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“I don’t know, but I sure as hell intend to find out.” I gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. “You did the right thing by coming to me, Sof.”

Sofia chewed her lip, worry still evident in her eyes. “He can’t know anything, Dante. He just can’t.”

“He won’t, sis,” I promised, giving her shoulder a final squeeze. “Now, go on, get some rest. I’ll take care of this.”

Sofia nodded, her eyes drifting to Natalia, who stood quietly by the breakfast bar. “Oh, hey, Eva,” she said, her face brightening slightly. “Are you free this morning? Do you want to go shopping with me? I could use some retail therapy after all this.”

Natalia shook her head, her eyes apologetic. “Thanks, Sofia, but I have to work. I’m already late.”

Sofia pouted but didn’t push the issue. “Another time, then,” she said, quickly hugging Natalia. “It was so much fun last time we hung out. We should do it again soon.”

“Definitely,” Natalia agreed, returning the hug.

As I closed the door behind Sofia, Natalia gave me one last sultry look before she disappeared down the hallway to get dressed, my mind awhirl with thoughts of what just happened.

The thought of Allen using my sister to get information on our family had me more riled up than I cared to admit. Good thing I had Marco looking into the asshole already. I just couldn’t shake the feeling there was something we weren’t seeing, something bigger at play here.

But at the same time, I felt bad for Sofia. My sister had no clue that I was already looking into her boyfriend or that her new best girlfriend was an undercover DEA agent. Her little safe world was nothing but lies and deception.

Natalia returned fully dressed, her eyes warm, and before I knew it, she was pulling me into a heated embrace, her lips crashing against mine. I felt her tongue tease mine in a promise of future delights.

When we finally parted, Natalia’s cheeks flushed. “That was amazing,” she said, her tone light.

“It was,” I replied, a smile tugging at my lips.

After Natalia had left, I stood at the window, watching the Miami sunrise paint the sky in hues of pink and gold. A strange sense of calm washed over me. Despite the storm raging inside, I couldn’t deny the spark of hope that flickered in my chest.

Natalia Ramirez. DEA agent. My enemy. And yet, the woman who had somehow managed to burrow her way into my heart.

I closed my eyes, remembering the feel of her in my arms, the sound of her laughter, the fire in her eyes when she challenged me. It was all real – I could feel it in my bones. And that realization hit me like a freight train.

Maybe, just maybe, there was a way out of this mess. A path that didn’t end in bloodshed and betrayal, but in something... more.

I turned away from the window, my mind racing with possibilities. What if I could use this situation to our advantage? What if, instead of seeing Natalia as a threat, I could turn her into an ally?

It was a dangerous game, full of risks and potential pitfalls. But as I poured myself another cup of coffee, I felt a surge of determination. I was Dante Reyes, after all. I’m building an empire on taking risks and turning impossible situations to my advantage.

This would be my greatest challenge yet – navigating the treacherous waters between love and duty, trust and betrayal. I couldn’t deny I felt a glimmer of excitement, as I imagined the hauntingly beautiful face of the woman who had managed to capture my heart despite all odds.

Natalia Ramirez.

Eva Morales.

My enemy.

My lover.

My undoing.

My hope.

TWENTY-FIVE

NATALIA

I paced the confines of my sparse apartment, my mind a whirlwind of anxiety and uncertainty. The seconds ticked by with agonizing slowness, each stretching out like an eternity as I waited for word from Morrow about the bust.

I imagined the events of the past few hours in my mind–the frantic preparations, the tense briefing with the tactical team, the anticipation of finally dealing a devastating blow to the Reyes cartel’s operations. I should have heard back by now.