Bound By A Promise (Brutal Vows #3)

Chapter 9

Chapter

Nine

Camila

W ith my pulse racing, I ignored the weary stares of my parents, hit the green icon, and lifted my backpack from the floor. In the few minutes since I’d lain it down, the bag had tripled in weight. Maybe it was the heaviness of my future that I was feeling. “Cat, espere por favor ,” I said, keeping my eyes downcast and making my way out of Papá’s office.

Rushing past Sergio, I sprinted toward my bedroom. The home where I’d lived all my life was but a blur. Once inside my bedroom, I slammed the door and turned the lock. I wasn’t under the misconception that a simple knob lock would keep my father or his guards out of my room if they wanted in. I just hoped the lock would be respected.

“Cat” —emotions bubbled in my voice— “do you know?”

“Are you alone?”

I froze and my chest seized at the sound of the baritone tenor, the one I immediately recognized. As I tried to form words, the dam broke on my emotions, tears spilling from my eyes and my voice cracking as I uttered his name. “Dante?”

“I wanted to talk to you before you were given the news.”

My temples throbbed from the concoction of emotions. “Papá just told me. I don’t want to marry Rei. I want…”

“The next word better be me . You want me.”

I nodded despite the fact he couldn’t see me. “It is you, Dante. I want you.”

“Tell me that’s your honest reply, and I’ll move heaven and earth to make you mine.”

Closing my eyes to the familiarity of my pink-painted walls as well as the pictures and posters I loved, more tears cascaded down my cheeks. “I never thought I wanted to marry, not until you.”

“This isn’t over, Camila. Not by a long shot.”

My hands trembled as I held tight to the phone, sat on the end of my bed, and lay back, staring up at the slowly whirling ceiling fan. “Papá said it was set” —I didn’t want to say it aloud— “with Rei.”

“Fuck, I wish I was with you in California. This is a mistake. I had both Jorge’s and Dario’s approval.”

“You did?” I sat up. “What happened? How did this go so wrong?”

“I don’t know. I agreed to all the stipulations.”

“Stipulations?”

“Mostly that you could continue working on your degree. I don’t want to stop your dream.”

“Right now,” I said, “it feels like my dream has been ripped away.”

“Will you trust me?”

“I want to.”

“I’ll make this right.”

“What can I do? I told my parents I’m” —did I want to admit this?— “I’m in love with someone else. Not Rei. They didn’t care.”

Before Dante could respond, an explosion of voices erupted at his end of the call. Holding my breath, I waited.

“Dante?”

“Camila, it’s me.”

The sound of my sister’s voice caused a smile to come to my lips. “Cat. Can you help us?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t know. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Why didn’t I tell her?

I didn’t tell her or anyone because Dante was my impossible dream. A man so incredibly handsome, simply looking his direction caused my core to twist and my panties to dampen. A man with the edge of danger who was also kind and funny. When he looked at me, I felt like I was all he could see, his whole world, despite the Mafia’s demands on his time.

Even my thoughts were insufficient to describe the way he made me feel. From the first time I saw him, the night before Cat and Dario’s wedding, I was enamored. After my first visit to Kansas City, I was awestruck. However, it was after our first kiss, after I shamelessly rubbed against his body made of hard muscles that I knew my heart had made its choice.

“Camila?”

I concentrated on the noise behind my sister. “Are Dario and Dante arguing?”

The noise disappeared. “They’re discussing.”

“Me. They’re discussing me.”

Cat’s voice came through without the background noise as if she’d moved away from the men or they’d moved away from her. “Dario told me that Dante requested you. I was afraid you didn’t know about it.”

“That’s what Mama said. She was afraid to let another daughter go to the famiglia. Cat, I love Dante. I think I do. I want to marry him, not Rei.”

“Rei is closer to your age.”

The lunch I’d eaten long ago churned in my stomach. “You’re encouraging me to consider Rei?”

