’t be very long if I don’t follow through on my promise and eliminate George Crawford.
“That’s settled, then,” Carmen announces, moving the conversation away from death threats—the epitome of a skilled hostess. “Aren’t you going to invite our new friend on our trip tomorrow, darling?” she prompts Duarte. “I’d hate for him to miss the opportunity to meet Adrián.”
