Page 32 of Playboy

He had taken his family’s small operation, and within two years, he had doubled his net worth and pushed the business to new heights. He had diversified his holdings and expanded his reach across South America and the Caribbean. He had luxurious estates scattered all over the world. All of them were listed under false names to avoid being found. He was knownby many in the drug trade as Ghost because one second, he was there, and the next, he was gone without a trace.

The United States was a new market for him. He was more focused on the territories he already controlled and expanding into untapped regions in South America and the Islands in the Caribbean. It was easier to manipulate and bribe local and government officials in those areas.

The deal that was about to go down was a high-risk, high-reward venture—and that made Ramon uneasy. It was a gamble, but one he was willing to take. After all, it was risks like this that had built his empire, and he didn’t intend to slow down anytime soon.

Ramon’s sharp and calculating eyes shifted to his younger brother, Lorenzo, who stood a few feet away, watching the process with that familiar gleam of excitement in his eyes. Ramon had three younger brothers. Lorenzo was the oldest of the three and had always been more of a risk-taker than the other two. He was the one who craved action and thrived in the chaos, while Ramon, on the other hand, preferred control and precision. He had built their empire on careful, calculated moves.

Ramon approached his brother, his voice low but firm. “Lorenzo, you’ve rechecked the sub? We can’t afford any mistakes with this run.”

Lorenzo turned to him with a cocky grin, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Relax, hermano. I’ve checked it a hundred times. The men know what they’re doing.”

Ramon’s jaw tightened. Lorenzo’s carefree attitude always grated on him, especially when the stakes were this high. He glanced toward the sub, where the last few bales of cocaine were being secured. Two men, both seasoned operatives, would be piloting the sub, and they knew the drill. If caught, they were to scuttle the vessel immediately. No hesitation. They’d been givenan inflatable life raft, but Ramon didn’t care about their survival. They knew the risks, and he was paying them well for it.

But still, Ramon’s focus lingered on his brother. Lorenzo was the wildcard in all of this.

“Listen,” Ramon said, his voice hardening as he stepped closer to Lorenzo. “I know you like to take risks, but if anything goes wrong out there, I don’t want you getting involved. I mean it, Lorenzo. You stay out of it. If the sub goes down, the men are on their own. No heroics.”

Lorenzo rolled his eyes, his grin never fading. “Since when have I been involved in other people’s problems, huh? You worry too much.”

“Since always,” Ramon shot back. “This shipment isn’t like the others. I need you to understand that. If the authorities catch wind of the sub, you keep your distance, stay in your boat, and get the hell out of there.”

Lorenzo waved his hand dismissively. “Sí, sí. I got it. No playing hero. I’ll be watching from a safe distance like a good boy.” He chuckled to himself, clearly unfazed by the gravity of the situation.

Ramon frowned. He knew Lorenzo wasn’t afraid of danger—hell, his brother probably thrived on it—but this wasn’t just about adrenaline or proving something. This was about survival. They were venturing into new territory with this shipment. The U.S. market was lucrative, but it was also heavily policed, and the risk of getting caught was higher than ever. Ramon’s mind raced with scenarios of what could go wrong: a storm, a leak in the sub, or worse—being spotted by the Coast Guard who patrolled the waters.

Ramon’s gut twisted at the thought of his brother trying to intervene if things went sideways. He had always protected Lorenzo ever since they were kids. But in this world, sometimesprotection meant keeping your distance, letting the pawns fall if they had to.

“Lorenzo,” Ramon said, more softly this time, “I need you to promise me. If anything happens, you’ll do what’s best for you.”

Lorenzo met his brother’s gaze, and for a moment, the playful gleam in his eyes dimmed, replaced by something more serious. “I hear you, hermano. I won’t do anything stupid. You have my word.”

Ramon studied his brother’s face, wondering if he could trust that promise. Lorenzo was impulsive and unpredictable. But Ramon had no choice but to believe him.

The two brothers turned back to the sub, watching as the final preparations were made. Ramon’s mind was already on the journey ahead. Once the sub left, he was planning on taking his yacht to his estate in Cuba, where he would monitor the progress of the shipment from there while he worked on a few other deals.

As the sub’s engines roared to life, Lorenzo nudged him with a smirk. “See? No problems.”

Ramon didn’t reply, his eyes fixed on the sub as it slowly began to pull away from the shore. The water swallowed it bit by bit until it disappeared beneath the waves, leaving only the faintest ripple behind.

Now came the waiting game. But Ramon’s thoughts lingered on Lorenzo. He could only hope that if something did go wrong during the journey, his brother would stay true to his word.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting an orange glow over the horizon, Ramon turned to his brother one last time. “Remember what I said, Lorenzo. No risks.”

Lorenzo grinned and clapped a hand on Ramon’s shoulder. “Relax, hermano. We’ve got this. Once the goods have been transferred and money exchanged, I’ll call you.”

But as Lorenzo climbed onto his boat, Ramon got an uneasy feeling in his gut.

He could only hope that Lorenzo stuck to his word. But at the end of the day, Lorenzo was in charge of his choices. Ramon just hoped that if something went wrong, Lorenzo would make the right choice.

CHAPTER SEVEN

When was the last time I’ve been on an actual date?Gabby thought to herself as she stood in her bedroom, looking at her reflection in the full-length mirror and trying to determine if the outfit she had chosen to wear for her date with Playboy was appropriate.

She wanted to look nice, but she didn’t want to wear a dress. She felt much more comfortable in a pair of jeans paired with a nice top when she went out. However, she found a cute black, wide-leg jumpsuit hidden in the back of her closet. The top had a butterfly sleeve with a wide crew neck, and it included a matching sash that tied around her waist.

She did a little half-turn, checking herself out again. She loved the way the silky material felt against her skin and how it showed off her curves. She was proud of her athletic build. She had put a lot of work into keeping herself in shape.

“Damn, girl. “You clean up nicely,” Luna said as she walked into Gabby’s room.

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