Chapter 26

Camila

With Dante’s hand reassuringly in the small of my back, we descended the staircase. “You’re trembling,” he whispered.

I was. My hands were also ice cold. The aroma of food met us as we stepped onto the first floor, twisting my already-nervous stomach. The din of voices faded as if we’d walked onto a stage already filled with characters.

Sergio, Papá’s bodyguard, stood near the front door. I longed to ask him about Miguel. Instead, I stayed at my husband’s side. My mother was with Mia near the food, Viviana was tending to something on the kitchen island. Jano, Em, and Papá were outside, probably discussing last night’s attack.

Mama turned toward us. Her bloodshot eyes scanned over us as I leaned into Dante. “Me partiste el corazόn.” She clenched her heart.

“Tu rompiste el mio.” I held back the threatening tears, praying I could keep them at bay. “I love Dante. I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen.”

“Rei es un buen hombre.”

“I don’t love Rei.”

Mama came closer. “No quiero perderte como perdí a Catalina.”

She was purposely trying to keep Dante from our conversation. I wouldn’t let her. “You’re not going to lose me, Mama.” I took a step away and wrapped her in a hug. Her arms encircled me as I basked in her familiar perfumed scent.

My nerves relaxed as we embraced. Maybe this was going to go better than I feared.

Papá appeared at Mama’s side. Releasing her, I turned to him, hoping for a hug.

Before I could speak, his palm contacted my cheek. Shocked and stunned, I stared in his direction.

His gruff voice reverberated through the first floor. “Avergüenzas a tu familia.”

Standing at least four inches taller than my father, Dante materialized at my side with a deadly expression as he seized my father’s wrist. “Touch my wife like that again, and I’ll kill you.”

No.

This wasn’t what I wanted.

Gasping, I jumped back and covered my lips with my fingertips. Dante held tight; his fingers blanched as he applied more pressure. Neither man spoke as they both stared at the other. To the side Sergio and Silas both had their guns at the ready.

“Calma,” Jano said loudly, lifting his hands and coming closer with Em on his heels. “Dante, Andrés is a guest in our house.”

Dante dramatically released his hold.

“Bajen las armas,” Jano said, speaking to the two guards.

Begrudgingly, they re-holstered their weapons.

Papá’s gaze flitted from Dante to me and back. Perspiration dotted his brow, and his face took on a red hue. His dark eyes weren’t the ones I’d seen throughout my childhood. Warmth and love were replaced by a harsh coldness I’d never seen. “We are leaving.” He turned to Mama. “Now.” He reached for me. “Your marriage is over. You’re coming with us, home, where you belong.”

Dante and Jano both stepped between us.

“Andrés…” Jano tried.

Dante pulled me behind him. “You will never touch my wife again—ever.” My husband was larger than life, as if he’d grown inches in height and width within the last few seconds. With his jaw clenched and his chest puffed, he was an over-two-hundred-pound wall of muscle separating me from my father.

Everyone in the room, most of the first floor, held our collective breaths as Dante and my father stared at one another. In this moment, they weren’t family but stone-cold killers, each sizing up their prey.

“Camila.”

It took me a minute to recognize Mia’s soft voice. When I turned to her, she motioned with her chin for me to come to her and flee from the impending fury.

“No.” I moved between Dante and Papá. “Stop this. I’m an adult.”

“Then act like it,” Papá said.

“I am. I made my decision. Dante and I are married, legally wed. The ceremony was performed by Father Gallo.” I turned to Mama. “I’m married to the man I love.” I tilted my head. “Isn’t that what you want for me?”

“We’ll discuss it at home,” Papá said. Then he turned back to Dante, his voice sending chills down my spine. “You threaten me? I should kill you for what you’ve done. Camila was promised to another. El Patrόn will deal with your capo.”

Veins popped to life in Dante’s neck as he stared back at my father.

“Valentina and Camila,” Papá said, “we’re leaving now.”

“My wife stays with me.”

Silas looked up from his phone. “The capo and Mrs. Luciano are here, coming through the gate.”

Jano spoke. “We will take this to my office. Mia, please see to our female guests.”

