Chapter 18

Camila

Standing in front of the full-length mirror, I didn’t see the same woman who I’d seen hours earlier, back at my house. Gone was the frizzy, braided hair and the bloodshot eyes. The woman in this reflection was radiant, the way I’d always imagined a bride should be.

When we pulled my dress from the backpack, it looked like it had been stowed away in a ball because it had. Mia ironed the long white sundress, erasing the wrinkles and making it crisp. Wearing a pair of Mia’s high-heeled shoes, I turned a slow circle, seeing someone new.

The dress was the only item I’d thought to bring. That left me with no makeup or a way to style my hair. Mia offered me the use of her makeup. As I highlighted my eyes, cheekbones, and lips, she curled and styled my hair. She pulled it up on the sides securing it with dainty pearl combs and draping the long dark curls behind my shoulders.

“You’re beautiful,” she said, standing back and crossing her arms. “Dante is a lucky man.”

I met her gaze in the mirror. “Thank you for helping me and making me feel welcome.”

Her cheeks rose as she smiled. “I wish I’d done more for Catalina when she and Dario married. I’ve vowed not to make that mistake again.”

I spun toward her. “I know in my heart that I’ve made the right decision. I hope this doesn’t get you and Jano in trouble with el Patrόn.”

“I’ll let Aléjandro worry about that.” She shrugged. “I’m sure I’ll get an earful from my other brother.” Her smile returned. “It’s a good thing I’m no longer under his control.” She came forward and laid her hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. Catalina will be thrilled to have you with her in Kansas City. Dario will adjust.”

I tugged on my painted lip with my teeth. “Will Dante be in trouble?”

Mia nodded. “Don’t worry about him. Dante is a grown man who’s capable of making his own decisions.”

My eyebrows knitted together. “He’s a good man.”

“Are you asking or telling?”

“Both. He’s always been good to me.”

“That’s what matters. I’ve learned the men in the famiglia and those in the cartel aren’t much different from one another, though they wouldn’t admit to their similarities. There are good men and bad men on both sides. My brothers can both be good men. They are also both capable of doing bad things. It’s not so much about separating the two identities as it is about loving both sides.”

My cheeks rose. “You love Jano.”

Pressing her lips together, Mia nodded. The tips of her lips curled upward. “You and Dante have an advantage over Jano and me—over Dario and Catalina. You two know one another. Not intimately…?” She let the word hang in the air.

I shook my head.

She sighed. “Good. I’m glad my brother didn’t break that tradition.”

“We’ve kissed.”

“Aléjandro and I kissed before we were wed and while it was passionate” —she lifted her hands— "lightning didn’t strike.” She lowered her hands to her sides. “You two know each other and want to be married. That’s why I’m helping you. I’m sick and tired of the men on both sides making decisions for women without their consent. I love Aléjandro now, but the night we wed, I never thought I would.”

“I think I love Dante,” I confessed. “Catalina said it was lust.”

“There’s nothing wrong with lust, Camila. Lust is a very important part of your relationship.” She placed her hands on her stomach. “That twisty feeling down low that makes you squirm. The way your skin warms at the sight of the man you want beside you. And the tightness that beads your nipples when you know he’s watching you.”

I nodded. “That’s the way Dante makes me feel.”

“Rei?” she asked.

My smile faded. “No. I hate that this will hurt him, but I don’t feel that way when I’m with him.”

“There’s no way to know how a marriage between the two of you would have worked. If I know Rei, he’ll be understanding. Somewhere out there, there’s a woman who will feel all those things for him. You lost your heart to Dante. That wasn’t a conscious decision. Love shouldn’t be ignored.”

“I still can’t believe that Dante wants me. He used to refer to me as a little girl.”

“He wants you,” she said. “If you ask me, the little girl comment was a way to remind himself that you were off-limits.” She grinned. “By the way he was looking at you downstairs, he’s no longer thinking of you as a little girl.”

“And after our vows, I’ll no longer be off-limits.”

“Are you ready for that?”

Warmth filled my cheeks. “I think I am.”

“Some sisterly advice?”

“Okay.”

“You’re not ready. That’s not a bad thing.” Mia scrunched her nose. “The first time isn’t the best, but it gets much better.”

“Your first time with Jano?”

Mia shook her head. “I was married before.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot.”

“Don’t be sorry. I’d like to forget that marriage too.” She scanned me up and down. “We need to get you downstairs so you can be a married woman by the stroke of midnight.”

“At midnight, will our car turn into a pumpkin? Because I feel like I’m in a fairy tale.”

“And Dante is Prince Charming.” Mia went to the large bouquet of fresh flowers on a table in their suite and pulled an assortment from the vase. She trimmed the stems and wrapped them with a white ribbon. “Your bouquet.” As she handed it to me, her eyes widened. “Oh, I have something blue for you.”

“You do?”

She hurried into one of the closets. A few moments later, she returned with a garter. “It was mine, when I married Aléjandro. You can borrow it, and it will be your something borrowed and something blue.”

I took a seat in one of the plush chairs. Slipping my foot out of one of the high-heeled shoes, I slid the garter up to my thigh. “My dress is old.” I slipped my foot back into the shoe.

“My shoes you’re wearing are new.”

“Borrowed is definitely covered and now the garter is blue.” I looked at the clock and saw that it was past 11:30. “I heard it is good luck to say your vows as the hands of the clock are rising.”

“Then let me go downstairs and let them know the bride is ready.”

As Mia left the bedroom suite, my phone buzzed.

Do I want to look?

Curiosity got the better of me as I lifted my phone and entered my passcode. The text message was from Catalina. I held my breath as I opened it.

“Em called me and told me what you’re doing. Luckily, I was up with Ariadna, and Dario is asleep. I love you, but this will cause problems. Please think about the repercussions. If it’s too late, you and Dante need to get to KS as quickly as possible. You’ll be safer here.”

I tossed my phone on the table with the remaining flowers. It wasn’t too late to stop this. That didn’t mean I wanted to. As Mia said, I’d lost my heart to Dante Luciano. It wasn’t on purpose, but in the depth of my soul, I knew my heart was where it belonged. I could only hope that the consequences of our decision would quickly fade away.

Mia returned, pushing the door inward. “They’re ready. Everyone is out by the pool.” She looked down at the shoes. “Do you need help going down the stairs?”

“They’re high, but I’m okay.” I reached out and grabbed Mia’s hand. “Thank you. I wish Catalina was here, but I’m glad I had a sister here to share this with me.”

Her smile curled. “Dante is waiting.”