Page 97 of Bound By A Promise
“What about Herrera?”
“Aléjandro and Reinaldo are going to consult with Jorge.” He inhaled. “Jorge and Dario will have the final words in the decisions, but if the Roríguez cartel is at war with the Herrera cartel, they’re not in it alone.”
Epilogue
Camila
Three months later
Ihurried from the bed to the window. “It’s snowing.”
“It does that in the winter, beautiful.”
A blanket of white coated the world beyond our window as large flakes filtered down from the clouds above. “It makes me think of skiing.”
Dante pulled back the blankets and patted the mattress. “It makes me think of cold. Come back to bed and let me warm you.”
Doing as he said, I walked back to the bed and crawled under the blankets. With a push of a button on the remote, Dante brought the fireplace to life.
I curled against his side, my head on my favorite pillow, that of his rock-hard shoulder. “I’ve enjoyed the time off, but I’m ready to get back to my classes at Missouri State-Kansas City after the first of the year.”
“You’ll be the sophomore with the big guy following her everywhere she goes.”
“I like Giovanni. He doesn’t hover.”
Dante kissed my hair. “I trust him, not just with protecting you, but also respecting you.”
I nodded. “My parents will be here later today for the holiday.”
Em, Rei, Aléjandro, and Mia were already in Kansas City. It was going to be an old-fashioned holiday, the kind where the cartel and Mafia break bread.
At the ding of a text message, Dante rolled and lifted his phone. “Oh, your present is about to arrive.”
“My present? We said no gifts.”
His sexy smile grew. “What can I say? I’m a criminal by nature. Sometimes I’m not one hundred percent forthcoming.”
“You’d lie to me?” I asked, aghast.
“Only to surprise you.”
Excitement electrified my circulation. “What are you going to surprise me with?”
He rolled from the bed, standing in all his Greek-god glory. Michelangelo’s David had nothing on Dante Luciano. “Since your sister is delivering it in a few minutes, I suggest we put on some clothes.”
“Cat’s bringing my present.”
Dante laughed as he stepped into his boxer briefs. “That’s more accurate than you know.”
I furrowed my forehead. “I don’t understand.”
He lifted my nightgown from the floor. “You might want this.”
Getting out of bed, I went to him and took the satin gown. Pushing myself up to my tiptoes, I brushed his lips with mine. “I don’t know why I waste money on nightgowns; somehow, they always seem to get lost during the night.”
“You have them to answer the door in the morning.” Excitement shone in his eyes. “Come on, hurry.”
I quickly hurried to the bathroom, took care of business, splashed water on my face and ran my toothbrush over my teeth. Once I was dressed in panties, nightgown, and robe, I combed my long hair, securing it behind my head in a low ponytail.