by Tess Summers
“Goddammit, Dante, no. I have to pee, for Chrissake, and brush my teeth. And you know I get up to pee at least once a night.”
The bastard chuckled while he unlocked the cuff from the bed, but he left the metal bracelet dangling from her wrist. “You have five minutes.”
She scrambled off the bed, her bare breasts bouncing as she scurried to the en suite bathroom, Dante close on her heels.
“Do you mind?” she asked before closing the door in his face, not waiting for his reply.
She sat down and buried her head in her hands, her head and heart at war with one another. She loved how she felt when she was with him—he made her feel alive. Beautiful. Desired. Protected. Loved… But she was only setting herself up for heartache—they were a lost cause.
“Three minutes,” he announced from the other side of the door. She reached up and pushed the lock—not that it would really do her any good. It was a symbolic gesture, at best. She heard his chuckle at the sound of the click. “Oh, Kennedy Jones, you are adorable.”
She wasn’t adorable, she was a badass, and she needed to keep remembering that. Being in love with Mr. Sexy Alpha Dante Mateo Guzman didn’t lessen that. He was going to realize sooner or later that she was a force to be reckoned with.
****
Dante
“Ten, nine, eight…”
She opened the door just before he reached one. It was a good thing, although he had been hoping for a reason to put her over his knee, since she was still due for a punishment for her escape attempt.
“Can I brush my teeth, please?” she asked contritely. Too contritely. He nodded, not taking his eyes off her. She was up to something, he could feel it. Just like he’d felt it the night she left him after murdering his uncle. He wasn’t necessarily fearful she’d harm him, but he was concerned she’d try another escape, and Dante wasn’t letting that happen again.
He ran his hand over her ass, watching her tits jiggle in the mirror as she brushed her teeth. Fuck, he needed her. What did it say about their relationship that they’d seemed to connect again as they wrestled and fucked in the grass?
She set her toothbrush back in the cup, then looked at it for a moment before murmuring, “I can’t believe you kept it.”
“I knew you’d be back.”
“I can’t stay, Dante,” she said in a quiet voice.
He tried to disguise his quick intake of breath. “Just give me a week, Bella. Let me make sure you don’t have anything to worry about, then you’ll be free to leave. If you still want to.” He was going to do his damnedest to make sure she didn’t want to.
“Okay.”
“But I am going to have to punish you. That window is going to be a bitch to get repaired.”
His cock got instantly hard when she stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “I deserve to be punished, Sir.”
Now he knew something was definitely awry. He swatted her ass. “Get back in bed.”
With a giggle reminiscent of Ruby Rhodes, she spun on the ball of her foot and headed back into the bedroom. He was on high alert when he followed her into the room.
When he attempted to hook the handcuff on the headboard, she jerked her wrist to her stomach and sat up straight.
“What the hell, Dante? I’m playing nice. I said I would give you a week. I understand it’s in my best interest to stay put until you get things worked out with Ramon; there’s no need for the handcuffs.” She began to rub her wrist. “Take it off, it’s making me itch.”
He hesitated, taking a deep breath and looking up at the ceiling as he debated with himself about what to do.
He looked at her again—and found her with an annoyed expression on her face, the metal bracelet that had been attached to her wrist now dangling from the end of her fingertip.
“You do realize I’m trained to get out of these, right?”
God, he fucking loved her.
Chapter Fourteen
Kennedy
Dante smirked when he saw she’d slipped out of the cuff, and shook his head while he took the metal restraints from her.
Running his finger down her cheek, he growled, “Don’t get too cocky, little one,” then dipped his head and captured her mouth with his.
Kennedy whimpered as he pulled her against him. She’d been frightened when she saw him come out of the woods, but a tiny part of her had also been turned on. He was the only man to ever make her feel that he could not only handle her, but would protect her too.
She was a strong, independent, ass-kicking woman, and had lived her entire adult life not needing—or even really wanting—a man. Growing up with a mother who couldn’t take care of anything by herself, relying on men for everything and always being disappointed by them, Keni had vowed that would never be her.
But something about Dante Guzman made her forget all about that whenever she was near him.
His arm came around her possessively, and she nestled into his side with a sigh and a smile.
“Goodnight, Bella,” he murmured just before she fell into a peaceful slumber.
****
“Miss Ruby, you’re back!” Rosa—one of Dante’s pair of sweet, matronly housekeepers—exclaimed in surprise when Keni walked into the kitchen with the breakfast tray Dante had left for her in the bedroom.
She didn’t suggest the woman call her Keni instead of Ruby; she didn’t see the point.
“How are you beautiful ladies?” Kennedy asked in Spanish, being sure to include Maria, who was slicing vegetables but spoke limited English.
“Oh, your Spanish is getting better!”
When she had been here before as Ruby, Kennedy had often hung out in the kitchen. She had pretended to want the women to help her with her Spanish, but was secretly hoping to learn any gossip the help might dish on their employer, thinking she couldn’t understand.
