Page 3 of Sin and Seduction

Shit, nice going, asshole.

The last part slipped out of me, and I know it was the wrong thing to say to a woman grieving the loss of her mother. I know all she has now is Ricky and his family, as well as myself.

“Emmie...I—”

“No, don’t apologize. It’s okay. It’s something that I have to get used to,” she murmurs quietly, still fidgeting with her wedding ring.

“She died for me, Dante. She died saving me. It was the most motherly thing she’s done in her entire life, and although it kills me, I have to be thankful for it. I have to embrace it. Plus, I love my ring. I don’t want a new one. I want the one that you picked for me,” she says, kissing my cheek before pulling back with a small smile.

“You are so strong, Esmeralda. The strongest person I know. I’ll give you anything, including my own life. I was prepared to…” She frowns as I say this, so I shut up immediately.

“Just give me forever,” is all she says.

I smile before bending down to kiss her, ready to feel her lips on mine for the first time in weeks, but she stops me.

“Plus, we never got to throw you a birthday party. What kind of wife does that make me?” she teases me, flirting, and it stirs my cock.

Down boy.

“I don’t want to talk about my birthday right now,” I murmur before catching her lips with mine, kissing my wife for the first time in our marriage.

2

Esmeralda

Dante leftmy room about an hour ago to speak with Sergio.

I sat in my closet for a little while longer before changing into clothes on my own for the first time in two weeks. I dressed in a simple black dress and plain black heels. I told Dante I was ready to pick up my mother's urn today after he finishes with Sergio. It’s time to give her a proper goodbye.

I look at my unmade bed. The sheets and blankets all rumpled, the imprint of my body still in the mattress from laying there for so long. Never once in my life have I felt a sadness as deep as this. My gut feels hollow, empty with each breath that I take. Usually, my bed is made at the beginning of each day, thanks to my mother, but it stares back at me now, messy and sad.

Dante mentioned that he hired a new maid about a week ago. I haven’t gotten to meet her, but today I want to save for my mother. I walk to my bed, arranging the sheets and smoothing the comforter over them. I put my pillows in their place and stare once more.

I’ve always loved my room here, but now it just makes me sad to look at. I’ve decided it’s time to move on. Since I am a married woman now, it doesn’t make sense to have a separate room from my husband. However, the black and coldness of his bedroom won’t make me any happier. I need to meet with Marianne to talk about design options. The more I keep myself busy, the less time I can spend grieving. I graduate in less than two months, which means I need to really start with the planning of my restaurant. Not to mention, my new husband deserves a birthday party, and I deserve a proper wedding day.

Although those future events should bring me excitement, I still feel anxious. My mother won’t be there to rejoice with me, and Dante’s sister is still missing. I refuse to plan anything until Gabriela is back here, safe and sound. I don’t know much about James, but I know if he was my father's second in command, then he must be a cruel bastard. God only knows what he’s done with Gabriela; the thought makes me sick.

I still haven’t met Dante’s mother. I feel even more nervous about meeting her while her daughter is missing, something that I’m sure she has no clue about. I cannot go forward with any celebration until his sister is home and everything is whole. Until my father’s empire is burnt to the ground once and for all.

Ricky comes into my room. No knock sounded as he walks in and freezes when he sees me, his expression weary.

“I know I shouldn’t say this to a grieving woman, but you make death look stunning,” he says before embracing me in a large, tight hug.

“I’ve missed you, Em,” he says, and I hold my tears back.

He and my husband have stayed by my side every day since my mother's passing. Even Javier and Marianne have tried to help with cooking my favorite meals and bringing me comfy clothes. I may have lost my parents, but I’ve gained so much love in the process.

“We’re picking up mom today. I want to give her a proper send-off,” I say, pulling back from him as he wipes a tear from his eye.

“Whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it, baby girl. You know I’m always here for you.” He grabs my hands, rubbing them before stopping to stare at my large wedding ring.

Oh, yeah. That.

With everything that happened two weeks ago, I haven’t had much time to process anything, really, especially my new marriage to Dante. I haven’t even gotten to tell my best friend about what happened in Vegas.

“I need to know everything when you’re ready,” he says quietly, but I can tell that he’s practically bursting at the seams.

“I’ll tell you tonight,” I say as I watch Dante appear behind him in the doorway.

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