Chapter 15

Dante

The drive back to Aléjandro’s home was quieter than our ride to the Ruiz home. There were the few minutes when Aléjandro called his father. My observation was that Jorge Roríguez was a man of few words. When Aléjandro questioned the reasoning behind the change from me to Rei, Jorge simply said it was his decision and he stood by it. My brother-in-law may feel sorry for me, but I wouldn’t doubt that his loyalties lay with his brother.

He pulled the Porsche into the garage. The slamming of doors echoed throughout the garage, around a large SUV, a black Mercedes, and a sharp Ducati motorcycle.

Mia met us in the kitchen. “It didn’t go well.” Her voice lacked emotion, as if she could read the anguish on my face.

Instead of answering, I sat in one of the tall chairs at their kitchen island, contemplating my next move. I pulled my knife from its sheath and laid it on the counter before me. Kidnapping was an option, but one that would definitely fuck with the alliance.

I concentrated on the intricacies of the mother-of-pearl and silver handle. This knife originally belonged to mio nonno Alessio. He was our mother’s father.

When I was young, Nonno took me under his wing. He knew what my future held. He knew I’d always be second in everything. Second born. Second son. The underboss, not the boss. The knowledge that the cartel wouldn’t have changed plans like this if I were Dario grated on my nerves.

They wouldn’t fuck the capo or future capo. The underboss was inconsequential.

Nonno gave me this knife when I was only eleven. I’ve treasured it. Cared for it. Cleaned my enemies’ blood from it. I’d used it for my first kill. My thoughts circled as Mia and Aléjandro spoke.

“I called mí padre,” Aléjandro explained to Mia, “from the car. Dante heard the same answer from him as he did from Andrés.”

“That means it’s settled.” Mia’s tone was softer as she looked at her husband. “Your thoughts?”

“We’re in a fucking tight spot,” he replied. “Dante” —he jutted his chin my direction— “is your brother. Rei is mine.”

“You and Rei are close. Have you heard him talk about Camila?”

“He’s said a few things, mostly about her ass and small tits when she’s at the pool.”

I flicked my wrist.

Mia screamed.

“The fuck?” Aléjandro roared as he followed my knife, pulling it from their kitchen wall.

“Jesus, Dante,” my sister scolded.

Aléjandro’s dark stare zeroed in on me, silently warning as he handed my knife back butt first.

“Would he fight for her?” I asked, savoring the feel of the cool handle in my palm.

“No one is fighting,” Mia said. “I know you don’t want to hear it, Dante, but the powers-that-be have spoken.”

“You’re right. I don’t want to hear that.”

She turned toward Aléjandro. “Has anyone asked Camila?”

He shrugged.

“I spoke to her.”

Mia had my attention. “You spoke to her? Tonight?”

“Yeah, she called me not long ago.” Mia turned to her husband. “She likes Rei.” She shook her head. “She had no idea there was a wedding planned between the two of them until Andrés told her this afternoon.”

“The engagement party is tomorrow,” I said through gritted teeth.

“She doesn’t want to hurt Rei,” Mia went on. “But she’s convinced she’s in love with” —Mia laid her hand on my shoulder— “this guy.”

I turned to Aléjandro. “Do you have some Russian assholes around here? I really need to kill somebody.”

Mia laid her hands on her husband’s chest, splaying her fingers and looking up at him through her lashes. “Have you ever gone against your father’s word?”

He closed his eyes with a mixture of a curse and growl.

She turned to me. “How will Dario take it if you go against his wishes?”

“What do you think? He’ll be fucking pissed.”

Mia was again talking to Aléjandro. “Healthy relationships involve both parties. Dante and Camila have started that relationship, willingly, consensually. Some arranged marriages work. Hell, Rei and Camila would probably work in the long run, but according to her, there’s no fire there. No flames of passion or” —she grinned— “of hatred.”

“Yeah, those are fucking hot.”

I pointed my knife in their direction. “That’s right. I remember. Mia had that contract out on you.” My thoughts went to Camila. Fire. There was an inferno the night of her first kiss, her first orgasm in the presence of a man. Damn, the memory caused my balls to draw tight.

Mia spoke. “What’s missing in the arrangements the men make is the future bride’s input. I got that tonight from Camila.”

Aléjandro shook his head. “Andrés said the engagement party is tomorrow, but mi padre didn’t say anything about it.”

“Because,” I interjected, “Andrés pulled that out of his ass. I bet if you called Rei, he either just learned about it or hasn’t yet been told.”

