Chapter 2

Farren’s Point of View

He was utterly handsome. To the point where I no longer knew if I was in a sinners den or if I had been moved to a photoshoot. His hair fell perfectly across his forehead. Straight teeth gleamed in the light. That smile. Goddess. That smile of his. Curled up on one side. Straight on the other. As if he knew the world’s secrets and wouldn’t tell a soul.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to drop in and intrude.” I fumbled out, trying to get a grip on my reeling mind. The handsome man smiled more. This time, both corners of his mouth curled up. He was pleased. Hopefully satisfied with the way I looked.

Extending a hand, I took it, grateful for the help. The sparks that ran the length of his hand and into my own were a thrill I had no idea would be so intoxicating. Although, my knees barked at me when I finally stood.

“No worries. If I had known I would find someone of such importance today, I would have dressed up a bit more.” He joked.

I smiled sheepishly back and brushed the dust from my dress. Pale pink. Puffy. The odds of him liking the way I dressed would be fifty-fifty. But weren’t mates supposed to look beyond the exterior, anyway?

“I don’t think you could possibly look any better than you do now.” I blurted without restraint. Realizing my words, I felt my skin flare up in heat. My hands instinctively flew to my face. Years of training and composure studies and I was still a bumbling mess in the presence of a god.

The man laughed. Fully. With his chest puffed out and tears coming to his eyes. I hadn’t thought the remark would make him double over. But here he was, folding himself over with laughter. The sight was a splendid one. I had made such an exotically beautiful man laugh with all his soul.

Wiping the tears from beneath his eyes, I realized he had dropped my hand. But the sparks lingered. Even the air between us was lit up with it.

“Do you always compliment strange men you find in dark board rooms?” He asked with a lilt of humor. I shook my head furiously, some hairs freeing themselves from my head scarf. Noticed the food my mother had prepared lying on the floor.

“Oh, goodness. Mother is going to be unhappy about this.” I chirped and quickly sank into a crouch.

The man followed down. Took in the way I frantically scooped up the food from the floor. Yet his eyes remained on me as he helped. Dropped each item into the basket with diligent care. Those brown eyes noticed every aspect of my face. I felt exposed. Examined. It was a strange feeling but I welcomed it.

“Who are you here for?” He asked as we placed the last items back in the basket. I stood again. Dusted the dress and clutched at the basket he handed me.

“My brothers. I don’t suppose you know them. Benicio, Leon, and Nicolas?”

The man chuckled. Straightened out his suit jacket. “Those three rascals, yes, I know them. I never knew they had a little sister. Lucky for me, I guess.” With those words, butterflies flew into my stomach. Made a mess of things on my inside. He regarded himself lucky. All because I was his mate.

“Well,  I better find them, then. It was nice meeting you…” I trailed off. Neither had produced their names. Had I expected him to already know? This gorgeous stranger of mine?

He frowned at the words. Looked me up and down as if I had grown another head. “But we just found each other. Please, won’t you spend some time with me?” There was a silent plea in his voice. A wound that refused to close itself. I cocked up an eyebrow but remained silent.

I had things to do. Feed my brothers. Get home. Help my mother with tonight’s cooking. Maybe later I could sneak away and come see him. For now, I had other obligations. Walking here had cost me too much time as it was. Besides, if he was in this house, he was in the same line of business as my brothers. Which was only a tragedy waiting to happen.

“I will think about it. I hadn’t intended to stay in Lupitum long. But now things have changed.” I admitted and swung the basket to my other hip. The man kept frowning. He wanted to move closer. Wanted to persuade me to stay. But I stepped back a bit.

Lysander had taught me well after our house had been shot up. Move. Countermove. It was easy enough. Gave me a lot more confidence as well when I went out on my own. This seemed to spark a tinge of anger in his eyes. Which I wanted to douse, in turn.

Sighing, I placed my hand on his arm. Looked him square in the eyes. Before I could speak, the anger vanished. His smile was back. He knew he had won. “When will I see you again?”

