Page 11 of Bound By Betrayal

“¡Mamá!”

This time, her mother tipped her head back and laughed wholeheartedly as she returned to the vehicle’s passenger side door.

Amalia sunk her nails into my hand for attention. “Whatever you do, don’t entertain her.”

“She seems nice. Are you sure you’re related?”

“Probably not, because I’m not nice.”

Yeah, she was fucking adorable, even when she tried to be a bitch.

“Where’s Gio?” Amalia asked, peering inside the empty cabin.

“Oh, you know how he is. Asked to be dropped off by the stables.”

“He’d rather see horses before his sister?”

Unable to resist, I dipped my head close to her ear.

“I don’t blame him.”

She rolled her eyes and elbowed me lightly in the rib. I was borderline disappointed her reaction was so mild when she’d threatened me with death just two hours prior. When Amalia tried to pry her hand from mine, I wouldn’t let up, not even as her father approached. Better she knew now than later that she wasn’t in charge.

Antonio looked at me with slight suspicion and eyed the tattoo on my neck. Ink branched out from the sleeve and collar of his suit, so I knew the tattoo itself didn’t bother him so much as intrigued him. Both knew I was still a member of Ares, as the Montesinos had close ties to the organization. I wasn’t sure how she’d convinced them our relationship was genuine, though I felt her mother suspected otherwise.

“I always said I’d pity the poor bastard who ended up with my daughter.”

“Wow,” she chimed in, finally tearing her hand from mine and stalking forward onto the curved driveway. “I’m going to find the only man in this family who appreciates me.”

“Amalia.” Her father’s tone had taken a serious note. “We need to talk about what happened yesterday. I received some intel, and we’ll be sure to rain hell on everyone involved.”

She nodded, and her eyes flashed to me briefly before she took off down the pathway that I could only assume led to the stables. I dismissed myself moments later and followed Amalia, taking my time to catch up while I admired how her sundress clung to her ass as if by design.

“Why are you following me?”

“We’re supposed to make this believable, are we not? Meeting your brother without me raises suspicion.”

Amalia stopped so abruptly that I crashed into her back, sending her tumbling forward. But before she could lose her balance, I reached out and pulled her into my chest.

Maybe it was the adrenaline of the moment, but I could swear I felt her heart pounding.

“You damn near bulldozed me over.”

It was then I realized I hadn’t been imagining things. Her voice was breathier, and her expression more relaxed. Lowering my mouth to her ear, I whispered, “You brake-checked me, remember?”

Amalia shoved out of my arms and turned around. “My brother, Giovanni, is the baby of the family. He just turned seventeen, and he’s the sweetest soul. He’s pretty good at reading people, so we need to look like we at least tolerate each other.”

“What, you don’t like me?”

“I like you enough to use you for my benefit. Is there anything else you want to know? Because I’ve got about one hundred ways to bruise your ego, Cain.”

“Let’s hear them,” I challenged, calling her bluff.

She waved me off, but I caught a glint of amusement in her eyes.

“You held my cock today, and since you’d never pass up an opportunity, I’ll take your silence on the subject as a stamp of approval.”

“Kai, I said I would bruise your ego, not stroke it. And I’m not afraid to admit when a man has a pretty dick, so get over yourself.”