Page 57 of When Sinners Fall

“Now, now, brother. Less of the baby.” She smiles up at him, and it’s then I notice his own eye roll and shake of the head.

“Pleased to meet you,” I greet her. “I’m-”

“Mariana is just leaving,” Dante interrupts.

“Not so fast. After all, you’ve already threatened my date.” Her smile sours, and she shoots daggers toward Dante, who looks like he’s ready to use a weapon about now. Instead, he tracks across to an empty table and grabs a chair, bringing it back to our table.

“So, do you have a name?” she asks.

It’s my turn to scowl. “Of course. If Dante wasn’t so quick to interrupt.”

“Mariana is leaving,” he repeats.

She dips her head and then looks at Dante. A series of eye movements between them and Mariana drumming her fingers on the table seem to nudge Dante into breaking the uncomfortable silence.

“Mariana, this is Wren Campbell.”

“Delighted, Wren.” She gives me a wink. “Dante?” She raises her brows as she stands.

“I’ll be right back,” he growls.

“Fine.”

They walk back towards Mariana’s table, where she re-joins her date. More words are shared between the guy she’s with and Dante before he strides back across the restaurant to me.

I pick up the menu and try to behave like this is the normal date I was hoping for. And that lasts about four seconds.

I close the menu again. “Your sister?”

“My sister.” He pulls out his packet of cigarettes and lighter and begins tapping it on the table.

“I’m sensing you’re not happy about her meeting me.”

“I told you I wanted to keep you away from them.”

“Does it matter? Did you have some big family meeting planned?”

“Like fuck.” He raises his arm, and a waiter rushes over. “Two whiskies. Make them both a double.”

“Look, let’s just eat. And maybe next time we go out, we’ll make sure you don’t have any siblings at the same place.” I pause. “How many siblings do you have, by the way? I remember your brother at school but didn’t really speak to him. I can’t remember meeting any others before.”

“Too many.” I shake my head at him and pick up the menu. “Fine. Four.”

“All in the business?”

“I’ve told you this.”

“I know. It’s just, meeting Mariana, it doesn’t look like she could, well, do what you do.” I glance back towards her table, but she and her date are gone.

“Never underestimate a Cortez. You’ll learn that. Now, are we going to order?”

CHAPTER TWENTY - ONE

DRAGON

Towelling down after a shower, I walk back out into the bedroom and watch her sleeping. She’s sprawled out like she owns the place. Dirty blonde hair at messed up angles, sexy as hell body wrapped up in my blue sheets, and smudged up eyes looking peaceful and quiet for once in their life. No anger in that brow line this morning, like the last few days, either. No need for it, I guess.

I end up smiling about that and going to get dressed instead of disturbing her. She’s as safe as she can be in my bed, and whilst the fact that I’ve got to leave makes me frown, at least I know she’ll stay where I tell her to now.