Bound By A Promise (Brutal Vows #3)

Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

Camila

M y eyelids fluttered as consciousness awakened my senses. Warmth. I opened my eyes to the source of that heat, the man lying at my side. My smile faded as I moved, uncomfortably aware of the tenderness of my legs and between my legs. Memories came back as I snuggled beneath the blankets wondering how late we’d slept.

Dante rolled in my direction. His tousled dark hair reminded me of the number of times I’d woven my fingers through his locks. I studied his high cheekbones and protruding brow, and the way his long lashes fanned below his eyes. This handsome, dangerous, and powerful man was my husband.

Before I could reach out, his dark eyes opened; their focus settled on me as his lips curled. “Good morning, Mrs. Luciano.”

“Good morning, my husband.” I pulled my left hand out from the warmth of the covers and looked at the stunning ruby ring. “Mia told me that this ring belonged to your grandma.”

Dante turned to his back and inspected the ring on his left hand. “And this one belonged to your grandfather.” He looked in my direction. “Tell me what kind of ring you want. When we get back to Kansas City, I’ll take you to the best jewelry store.”

“I want this ring. Unless…does Mia want it back?”

“Mia offered it to me for you. No strings attached.” His smile grew. “But seriously, you’re my wife. In case you haven’t heard, the Luciano men are loaded. Don’t you want an obscenely giant diamond?”

“I believe the Hope Diamond is locked away at the Smithsonian.”

Dante reached for my hands. “You’re thinking too small. The Hope Diamond is only forty-five and a half carats. The Cullinan Diamond is over 3,000 carats.”

A giggle escaped my lips. “I’ve never heard of the Cullinan Diamond. Where is it?”

“Tower of London.” He shook his head. “Not to worry. The famiglia has some of the best thieves in the business. Say the word. I’ll give the order, and the diamond will be yours.”

“The famiglia has the best thieves?”

“Yes,” he said, pulling me closer. “We now have you.”

The keycard I’d stolen from Contessa and pickpocketed from Dante.

I scooted closer, suddenly aware of my nakedness.

Watching my expression, Dante’s smile faded. “Are you sore?”

“A little.”

“So, morning sex…?”

“As I recall, you said in this bubble, you’re in charge.”

“I am, but I’m not a monster or at least not in this bubble. Pressing my cock into your tight pussy was a kind of heaven I want to keep enjoying. If that means letting you heal, I can do it.”

“When are we going to Kansas City?”

“Dario told me to return within twenty-four hours.” He lifted his wrist and looked at his watch. “That means we should clean up.” As he inhaled, his nostrils flared. “And go to your house. We need to talk to your father.”

I shook my head. “No. If I go back, they’ll want me to stay. What time is it?”

“Almost seven.” He kissed my nose. “Yesterday was a long day.”

“Can we have a few more minutes in our bubble?”

“How about we shower and then I call Dario?”

That reminded me. “Cat knows about us—the wedding. She talked to Em.”

“Oh fuck. I should probably call him sooner rather than later.” He reached for his phone. “Shit, I have missed calls.”

Tugging at the sheet, I wrapped it around my body and stood.

“What’s with the dark Roman goddess attire?” Dante asked, standing in his naked Greek-god beauty. My focus went to the part of his body I’d never before seen. Oh, I felt it, but now it was right there.

Dante laughed. “I told you you’d see all of me.”

I shook my head. “How did that fit inside me?”

“Perfectly.”

“And it gets bigger?” I moved my gaze to his. Amusement glistened in his dark orbs.

“It’s about to show you if you keep looking at it like that. What’s with the sheet?” he asked again.

“I’m not wearing any clothes.”

He came closer and tugged at the sheet. “I like you without clothes.” He pulled the sheet away, letting it drop to the floor. “I’m considering implementing a new rule in our apartment. As long as we don’t have company, the entire apartment will be a clothes-free zone.”

“It gets cold in Missouri.”

“That’s what I’m for.”

I looked up at his chiseled jaw now covered with more beard growth. “Were you serious about birth control last night?”

“That’s what you remember about last night?”

“I remember many things about last night, but that’s one.”

“Yes, I’m serious.”

