Chapter 2

2

JAVIER

“ I ’m taking it by the look on your face she hasn’t changed,” Lorenzo says.

I eye my brother as I slip my phone into my trousers. “She will.”

He lifts his brows. “I think you’re underestimating her ability to fight you and test you.”

He’s wrong that I’m underestimating her, but not wrong that she will test me. Emilia Sanchez was put on this earth to do just that. The redheaded beauty who will be my wife will take some managing, but by the time she vows to honor me, she will mean every word she utters, and that will involve respecting my authority. I will ensure it.

I pocket the room key. “I’ll be back in time for our meeting with Jose.”

“And dinner tonight if he suggests it?”

“No. I’ll be having dinner with Emilia.”

“This might be our one shot at Jose.”

“I’m aware. I’m also aware that our one shot at fixing the shit our family is in with the Sanchezes rests on my marriage to their daughter, so how about you take care of what you need to while I handle my end of it all.”

“Fuck,” he mutters before nodding his agreement.

I exit the suite and stride to the elevator, my thoughts entirely on Emilia when they should be on the problems the cartel’s currently facing. This is the reason why marrying her is the worst thing I could do. However, as much as I tried to find a way around it, I couldn’t. Joining the Torres and Sanchez families is the only way to unite us after all the blood that’s been spilled. Without our marriage, there will be no trust between the families to allow the cartel to function as it should.

My family founded the Serrano Cartel three decades ago, however, we’ve always relied on the Sanchez family to work with us. My father formalized that relationship nineteen years ago when he brought Emilia’s father on as his second-in-command. This worked well until a year ago when her brothers didn’t approve of some decisions my father made. The divide it caused led to bloodshed within the organization that we can’t sustain. Eight weeks ago, the families sat down to talk and came to an agreement that would ensure an end to this bloodshed and a way forward for the cartel. We will be joined by my marriage to Emilia, and both families will have a stake in the cartel.

I ride the elevator down one level and locate Emilia’s room. She takes her time answering my knock, but I don’t expect anything less. This woman has a way of pressing all my buttons without even trying. Keeping me waiting is just one of her methods.

“Javier,” she finally greets me, as beautiful as ever.

I run my gaze over her body and the strapless white jumpsuit covering it. Emilia always did love jumpsuits, but I know why she’s chosen to wear this one today, and it has nothing to do with her preference, and everything to do with mine. She knows I prefer her in a dress. This is Emilia stating her defiance.

Entering her suite, I glance around, noting the lack of anything I’d usually expect in a room occupied by a woman. There are no shopping bags holding expensive clothes and shoes; no clothes strewn across the bed; no mess of make-up or other personal belongings. Emilia is a rare breed of woman. One who spends her time making power moves in her business rather than shopping, gossiping, or making demands on the man in her life. She’s the type of woman I don’t usually seek out, but one I’m attracted to.

Emilia left Colombia and moved to America when she was nineteen. She studied business and finance, and started her own successful business helping women with their finances. She began expanding that business last year, servicing her established base in other areas. I’ve kept up with every move she’s made; her current one into health and beauty being the one I believe will make her more successful than any of the others. And that’s saying something because her success if already astounding.

“I’d like us to have dinner tonight,” I say, meeting her gaze. It’s been far too long since I’ve looked into those green eyes of hers, and fuck if they don’t affect me. They always did and I don’t see that changing any time soon. However, my response to how they affect me will be different this time around. I won’t allow it to be what it once was. I can’t allow that.

“I’m busy tonight.”

“Make yourself unbusy.”

She stares at me like she wants to take what I just said and ram it down my throat. “You can’t come back into my life after two years of nothing and presume to be the boss of me simply because we’re getting married, Javier. That’s not how this works.”

“That’s exactly how this works, Emilia, and you know it.”

“Why? Because you’ll be in charge of the cartel after the weekend? You don’t seriously think the power that brings you will also bring you power over me, do you?”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Why did you agree to this marriage?”

“I’m doing it for what I assume is the same reason you are. For my family.”

“Yes. As such, I expect you to behave like my wife.”

“I can only imagine what you expect of a wife, but what you’re going to get is a woman who expects equality in a relationship. And as such , I won’t ever be ordered to make myself unbusy when I have something important on.”

I work my jaw.

I expected her to fight me, but perhaps Lorenzo was right; perhaps I underestimated her.

“You’re still pissed that I ended our relationship,” I say.

Her eyes widen. “I’m pissed at how you ended it. We’ve known each other since we were fifteen, and we’ve been through a lot. I never expected you to treat me the way you did.”

Emilia has no idea why I did what I did, and she can never find out. As far as I’m concerned, she can continue thinking I wanted the relationship to end. She can also continue thinking I’m an asshole for telling her I was done with the relationship and then showing up with another woman on my arm at a dinner that night. A dinner she and I were supposed to attend together.

“You need to move past that. There’s a lot at stake with the cartel, and in particular, with your brothers. They’re looking for unity between our families. You and I need to give them that.”

Her lips flatten. She’s fucking beautiful, but when she’s pissed at me, her beauty is undeniable, as much as I want to deny it. “You never fail to find a way to work things in your favor, do you?”

“Trust me, Emilia, if any of this was in my favor, this marriage would not be happening.” I check my watch. “I have a meeting. I’ll expect you in my suite at seven tonight.”

Without waiting for her response, I turn and exit her room, certain of only one thing.

I need to strengthen my resolve to keep Emilia at arm’s length.

She’s already testing the determination I had.

I can’t afford for her to shatter it completely.