Page 53 of Dangerous Seduction

But... nothing. Radio silence.

I chewed my lip, my fingers drumming an erratic rhythm against my thigh as I struggled to maintain my composure. What could have gone wrong? Had the operation been compromised somehow? Or was it simply a false lead, another dead end in this twisted game of cat and mouse?

The questions swirled in my mind, each more unsettling than the last. And at the center of it all was Dante, his piercing blue eyes and cocky grin burned into my memory. Had he played me from the start, given me false information to keep me off balance and protect his precious cartel?

The thought made my blood boil, but I forced it down, refusing to let doubt take root. Dante was many things – a criminal, a liar, a master manipulator – but deep down, I didn’t believe he was capable of such calculated deception. Not with me.

Or was that just wishful thinking on my part?

I shook my head, banishing the thought before it could take hold. I couldn’t afford to let my emotions cloud my judgment, not now. Not when so much was at stake.

With a frustrated growl, I switched on my laptop and punched in Morrow’s code, my fingers trembling with barely contained impatience. The connection rang and rang, each unanswered tone like a dagger to my heart.

Just as I was about to give up and try Valentina, the screen flickered to life, Morrow’s stern face filling the screen.

“Ramirez,” he greeted me, his voice tight with tension. “We have a situation.”

My heart plummeted, and my worst fears were confirmed in those three simple words. “What happened?” I demanded, my voice clipped and professional despite the maelstrom of emotions raging within me.

Morrow sighed, his eyes betraying weariness. “The place was empty, not a single trace of drugs or cartel members. They must have gotten wind of the raid and changed locations.”

A cold chill ran through me as his words sunk in. “Do you think Dante knew?” I asked, my heart hammering in my chest. “And he purposely gave me bad info?”

Morrow held up a hand, his voice steady. “Now, hold on, we don’t know that. The cartel could’ve just moved the shipment as a precaution. It’s not uncommon for them to switch locations at the last minute.”

I blew out a breath. I was relieved that my cover wasn’t blown but disappointed that we’d lost our opportunity to seize the shipment.

“So what now?” I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady.

Morrow’s gaze hardened, his jaw set in a firm line. “Now, you stay the course, Ramirez. It was just a minor setback, a bump in the road. You need to keep pushing, keep digging for information that can help us take these bastards down for good.”

“And if Dante knows? If he’s been playing me all along?”

Morrow’s eyes bored into mine. “Then you do what you must do, Natalia. But until we know for sure, you keep your head down and your eyes open. Understood?”

I nodded, my jaw clenched with determination. “Understood, sir.”

With a curt nod, Morrow ended the call. I sank onto the couch, my head falling into my hands as I tried to make sense of the tumultuous emotions swirling within me.

The failed raid was a setback, but somehow, the thought of continuing my assignment—of staying close to Dante and sharing his bed—sent me a thrill of anticipation coursing through me.

The warm morning did little to thaw the icy knot of dread that had taken root in the pit of my stomach. As the previous night’s events replayed in my mind, that nagging suspicion I had began to take hold—the suspicion that Dante had played me.

If that were the case, my cover was undoubtedly blown, and I was in more danger than I could fathom.

I flopped onto the edge of the bed and ran a hand through my hair as I wrestled with the implications. Had Dante known all along? Had he been stringing me along, keeping me close while feeding me just enough lies to keep me off balance? The thought made me shudder, but deep down, a part of me refused to believe it.

There had been moments, fleeting as they were, when I had glimpsed something genuine in Dante’s eyes—a vulnerability, a longing for something more than the life he had been born into. Could it all have been an act, a masterful deception orchestrated by a man whose very existence was rooted in lies and deceit?

I glanced at my phone and found last night’s text to Dante. His response had been curt, a stark contrast to the usual playful banter we shared.

Busy night at the club. Talk later.

I stared at the words, my brow furrowing in frustration. There was no explanation or hint as to whether Dante knew my real identity. It was just a brush-off that told me nothing and everything all at once.

With a sigh, I tossed the phone aside. I needed answers, and I needed them soon. If Dante knew the truth, then every second I remained undercover was a risk—not just to myself but to the entire operation. And if he didn’t... well, then I had a chance to salvage this and continue my mission.

But how could I know for sure? How could I gauge Dante’s level of suspicion without tipping my hand and putting myself in even greater jeopardy?

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