Page 37 of Bound By A Promise
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.
Chapter
Twelve
Dante
The drive back to Aléjandro’s home was quieter than our ride to the Ruiz home. There were the few minutes when Aléjandro called his father. My observation was that Jorge Roríguez was a man of few words. When Aléjandro questioned the reasoning behind the change from me to Rei, Jorge simply said it was his decision and he stood by it. My brother-in-law may feel sorry for me, but I wouldn’t doubt that his loyalties lay with his brother.
He pulled the Porsche into the garage. The slamming of doors echoed throughout the garage, around a large SUV, a black Mercedes, and a sharp Ducati motorcycle.
Mia met us in the kitchen. “It didn’t go well.” Her voice lacked emotion, as if she could read the anguish on my face.
Instead of answering, I sat in one of the tall chairs at their kitchen island, contemplating my next move. I pulled my knife from its sheath and laid it on the counter before me. Kidnappingwas an option, but one that would definitely fuck with the alliance.
I concentrated on the intricacies of the mother-of-pearl and silver handle. This knife originally belonged tomio nonnoAlessio. He was our mother’s father.
When I was young,Nonnotook me under his wing. He knew what my future held. He knew I’d always be second in everything. Second born. Second son. The underboss, not the boss. The knowledge that the cartel wouldn’t have changed plans like this if I were Dario grated on my nerves.
They wouldn’t fuck the capo or future capo. The underboss was inconsequential.