Bound By A Promise (Brutal Vows #3)

Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

Camila

“ L o lamento, la se?orita. Tu padre is in a meeting and requested that you remain in your room.”

Standing in my doorframe, I stared at Miguel, my arms crossed over my chest. My wet long hair lay in a braid over my shoulder. After my discussion with Dante and Catalina, I made the mature decision to sulk in my room. That moping lasted beyond dinner.

While I wanted to cry, I was mostly angry.

This situation was exactly where I never wanted to be. Watching women marry men they barely knew was something I swore I would never do. Over the hours as I stared up at my ceiling watching the fan swirl, I realized Mama and Papá thought with Rei they were saving me from that fate. I knew him. On top of that, we were close in age. I think he’s only a year older than I.

Instead of sulking, I needed to tell them who I was in love with. A part of me hoped I could change their minds. When I looked at Rei or thought about him, my body didn’t react. There wasn’t a slow burning deep within me. My lower stomach didn’t twist, and my panties didn’t dampen. That didn’t mean he wasn’t a handsome man. It meant I wasn’t attracted to him.

Miguel lifted his brows, waiting for my response. Despite the fact I was showered and dressed in a camisole and pajama shorts, Miguel wasn’t affected by my lack of clothes. He had been my bodyguard my entire life.

“I need to speak to Mama and get something to eat.”

“ Se?ora Ruiz is also with your padre .”

Mama was in the meeting? Who was it with?

Miguel went on, “Food is good. Lola saved you a plate when you didn’t go down for dinner. I’ll bring it to you.”

“What I have to say to my parents is important.”

He nodded.

I scrunched my nose. “You know about the wedding plans, don’t you?”

“ Sí .”

“How long have you known?”

“Not long. I was under the impression that other arrangements had taken place. Reinaldo works hard. He will follow closely behind Jano. You could do worse.”

I huffed. “Rei isn’t a bad person, but I’m in love with someone else. That isn’t fair to Rei. Papá may give him my body, but he’ll never have my heart.” As the words came forth, I thought about Rei. I needed to tell him what I just said to Miguel.

“You say you’re in love. Your mother questioned me. I know nothing about a relationship, and I’m with you all the time. I checked your phone. Who is this mysterious love in your life?”

Of course he checked my phone. Nothing was private.

The sting was back to behind my eyes. “You’ve done your job well, Miguel. My parents can’t blame you. Fate put us together on different occasions.”

He lifted his brow. “Such as Catalina’s wedding?”

The tips of my lips curled. “That was the first time.” My pulse sped up as I thought about Dante. “The arrangements you heard about, were they with Dante Luciano?”

“Is he who you think you love?”

I think.

I clenched my teeth together. “I know everyone believes I’m too young to know love, but I’m not. Mama married Papá when she was only seventeen years old. I’m twenty.”

“And Se?or Luciano is thirteen years your senior.”

“ El Patr?n married Liliana off to Uncle Gerardo, and he could have been her father.”

“That marriage worked well,” he replied sarcastically.

I pressed my lips together. “Cat. She’s eleven years younger than Dario.”

“Sometimes we must trust others, must trust that your parents have your best interests at heart. Perhaps they know something about the younger Luciano that you don’t know.”

“That he’s a murderer, a thief, a criminal? Couldn’t the same be said about Rei?”

Miguel shook his head. “I’ll bring you a plate from dinner. Promise me that you’ll stay in your room until su padre’s guests leave.”

I strained to hear voices, but Papá’s office was too far away. The doors were probably closed.

“I can slip down the back stairs and avoid Papá’s office.”

Miguel’s nostrils flared. “Stay, Camila. Your father’s orders.” With that, he turned on his heel, heading toward the back staircase.

Stay.

Sit.

Marry.

I wasn’t the daughter of a top lieutenant in the Roríguez cartel; I was a dog, someone who was expected to obey each command. It may be expected, but I hadn’t promised. I’d stayed silent.

My grip on the doorframe tightened as my curiosity grew about Papá’s meeting. He had meetings all the time. To stay in my room was an unusual request.

It bid the question, why?

Taking one last look down the back hallway to confirm Miguel’s descent to the lower level, I stepped from my room, my bare feet padding silently on the decorative runners. My entire life had been spent in this house, so I deftly avoided the boards in the hardwood floor that would make a sound. By the time I reached the landing, my heart was thumping in my ears.

Staying hidden behind the corner where the hallway and loft intersected, I crouched down, watching the area before Papá’s office. The doors were closed. If Sergio wasn’t standing guard, literally standing, I wouldn’t know that Papá had visitors—visitors that also included Mama. Sergio stood when guests were inside. Besides, I had no reason to doubt Miguel.

Sergio turned toward the doors, reaching for a doorknob and pushing it inward. I held my breath as Mama exited, casually looking over her shoulder. I heard a deep voice with a heavier Latino accent than my father’s. For a moment, I thought it could have been Jorge.

