Page 36 of Sin and Seduction

“How can you say that? I lied to you in your own home, and now my fiance hates me,” I say, my lips trembling as her hand grabs mine.

“You didn’t lie to me; my daughter did, which is something I am used to. You tried to protect her, and you even defended her and stood up to your own partner for her. That takes a lot of courage,” she says admirably.

“I have no courage, Camila. I’m nothing but a coward and a liar,” I say, and she hushes me once more.

“Don’t let my son’s quick temper allow you to lie to yourself. The situation is not ideal and is quite a mess, but it is not your burden. It is Gabriela's. He doesn’t hate you, Emmie. He’s just acting like his father, per usual,” she says with a roll of her eyes.

“How are you so calm right now?” I ask her, and she shrugs, straightening her suit pants.

“Because when it comes to shocking announcements in this family, I am always the one to smooth it over. Even when my husband was alive, that has been my job. Plus, everything you said about James Rowen is true,” she says, and my head snaps up in her direction.

“How do you know that?” I question her, and she stands with a smile, walking to the small bar near the fireplace and pouring two glasses of whiskey before walking back to the bed and handing me one.

We both take a sip, and I let the warm, fiery liquid soothe my distress.

“My children think that just because I am alone and in another country, that I am completely aloof to everything going on in this business. But I know everything, Esmeralda. I have to. I love my kids, and I trust them to carry on their father's legacy, but they are also very impulsive and tend to overlook things. I’ve been reading into and following Diego Flores longer than they’ve known he existed. I know all about the murder he issued for James Rowen’s parents. I found out after he sent a hit out for my own husband in the disguise of Juan Carlos,” she says as she sips her whiskey, leaving my jaw dropped.

“How could you have known all this and not share that with anyone?” I ask, and she shrugs again, a small smile on her lips.

“I was going to eventually. I just wanted to see if my sons were capable of handling things on their own,” she says, and silence greets us as I take in everything.

“Does Paolo know?” I ask, and she nods.

“How do you think I got the intel?” she quips back.

“That must be the business matters that he was so eager to discuss with Dante this week,” I realize out loud, and she nods.

“Give him time, Emmie. He will come around. He just needs to simmer down for now,” She reassures me, and I tear up again.

“What if he doesn’t?” I ask.

“Then I’ll strangle him myself,” she says before downing the rest of her whiskey.

“What are you going to do about the baby?” I ask, and she sighs.

“She wants to keep it. I can’t make that call for her. She’s in for a rude awakening, Rowen aside. I suggest we don’t inform him until Flores is captured and eliminated once and for all,” she says, and I lay back against the bed, my hands over my eyes.

“What a mess,” I say, and she pats my leg.

“Don’t fret, dear. It will get sorted out. I have faith it will. Paolo has trackers on James, and if we negotiate well enough, he will team up and help us with Flores. The rest can be sorted out when it’s time. But, for now, we have a wedding to plan,” she says, and a few tears fall from my eyes.

“I’m not sure that we do anymore, Camila. Dante even said so himself,” I whimper, and she scoffs.

“Never listen to a man in anger. Dante is the king of saying things he doesn’t mean. Just give it time. He will come back,” she says before standing and walking to the door.

“Camila?” I say, stopping her. “Thank you. For everything,” I say earnestly, and she offers me a smile.

“Thank you, Emmie, for always trying to protect my family,” she says before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

I sigh and roll over on the bed, closing my eyes and breathing the smell of my husband in.

* * *

I awake when I hear a loud crash. The clock reads just after midnight, and I sit up and wipe at my eyes. I dozed off for an entire night. Poor George and Michele, I hope they don’t feel too awkward after the day we had. I swing myself off the bed and open my door to look down the staircase. I hear muffled voices and several more crashes before I rush down the stairs. I find Paolo, Oscar, and Dante in the foyer. Dante has his arms around both Paolo and Oscars shoulders, and he’s slumped forward. Fear rushes to the surface, and I run to him.

“What’s happened? Is he alright?” I ask worriedly, my hands looking for wounds on my husband’s body.

“Just made a deal with the whiskey devil is all, child,” Paolo says, and that’s when I smell the huge blast of liquor wafting from my husband.

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