Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
She sucks in a deep breath, her eyes focusing on me like I have all the answers. “But?”
“But, fuck me, babe. Today? Right here and now, I don’t give a shit. I have you.”
“Aaaah!” She screams at the top of her lungs, and when she’s done, tears stream down her face. “This is so unfair! All I want is a man like you to protect and love me. And I can’t have him because of my stupid family!”
“You have me, babe.” I pull her in closer to me. “It would be a fucking honor to protect you. Love you and come home to you at the end of every day.”
She sniffles and wipes her face with the back of her hand. “You would?”
“Damn straight I would,” I assure her and brush a kiss to her full lips. “I’m not ready to give you up, Valentina.”
“Me either,” she sighs and cups my face with sadness in her eyes. “But we have to stop, Dix. Someone is going to get hurt, and it would kill me if that person was you. This has to end.”
My heart skips at the idea that this is the last time I’ll ever get to see her, touch her, and taste her. My blood feels like acid in my veins, and instead of agreeing not to see her again, I lean forward and kiss her.
I pour everything I’m feeling into that kiss, sliding my body against hers, enjoying the way she responds so quickly.
This might be the last time we’re together, but I’m not ready to let her go yet, so I take my time savoring every second with her, kissing every inch of her body until it’s committed to memory. And when neither of us can take anymore, I push inside her and take us both straight to heaven.
The ride back to the hotel at the end of our fabulous day is the longest, most torturous bike ride of my life. No matter what happens between us, I need to know she’s safe, so I drop her off behind that fancy salon as my heart rips to fucking shreds.
And right there behind the salon, with our lust slaked and tears in her eyes, Valentina kisses me goodbye one last time and walks away from me.
From us.
A permanent goodbye this time.
My heart cracks open, but she’s right, and I don’t chase after her. I watch the swing of her hips until she’s gone from view, savoring every fucking second. When she turns with a sad smile of farewell, I want to beg her to come back and make promises we both know I can’t keep.
But she’s right. One of us will get killed.
Unless I do the killing first.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Valentina
I slip on my four-inch red stilettos to add a pop of color to my all-black ensemble, hoping to blend in with the shadows as I walk into Papa’s suite. My heart is heavy with grief and heartache, still unable to believe that just an hour ago, I was the one to walk away from Dix. But I know it’s the right choice.
“Valentina, hija. Where have you been?” Papa greets me warmly.
“You know me, Papa, always distracted by something,” I reply, trying to sound cheerful as I take my seat at the foot of the table. It’s the seat Mama should occupy, but she’s gone, leaving me far removed from all talk of family business.
Benedicto and Emiliano are already seated, discussing the bikers. I try to stay engaged, but my mind keeps drifting back to Dix.
“I need someone to look after things in Colombia while I stay here to trade with the bikers,” Papa says suddenly, bringing me back to the present.
“I think that’s great. Emiliano can return to Colombia, and I can be of assistance here at your side,” I say, trying to sound eager to help.
“You should be back in Colombia!” Emiliano interjects angrily.
“Basta!” Papa growls, silencing him. “Valentina has a business degree, speaks better English than anyone here, and no law enforcement agencies are looking for a reason to arrest her. She’ll be an asset to our operations here.”
I feel a pang of guilt as I realize I’m using my clean legal record as an excuse to stay in the US and avoid going back to Colombia to mourn Alejandro. But I can’t go back there now, not after everything that’s happened with Dix.
“My husband is dead. He doesn't care if I am mourning him. If you care so much, you can go back to mourn him,” I snap at Emiliano, trying to hide my own pain.
I’m conflicted. I want to be part of the family business, for Papa’s sake but I also want love and a man who will protect me, like Dix. I can’t have both, and it tears me apart inside.
“The bikers appear to be legit,” Benedicto says, breaking the silence. “The second shipment is on track and on time.”