Page 20 of Ruthless Rival

My friends wouldn’t stick by my side if they truly knew about my past and what I was doing. That was what stung. They knew I had a shaky relationship with my family that I didn’t like to talk about and that I was trying to become a businesswoman, but they didn’t know any other details.

I kept things that way for two reasons. The biggest reason being that I wanted to keep them safe. If they knew too much about me and my family, it would put them in danger. I could only do so much to protect them against my father. Instead of putting them in danger, it was easier to lie to them about eighty percent of my life.

The other reason was that I didn’t want to watch them ditch me after learning about my family and all of the terrible things connected to the Castillo name. Even their sympathy for what happened to Alex and my twins might not be enough to keep them around. Once they found out that I was trying to take revenge against my father, they wouldn’t want to be caught in the crossfire, which I couldn’t blame them for.

Until my father and my family were no longer a threat, I couldn’t live a normal life. I couldn’t involve my friends in my life, or they would become targets. I couldn’t date without worrying about my partner’s life. I couldn't have kids because they could be stolen away. My life was on hold until my father knew not to mess with me. I wanted the results of my plan to get that notion through his head.

“I’m heading out for the night,” I told Mrs. Cruz as I walked to the foyer, my heels clicking against the floor.

“You look beautiful, señora! Do you have a date?” Mrs. Cruz asked as her eyes lit up at the sight of me.

My face warmed up slightly as I shook my head. Technically, it wasn’t a date, but it could easily be mistaken for one, especially since I took so long to get ready. I was cutting it short timewise. “Just a meeting with a new friend,” I replied.

I planned to get to know Alberto very well, though. I had to know the ins and outs of my new partner if we were going to work well together. Even if my father was impulsive and rage-driven, he wasn’t weak or stupid. Taking him down would be as tough as defeating an army.

“Have a wonderful time,” Mrs. Cruz told me with a warm smile.

“Goodnight,” I said before grabbing my gold clutch and walking out of the house to meet my driver. “Por Qué No, please.”

“Yes, ma’am,” my driver replied while pulling out of the driveway and heading toward Frenchmen Street.

I relaxed as much as I could during the drive, but an unexpected surge of nerves hit me, making my stomach twist. What if Alberto wasn’t impressed by me? What if he refused to help me? I’d been confident about my plan and backup plans, but everything relied on Alberto taking a liking to me.

If I failed to excite him, everything I had planned would fall apart.

Chapter Ten:Passionate Favors

Alberto

The moment Gabriela reached me, I noticed the sweet smell of coconut. Of course, she would smell as good as she looked. I held my hand out to her, taking her smaller one into my grip. Her nails were painted red, matching her lipstick on her slightly curled up lips. I kissed the top of her hand and smiled at her. “It’s nice to see you again, bella,”

Gabriela paused. “Bella? Does that mean beautiful?” she asked.

I nodded, still holding her hand in mine. It felt natural like our hands were meant to fit together. Her grip seemed to be as strong as mine, powerful but somehow, still soft. “It suits you well,” I told her.

A coy smile crossed Gabriela’s face as her eyes trailed up my body. “I think this outfit suits you well,” she replied, letting her other hand rest on my bicep. She wasn’t shy with her advances, but I preferred her boldness. Powerful people were straightforward when it came to their desires.

I chuckled as I kept my eyes on hers. I didn’t want to tear them away. I didn’t think I could look away even if I wanted to because she was so mesmerizing. Her voice sounded as smooth and soft as velvet, pairing well with her melodic Spanish accent.

“Right off the rack,” I told her.

Gabriela’s lips parted in surprise. She put her hand over her mouth as she laughed. “You didn’t have clothes for tonight?” she asked.

“Casual clothes,” I said, enjoying her laughter even with it being muffled by her hand. “I will say I think I look better in suits, but you could pull off anything.”

Gabriela rolled her eyes playfully as she leaned her body against mine. “I don’t believe I’ve ever met such a charming man before, Mr. Mancini,” she said, her voice bordering on a purr.

I hadn’t even kicked my charm into full gear yet. I didn’t feel like I had to because she was already laughing and pressing herself up against me like she wanted to be as close as possible.

“It’s Alberto and I apologize for the boring men that were previously in your company,” I told her, subtly brushing my thumb over her knuckles. I reached out with my other hand and pulled her chair out for her, coaxing her to take a seat.

“You seem like the opposite of a boring man… Alberto,” Gabriela crossed her legs and leaned back in the wooden seat.

I smiled to myself. My life was anything but boring. Despite all of the trouble and drama, I did feel grateful for an exciting life I could look back on when I was eighty and surrounded by great-grandchildren. I strove to live that long. “Is it because I didn’t own a pair of jeans before tonight?”

Gabriela laughed and shook her head, placing her hand on her stomach. “That does interest me, but I’ve heard a thing or two about you.”

My shoulders tensed slightly. No one in organized crime liked hearing those words. “Rumors flow in this city like liquor,” I said. People refused to keep their mouths shut unless money or a threat on their life was involved.

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