52. Dante

52

Isit at the table, watching Camila laugh at one of Renzo's jokes, her eyes sparkling. Elio's arm is draped casually over her shoulder. It's strange how natural this feels. The four of us go out to dinner like it's the most normal thing in the world.

"Remember when we first met, Tesoro?" I ask, using my nickname for her. "You were so shy, always hiding behind your books."

Camila blushes, ducking her head. "And you were the charming one, always trying to coax me out of my shell."

Renzo snorts. "More like the persistent one. I thought you'd never give in to him."

"But she did," Elio says, pressing a kiss to Camila's temple. "And now look at us."

I shake my head, still marveling at how far we've come. When we first set out to seduce Camila, it was all about the mission—getting close to her family. But somewhere along the way, it became something more.

I catch Camila's eye across the table, and she gives me a small smile. My heart skips a beat, and I realize with a jolt how much I've fallen for her. It's not about the physical attraction anymore, though that's certainly still there. It's about how she makes me feel like I'm more than a soldier in my father's army. She truly sees me.

"To us," I say, raising my glass in a toast. "May we always have each other's backs, no matter what."

Elio and Renzo echo the sentiment, and we clink our glasses together. As I take a sip of my wine, I can't help but feel a sense of foreboding. We're playing a dangerous game with higher stakes than ever now Elio is the leader of the Barone Mafia. But looking around at the three people who have become my family, I know I'd do anything to protect them.

I sip my wine, watching Camila laugh at something Elio says. Her eyes light up, and her hair falls across her shoulders... it's enough to take my breath away. I've never felt this way about anyone; it scares me a little. In our line of work, emotions are a liability. But with Camila, I can't help myself.

"You're staring," Renzo mutters, elbowing me in the side.

I tear my gaze away from Camila, feeling my cheeks heat up. "Am not."

Renzo rolls his eyes. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."

I flip him off under the table, but I can't keep the smile from my face. Renzo may be an asshole sometimes, but he's like a brother to me. And right now, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

As the night wears on, we finish our meals, and the conversation turns to what's next. I clear my throat, feeling a sudden surge of nervousness.

"I was thinking," I say, trying to keep my voice casual. "Why don't we all go somewhere special? Just the four of us."

Camila raises an eyebrow, a curious smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "And where might that be?"

I grin, feeling a rush of excitement. "It's a surprise. But trust me, you'll love it."

Elio and Renzo exchange glances and I can see their minds turning over. They're probably wondering what I'm up to, but I won't give anything away.

"Come on," I say, standing up and holding my hand to Camila. "I'm the designated driver, so I call the shots."

Camila hesitates momentarily, but then she takes my hand and lets me pull her to her feet. Elio and Renzo follow, and we leave the restaurant and into the cool night air.

As we walk to the car, I can't help but feel a sense of anticipation.

I drive us through the winding roads, the anticipation building with each mile. Camila sits beside me, her hand resting lightly on my thigh. In the backseat, Elio and Renzo are heatedly debating some bullshit. Their banter is familiar, comforting even, and I can't help but smile.

As we climb higher into the mountains, the trees close in around us, their leaves a riot of autumn colors. Finally, we reach the spot I've been looking for. I pull over to the side of the road and kill the engine.

"We're here," I announce, unbuckling my seatbelt.

Camila looks around, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Where exactly is here?"

I grin, opening my door and stepping out into the crisp air. "You'll see. Come on."

I lead them through the trees, the ground soft beneath our feet. The scent of pine needles and damp earth fills my nostrils, and I feel a sense of peace.

After a short hike, we emerge into a clearing at the edge of a cliff. The view is breathtaking—a sweeping panorama of the valley below, with the distant skyline of New York City shimmering on the horizon.

Camila gasps, her eyes wide with wonder. "Dante, this is incredible."

I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her close. "I found this spot a while back when things were getting tough. It's been my little secret."

Elio claps me on the shoulder, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Thanks for sharing it with us."

Renzo nods, his gaze fixed on the view. "It's perfect."

We stand there, drinking in the scene's beauty. The sun is just starting to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. I feel a sense of contentment wash over me, a feeling of rightness I've never experienced before.

"I love you," I murmur, pressing a kiss to Camila's temple.

She turns to me, her eyes shining with emotion. "I love you too, Dante. More than you know."

