Page 270 of Corrupting Camille
I cover my face, half laughing, half mortified.
Kane leans in, murmuring near my ear, amusement roughening his voice, “She knows Javi’s my head of security, not a bartender, right?”
“Lena doesn’t care,” I whisper back, smiling. “She just likes making trouble.”
He pulls me closer, pressing a kiss to my temple, his voice turning low and warm. “Then she’ll fit right in.”
Lena, watching us like she’s just witnessed the creation of the universe, sighs dramatically.
“I’m planning the wedding,” she declares. “I’m seeing themes. Murder chic. Dark romance. Rich bitch gothic. You know…your entire vibe.”
I laugh softly, leaning into Kane’s shoulder.
My entire vibe.
Our entire vibe.
It’s official.
Forever starts right now.
Kane
Lucía’s laughter dances through Diego’s courtyard, sharp and sweet, on the cusp of innocence and something darker, deeper. Strings of soft lanterns glow gently, casting quiet shadows against worn stone. Music pulses softly through hidden speakers, blending into the warmth, the spice, and the murmur of family gathered tight under one sky.
But Diego stands apart, shoulders taut, jaw set like he’s braced for impact. His gaze scans every corner, every shadow, his hand clenched tight around his glass.
I move silently, stopping beside him, voice pitched low. “You look ready for blood instead of celebration.”
He glances sideways at me, lips twisting faintly. “We’re always ready for blood. You made sure of that.”
I exhale, slow, measured. “Maybe it’s time we learned something else.”
He stills. “Something’s changed.”
“Yes.” The word hangs heavily between us, more confession than confirmation. “I asked Camille to marry me.”
Diego freezes completely, his surprise genuine, raw. He turns slowly, eyes narrowing, calculating every nuance of my expression. “You proposed?”
“Yes.”
“And she said yes?” There’s disbelief, sharp-edged and tempered with something cautiously hopeful.
I hold his gaze steady, voice quiet but firm. “She did.”
A charged silence expands, fragile and dangerous. Diego carefully sets his glass aside, as if wary he might shatter it. “You never once wanted marriage,” he finally says, voice low and tight. “Never considered it possible.”
“Because I never had a reason.”
“And now?”
I pause, taking a breath, feeling the confession claw its way out. “Camille’s pregnant.”
Diego’s entire body reacts, muscles tightening visibly, eyes sharpening with fierce intensity. He takes a step back, staring hard, reading everything I’m not saying. “You’re having a child?”
“Yes.” My voice frays at the edges, the words cutting deep. “Everything’s different now. And it scares the living fuck out of me.”
Diego steps in closer, gripping my shoulder fiercely. His hold is iron, grounding, unyielding. “If anyone deserves a shot at something pure, it’s you, Kane. After everything…every kill, every sacrifice…you deserve this.”