I turned on him. “You think that you can go into that office and decide my fate.” My temper grew. “I have a news flash for you. This is the twenty-first century. I have the legal right to determine my own future.”

Dante reached for my hand, his tone more reassuring. “You made your decision, Camila. It will be honored.”

Silas opened the front door.

Catalina entered with a forced smile, a step ahead of her husband. Dario’s gaze zeroed in on his brother and our intertwined hands as he assessed the scene. Armando, Catalina’s bodyguard, was the final person to join our gathering.

“Mama,” Catalina said gregariously, coming toward us.

Dario greeted Aléjandro. “Thank you for inviting us to your home. I sense some tension.”

“You’ve always been perceptive, brother,” Mia murmured from across the room.

After hugging Mama, Cat turned toward me. “Congratulations.”

“You’re the first person to say that.”

Dario ignored Mia’s comment as he turned to Dante. “You and I will talk. Then we will talk to the others.”

No one argued.

No one else spoke.

The capo was here.

Catalina reached for my hand as Dante and Dario walked toward the front door. She lowered her voice. “You know how to cause excitement.”

“I wasn’t looking for excitement.” I looked around. “Where is Ariadna Gia?”

“She’s home with Contessa. Flying messes with her sleep schedule.”

“Oh,” Mama replied, “I wanted to see her.”

“Then come back to Kansas City with us for a while. Give Papá time to calm down.”

Mama turned to me, her voice cracking with emotion. “You married without me.”

“Lo lamento.” It was as I looked around that I realized the other men had gone back out to the pool deck.

Catalina too scanned the living room and out to the pool deck. “Mia, I’m so glad you weren’t hurt last night. That must have been frightening.”

“She was great,” I said. “They were prepared.”

“More than Rei,” Mia said. “According to Aléjandro, his house needs tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, in repair.”

Catalina smiled. “It sounds like Rei will be too busy for a wedding.”

I lifted my left hand. “I’m already married.”

“Would anyone like to see the pictures from last night’s ceremony?” Viviana asked. “I can show them on the television.”

“I would,” I said.

Cat, Mama, and I sat on the sofa while Mia and Viviana took chairs in front of the large screen. As Viviana broadcast the pictures to the bigger screen, Catalina whispered, “Dario is going to fight for you and Dante.”

Her simple statement flooded my system with much-needed relief. “Thank you.”

We turned to the television. The first picture was of Dante and Father Gallo beneath the archway of lights.

“My patio,” Mia said. “I know it’s only furniture, but it still hurts.”

We all peered out the open windows to the empty space, devoid of furniture and all her stylish decorating. 

“Oh, Camila,” Mama cried at the picture of me emerging from the dark living room. “Estabas hermosa.”

I remembered what Dante said about the moment when he saw me.

Everyone oohed and aahed.

“Emiliano,” Mama said at a picture of him handing me the ring. She turned to me. “I’m sorry, Camila. I hope your father will listen.”

I looked down at my ring. “I hope he does too, Mama. But whether he listens or not, I’m married to Dante.”

“I took a little video of the vows,” Viviana said before clicking play.

The voices came from the speakers.

Dante’s voice filled the room. “Camila, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

I swallowed as he slid the ring over my finger.

My voice was next. “Dante, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Tears of joy filled my eyes as I watched.

Father Gallo spoke, “In the sight of God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Dante, you may now kiss your bride.”

Mama sat forward. “Did you see that?”

“Yes, I’m married.”

“No.” Her complexion was ashen. “Viviana, can you rewind it and go slower?”

“What are you talking about?”

Mama stood and walked toward the television. “Watch Father Gallo and Dante as you’re placing the ring…”

We all stared.

“There, freeze it,” Mama said.

“Oh my God.” I got up and walked to my mother. “I didn’t notice it before. I assumed it was a reflection.”

Mama turned to us. “I know what that red light was. I saw it just before Luis was shot.”

My stomach twisted. “Someone had our wedding literally in their sights.”

“Why didn’t they shoot?” Mia asked. She reached for my hand. “I’m glad they didn’t, but why?”

“We need to show this to the men,” Mama said.