I swallowed. “I will come to see you tonight. Our first official date. I only expect the best, you know.” I gave in. Crumbled, just like that. I couldn’t think whether he was a force to be reckoned with or if I was just weak. Either way, he got what he wanted from me. The docile mate.

He beamed his straight teeth. Moved forward and wrapped his arms around me. The electricity from our contact was mind-numbing and intense. Left my lungs fluttering for air. This was unlike what I had planned. So different than the idea in my mind when I had come here in the first place.

Pulling away, he kept me at arm’s length. Gave me a once-over with adoration filling his eyes. I was his prized possession already. His pride and joy. It had been minutes only. It was stifling to think someone else’s happiness relied so heavily on my own.

“What is your name?” He asked. His voice sent more butterflies running amuck inside me. I beamed back at him.

“Farren Torrez.” There was a blink. A moment of hesitation on his part. Then as soon as it was there it was gone again. I might have imagined it.

“Farren. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.” He breathed and took my hand in his. Leaning his head down, he kissed my knuckles.

“And yours?”

“Camilo Amador.”

Butterflies turned to ash in my stomach. Stopped fluttering and became leaden. He wasn’t just some crony of the Amador family, he was the head. The Don. I felt all my previous words rise and fall in my mouth. An acid taste replaced the breath-mint I had eaten earlier. But I couldn’t show him the fear I felt. How my heart stuttered. A man of great darkness was my mate. Not far off from Nerezza and her two assassins. The goddess had gotten it wrong.

“So, this is the infamous Camilo. And here I thought you would have four fewer teeth.” I joked, trying to mask my panic. The room was suddenly too small, even with the open windows and breeze blowing through it.

Camilo chuckled and released my hand. “I will see you tonight, then, Farren Torrez.” It was a promise. But I wouldn’t come. No woman in her right mind would. I knew too much about the mafia boss to come back here again. Next time my mother send me, I would make a point of it to ignore him. Or I would plead with my mother until my voice went hoarse.

“I look forward to it.”

With that, I turned on my heels. Strutted to the door. There was a flush on my skin. A change in temperature that I couldn’t mistake. The hall was significantly colder than the boardroom. Maybe it was the chemistry between us. Or my fear becoming tangible.

I hadn’t moved far before Camilo ran out the door. Touched my elbow. The recoil came before I registered the sparks. A habit that had lingered after Makatza. After the things I had gone through.

“Wow there. Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he apologized with a flash of his teeth. “I just wanted to tell you where they were. On the first floor, just when you step off the stairs, turn right. It is the break room, of sorts. Don’t pay any attention to the men inside. They tend to get rowdy.” He finished with a sheepish smile and a roll of his eyes. I frowned and looked at the stairs over my shoulder.

“Will they harass me?” I whispered. His face morphed from sheepish to concerned. I hated the pity in his eyes. Who was he to assume my past? I just never liked men’s attention the way Nerezza had. It freaked me out when they undressed me with their eyes.

Reaching for his neckline, Camilo plucked a necklace from around his neck. Looked at it in the palm of his hand. There was a mystified look on his face. Serene. The item must have meant a great deal.

“Take this. Let it hang over your clothes. Once they see it, they won’t do anything to you, I give you my word.” He whispered back and let the chain fall over my head. The metal was hot, even against the thin fabric. A reassuring weight. I wanted to pull away from him. Shrug away the sympathy and caring.

No man ready to murder another was this kind. This considerate. He was a brute who ran one of the largest drug operations ever known to werewolves. His father was no different. But instead of protesting, I nodded my head. Broke away from him.

“Thank you,” I called over a shoulder and headed down the hallway. The girl from earlier was nowhere in sight. All the doors I passed were firmly shut, the only light coming from the chandeliers overhead.

Once at the top of the stairs, I could breathe again. Let my lungs fill with cold air. Much colder than the air of the boardroom. It had been unexpected, to meet my mate in such a place. It had been worse to find out who he was. Keeping my distance was a must. I couldn’t let this world taint me.

After all, I hadn’t come to stay. I had only come to say goodbye to my mother.