“Just like that? Catalina and Dario have Ariadna, and Jano and Mia are pregnant.”

“Thus, the need for birth control,” he said. “Abstinence is off the table.”

I tilted my head to the side. “You don’t want children?”

Exhaling, Dante sat on the edge of the bed and pulled me to his lap. With his penis making its presence known, I peered down and up.

“Ignore it.”

“That’s kind of hard,” I said with a giggle.

“Yeah, you make it that way.” He teased my hair away from my face. “There will be a lot of these subjects, things we should have talked about before our wedding. We’re going to need to tackle them one at a time. My guess is that we’ll have enough friction from the outside, especially at first. You and I can handle whatever comes our way as long as we talk about it.”

“Children?” I again asked, unsure how I felt about the subject. Honestly, it was never a question of if in my upbringing, but when . When was after marriage.

I was married.

He replied, “Yes, probably.”

“Probably?” I questioned.

Dante inhaled, his chest inflating before he exhaled. “Listen, I’m not against children. You’re young. We have time to discuss it.” He furrowed his brow. “This is a shitty world. What happened here last night and to you months ago are reasons to wait. And then there’s your classes. Your father made it clear during our negotiations that you finishing school was a priority.”

I nodded. “I want to finish my degree.” I palmed his cheeks, relishing the roughness of his beard and briefly imagining that roughness at my core. I tried to focus on the topic at hand before my nipples beaded and gave away my desires. “As for the world, you’re right. It can be shitty, but we can’t make our decisions based on that.”

“When we get home, we’ll make you an appointment with Catalina’s doctor. Until then, I’ll do a better job of pulling out.”

“Someday?”

“Someday.”

“Probably or definitely?”

“Do you always get your way?” he asked with a grin.

“I don’t know. Will I?”

Dante nodded. After kissing my forehead, he stood, lowering my feet to the floor. “I’d like to join you in the shower, but I better touch base with Dario. You can go ahead without me.”

I started to walk toward the bathroom and stopped. “Dante, I know we’ll do what Dario wants you to do. But if we go to my house, promise me that you won’t leave me there.”

He slapped his fist against his chest. “You have my sworn promise.”

Swallowing, I nodded. “I trust you.”

About ten minutes later, as I stepped from the shower and wrapped myself in a towel, the bathroom door opened. No longer naked, Dante was wearing his boxer briefs. His expression did little to mask the fact that since waking, he had a change in his demeanor.

“Dario was happy for us?”

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t use that description. He and Catalina are on their way here.”

“What? Why?”

“Jorge Roríguez is on his way from Mexico.”

I staggered and reached for the vanity. “Because of us?”

“Us and the attack last night.”

“Jorge knows,” I said, thinking aloud. “Does that mean my father knows?”

Dante nodded. “It seems that as we slept, the entirety of the famiglia and Roríguez cartel were brought up to speed.”

“Have you talked to anyone downstairs?”

“I’m going to hurry and shower and go down.”

“Okay. I’ll be down as soon as I dry my hair and get dressed.”

It seemed surreal that I was drying my hair and wearing a towel as Dante showered nude in the same bathroom. That was what married people did. I assumed that was what they did. As I applied a little of the makeup Mia offered me last night, some blush and mascara, the concerns about my father settled in my chest, taking root deep in my soul.

Tears filled my eyes as I imagined being separated from Dante.

By the time he got out of the shower, my eye makeup was ruined. I splashed water on my face and hurried from the bathroom.

“What the fuck?” Dante followed me, his muscular body dotted with water and wearing a towel around his waist. He seized my shoulders. “Are you crying?”

“I didn’t want you to see.”

“Camila, what happened?”

“I’m afraid Papá and el Patr?n will say our marriage isn’t legal or something. I’m afraid they’ll make me stay in California.” More tears slid down my cheeks. “I want to be your wife.”

He pulled me against his damp chest and surrounded me with his arms. “I told Dario we were legally married by a priest.”

I blinked away the tears. “What did he say?”

“Fuck was a repeated word, but in between the fucks, he said he’d do what he could to help us.”

That gave me hope. “He said he’d help?”

“Stop worrying. I will not leave you behind with your family.”

