Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
“You fell in love with him that night.” The stubborn set of her chin eased as she studied Tate’s face.
“Uh.” Tate laughed and raked a hand through his blond hair. “As much as a straight guy can appreciate another man, I guess. I was willing to do whatever he asked of me.”
At some point over the past four years, Matias developed a soul-deep respect for the guy. Deep enough that he would kill anyone who tried to harm Tate.
“Your heart beats for the end of slavery.” She echoed Matias’ words to Tate. “You found that same passion in Matias.”
It was exactly the thing Matias needed to hear her say. She understood him in a way no one else could.
“For sure.” Tate wiped his palms on his thighs, avoiding Matias’ stare. “By the way, he was dead set on capturing Van and Liv and selling them into slavery.”
“What?” She froze.
Matias still wanted to punish them, but… “Tate filled me in on how they were coerced into human trafficking, so I made an exception and spared them.”
“Thank you.” She played with the ends of her hair. “I’m still reeling over the fact that you and Tate know each other.” She eyed Tate suspiciously. “Four years ago, you left for a week to go on a soul-searching road trip across the States.”
“He was with me in Colombia,” Matias said. “After the raid at the barn, he stayed at the estate for a few days.”
“Why did you involve Tate at all?” she asked.
“He was the closest I could get to you.” Matias’ stomach sank just as the helicopter dipped and recovered altitude. “He watched over you, protected you, and called me every day, letting me know every detail of your life, including the things you confided in him.”
“What things?” she growled, shooting a glare at Tate.
“This is why I wanted you to have this conversation before I arrived.” Tate frowned at Matias as he leaned back and folded his arms across his chest.
Matias caught her chin and touched her mouth with his, quick and chaste. Then he released her, but kept his face close. “You told him your sexual cravings. Your desire to be held down, controlled, fucked hard—”
“Okay, stop.” She leaned back. “I know what I told him.” She turned her glare on Tate. “Not cool, man.”
Without Tate’s intel, it would’ve taken Matias a long damn time to figure out she was a sexual submissive. He knew she leaned that way as a sixteen-year-old girl, but she’d also been young and innocent. After her abduction, he’d been shocked as hell to learn that her submissive cravings had only deepened.
“He told me things, Camila.” Tate cocked his head. “His sexual preferences. You were both in my fucking ear. Him wanting to dominate you. You wanting to be dominated. I knew, without a doubt in my mind, you were perfect for each other. So I helped him out.”
“With his plan,” she said. “And that was…?”
“To get you to come to me willingly.” Matias paused as the helicopter shuddered through turbulence. “I knew, eventually, you would try to infiltrate my fake slave ring disguised as a slave—”
“Oh, no.” Her face turned ashen. “OhGodOhGod, I tortured and killed Larry McGregor.”
“He was a legit scumbag,” Matias said. “At first, you were tracking a real slave ring. I took those guys out, trickled you a few leads, planted people in your path, but after four years, you weren’t biting.” He smiled. “You were really cautious, and I’m fucking proud of you for that. But I was growing impatient. So I hand-selected Larry McGregor, a bona fide kidnapper. He’d never murdered anyone. Still, it was a risk I didn’t like. Tate ensured me you would go back to his house and immediately choke him out.” His nostrils flared. “Except you decided to—”
“I had to get him in that chokehold.” She straightened and lifted her chin.
“Wait.” Tate widened his eyes. “Tell me you didn’t fuck—”
“I didn’t.” She sniffed. “What about the girl in Larry’s barn?”
“An actress,” Matias said. “I placed her in Larry’s path.”
She stared out the window as the helicopter vibrated and swooped with sideways movements and occasional rapid changes in altitude. He already missed his smooth-gliding Bell 429.
“I was making a difference in Austin,” she said quietly. “So why do I feel like such a dumb, predictable pawn?”
He didn’t want her to think he’d used her passion against slavery to trick her. Nor did he intend to belittle her extraordinary accomplishments.
His stomach hardened as he formulated his words. “You took down Van Quiso’s operation, did you not?”
“With help.”
“How many of your freedom fighters volunteered to infiltrate a slave ring as a slave? Look at me.” When she did, he rested his forehead against hers. “The only predictable thing about you is your prowess. Frankly, I’m blown away by your badass-ness, Camila Dias. As a capo, I can’t not recruit you. As the man who loves you, I can’t not be at your side while you put yourself in danger.”