Elio and Renzo move closer, arms encircling us in a group embrace.

Elio leans in, his lips brushing against the soft skin of Camila's neck. "I love you, princess," he murmurs, his voice low and husky.

Renzo follows suit, trailing kisses down her chest. "You're everything to me, bookworm."

I watch as Camila's eyes flutter closed, a soft moan escaping her lips.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the mood shifts. Elio's hand slips beneath the hem of Camila's shirt, his fingers skimming over the smooth expanse of her stomach. Renzo's mouth finds hers, his kiss deep and demanding.

I feel a surge of desire course through me, and I know I'm not alone. The air is tense, with the promise of what's to come.

"Camila," I breathe, my voice rough with need. "Let us show you how much we love you."

She opens her eyes, her gaze locking with mine. In that moment, I see everything I feel reflected back at me - the love, the longing, the desperate hunger.

"Please," she whispers, arching into Elio's touch. "I need you—all of you."

Renzo clears his throat. "Not to ruin the moment, but how about we make this fun?"

Elio and I groan, knowing it's never good when Renzo suggests making something fun.

"Oi, hear me out."

Camila raises her eyebrows, and she looks curiously at Ren. "I'm listening," she says.

"How about we engage in some good old-fashioned primal play."

Elio and I exchange a knowing look. When Renzo gets an idea, things always get intense.

"What's primal play?" Camila asks hesitantly.

I reach for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It's a type of roleplaying," I explain gently. "Participants take on animal personas and instincts."

Camila still looks uncertain. "Oh..."

"We don't have to do anything you're uncomfortable with," I say firmly, shooting Renzo a warning glance. He holds up his hands in mock surrender.

Elio chimes in, "Dante's right, we'll only do what you want. This should be fun for everyone."

Camila relaxes a bit and nods. "Okay then, I'm open to trying it. But promise me one thing?"

"Anything," I tell her sincerely.

"That place stays between just the four of us. This is our secret."

My heart swells with emotion, and I embrace her tightly. "I promise. No one will ever know of this place except us." Elio and Renzo murmur their agreement.

Camila smiles, some of the apprehension leaving her eyes. "Alright then, let's see what this ‘primal play' is all about."

I grin and pull her in for a deep kiss. When we finally break apart, breathless, I whisper in her ear, "Don't worry, we'll take good care of you."

Camila shivers in anticipation and nods. I take her hand as we walk deeper into the woods, ready to embrace our primal instincts together.

Ren is the one who stops her. "I want you to run for us, bookworm. We'll give you a ten-second head start to escape."

She shudders and hugs her coat tighter to herself. "Escape?"

"Yeah, that's how this works," I say, running a hand across her back. "You act like you're scared and fleeing us, and we chase you down. And when we catch you, we have our way with you—all three of us."

Her eyes flash with desire. "Do I pretend I'm unwilling?"

I smile at Camila reassuringly, seeing the apprehension in her eyes. "It's just a roleplay, Tesoro. We'd never actually force you into anything you don't want. You can end it anytime by using your safe word."

She nods, looking relieved. "What should my safe word be?"

I think for a moment. "How about stoplights?' Green means keep going, yellow means slow down, and red means full stop."

"Got it," Camila says. "Green means go, yellow means slow down, red means stop."

"Exactly," I say. "And if at any point you say ‘red,' we stop immediately, no questions asked. Your comfort is the most important thing."

Elio and Renzo murmur their agreement. And it appears Camila feels more at ease now that we've set clear boundaries.

"Ten seconds is a good head start," Ren announces. "We'll give you time to really get into character before coming after you."

Camila smiles, some of her usual mischief returning to her eyes. "You better catch me quick, or I'll disappear into the woods!"

Elio laughs. "Oh, don't worry. We'll catch you. And when we do..." He trails off suggestively, eliciting a blush from Camila.

"Just remember, it's all pretend," I say seriously.

Camila leans in and gives me a soft kiss. "I trust you. All of you. Let's do this."

I grin and pull her close for one more searing kiss before releasing her. She turns and starts running into the woods. I count down from ten under my breath as Elio and Renzo get into position beside me. When I hit zero, we take off after her, ready to act out this thrilling game of predator and prey. But underneath it all is our love and trust in each other.