“Or with Rei?”

“Fuck no. Not a chance.”

After a soft kiss, Dante stepped into his boxer briefs and put on the dark jeans he’d worn yesterday.

As he dressed, I realized my clothing dilemma. “I only have my sundress or the shorts, tank top, and sweatshirt I wore away from the house. And my dress…traditions…”

“Put on the shorts and we’ll ask Mia to help. I’m sure she has something you can wear.”

“I really don’t want to face el Patr?n in short shorts and a hoodie sweatshirt.”

Once I had on the shorts, tank top, and hoodie, Dante headed downstairs, and I pulled my hair back into a low ponytail. It was as I was leaving the bathroom again that the bedroom door opened.

Mia entered. “Dante told me to come in. Are you okay?”

“I’m scared to death about what is going to happen today.” I reached for my own hands to keep them from trembling. “ El Patr?n is on his way.”

Mia nodded. “He’s upset about the attacks on Rei’s and our house.”

“So, this isn’t about Dante and me?”

She reached for my hand and led me to the sofa near the windows. “Aléjandro spoke to Rei last night about everything. He said Rei took the news well. He was disappointed, but Aléjandro explained that you and Dante have a history.”

“Dante said Dario is upset.”

Mia pressed her lips together and shook her head. “He’s permanently upset. The only time he isn’t is with Catalina.” She patted my knee. “And Dante said she’s with him. That’s a good thing. This morning, Valentina discovered you were gone. Your bodyguard didn’t know that you’d left.”

I scrunched my nose. “Poor Miguel. It’s not his fault.”

“Emiliano told them what happened.”

My stomach twisted. “I should call my mother.”

“Probably, but I think they’re on their way. According to Aléjandro, Andrés called Jorge, furious. He wants the alliance broken. That’s why Dario is on his way too.” She inhaled and exhaled. “We knew there would be issues.”

“Issues. The cartel boss and famiglia capo dei capi are both coming here—that’s more than an issue.” I nibbled on my lip. “Can they make us unmarry?”

“I want to tell you no and not to worry.”

“You want to?” I asked.

“They made me marry. They made Catalina marry. They can probably annul your marriage.” Before I could respond, Mia went on, “You and Dante must convince them otherwise. Catalina and I are on your side.”

“Have you spoken to her?”

“No, but if I know your sister, she’ll stand by you. She’s most likely the reason that Dario hasn’t completely lost his shit.”

I looked down, seeing my bare legs and the shorts. “Last night” —warmth filled my cheeks— “Dante cut the straps of my sundress.”

Mia’s smile bloomed. “Savage Italian traditions. Isn’t that what you called them?”

I had.

“It was only the straps, and it was kind of sexy.” I looked around. “But that means I only have this to wear.”

Mia stood and looked down at me. “Nope. That won’t do for the audience you’re about to receive. I’m probably two or three sizes bigger than you even when I’m not pregnant. But Viviana is closer to your size.”

“Do you think she has anything I could wear?”

“Since I convinced her to do away with the maid uniforms, she’s expanded her wardrobe. Let me ask her, and we’ll work out something.”

I stood. “Thank you. I keep saying that, but I mean it. Thank you for standing by us.”

“I never had a sister, and now I have two. They just happen to also be sisters. It’s very complicated.” She squeezed my hand. “But the best things always are.”

Thirty minutes later, I was dressed in a long orange skirt with a white short-sleeved top. Mia came up with some chunky necklaces, and I decided my tennis shoes were perfectly acceptable. I added some curls to my hair on each side of my face and styled my ponytail neater. As I took one last look in the mirror, I noticed the ruby ring.

Holding my left hand against my chest, I remembered Dante’s promise.

Tonight, I would be with my husband, wherever we were. We’d be together.

“Camila.”

I peeked out of the bathroom to see Dante.

He stopped, his smile growing as he scanned me from my hair to my shoes. “You’re beautiful, beautiful.” He offered me his hand. “Are you ready?”

“For?”

“Your parents are here.”

My chest grew heavier. “Mia said they were on their way.” I looked up at my husband. “That’s better than their house, right?”

“We’ll face them together.”