Page 90 of Tainted Obsession 1
When her knees begin to tremble, I put the camera aside and gather her up in my arms.
“You were such a good girl for me,” I murmur, dropping reverent kisses on her cheeks, her nose, her lips. “So perfect.”
She sighs happily and snuggles into my chest, content to float in ecstasy.
I tormented her with pain and bound her to me with pleasure.
Only I can give her this transcendent bliss.
Evelyn will never want to leave me.
Chapter 34
Evelyn
“You look beautiful.” Massimo drops a kiss on my shoulder, just beside the row of diamonds on the necklace that marks me as his. “Are you nervous,farfallina?”
“A little,” I reply honestly. “But I’m okay.”
It’s not an empty reassurance. Even though we’re about to join dozens of cartel members for one of Stefano’s lavish parties, I’m not afraid.
I’m with Massimo.
I tuck myself closer to his side and walk with him into Stefano’s club. The VIP mezzanine level is exactly as I remember it: ultramodern, with a large dance floor illuminated by flashing golden lights. Most of the guests are gathered around the sleek ebony bar, sipping drinks and making conversation.
The ground floor of the club below seems completely deserted. I’m not sure if it usually operates as a real nightclub for the public, but it seems Duarte has chosen to keep tonight’s festivities limited to his closest associates.
The drug lord still unnerves me—I’d be a fool not to be wary of him.
But when Carmen spots me and glides across the dance floor toward me, I don’t feel so much as a flicker of fear. When we firstmet, she ensured that I wasn’t being abused by Massimo. She wouldn’t help me escape, but she made sure that I was safe.
“Evelyn, it’s wonderful to see you again.” She greets me with genuine warmth in her light brown eyes. “Stefano told me that Colombia was difficult for you. I’m glad you’re all right.”
Massimo tenses beside me.
Neither of us like the dark memories that stir.
“I want to talk to you privately,” she continues, addressing me. “You’ll have to excuse us, Massimo.”
She doesn’t wait for his permission. She barely even glances at him as she loops her arm through mine and guides me away.
My feet stall for a second, but Massimo gives me a tight nod.
I relent, following where she leads. I don’t have a clue what Carmen wants to say to me privately, but it seems impolite to refuse.
She takes us to the same seats she chose for our conversation last time, when she asked me if Massimo had violated me.
As soon as we’re seated, she leans toward me, her eyes dark with concern. “Stefano told me you tried to run away, and you suffered for it. I’m sorry I didn’t help you before. I didn’t realize you were so desperate to escape from Massimo. If something had happened to you, I never would’ve forgiven myself.” She reaches out and places her hand over mine. “Tell me what you need. I can get you a fake passport, a new name. Anything. I can’t promise to return you to your old life, but I can set you free.”
My heart skips a beat. I could be free of the cartels, away from all the violence and danger.
My gaze strays to Massimo. He watches us from across the bar, ignoring the men who are trying to engage him in conversation.
Freedom from the cartels means leaving him behind.
Carmen notes the direction of my gaze. “I understand that desire can be complicated,” she says carefully. “I thought you cared for him, which is why I didn’t help you before. But lust isn’t enough. You must realize that, or you wouldn’t have tried to run away from him.”
I shake my head. “It’s not like that. I do care for Massimo. I tried to leave because he did something I didn’t understand, and he didn’t stop to explain himself. We talked about it after, and he promised he’ll do better.”
