Page 41 of Dangerous Seduction

I felt like somebody had punched me, the air rushing out of my lungs in a strangled gasp. Everything about her, about us, had been a lie. She had infiltrated my life and my family, all in the name of bringing me down.

Rage coursed through me, hot and bitter. I searched the rest of the apartment for any shred of evidence, anything that would confirm what I already knew in my heart.

I found it in a drawer by the bed—a police badge gleaming silver in the dim light. Next to it was an ID card with her picture and real name.

Natalia Ramirez. DEA.

She looked different in this picture, but there was no doubt. Natalia and Eva were the same person. I stared at the badge, my mind reeling. How could I have been so blind, so fucking stupid? I had let her into my life, my heart, and all the while, Natalia had been plotting against me.

I thought of all the moments we had shared, the steamy encounters and hot sex. Her words and the way she looked at me made me feel like I was the only man in the world. It was all an act, a carefully crafted deception designed to confuse and make me trust her.

The worst part was that it had worked. I had fallen for her hard and fast. I had let my guard down and allowed myself to hope for a future with her. And all the while, she had laughed at me, mocking me for my foolishness.

As the initial shock began to wear off, a new emotion took root—a cold, calculated determination. If Natalia thought she could manipulate me, she had another thing coming. It was time to turn the tables and regain control of this twisted game she had started.

A slow, predatory grin spread across my face as a plan began to take shape.

Marco’s voice snapped me back to reality. “We should get going.”

I nodded, and we set about erasing any sign of our intrusion, returning every item to its precise location. Marco ensured the front door looked untouched, buffing the lock and re-sealing it.

Silent as ghosts, we descended the stairs and blended into the hustle of the street outside, heading for our car. As we drove away from Eva’s apartment, the weight of our discovery hung heavy in the air. Marco’s eyes flicked between the road and me, concern etched across his face. I knew he was waiting for me to speak, to give some direction on how to proceed with this explosive information.

Finally, I turned to him, my voice low and serious. “Marco, what we found out today... about Eva, about her real identity as Natalia... it can’t leave this car. Do you understand?”

Marco’s brow furrowed, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “Dante, man, this is big. Your father?—”

“Especially not my father,” I cut him off, my tone sharp. “Ricardo can’t know about this. Not yet.”

He shot me a skeptical look. “Are you sure about this? He’s going to be pissed if he finds out we kept this from him.”

I leaned back in my seat, running a hand through my hair. “I know, but trust me on this. We need to play this smart. If Ricardo finds out about Natalia being DEA, he’ll have her killed without a second thought. And right now, she’s our best chance at figuring out what’s really going on.”

Marco nodded slowly, processing my words. “So what’s the plan?”

“We keep her close, feed her false information, and try to figure out who else might be involved. There’s no way she’s working alone on this.”

“And what about you?” Marco asked, his voice tinged with concern. “I’ve seen how you look at her, Dante. Can you handle playing this game?”

I clenched my jaw, pushing down the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. “I have to. It’s the only way to protect the family and get to the bottom of this mess.”

Marco was silent for a moment before speaking again. “Alright, I’m with you. But be careful, man. This is dangerous territory we’re treading into.”

I nodded, grateful for his loyalty. “I know. That’s why I need you to have my back on this. Not a word to anyone, especially Ricardo. Promise me.”

“You have my word,” Marco said solemnly.

As we drove on through the Miami night, I steeled myself for the challenge ahead. The woman I thought I knew was a lie, but the game was far from over. It was time to show Natalia—and whoever else was pulling the strings—that they had severely underestimated Dante Reyes.

NINETEEN

NATALIA

I must’ve been out of my mind when I decided it was a great idea to sneak in an afternoon of freedom. But I needed a break.

Sure, ditching my cover for a few hours was a gamble. Still, the need to reconnect with Natalia—the woman I was before the boundaries of my real self and my alter ego began to smudge—was too overwhelming. Plus, the thought of Valentina’s radiant smile and upbeat vibe lifted my spirits instantly. That sunshine girl was the antidote to cure my darkness. So when she called me for a coffee date, telling me she had gossip so sinister it could only be said in person, the temptation was too strong.

I peeled off the form-fitting dress, the fabric sighing as it slipped to the floor. I kicked away the agonizing heels that had carried me through the cartel’s difficult terrain.

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