Chapter 29

Camila

Armando drove the large SUV toward the airport. Dante was in the front passenger seat, Dario, Catalina, and I were in the back seat. Mama and Mia were following in another car driven by Miguel with Em riding shotgun. I’d even had a chance to go back to my parents’ home and fill multiple suitcases. Dante promised the rest of my things would be packed and sent to our new place.

My husband also filled me in on what happened in Jano’s office. Talk of our marriage disappeared as the threats to the cartel were uncovered and discussed. He said Rei had been on the phone, and I was never mentioned.

Having the men in business mode was an appreciated reprieve.

The decision to take all the women to Kansas City, like most decisions, had been made without our input. Nevertheless, I was happy to be going. Mama and Mia would stay upstairs in Dario and Cat’s apartment, leaving Dante and I alone to navigate whatever our future will mean. 

Once we were on Dario’s plane, we four women went to the back, sitting in a grouping of four seats while Dario and Dante continued to talk about the fires at hand. The Roríguez cartel wasn’t the only one dealing with troubles. Between the Russians and Taiwanese, there was always an enemy at hand, an organization attempting to take over land, money, customers, and businesses.

Cat laid her hand on my knee. “How are you?”

“Glad to be headed to Kansas City. I was nervous about Papá.”

Cat turned to Mia. “Thank you for helping Camila. She told me all you did.”

Our sister-in-law sat taller. “I’m tired of being treated as if we can’t make our own decisions. We have more to offer the famiglia and cartel than we can as trophy wives.” She lifted her hands. “I know, my mother is one of the best. She can name every store on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills or Fifth Avenue in New York. I’m fortunate that Aléjandro listens to me.” She looked at Cat. “You’ve done this too. Dario listens to you.”

Cat nodded and looked at our mother. “He talks to me, something I never heard Papá do with you.”

Mama inhaled, pushing back against the chair. “We say more in private. I suppose that is something we should have done more of in front of you when you were children. Andrés listens. I also know my place.”

“It’s not about place,” Mia went on. “We’re their partners, whether we chose that position or not. I want to make a difference.”

“You are with the workers at the club,” I said. “And you did with me.”

“We can make small but significant contributions to achieve our own dreams.” She laid her hand over her midsection. “When Camila explained her situation, I went to Aléjandro. I respect his position in the cartel and our family, but I didn’t ask. It’s a new thing for me. It wasn’t that way before. I explained and reiterated my stance to let women be involved in the marriage discussion.” She shook her head. “I don’t believe Rei would be a bad husband. Someday he will be a great one. I’m not sure he’s ready to marry now. I think it was Andrés working to prove to Jorge that he wasn’t Gerardo.”

“He’s not,” Mama replied. “He’s not Gerardo. To me, Rei was the better choice because you knew him.” She smiled in my direction. “I didn’t know you knew Dante.”

“Speaking of knowing him,” Cat said, “when I asked how you were, I wasn’t talking about going to Kansas City. I was talking about…well, if you were married last night, how did after the wedding go?”

Warmth crept from my neck to my cheeks. “I’d say my expectations were low. I mean, you told me it gets better.” I looked at Mia. “You weren’t all that optimistic either. I expected terrible.” My smile grew. “It wasn’t terrible.”

Mia grinned. “Who knew my brothers would turn out to not be the asshole our father was?”

Cat reached for my hand. “I’m so happy to have you close. Oh, you can spend time with Ariadna Gia and me.”

“I want that. I’m also going to keep up with my classes.”

Mama’s eyes widened. “You asked Dante?”

“Not really. It was more of a discussion. He said he’d agreed to that stipulation when Dario and el Patrόn were in negotiations for me.”

“Good for you,” Mia said. “I’m going to spend the next week catching up with Giorgia and Mom. I’m excited to be back in Kansas City, but I don’t want to be gone from Aléjandro for too long.”

The sun had set by the time we landed, and our clocks went forward two hours. As others deboarded, Dante came back to me. Once we were alone, he grinned his handsome smile. “I’ll carry you over the threshold of our apartment.”

Inhaling his heavenly spice and leather scent, I laid my palms on his shoulders. “You don’t need to carry me. I can’t wait to be a couple, a real couple.”

As our lips made contact, the stress of the last few days eased as if my body was releasing our past and making room for our future.

“I can’t wait to have you alone, Mrs. Luciano. If you’re still sore, we can find other ways to bring you to orgasm.”

I tilted my forehead to his chest. “Is it bad that just hearing you talk about it makes me wet?”

He lowered his face to the crook of my neck, inhaled, and moaned. “I can tell. You smell of cinnamon and sex.”

“You can’t tell that from my neck.”

“I can. Your sex pheromones are sweet and make me fucking hard.”

Swallowing, I shook my head. “Are you teasing me?”

“Not yet.” He took a step back and reached for my hand. “Come, let’s get home and let the teasing begin.” 

There was a chill in the night air as we stepped out of the fuselage. “Where is everyone?” I asked, looking out at the tarmac and seeing only one car, a green Aston Martin.

“I told Dario I wanted to drive you home without company.”