“It’s nothing you can consider. Papá went to Jorge when he heard about Dante’s proposal. El Patr?n agreed to change his mind. He recognizes that the cartel needs to focus on its inner strength. After what Gerardo did, your marriage to Rei will reaffirm the Ruiz commitment to the cartel. You’ll help Papá’s and Uncle Nicolas’s standing.”

“Their loyalty should speak for itself. I don’t want to be a bargaining chip, something to cement their loyalty.”

“Camila, Rei is nice. Aléjandro has shown a different side of himself to Mia. I believe if he can be a good husband, Rei can too.”

“I told you.”

“You didn’t,” she protested. “If you had, I could have helped. Mama thought she was doing what was best for you.”

I shook my head. “No, the day of your engagement party. Remember?”

“You didn’t even know Dante then.”

Swallowing, I took a deep breath. “I told you that I didn’t want to marry because Papá or el Patr?n said I should. I wanted to marry for love.”

Catalina exhaled. “Love and lust are two different things.”

Springing to my feet, I clenched my teeth. “You don’t think I know what love is? You think I’m too young.”

“Camila…”

“No, Cat. I saw that Dario loved you before you were willing to see it. I might be young, but I know what love is. I know that the stolen moments Dante and I have shared were more than lust.”

“What?” her voice was hushed. “What have you two done? Oh Lord. If Papá finds out…”

“We kissed. That’s it.” Mostly. He also gave me the best orgasm of my life. “I wanted to decide who I would share my first kiss with. I chose Dante and I’m choosing him again.” When Cat remained quiet, I added, “The day of your engagement party, you told me that if you and Em had a say in my future, I could…I could marry for love. You’re married to the capo dei capi. Help me. Help us.”

Dante

The edge of Dario’s jaw was sharp as the muscles in the side of his face flexed. “You shouldn’t be calling her and especially not by using my wife’s phone.”

“You told me Camila was mine. What the fuck, Dario? You said it was set.”

His words came from between clenched teeth as he watched Catalina take her phone and walk toward the library. “Watch your tone. You may be my brother, but I’m your capo.”

“Then fix this.”

“Tell me why you used Catalina’s phone.”

“I don’t have Camila’s number.”

Dario ran his hand down his face. “Andrés Ruiz changed his mind after Reinaldo made his intentions known.”

“So what? You have more power. You’re his son-in-law. You’re the capo dei capi.”

“Fuck,” he roared. “Come with me.” He led me toward his office. Once we were inside, he went on. “I know all that. The decision wasn’t about you. It’s about the Ruizes. After the shit Gerardo pulled, they’re nervous that Jorge could change his mind about who he trusts. He trusts his son, both of his sons. By marrying Camila off to Rei, the Ruizes are officially part of the Roríguez family, not just the cartel.”

“Nicolas Ruiz has a daughter. What about her?”

“Reinaldo became infatuated with Camila while living at her house.”

My blood warmed, and I balled my fingers at my sides. “How infatuated? Did he fucking touch her?”

My brother held up his hand before walking back to his tall leather chair behind his desk. “You know the Ruiz women have the same rules as the women in the famiglia. Reinaldo didn’t touch her. If he did, there’d be bigger problems in the cartel.”

“I fucking asked her to marry me.”

Dario spun toward me, his dark stare scrutinizing me. “You asked her—Camila? You proposed? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Nothing is wrong. I want her and respect her ability to make her own choice.”

His dark gaze narrowed. “When did you propose?”

“In California, the night the shit went down. Before I asked you to arrange our marriage.”

“You talked to her before talking to me?”

I pressed my lips together. “She should be able to make her own decision.”

“That’s not how the cartel or famiglia works.”

Shaking my head, I tried to make sense of this turn of events. “You know, it’s your fault.”

“How the fuck is it my fault?”

“You brought Camila to me through Catalina. I wasn’t looking for a sweet, smart, sexy woman to be part of my life. Hell, I thought I might be the never-marrying type.” Letting out a breath, I fell back into one of the chairs opposite Dario’s desk. “I noticed Camila the weekend of your wedding. Who wouldn’t notice her?” I recalled the way she looked in the bridesmaid dress. “I thought she was too young, too innocent, too…” I stretched out my arm and flexed my fingers. “Not right for a man like me.

