I maintained the crushing pressure on his neck while I turned my attention on Carmen. Her gray eyes were wide, her lush lips parted at the shock of my barbaric display of ownership.
For once, I didn’t care that I’d lost control. I would reinforce this edict so that no one dared to try to take her from me.
I swung my gaze around the room, imposing a menacing glare on each of my allies. “No one touches what’s mine.”
Several long, tense seconds passed. In the absence of falsely jovial conversation, the celebratory music suddenly provided a disconcerting contrast to the lethal reality of my true nature. I allowed them all to stew in the eerie discomfort of their entertaining surroundings while I made a clear display of my capacity for vicious retribution.
“Raúl, could you do me a favor?” I asked in an offhand, genial cadence while I maintained crushing weight on Daniel’s throat.
“Of course,” my staunchest ally replied, his posture equally relaxed. “Anytime.”
“I think Daniel needs some help getting downstairs.” I looked down at the little shit, dropping my smile but keeping my words smoothly controlled. “Your daddy must not have taught you proper manners before he died. I expect you to learn respect before you accept another invitation from me.”
Daniel Vera commanded too many valuable resources for me to shun him completely, so I would continue to include him in our business dealings. But if he chose to participate in more exclusive events such as tonight’s little victory party, he would have to return with the proper humbled attitude. He would not be granted a seat at the table just because of his father’s name.
I finally lifted my heel from his neck, and Raúl swooped in. He grabbed Daniel roughly, hauling him to his feet before dragging him toward the exit.
Certain that my imposing associate had the situation well in hand, I straightened my tie and returned to Carmen.
She’d spent enough time on her knees. I reclaimed my place on my throne, but I shifted her back into my lap. I couldn’t show her too much favor tonight, but demonstrating more affection for her was appropriate after my vicious display with Daniel. Everyone needed to know that I valued her, even if I had thoroughly conquered her.
“You’re doing so well, kitten,” I murmured in her ear. “Just a little longer, and then we can go back upstairs.”
She closed her eyes again and pressed her cheek against my shoulder, determined to settle in and get through this ordeal. I resumed petting her, doing everything I could to keep her distracted from the cutting, derisive gazes of my associates.
I shifted my focus back to the farcical party I’d arranged, engaging the men in conversation. I deftly guided the subject from inane commentary on my mezcal to tactical matters involving resistance to my new regime. By the time I redirected everyone to more serious topics, they had relaxed slightly in the atmosphere of false ease I’d created. People revealed much more of their genuine feelings when they weren’t on their guard.
“What do you think, Arturo?” I pressed my most contentious associate, testing him. “How soon can we expect to eliminate Miguel Armendariz? He has made the rather unfortunate choice to complicate matters for me in Lázaro Cárdenas. I want everything running smoothly through the port within the month.”
Carmen tensed at the mention of her territory, the port that her family had controlled. I firmed my caresses, determined to soothe as much of her distress as possible.
Arturo’s lips thinned, all but disappearing beneath his gray mustache. “Armendariz is creating more difficulties because of her.” He gestured at Carmen. “He has been rallying Pedro’s friends by exploiting your insult to the Ronaldo name. He’s framing his cause around rescuing Carmen from you and reinstating the proud cartel that you are attempting to shame into submission.”
As he spoke, all of her muscles tightened, leaving her curled up in a protective position. Her eyes were still closed, but her brows were drawn, and her lips parted to draw in sharp, shallow breaths.
“He wants her back,” Arturo continued, oblivious to my pet’s distress. “He told you that on the first day after you captured her, and you refused him. Your progress with her is impressive, but the strategy isn’t effective. Armendariz is using her against us, even though she’s your prisoner.”
I managed to maintain my cool demeanor despite my mounting concern for Carmen’s emotional state. Her fingers curled into my shirt, clinging on tight. She’d held me like this before, when she’d woken up from the dark dream that had frightened her so much. She’d never told me what it was about, but I remembered the signs of her terror clearly.
“And what is your suggestion?” I asked Arturo blandly, fixing him with a level stare. “Do you have any ideas that might resolve the matter with Armendariz, or are you only wishing to critique my strategy?”