Page 54 of Sin and Seduction

“I fucking missed you, baby girl,” he says, and I hug him tighter.

“You have no idea,” I whisper, and he laughs and walks inside.

“Is the cowboy still staying here?” he asks while looking around the house.

“Sadly, yes. So behave yourself. I told him the same thing,” I say as I fold my arms.

“Me? Behave? Don’t know the word. Come, give me the grand tour, and let's go get a fucking drink and get some shopping done,” he says with a wink, holding out his hand as I take it and give him his much-requested tour.

After I show Ricky the house, I grab my purse and kiss Dante goodbye in the kitchen. Ben and another guard will be taking us to the city only minutes away, but until Diego is gone, the heavy watch is nonnegotiable. Not that I mind, they always stay out of the way and rarely say anything at all.

We head into town and stop for drinks, sitting outside on a rooftop bar that overlooks the ocean. I put my sunglasses on and lean back in my chair with my drink in hand and breathe in a deep sigh. Ricky sips his drink and raises an eyebrow at me.

“Stressed?” he teases, and I pull my sunglasses down to show him a very exaggerated eye roll.

“So how is it being the new Mrs. Dante Moreno? I know your newlywed time has been taken up by cowboy and drama queen, but surely you’ve had some much needed…alone time?” he asks, and I scoff.

“Whew, that bad, huh? What a bummer. Marriage really is sexless and dull,” he says, and I swat at his arm.

“Easy there, tiger. I’m only kidding. You forget that I’ve met your husband. I doubt he leaves you unsatisfied before he wakes up each morning,” he waggles his eyebrows at me, and I blush deeply.

We finish our drinks and pay the tab before heading to the dress store. Ricky already has an outfit, and I honestly have more than enough clothes, but I needed an excuse to leave the house. I try on countless dresses and decide on a strappy, silver dress that stops mid-thigh. It looks like something out of a magazine in the seventies, and it is, of course, silk. I know immediately that Dante will love it, and I pick out a matching pair of silver heels and check out.

We are driving back to the house when Ben’s phone rings. He gives a few short answers and hangs up quickly before looking at me in the rearview mirror.

“Dante would like to speak to you in his office as soon as we get home,” he says matter of factly, and I instantly start to worry.

Why wouldn’t he call me?

“Is everything all right?” I ask, and he nods. That’s it.

As soon as we pull in, I hand my bags to Ricky and rush to Dante’s office downstairs. I see cameras pulled up to the same footage on every surveillance screen.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Calm down, mi ciela—nothings wrong. I didn’t want to worry you, but we found Diego’s location, tapped into his footage, and overheard some things. He’s planning on coming to San Francisco on Friday,” he says, and I swallow the lump of worry clogging my throat.

“Friday? That’s the day after the party. Are you sure he even knows where we are?” I ask, and he nods.

“He knows my business and plans to ambush. Paolo and his team are already on their way up with my mother and will be here the day of the party. As soon as the event’s over, my men and I will leave. He’s staying in a private residence about twenty miles outside of the city. The location is quiet with no neighbors, so this should be a quick and easy job,” he says so simply like it could cause me no worry.

Quick and easy? He’s a cartel leader with several teams of men!

“Nothing is easy in this business, Dante. I think we all know that. Do you really have to be there for this? Can’t you just send Rowen?” I ask, and he shakes his head at me.

“I wish it were that simple, my love, but I cannot leave my men there alone. I will be negotiating a deal with his men shortly after.”

“Well then, I guess it’s settled,” I say, adjusting my purse on my shoulder as I walk toward the door.

“Please have your things out and ready for tomorrow. We’re leaving early,” I say over my shoulder before I walk out of his office, rolling my eyes at his long and exasperated sigh.

* * *

It is the morning of my graduation, and I am finishing curling my hair. Dante came to bed late last night and tried to cuddle, but I was having none of it. I know I’m acting like a spoiled child, but I am so tired of there always being something to worry about. I know it comes with this lifestyle, but I just want a break for a little bit. I just want time to focus on my dreams and accomplishments and not have to worry if my husband is going to wind up dead.

I fix my makeup and slide into my dress and shoes, giving myself a once-over in the mirror before sighing and grabbing my purse. The plane ride will be short, and we will be meeting Ricky’s parents for drinks before we head to the school. I walk down the stairs and find Gabriela, Ricky, and Javi waiting for me in the foyer. Gabriela is wearing a simple, flowy black dress. She’s around eight weeks pregnant now and swears that you can start to see her belly, but I disagree. She still looks like a supermodel. Ricky is wearing a designer suit and smells amazing. Javi bends to kiss me and holds me with a smile.

“You look amazing, Emmie. I have your cap and gown in a dress bag loaded into the jet already,” he says and I thank him.

---