Page 28 of Sin and Seduction

“Good evening, everyone. We’re so glad you could join us on such a beautiful night,” he says and stares around at the room before landing his eyes directly on mine.

“About two months ago, I met Esmeralda in the most unlikely way. And even though I don’t have the time or desire to tell you how, I do have every intention to tell you exactly how much I love this woman,” he says to the crowd, his eyes never leaving mine as I swallow the sudden lump in my throat.

“Esmeralda May is perhaps the most frustrating, stubborn, and tempting woman I have met in my entire life. And you all know my mother and sister,” he says, and the crowd laughs.

“But what you don’t know about Esmeralda is her complete kindness and genuine care for the world. She’s so eager and loving, and you can’t help but fall for her the minute you meet her. She’s had me wrapped around her finger since I met her, and she didn’t even know it because she’s unaware of just how beautiful she is. And not just her breathtaking good looks, but her heart. Her beautiful, warm, forgivingly huge, and kind heart. I’ve wanted it from the start, and I’m a bastard for stealing it from her, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he says, swallowing hard as I try my best to hold back tears.

“You are my life and my heaven. You’ve brought me from hell to higher ground, and I will spend the rest of my days thanking you for that. I will spend eternity loving you, mi ciela. Anything you want is yours,” he says, his eyes shining as they search mine.

“I just want you,” I whisper for only him to hear, trapped in our own little world.

“You’re so much more than my bride. You’re my light and my sky and everything in between. We’re made from the same parts, and I will want nothing more than to make you mine every day,” he says, raising his glass as I and everyone in the room mirrors his movement.

“To Esmeralda,” he says, and I shake my head.

“To us,” I say loudly, and everyone cheers as we kiss, ignoring the world around us like we always do, lost in each other’s love completely.

We pull apart, and everyone cheers once more, greeting us with smiles and handshakes and congratulations. I look over and see Gabriela dabbing tears from her eyes and smile at her, Camila clapping next to her with a wink as we lock eyes. Oscar comes over and hugs me, welcoming me to the family as everyone separates and begins to dance and mingle once more. Dante holds my hand and is about to pull me to meet more relatives when Paolo comes over, coat in hand.

“That was a fine speech, Dante. Thank you for the invitation to tonight’s festivities. I wish you a successful marriage,” he says, pulling on his coat.

“Thank you, Paolo. I will see you tomorrow,” Dante says as he shakes his hand.

“Bright and early,” Paolo says before stopping to look at me. “Your father would be proud,” he says before walking away and disappearing from our view.

“So...this isn’t much of a vacation, is it?” I ask before I sip my champagne.

“Work never stops, mi ciela. Just pauses momentarily,” he says as he pulls me to his side and kisses my forehead.

“Let’s go get some fresh air for a moment,” I say, ready to grill him about Paolo.

“Why do I have the feeling that the air won’t feel so fresh once we go out there?” he questions, and I roll my eyes and pull him away and out the back door.

We walk quietly in the night, listening to the piano play from inside as we stroll a different path than his mother and I did. This time, we walk to the cliff that overlooks the ocean. Once we near it, I sigh, and he wraps his arms around me as we stare at the glittering waves before us.

“So, are you a part of the Colombian cartel or the Italian mob?” I ask suddenly, not caring if this ruins the moment.

Apparently, my question doesn’t because he begins to laugh from behind me, his chest vibrating against my back as I smile.

“You’re always so quick to question me, mi amor. How can I ever keep anything from you?”

“Why would you want to?” I ask, and he shrugs.

“Touché,” he says before staring back at the dark ocean below.

“My father started off as a mule for the cartel when he was a teenager. He was piss poor in the dangerous streets of Columbia and didn’t have a dime to his name. He worked hard and fought dirty. In time, he climbed up the ladder and was his own boss, but he had a falling out with the leader. He didn’t like some of the...things they dabbled in, and he wanted to branch off and start his own work. Didn’t want anything to do with the cartels. He just wanted his own deals in his own world,” he says, and I nod.

“And did he get it?” I ask.

“Eventually,” he says. “But everything comes with a price. He couldn’t just go against the leader of a cartel and expect to thrive. That’s when he met Paolo. He was buying product here and was trying to find a reliable source to help him in Sicily. Product was dry at the time, and my father was a hell of a businessman. In time, both of them grew an empire outside of all of the cartels and mobs. They started their own underground network and thrived,” he says, still staring at the ocean.

“He knew it wasn’t going to be easy for long. He paid off the two cartels here and created a treaty and borders for them to coexist in, but the men in Mexico were greedy, and we had to pass through there often. That is when we became affiliated with Juan Carlos and his boss. The rest is history,” he says, and we let the silence of the night stretch over us, questions brewing in my head.

“Penny for your thoughts?” he asks, turning me in his arms and holding my face in his hands.

“But is the rest really history? I doubt there will ever be a moment of peace in this life of yours,” I say quietly, and he frowns.

“There won’t be, mi ciela. But we will make it worth it,” he says, and I nod.

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