“What about my suitcases?” I was relatively certain they wouldn’t fit in the car on the tarmac.

“They took them. Armando will deliver them to our apartment.”

My smile grew as I lifted my face to the sky. “We really did it.” I looked up at his handsome features. “We’re married.”

“We are.” He gestured toward the car. “Your chariot awaits.”

“Surely, this car hasn’t been waiting here since you flew to California.”

Dante opened the passenger door for me. “I had Giovanni bring it here and take back the car I drove yesterday.”

The interior smelled of expensive leather. Most of the interior was soft and velvety to the touch. I watched with appreciation as Dante folded himself into the driver’s seat and gripped the steering wheel. “Will I be able to drive this car?”

His smile quirked. The dashboard illuminated with a green glow, matching the color of the exterior paint. “We have a lot of cars to take your pick. You might want something with a little less horsepower.”

“You don’t mind me driving?”

“I saw your license yesterday. I assume you passed a test.”

“I did, but Catalina always has her bodyguard. I figured…”

He reached over, laying his hand over my knee. “Things to talk about, Camila. Dario is a bit paranoid. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have protection. I offered Miguel a job.”

“What?” I asked as we glided across the tarmac. “Really?”

Dante nodded. “He said he’d need to think about it and talk to your father. After all, since Luis died, there’s not been a steady bodyguard for your mother. Miguel was assuming that would be his position after you married.”

“I was afraid Papá would blame Miguel for my absence.”

The streets of Kansas City came to life around us. Tall streetlights illuminated the night sky. Buildings grew larger as we worked our way into the heart of the city.

“No matter who I hire to protect you, I expect you to stay with them. No middle-of-the-night escapes.”

I raised my right hand. “No more middle-of-the-night escapes. Besides, won’t I be busy in the middle of the night?”

Dante glanced in my direction, his dark gaze shimmering with the reflection of the dashboard. “Yes, you will.”

As Kansas City passed by the windows, my thoughts went to our first night together. The day had been so eventful, I hadn’t had a chance to reflect on what we’d done with and said to one another.

Dante pulled the car into the same garage I recognized from my visits to Cat’s place. We made the same turn, entering the private garage, the area with the private elevator that went up to not only Dario and Cat’s apartment, but the floor below, my new home.

Once the elevator doors closed, Dante spun me. My back collided with the sidewall as he pressed his hips against mine and lifted one arm over my head. Without a word, his lips sought mine, a strike of a match giving energy to the flames within me. A moan escaped my lips as we rose high into the Kansas City skyscape, and Dante took my breath away.

Our kiss didn’t yield until the elevator stopped.

Blinking, I stared into his dark brown orbs. “You said the elevator has a camera.”

“It does. If it didn’t, you’d already be naked.” My eyes darted around the seam between the walls and ceiling, searching for the recording device while wondering if he was serious about my nakedness.

The doors opened to the floor and apartment I’d only visited once. Taking my hand, Dante led me into our home. My suitcases were lined up in the entryway. The last time I was here, I was too nervous to mentally take in the surroundings. Much like the penthouse up above, Dante’s space was filled with expensive minimalist furniture. Lights turned on as we entered the rooms, activated by motion sensors. In the living room there was a long white stone fireplace. With the touch of a button, flames came to life, flickering hues of orange and blue.

We turned the corner.

“This is the kitchen where you were first kissed,” he said.

“And where I first kissed a man.”

I ran my fingers over the cool quartz countertop and took in the glass backsplash and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. “Do you cook?”

“I make a mean bowl of cereal, and I’ve been known to burn toast. I’ll have to demonstrate my culinary prowess to you in the morning.”

“Lola, our housekeeper, taught me some recipes.” I shrugged. “Cat cooks more than I can, but I’m willing to give it a try.”

His smile curled. “Discussion for another day. There’s a more important room I want to show you.”

“More important than the kitchen. What in the world could that be?”

Dante led me through the living room to a hallway with multiple doors. He pushed the first one inward. “Bathroom.” Second door. “My office.” He turned on the light to a room, sans a desk and chair. “As you can see, I don’t use it. I have an office at Emerald Club.” He turned to me. “You should make it your office. A place to study and do your homework.”

“Jano let Mia decorate their house.”

“Aren’t you studying interior design?”

My cheeks rose. “How did you know that?”

“Mrs. Luciano, it’s my goal to learn all about you.”

“My mysteries?”

He nodded. “You may change anything you want. I don’t care if you gut the whole place and remodel. All I care about is that you’re here and you are happy with your new home.”

My grin grew. “This room has possibilities. I like everything else I’ve seen.”

His eyebrows danced. “I’m glad to hear that. I like what I’ve seen too. There are two other bedrooms on the opposite side of the living room.” He lowered his tenor. “Now let me show you the next room.”

Dante turned the knobs on a set of double doors, opening them inward.

I gasped, my eyes growing wide at the sight inside.

The room flickered from the illumination brought on by a second fireplace. Words failed me as I stepped inside and spun, taking in the bouquets of flowers covering almost every flat surface. The king-sized bed was turned down and strewn with a colorful array of petals.

“How did you do this?”