“So what do you do? Are you part of the family business?” Liana asks boldly
"My uncle oversees a different part of our business," I explain, watching her face carefully. "The import side of things."
"Import?" she asks, her eyes flickering between us.
"People have needs, my dear," Raul says smoothly. "We simply facilitate meeting them. Some desire exotic goods, others…exotic experiences."
I take the opportunity to squeeze her waist. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to give her a warning. This conversation needs to end and she needs to watch her responses. Her face remains perfectly composed, but I see the flash of understanding in her eyes. Human trafficking. The side of the business I've kept my distance from since I was old enough to understand what it really meant. My father gave that division to Raul years ago, knowing I wanted nothing to do with it.
"It's a complex market. Nothing you would be interested in learning about," I say, attempting to end the conversation.
"One that's been particularly profitable lately," My uncle says, his smile widening like he knows what I’m trying to do.
‘Fucking asshole.’
"Perhaps you'd be interested in seeing that side of operations sometime, Liana? We have quite the selection process."
I grit my teeth and tighten my hold on Liana. This time it’s enough to feel her body jerk slightly and it makes me quickly loosen my hold again. I smooth my hand over her side, hoping I didn’t accidentally hurt her and turn to my uncle to respond but Liana beats me to it.
"I'm still learning about Rio's business," she says with a smile, her voice smooth. "One step at a time."
My uncle laughs.
"Smart girl. Maybe someday in the future. I see that some other associates have arrived and I have business to discuss." He nods to me. "Rio. Always a pleasure to see the family expanding."
He walks away and I feel Liana exhale beside me while I do the same.
"Charming," she says quietly with a hint of sarcasm.
"That's what makes him dangerous," I reply, guiding her toward a less crowded area of the ballroom.
"What did he mean by 'selection process'?" she asks once we're out of earshot.
I knew she was going to ask questions and I debate how much to tell her. A smart man would keep her in the dark, but she would probably figure it out eventually anyways. I already lied to her once about my identity and we are still working through that mess. The truth is better in this instance.
"Human trafficking," I say quietly, watching her face. "It's the part of the business I don't touch."
Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn't pull away from me.
"Why not?" she asks, and the question surprises me.
"Because there are lines even I won't cross," I reply honestly. "I'm not a good man, Datura, but there are levels of hell even I choose to avoid."
She's quiet for a long moment before speaking again.
“So my family…”
“Yes, some of them are or were involved in that side of things too.”
She cringes and I pull her in close to me, wrapping my arms around her.
“I could have been sent to your uncle,” she murmurs into my chest.
“Yes,” is all I reply because it’s the truth. My father could have arranged her to be with my uncle, my brothers or hell, even himself. But he didn’t. Instead, he chose to give her to me.
“You really didn’t want this arrangement either, did you?”
“No,” I say honestly. “I had no desire to settle down.”