“If you ask me,” Mia said, “there’s way too much planning and arranging without involving the parties who are directly affected.”

“What are you saying?” I asked. “What is your suggestion?”

She took a deep breath, her gaze going between the two of us. “I’m suggesting that Camila can’t be engaged tomorrow if she’s married tonight.” Mia looked at the clock over the double ovens. “I mean, we need to hurry, but there are still almost two hours left of today.”

I jumped from the stool. “Married. I don’t have a ring. What about a license?”

“You want to do this?” Aléjandro asked Mia. “You want to piss off mí padre y tu hermano?”

“We’re encouraging another cartel/Mafia wedding. It’s for the alliance.” She feigned a smile and laid her hand over her midsection. “And they can’t punish me. I’m carrying a bébe.”

“I’m not,” Aléjandro muttered.

Aléjandro ran his hand over his hair. “I’ll call the priest who performed our wedding. Tell him I need a favor.”

My blood raced as I listened. Fuck, I thought this was over…and now? My eyes opened wide. “Where is Camila?”

“Oh,” Mia said with a giggle. “Yeah, if this is a go, you’re supposed to call her with my phone. She should be out of her house. I think she needs a knight on a white horse to go find and save her.”

I couldn’t contain my smile. “Fuck no. If she’s willing to do this, go against everyone, she’s fucking saving me. Give me your phone.” I paused, meeting my sister’s shining stare. “Why are you doing this?”

Mia let out a breath. “I was a bitch. Well, I wasn’t as welcoming to Catalina as I should have been. I realized that when Josefina welcomed me into this family. Camila will be welcomed by the Roríguezes or the Lucianos. She should be where she wants to be.”

“Even if it causes a war within the alliance?” I asked.

“A battle, not a war.”

Looking down at Mia’s phone, I felt the need to talk to Camila. “You said she might be out of her house.” My nerves grew taut. “Is she safe?”

“Call her.”

As I pushed the icon, Aléjandro made his call to the priest, walking toward his office. Mia hurried down the hallway toward Silas and Viviana’s room.

“Dante?” Camila’s voice came from the phone, washing through me and taking away the defeat I’d felt not long before.

“I was wondering if you were up for a wedding tonight?”

“Tonight? Mia did it. She got Aléjandro to agree?”

“He’s calling the priest right now. Tell me where to find you.”

“I’m still in my house.”

Good that she’s safe.

“Can you get out unnoticed?” I asked. “Fuck, I’ll drive up to the gate if I need to.”

“I can get out. The new security is…” Her words trailed away. “I can do it.”

“Tell me where to meet you.”

I quickly typed her instructions into my phone and set my GPS. “I can be there in seventeen minutes.” I closed my eyes. “I love you, Camila. We can make this work.”

“I love you, too.”

As I disconnected the call, I turned, meeting my sister’s hazel stare.

“Here,” she said, “I have something for you.”

Looking down, I watched as her fingers unfurled, revealing a large red ruby on a gold band, with tall prongs.

“No, Mia. That was Nonna Luna’s ring, the one that was stolen. You have it back.”

She glanced toward the knife still on the counter. “That knife you stabbed my wall with belonged to Nonno Alessio. The knife and ring will be together under one roof as they were when Nonna and Nonno were alive.” When I didn’t respond, she shoved the ring in my direction. “Take it and go. It’s too small for me but should fit Camila. You can take Jano’s car.”

I slid the ring into my pocket.

Jano’s car.

His Porsche.

I’d rather take his Ducati.

“I have my rental car.”

Silas and Viviana emerged from their hallway. While Silas was subdued, Viviana was grinning from ear to ear. “We have a wedding tonight. I have some quick baking to do.”

Aléjandro came out of his office, shaking his head.

“What?” I asked.

“Father Gallo will be here as soon as he’s able. He can perform the ceremony, but he can’t make the marriage legal until tomorrow at the courthouse.”

Shit.

Fuck.

One step forward and two back.

“It will be blessed,” I said, trying to convince myself. “That should appease the famiglia, the families.” I hoped it would. If the marriage wasn’t legal, Andrés could pull some annulment bullshit.

Aléjandro continued, “The priest said there’s another option. In California, you can marry online. The two people must physically be present in California and together. He knows of a 24-hour website.”

Hope returned.

“We’ll do both. Legal through the website and blessed by the priest.”

“Go,” Mia said. “Go get your bride.”