Not surprisingly, they never had anything but glowing things to say about Dante. They treated him like a son, and he was as good to them as their own sons were—probably better.
“I’ve spent the last seven months working really hard,” was all she offered.
“Did you enjoy breakfast, Bella?” Dante asked, kissing her on the cheek as he walked into the kitchen and refilled his coffee mug. He’d once again made her breakfast. It wasn’t exactly Rosa’s cooking, but the fact that he’d done it for her made it delicious.
“I’m afraid I’m getting lazy, sleeping in and letting you make me breakfast. Why don’t I make it tomorrow?”
He smiled as he spooned sugar into his coffee. “I’d like that.”
“Would you mind if I used the gym and sat by the pool today?”
He eyed for her a beat as he tapped the spoon against the rim of his china cup. “Just be sure to sit under the umbrella with a hat. I wouldn’t want your fair skin to get sunburned.”
She knew it was more than that. It was probable that the property was under surveillance, and he didn’t want her to be recognized.
“You know what? You’re right. The sun is awfully strong this time of year, maybe I’ll just sit on the enclosed porch.”
He nodded in understanding and said, “I think that’s a wise choice,” then kissed her again before leaving. “Lunch at noon in the dining room?”
Her smile was for the benefit of the women watching them. She was starting to go stir crazy, but at least she was out of that tiny room and allowed to roam the estate. It was a start. And she’d probably feel a lot better after a workout.
“I look forward to it.”
****
Dante
He walked into the dining room late for lunch. He’d been on the phone with Ramon, explaining—lying—about the plane having mechanical difficulties, which was why he’d sent John in his place last night. Fortunately, Laila had not minded. On the contrary, John had shown her ‘a very good time.’ Dante had summoned John to get the details, as well as his assistance supervising the men repairing the window and keeping them from being too curious about the r
oom’s contents.
“Good afternoon,” he said, kissing Kennedy before he sat down. “John is arriving this evening, which means he’ll be having dinner with us tonight. The workers are coming tomorrow morning”—he gave a dramatic pause with one eyebrow raised—“to repair the window. I want you to stay out of sight tomorrow until they leave.”
She nodded her head thoughtfully.
“I need to go back to work soon,” she announced as he laid his napkin across his lap.
He slowly creased the cloth across his legs before speaking. “Bella, we talked about this last night. You agreed to give me a week.”
“I know, Dante. But I feel like my brain is turning to mush.”
“It hasn’t even been a week, little one. Do you not know how to relax?”
“I do, actually. But between not knowing what Ramon is going to decide, worrying about whether the agency is going to come looking for me, and not having any access to technology or a connection to the outside world, I’m a little on edge. Not to mention I have no idea what this ‘punishment’ you have in store for me is.”
He leaned in to caress her cheek with his and was pleased when she closed her eyes in response. Kissing below her ear, he whispered, “I promise you’ll like your punishment,” then sat back in his chair. “I have to go to San Diego the day after tomorrow and meet with Ramon. But what if I give you some things to work on for me?”
She shot him a look before taking a sip of water. “I’m not helping you in your criminal activity, Dante.”
Maria arrived with lunch so they fell silent until she left.
He began to cut his salad with a fork and knife. “I’ve told you, Bella, I’m working on legitimatizing our business. I’d only ask for your assistance with that aspect.”
Dante wasn’t blowing smoke up her ass. It was why he’d backed Ramon taking over as patrón. Ramon was younger, hungrier, and willing to listen to Dante’s ideas not only on how to make the family syndicate grow, but also on legitimizing parts of it. Enrique had wanted to hear none of it; his attitude was, the way they’d done business had made them all very wealthy, so why change it?
It had become obvious that new leadership was necessary in the organization, and Enrique needed to be replaced—and eventually all that was left to determine was whether it would come at the hands of the CIA or from within the cartel itself.
Then his little assassin had shown up.
And he fucking fell in love with her.
Now more than ever he needed to turn more of the organization honest. Who better to help him than Kennedy? And she could marry him and have his children in the process. There was no downside to the plan—not that he could see. He knew he needed to proceed slowly, though.
She eyed him suspiciously. “What would I be doing?”
“Mostly consulting about security—both cyber and for the brick-and-mortar locations.”
A small smile formed at the corner of her mouth. “Okay.”
Seeing her happy made his heart swell and the rest of lunch was spent like most of their meals—discussing world events, pop culture, and politics. To test the waters, he mentioned an article he’d read about babies being exposed to technology too early.
“I don’t want our kids being exposed to screen time until they’re ten.”
She pursed her lips at him. “That’s incredibly unrealistic and will put them at a disadvantage. All their peers will have been operating technology since they were two.”
But she didn’t say anything about not having kids with him—as a matter of fact, she had pretty much conceded to having his babies.
“That’s a good point.” See, baby? I’ll compromise when it comes to our children.
Chapter Fifteen
Kennedy
She sat in Dante’s study, going over data for one of the several businesses the cartel owned. Dante said it was completely legitimate, although she had her suspicions about how much drug money was being laundered through it. But right now it was giving her some purpose, and she got to work alongside her sexy Latin lover.
