Page 30 of Temptation and Treachery
Chapter Fourteen
“Come on,” Kari said, closing her laptop. “I’m starving, and you need to get out of here for a while.”
Celeste cringed inside at the thought of everyone’s attention focused on her, knowing all they saw was the cartel leader’s daughter. But yes, she was starting to get hungry. She tied the laces on the combat boots Kari got her, then straightened, pulling her top into place so her cleavage wasn’t on full display.
In the back of her mind, Vix drew in a deep breath, letting her chest expand to show off her breasts. She draped her fingers against her collarbone, letting the tips drift down toward her cleavage.
“You’re rocking the Lara Croft look.” Kari winked, holding the door for her.
Yeah, Lara in a borrowed sports bra that pinched at the sides. She folded her arms, then put them down, leaving her hand over her belly. The thought of everyone looking at her was like a bout of poison ivy inside her. “How are they going to feel about sharing a table with an Ayala?”
Kari pulled the door shut, her hand resting on the knob. “It’s not unusual to pull an embedded agent for a debrief during a raid.”
“Women work undercover in this, too?” Celeste didn’t want to imagine a woman doing the god-awful things she’d seen on the internet.
Kari took a deep breath, staring into her eyes like she was coming to a decision. “We have a lot more people in deep cover with your organiza—”
“Not my organization,” Celeste rushed to cut her off.
“Within the cartel…than you’d imagine.”
“Wouldn’t they know I’m not one of you?” She worried her lip. “I mean, how am I supposed to act?” She scrunched her brow, trying to figure out what television show might give her a clue.
Kari chuckled. “There is no ‘way’ to act. If there were, the baddies would figure out who our people are in a heartbeat. Come on, we’re going to have dinner, and you’re going to be yourself.” She pushed open the door.
They walked across the yard, several men greeting them along the way. The looks they got ranged from curiosity to blatant interest. Celeste managed a stiff nod and kept her attention on the building ahead. “Are you the only woman here?”
“The one and only.” She did a walking bow. “Though I’m really just one of the guys. I just happen to have bigger boobs than they do.” She grinned, thrusting her chest out playfully.
Celeste gave her a sidelong glance. It was tempting to confide in Kari, someone who would understand her conflicted feelings about Rio. Surrounded as she was by people she could only consider as the enemy, it was a risk she couldn’t afford. As much as she wanted to completely hate him, her body and her heart continued to betray her. Meanwhile, her father’s warnings nagged at her, and Rio had done nothing to convince her that her father was wrong. She’d fallen for his brand of BS, thinking they’d have a wild, no-strings-attached weekend and never see each other again. He could have been her perfect fantasy, instead, he’d gone and ruined what was arguably the single best moment of her life.
They neared the cafeteria, and the spicy scent of Italian food wafted out to greet them. Kari reached for the door. Garnering courage, Celeste stepped in. Food, voices, laughter, and classic AC/DC surrounded them.
“Welcome to the chow hall.”
Kari swept by, heading to the serving area and leaving Celeste no choice but to follow. With green, cafeteria-style trays in hand, they each took oval plates and served heaping portions of spaghetti. Ooh, garlic bread. Her mouth watered as Kari took the last piece.
“Hey,” Gatlin called from a nearby table, waving them over. “You made it.”
“Hi.” Celeste kept close to Kari, setting her tray on the table as the weight of curious gazes followed their every move.
“Hey, Gatlin. Snow White’s going to need some of her stuff so she can shower.” Kari pointed a thumb at her as they settled into the round seats.
“Sure. I’ll sign out her belongings after we eat.” Gatlin shoveled spaghetti into his mouth.
Snow White. She almost laughed out loud. If only they’d seen her a few weeks ago. Before Leonard deemed her in need of a tan. The next day he got her a drawer of bikinis, which was disturbing in itself. Then his people had herded her out to sit in the sun, until only her hair remained as a pale reminder of her former self.
She twirled noodles on her fork. It had been weeks since she had pasta. An image flashed through her mind. Her, kneeling on a stack of pasta sauce boxes, her dress pooled at her waist, with Rio behind her, stroking between her thighs. Pushing the thought out of her head, she took a bite, savoring the rich sauce.
A few forkfuls later, a burly man approached them, setting a plate stacked high with garlic bread on the table. Everybody reached for a piece. “Hey.” The man’s sharp tone stopped all but Kari. “Let the señorita have some. This dinner is for her.” She hesitated only a second before reaching up and plucking the largest chunk of bread from the plate. The man nodded, apparently happy with her choice. The rest disappeared in seconds.
“Jorge, this is Snow White.”
Oh, she was serious about the name. “Thank you, Jorge,” she murmured.
“Glad you’re feeling better, ma’am. Our Parker, she’s a great caretaker.” So that was the story. Illness was keeping her at the clinic with Kari. “Eat. Eat, please.”
She picked up the bread, taking a bite, and she almost swooned. Warm. Lightly toasted, with a sliver of roasted garlic crowning the center. She pushed noodles on her fork with the bread, soaking in the sauce before taking a bite.
