Page 38 of Bound By A Promise
Nonnogave me this knife when I was only eleven. I’ve treasured it. Cared for it. Cleaned my enemies’ blood from it. I’d used it for my first kill. My thoughts circled as Mia and Aléjandro spoke.
“I calledmí padre,” Aléjandro explained to Mia, “from the car. Dante heard the same answer from him as he did from Andrés.”
“That means it’s settled.” Mia’s tone was softer as she looked at her husband. “Your thoughts?”
“We’re in a fucking tight spot,” he replied. “Dante” —he jutted his chin my direction— “is your brother. Rei is mine.”
“You and Rei are close. Have you heard him talk about Camila?”
“He’s said a few things, mostly about her ass and small tits when she’s at the pool.”
I flicked my wrist.
Mia screamed.
“The fuck?” Aléjandro roared as he followed my knife, pulling it from their kitchen wall.
“Jesus, Dante,” my sister scolded.
Aléjandro’s dark stare zeroed in on me, silently warning as he handed my knife back butt first.
“Would he fight for her?” I asked, savoring the feel of the cool handle in my palm.
“No one is fighting,” Mia said. “I know you don’t want to hear it, Dante, but the powers-that-be have spoken.”
“You’re right. I don’t want to hear that.”
She turned toward Aléjandro. “Has anyone asked Camila?”
He shrugged.
“I spoke to her.”
Mia had my attention. “You spoke to her? Tonight?”
“Yeah, she called me not long ago.” Mia turned to her husband. “She likes Rei.” She shook her head. “She had no idea there was a wedding planned between the two of them until Andrés told her this afternoon.”
“The engagement party is tomorrow,” I said through gritted teeth.
“She doesn’t want to hurt Rei,” Mia went on. “But she’s convinced she’s in love with” —Mia laid her hand on my shoulder— “this guy.”
I turned to Aléjandro. “Do you have some Russian assholes around here? I really need to kill somebody.”
Mia laid her hands on her husband’s chest, splaying her fingers and looking up at him through her lashes. “Have you ever gone against your father’s word?”
He closed his eyes with a mixture of a curse and growl.
She turned to me. “How will Dario take it if you go against his wishes?”
“What do you think? He’ll be fucking pissed.”
Mia was again talking to Aléjandro. “Healthy relationships involve both parties. Dante and Camila have started that relationship, willingly, consensually. Some arranged marriages work. Hell, Rei and Camila would probably work in the long run,but according to her, there’s no fire there. No flames of passion or” —she grinned— “of hatred.”
“Yeah, those are fucking hot.”
I pointed my knife in their direction. “That’s right. I remember. Mia had that contract out on you.” My thoughts went to Camila. Fire. There was an inferno the night of her first kiss, her first orgasm in the presence of a man. Damn, the memory caused my balls to draw tight.
Mia spoke. “What’s missing in the arrangements the men make is the future bride’s input. I got that tonight from Camila.”