Making out in the middle of a strategy session was definitely underrated.
Keni was straddling his lap, showing him the flaws in his system while he kissed her neck, when they heard, “Ahem.”
Standing in the doorway with his knuckle to his mouth was John Turner, formerly known as Dr. Bruce Parker.
She decided to have a little fun at the men’s expense.
“Dr. Parker! So nice to see you. How’s the pediatric department doing these days?”
One corner of the handsome American’s mouth turned up wryly, probably more to appease his boss than actual amusement at her remark. Dante smacked her ass in jest.
“Watch it, little one. You’re already in enough trouble.”
She rolled her eyes and kissed his cheek before climbing off his lap.
“I’ll go check on dinner.”
“Thank you. Let Rosa know we’ll be ready in an hour.”
She smirked as she walked past John in the doorway. He was definitely handsome, but nowhere near as gorgeous as Dante. “Good to see you again, John.”
He nodded his head. “Ms. Templeton.” It was the fictional name she’d given him on their run in Leavenworth.
She broke into a big grin. So she wasn’t the only one who was going to be a smartass. She liked him already.
“How was the opera?”
It was his turn to smile broadly. “I definitely need to thank you for that.”
“Sounds like there’s a story…”
“Bella… Dinner.” Dante’s deep voice interrupted them.
She glanced at the man she’d been making out with all afternoon, doing his best to not appear annoyed that she and his henchman were behaving like old friends. If she weren’t so happy that he’d given her something meaningful to do this afternoon, she might have considered poking the bear, just to be a brat. But she was probably in enough trouble as it was, so she simply smiled and said, “Oh, right. Let me go check on that,” before disappearing into the kitchen.
Her handler would be beside himself if he knew that not only was she not going to attempt to covertly listen to Dante and John’s conversation, she didn’t even want to.
A tiny voice was whispering in her mind, “This is not good”—and her heart was telling the tiny voice to shut the fuck up.
****
Dante
“You seem happy,” John said with a grin as he sat down in the chair opposite Dante. “I haven’t seen you this relaxed in a long time.”
“I could say the same about you.”
His right-hand man shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, but gave up the act when he couldn’t stop smiling.
“Best night of my life, man. I wasn’t kidding when I said I need to thank her.” He gestured to the doorway where Kennedy had disappeared.
If it were anyone but John, Dante would be put out at the thought of him thanking his Bella. But they had been friends since boarding school; there was no one Dante trusted more than him.
Still, he snarled possessively, “I’ll pass it along for you.”
That made his friend chuckle knowingly.
“So, what’s the story? Does Ramon know she’s here? I’m assuming the CIA does? Aren’t you worried about a raid to come and get her—either from the US government or your uncle?”
“Ramon doesn’t know she’s here—or at least he didn’t last night. She’s made an appearance, though, since her little jailbreak, and I’m not sure how many of the staff have seen her and which ones are on Ramon’s payroll as well as mine. She doesn’t seem concerned about the agency coming for her, unless they think she’s turned.”
“Has she?”
He shook his head. “No, and I would never ask her to. It goes against who she is, and she’d eventually be miserable. It’s one thing to ask her to overlook it, but it’s completely different to ask her to play a role.”
“So what were you two doing when I got here, othe
r than acting like horny teenagers?”
“She was looking at some of the security plans for Emerald Woods.”
Emerald Woods—one of their lawful businesses—owned marijuana dispensaries throughout the western United States. Profits were up and they were in the process of expanding, but security was a real concern.
“I can see how she’d be helpful with that.”
“Wait till you get my bill.” Kennedy was standing in the doorway with a smirk. “Dinner will be ready in an hour.” She disappeared without another word.
John looked where she’d been standing, then turned back to Dante, shaking his head with a smile. “You’re going to have your hands full with her.”
The corners of Dante’s mouth lifted in agreement. “Don’t I know it.”
He was looking forward to having his hands all over her later tonight, in fact—but right now, he needed to do something before dinner.
“Will you excuse me, John? I need to talk to Kennedy.”
His friend grinned, assuming Dante was up to something. “Sure. I’ll see you later.”
****
He walked into his bedroom, bag in hand, and turned the lock after closing the door. Kennedy was sitting in lotus position on the king-size bed, going through the Wall Street Journal, which he still had delivered daily, Monday through Friday. Call him old-school, but he just liked the print version of that particular publication better than the electronic one.
She looked up at him and smiled as she turned a page.
With slow, deliberate steps, he approached the bed, and the smile fell from her face when she noticed his expression. She closed the newspaper and stared up at him with her emerald green eyes, not saying a word.
He knew his smile was menacing as he sat down on the edge of the bed and looked over at her—that was his intention.
She swallowed hard and squeaked out, “What’s in the bag?”
“Part of your punishment, slut. Come here,” and he pointed to a spot on the floor to the right of him.