Page 25 of Sin and Seduction

Now’s not the time to smack your husband, Emmie.

“I gathered. What I mean is, how is an Italian man in charge of a Columbian...business.”

Dante looks down at me, a dark shadow in his eye.

“I’ll explain this to you another time, wife. For now, let’s enjoy mingling and schmoozing until I can get this dress off you,” he says as he whisks me away and back into the crowd for a second time tonight.

We’re just about to grab a drink when Dante’s mother approaches us in a black, floor-length gown with a train behind it. Her hair is pin-straight, and her eyes are catlike as usual. She looks like a predator, and I can see where her son gets it from. However, I refuse to be prey to this family any longer.

“Camila, you look stunning,” I say sweetly, smiling at her with all of my teeth.

She nods a thank you and looks at Dante.

“I hope you’ve had enough time to introduce Esmeralda. If you don’t mind, I’d like to steal her for a few minutes,” she says, and he nods.

A small wave of nervousness creeps into my stomach, but I smile through it as I walk away with Dante’s mother. We pass through the crowded ballroom and walk into the backyard, which is lit up with cafe lights and candles. I feel like I’m in a fairy garden.

“Take your heels off, let’s have a walk and enjoy tonight’s weather. It’s a rarity not to be blasted with heat,” she says as she slips off her heels, and I do the same.

We walk all along the courtyard. I’m in awe of her garden, and we make small talk about the exotic plants and trees she has blooming. Moments of silence pass periodically, and when we near the end of the garden, she stops and turns to me.

“Why is it that you really want to marry my son?” she asks, her eyes full of suspicion.

I can’t help but scoff and shake my head. I knew this family was skeptical, but I often forget how relentless they really are.

“I know it’s hard for you to believe that a young woman like me would actually fall in love with your son. To be completely honest with you, I didn’t expect nor want that in the beginning. Especially since he kidnapped me and held me hostage,” I say, looking at the rose bush before us.

“Dante is a hard man. He’s cold and mysterious, and there have been more times he’s lied to me than not. He’s held me against my will, treated me like a child, and kept me in the dark when all I wanted was to know the life I had come from and that I was about to dive into.”

I look up into her inquisitive eyes, showing her the earnest look in mine.

“But the heart doesn’t play fair. And my heart hasn’t played fair my entire life. I was born with a drug addict mother who rarely showed me love. And I didn’t know who my father was until your son took me. The first meeting I had with my own father was with a gun to my head.” I sigh and look at the roses once more, breathing in their fresh scent.

“As much as I shouldn’t love your son, I do. I can’t help but love him. I can’t help but want to open his heart that he so desperately tries to shut. I’m in this life with or without him, Camila. I’d rather be on the good side and with him than any other side alone.” I meet her eyes once more, and she stares at me with a frown, assessing my face for a long, silent moment before she speaks again.

“What makes you think this is the good side? What if no side in this world is good?” she says darkly, and I shrug.

“Then I choose the side that wants to protect me, that wants to love me instead of using me,” I say, and she is silent, staring back at the flowers, her dark hair reflecting the moonlight.

“He’s changed. I can see that clearly,” she says quietly.

“He got his vengeance. That’ll make anyone change,” I say back.

“No. Vengeance will never satiate my son’s hunger. It’s you that’s changed him. I haven’t seen him smile since he was a little boy,” she says honestly, giving me a very small and slight smile.

“I love him, Camila,” I say, and she nods.

“And he loves you. Just be smart. Even a man in love can never really change his ways. Take it from someone who’s been through it,” she says tiredly, shadows in her brilliant eyes.

“Come, let’s head back inside. There are many more people to meet,” she says as she links her arm with mine and leads us back to the house.

Progress.

11

Esmeralda

As soon aswe reach the ballroom, Gabriela is running toward me with flushed cheeks and a sloppy grin. As soon as she meets us, I can smell the liquor coming off her.

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