Page 2 of Bound By A Promise

“I haven’t been anything to her.” He set his glass on the table. “Ever since the engagement, Father’s had me running in all directions. The famiglia will burn to the ground if he doesn’t step down and soon.”

Once word made it onto the streets about our famiglia’s alliance with the Roríguez cartel, we’ve been bombarded from all sides. Our father’s quick temper hadn’t quelled the rising temperatures within the famiglia or between different organizations. My thoughts went back to Dario’s bride. “Did she tell you off?”

“No. I have the feeling she understands what her father, brother, and uncles do. It’s not too difficult to understand what’s been occupying my time.”

“She’s beautiful,” I admitted. “If she’s understanding as well, you might have hit the jackpot. But…” I elongated the last word.

Dario lifted his eyebrows.

“You had your choice, right?”

“I chose Catalina. You know that.”

“What about her sister?”

“Camila?”

I nodded, my pulse increasing at the sound of her name.

My brother’s forehead furrowed. “Camila is a child.”

She didn’t look like a child to me.

Dario went on, “The last thing I want to do is marry a child. This alliance is going to require delicate diplomacy. I don’t have the time or energy to raise a wife.” He shook his head. “Catalina has proven herself to be self-reliant, with her education. She won’t need to be instructed at every turn.”

Giving that some thought, I let my cheeks rise in a grin. “Jorge promised she’s pure. Some instruction will be needed.”

Dario’s lips pressed together. “I’m not talking about sex. I’m talking about life.”

On a good day, my brother was hard to read. With all that was happening, tonight wouldn’t be classified as good. His expression was impenetrable.

“I know her virginity isn’t an issue for you. It is for Mother.”

Dario’s dark eyes narrowed. “Her purity isn’t to be questioned even by you.”

I lifted my hand in surrender. “I’m just saying, you didn’t care about virginity when it came to Josie.”

My brother and I have always been close, but broaching the subject of Josie was a stretch even for me. “Sorry,” I said, flashing a smile. “My bad. It’s just that the younger one caught my eye. I’ve been thinking…”

“Stop thinking. She’s going to college and way too fucking young for you.”

Dario was probably right. And even if he wasn’t, as the soon-to-be-named capo, any relationship I’d want to pursue with Camila would be at his discretion. It was good I wasn’t lookingfor a relationship. Dario could cement the alliance with his marriage. That should be enough.

The following afternoon I stood at Dario’s side in our parents’ garden and scanned the unlikely gathering. With the Mafia on one side of the aisle and the cartel on the other, tension rippled through the air, almost visible in waves shimmering within the summer breeze. The earlier show of surrendering weapons upon entry was only that—a performance. Personally, I still had two guns and two knives. Knowing my brother, he was carrying even more weapons. All it would take was an itchy trigger finger to turn this wedding into a bloodbath.

My attention went to the woman walking down the aisle—the one Dario proclaimed as too young. Standing statuesque, my gaze lingered on her slender figure, partially hidden beneath the bridesmaid dress. The neckline dipped just enough to expose the top of her tiny breasts. Her long dark hair was secured on the sides and hanging in waves over her shoulders. The color of the dress intensified her emerald-green eyes, the ones I’d noticed last night.

The congregation stood as the music changed. An audible gasp of appreciation sounded from the rows of guests as my soon-to-be sister-in-law stood at the end of the aisle, her hand on her father’s arm.

As Dario took Catalina’s hand, I wondered if I was attracted to the younger Ruiz, or if as in most of my life, I was second to my older brother. Was his wedding making me think of my own? The thought that I was interested in anything other than a casual encounter almost made me laugh. I successfully let my mind concentrate on my brother and his bride and the current lack of bloodshed, that was, until it was time to walk back down the aisle. As best man, I was paired with the maid of honor.

Camila smiled up at me as we approached one another before gently laying her petite hand on my arm. The fragranceof cinnamon filled my senses. Seeing her fragile fingers, slender wrists…Dario was right. Camila was too young. More than that, she was too delicate to be with a man like me. Swallowing, I nodded with a grin of indifference as we paraded toward the back of the makeshift aisle.

Chapter

One

Camila