Page 43 of Sin and Seduction

It is encrusted with diamonds and I noticed on the inside there’s a phrase engraved that readssame partsin Spanish. My eyes water again as he moves my engagement ring to my other hand so that my new wedding band can take its place on my left ring finger. I look at both of our hands as they meet, clad with their wedding rings that signify our beautiful union. It makes my heart swell with pride, and all I can do is look to Dante with love.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. Dante, you may kiss your bride,” the priest announces, and everyone cheers, but I can’t hear them.

All I hear is the pounding of my heart in my ears as my husband bends toward me, his hands holding either side of my face as his lips finally meet mine. He kisses me deep like I might evaporate into thin air. He kisses me like I’m his entire world. He kisses me as his wife. I smile against his lips, laughing with pure joy as he pulls me to him to kiss me deeper, the crowd going wild behind us.

He pulls away and kisses my nose, breathing me in as we stand close, the crowd still cheering for us. The pounding of my heart slows, and all I can do is smell the rich scent of Dante and melt into him. He looks spectacular in his suit, the red of his tie bringing out the wild hues of his eyes.

“My wife, my world,” he murmurs against my lips, and I smile wide.

“Same parts,” I say, and he kisses me once more before we turn and face the crowd as husband and wife.

Properly.

17

Esmeralda

The receptionimmediately starts as soon as we make it down the aisle. Staff members pour from the house and the yard with trays of champagne and elegant food.

Javier stands at one of the catering tables, and I smile at him and raise my glass of champagne with Dante by my side. He gives me a wink, and I sip my glass as people begin to greet us with their congratulations. There are so many tables with white silk and vases of red roses. Elegant music is played by the orchestra, and I feel like I am in a dream.

Apparently, Camila also had time to somehow install a dance floor with canopy lights overhead. The orchestra plays on the stage behind it now as people begin to dance. We make our rounds and shake hands, and I spot a seven-tier, red and white wedding cake at our bridal table near the stage and dance floor. Dante leans over periodically to plant soft kisses on my cheek and forehead. Each time I can’t help but look up at him with love in my eyes.

We make our way to the table, and Dante orders more drinks for us at the bar, leaving me alone with Gabriela and Camila.

“How are you feeling today?” I ask, and she shrugs.

“Like shit in silk,” she says with a smile and scoffs.

“I should be angry with you right now, but I can’t stop going through your old baby items and hoping that it’s a girl,” Camila says before tossing back the rest of her scotch.

Gabriela rolls her eyes with a smile.

“Why? So she can turn out just like me?” she says, and Camila laughs as a staff member hands her another glass of scotch.

“For your sake, I hope she is exactly like you, child,” she says with a wink, and Gabriela rolls her eyes once more.

I’ve seen multiple sides to Camila during my short stay here in Columbia, but her playful side is my favorite. It’s definitely where Oscar gets it from. I’ve seen her become a very guarded and intimidating person, to a bitchy, lavish mother, to a best friend to her children. Given all that she’s been through and the life that she’s lived, I can see why there are many sides to this woman.

Dante arrives with our mixed drinks, and I smile up at him as Oscar sits down next to us all. He doesn’t smell of liquor today, and honestly, he hasn’t for quite a while. His whole demeanor has changed completely since we found out Gabriela was pregnant. He’s much …calmer and more collected now, more mature in a way. Which is about time, given the fact that he is the oldest and should be the prime example of a role model.

“So tell me, Emmie,” Oscar says. “What’s it like to now be married to the broodiest man in all of California and Columbia combined?” He winks before sipping an amber liquid, making Dante scoff.

I smile sweetly, leaning over to my husband and planting a hand softly across his chest.

“Honestly, Oscar, his broodiness doesn’t bother me. I’m just thankful he doesn’t have nine subscriptions to various porn sites on his work computer.” I look at Oscar with a wink, and everyone at the table laughs with their heads thrown back.

“Am I missing something?” Paolo asks as he nears the table, alone and without a security team trailing behind him for once.

“Just new brother and sister-in-law banter that I guess I now have to get used to. I tell you, man, living with two women was enough trauma; now I have this and potentially a smaller version of my own sister to deal with,” Oscar says with a groan, and for once, I see a small smile appear over Paolo’s mouth.

He sits down near Dante and me and slides a manilla folder over to him.

“The preparations for the Flores mission have been made. I have multiple teams back home in Italy tracking his surveillance cameras and ready to move as soon as I make the call. All we need is Rowen's involvement, and we can get this plan in motion,” he says, and Gabriela tenses at the mention of James Rowen’s name.

She hasn’t spoken much about him, and when she does, her whole demeanor changes. She becomes tense, and a shadowed expression always crosses over her features. I never really have much alone time with her, and honestly, when I do, I am nervous about bringing him up. As much as she says that she doesn’t have feelings for him or that she doesn’t know him well enough, something about her makes her go to a strange place in her head, and it’s more than the simple fact that she’s carrying his child.

Dante opens the manilla folder and looks over everything in the document. He pushes it back in and slides it back over to Paolo, who now tucks it into his suit jacket.

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