“And then I watched you and Catalina. And Camila came here to visit. I had a hard-on during most of those dinners.”

“Shit, Dante…don’t say that.”

“It’s the truth. Her vigor. Her excitement about everything. In our dark fucking world, she was a vibrant ray of sunshine. She would have been annoying if she wasn’t so sincere. I mean, yes, she’s beautiful, but that’s only the icing on the damn cake. Despite her age or lack thereof, she knows what she wants, and she goes for it.”

“Her schooling?”

“Me.”

Dario furrowed his forehead. “You didn’t fuck her.” His voice rose. “Shit, tell me you didn’t touch her.”

“We’ve kissed. A few times. I haven’t fucked her although I wanted to.”

Dario’s nostrils flared as he shook his head. “Here’s how it will be, Dante. Choose another bride; you’re the underboss of Kansas City. Fuck, you can have any woman in the famiglia or the extended territories. New York has more than a few beautiful women. Italians, women Mom will approve.”

“I can honestly say that Mom is not part of this equation. Besides, she didn’t fight you with Mia and Aléjandro. She doesn’t get a vote.”

“Fine, there are other women in the Roríguez cartel. Any woman, I’ll make her yours. Any woman except Camila.”

“I want Camila.” I stood. “I promised her forever. She wants me. Andrés and Valentina thought they were helping her by shutting down my offer and marrying her to Reinaldo. They need to understand that I’m who their daughter wants.”

My brother shook his head. “It’s out of my hands. If Reinaldo were anyone else’s son, but he’s not. Fuck, he’s Jorge’s son.”

Standing, I squared my shoulders. “I’m going to San Diego.”

“No, you’re not. We have shit happening here. I need you here.”

“Then bring Camila to me.”

Dario exhaled and tipped his chin down. “Twenty-four hours. Make your case to Andrés and Valentina, but don’t you dare fuck up this alliance. I have a daughter out there” —he pointed toward the doorway— “who is half-famiglia and half-cartel. You aren’t starting a war in my family.”

“Twenty-four hours,” I agree. “Antonio will watch over Emerald Club. Carmine and Salvatore can handle the streets.” Our uncles had reservations about Dario taking charge of the famiglia, but they could see the results. He was leading us. “I’ll make a few calls to the capos. Myshkin’s people have been quiet of late. Kansas City will stay safe.”

My brother stood and walked toward me. His attire showcased his authority, the custom suit as opposed to my dark jeans and black t-shirt. He stood slightly taller than me. “I care about your happiness, Dante.” His large hand landed on my shoulder. “You know I do. I don’t want a war with Jorge Roríguez. I gave him my word.”

I gave Camila my word—my promise.

“Twenty-four hours.”

I closed Dario’s office door as I stepped toward the foyer. Catalina’s voice was coming from the library. After a quick look toward the closed office door, I hurried toward Catalina. She looked up as I entered. Ariadna Gia was in her arms.

“I thought you might still be on the phone.”

“Dante,” she sighed, looking down at her daughter and back to me. “I’m sorry. I wish I knew how the two of you felt.”

“I’m going to have her.”

“ El Patr?n has made his decision.”

“It’s the wrong decision. I’m going to California.”

Her green eyes, similar to her sister’s, opened wider. “What are you going to do?”

“Keep my promise. I need something from you.”

Catalina reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out a small piece of paper. “Is this what you need?”

I reached for the paper and unfolded it. Camila’s phone number was written on it. “Thank you. Does this mean we have your support?”

“It means I want you both to be happy, but the repercussions of this union, of stopping Rei, may be more than our family can withstand.”

Closing my fingers around the paper, I leaned down and brushed Ariadna’s soft dark peach-fuzz crown with my lips and smiled at Catalina. “I have to try.”