Aléjandro Roríguez, Jorge’s oldest son, stepped from the office, followed closely behind by another man. I saw his boot and jean-clad leg. I anticipated Rei. It would make sense that Papá didn’t want me to come out dressed as I am with my future husband here. I sucked in a breath and covered my lips with my fingers to stop myself from making a sound.

The man behind Jano wasn’t Rei; it was Dante.

My nipples beaded beneath the silk of my camisole as goose bumps scattered over my arms and legs. I couldn’t believe that he was here in my house. Without pause, I scanned from his dark boots up his long denim-covered legs. He wasn’t wearing a suit as his brother would. No, Dante was wearing a navy t-shirt over the washboard abs I’d felt the night in his apartment, his muscle-bound arms exposed. His deep tone reverberated through me, sending tingles through my circulation.

Papá was the last to exit as he offered his hand to Jano and then to Dante.

Dante hesitated. “We had an agreement.”

“Your agreement was with Jorge, not with me.”

“My capo negotiated the arrangement the same as the one with Catalina.” Dante squared his shoulders. “I won’t stop until I speak with Jorge himself.”

“Mr. Luciano,” Papá said loudly, “I am Camila’s father.” His dark eyes flashed toward Jano. “While I respect Jorge, Camila’s future is my decision.”

“Perhaps my uncles were right to warn us about trusting the cartel. Will this misunderstanding have a ripple effect? Will shipments of product you’ve promised be rerouted at the last minute?”

“My daughter isn’t a product to be sold.”

“Then don’t sell her for your own gain. Give her to me to be treasured.”

Treasured.

My core clenched.

“My decision is final.”

“I will alert my capo.”

“My daughter’s husband,” Papá replied. “I’ll call him myself.”

“We aren’t done,” Dante said. “I won’t be so easily led away. Camila was promised to me.”

Papá bowed his head and looked up. “Camila’s engagement party is tomorrow. My decision is final.”

Tomorrow.

I hadn’t been told.

New tears prickled the back of my eyes at the realization Dante flew all the way to California for me. I do know love when I feel it. He loves me too or he wouldn’t be fighting for me.

As a large hand squeezed my shoulder, I jumped, bringing my hand to my chest to try to contain my rapid heartbeat.

“Your room,” Miguel menacingly whispered near my ear.

I spun around, standing as I turned with my cheeks rising. “He loves me,” I whispered. “He’s here fighting for me.”

Miguel closed his eyes and exhaled. “Child, it would be better if you didn’t know. You can’t change the future.” He tugged my hand. “To your room before you’re seen.”

Walking down the hallway, I pulled on my upper lip with my teeth.

Miguel was wrong.

The future was the one thing I could change.

Now, how could I contact Dante before he went back to Kansas City.

I had an idea.

Alone in my bedroom with the tray of food from dinner, I found my appetite had disappeared, replaced by a sense of urgency. In my list of contacts on my phone, I searched for Mia’s number. I didn’t have it. I did have Jano’s. Fresh goose bumps covered my skin. I was supposed to marry Jano’s brother. Surely, he wouldn’t help me pursue Dante. I also had Rei’s.

That meant he had mine.

He could have called me about this marriage.

He hadn’t.

Dante had flown across the country.

Fourteen steps one direction, sixteen the other. My bare feet padded over my plush carpeting as I paced the confines of my bedroom. Another possibility occurred to me. Quickly, I hit the icon next to Catalina’s name in my recent call list.

“Camila.”

The deep tone alerted me that Cat hadn’t been the one to answer the call. I hadn’t considered the time difference until I heard his voice.

“Um, Dario, I’m sorry to call so late.”

He exhaled. “Yes, Catalina is with Ariadna right now, trying to get her back down. She can call you in the morning.”

Standing tall, I willed myself to be strong. “I called for Mia’s number. Could you give it to me?”

“Mia? Is everything all right?”

No.

“I thought I had her number…” I rambled on for a few sentences, not completely certain of what I said when Dario finally gave in, probably to get me off the phone.

I wrote the number on a notepad on my desk.

“Thank you, Dario.”

“Camila” —his tone was softer— “sometimes things don’t seem like they work out, but in the long run, it’s for the best.”

“I believe things can work out. Good night.” I disconnected the call and dialed the number I’d just written down.

Mia answered on the second ring. I spoke low and fast, unsure if she was on my side or not. Truthfully, when all was said and done, we would be sisters-in-law. Whether I married Rei or Dante, our fate was sealed. The only way out of that was me running away.

If I truly hated or even didn’t know either possible husband, that might be an option. I knew them both and knew which one I wanted.

With my hopes high, I thanked Mia and disconnected the call.

Now, to check to see if I was behind a closed door or if I had a guard on the other side.

Slowly, I opened the bedroom door.

Miguel’s chair was empty.

That didn’t give me much time.