Page 67 of Bound By A Promise

Jano spoke. “We will take this to my office. Mia, please see to our female guests.”

I turned on him. “You think that you can go into that office and decide my fate.” My temper grew. “I have a news flash for you. This is the twenty-first century. I have the legal right to determine my own future.”

Dante reached for my hand, his tone more reassuring. “You made your decision, Camila. It will be honored.”

Silas opened the front door.

Catalina entered with a forced smile, a step ahead of her husband. Dario’s gaze zeroed in on his brother and our intertwined hands as he assessed the scene. Armando, Catalina’s bodyguard, was the final person to join our gathering.

“Mama,” Catalina said gregariously, coming toward us.

Dario greeted Aléjandro. “Thank you for inviting us to your home. I sense some tension.”

“You’ve always been perceptive, brother,” Mia murmured from across the room.

After hugging Mama, Cat turned toward me. “Congratulations.”

“You’re the first person to say that.”

Dario ignored Mia’s comment as he turned to Dante. “You and I will talk. Then we will talk to the others.”

No one argued.

No one else spoke.

The capo was here.

Catalina reached for my hand as Dante and Dario walked toward the front door. She lowered her voice. “You know how to cause excitement.”

“I wasn’t looking for excitement.” I looked around. “Where is Ariadna Gia?”

“She’s home with Contessa. Flying messes with her sleep schedule.”

“Oh,” Mama replied, “I wanted to see her.”

“Then come back to Kansas City with us for a while. Give Papá time to calm down.”

Mama turned to me, her voice cracking with emotion. “You married without me.”

“Lo lamento.” It was as I looked around that I realized the other men had gone back out to the pool deck.

Catalina too scanned the living room and out to the pool deck. “Mia, I’m so glad you weren’t hurt last night. That must have been frightening.”

“She was great,” I said. “They were prepared.”

“More than Rei,” Mia said. “According to Aléjandro, his house needs tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, in repair.”

Catalina smiled. “It sounds like Rei will be too busy for a wedding.”

I lifted my left hand. “I’m already married.”

“Would anyone like to see the pictures from last night’s ceremony?” Viviana asked. “I can show them on the television.”

“I would,” I said.

Cat, Mama, and I sat on the sofa while Mia and Viviana took chairs in front of the large screen. As Viviana broadcast the pictures to the bigger screen, Catalina whispered, “Dario is going to fight for you and Dante.”

Her simple statement flooded my system with much-needed relief. “Thank you.”