Page 36 of Dark Reunion

The two of them nodded and Ava suddenly grabbed Yasmine in a hard hug, the embrace warming Dean’s heart. It wasn’t much, but it showed him exactly what he was doing. By staying, he was destroying not just Carlos but his empire.

They walked to the local ice cream parlor after dinner, the sunset painting the sky and the warm breeze brushing past them. For Dean, it was a fleeting sense of normalcy he hadn’t felt in. months. Ice cream had been a huge hit, and so had wandering down the couple streets with vendors that hadn’t yet put their wares away. Yasmine got a new dress and scarf, and the boys each got a new toy.

By the time they arrived at the compound gate, the twins were fast asleep. The two of them holding on to one another as they slept exactly how they did at night. They were inseparable and refused to have their own bed, saying they couldn’t sleep without one another. Andrés had only gotten fussy once, and of course, Isabella had all the guards wrapped around her finger by the time the convey left the seaside town.

Dean noted that the guards on the wall were different than the morning shift. Dean stared up at the massive gates, spotting a new camera as they pulled through, and the iron teeth closed behind them.

Was this the real reason Carlos didn’t want him here? He put up new cameras and didn’t want Dean to know where they all were. Interesting…and disturbing.

As soon as they got all the children into bed, Dean took Yasmine’s hand and walked her next door to the vacant room.

“Do you really like the idea or were you just saying that? I’m sorry, I put you on the spot, but Ava looked wrecked and needed someone to throw her a lifeline.”

Yasmine smiled, rising up on her toes, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You are a very good man Dean Ramírez.” She kissed his lips softly. “Yes, I love the idea.”

Linking their fingers she tugged him toward the door, pushing it open. “Come on and I’ll show you how much,” she teased, biting her lip.

“Are you trying for our own soccer team?” he asked, making her laugh.

“Maybe…”

He smiled and scooped Yasmine up, making her laugh as he carried her over the threshold of their room.

“I love you. More than I could ever explain.”

“I know…because you’re my forever,” she sighed, and just like that, all the rough edges that cut him all day long smoothed out and healed.

Ricco suddenly appeared in the doorway and Dean’s smile fell.

“What is it?”

“The meeting is on, tonight,” Ricco replied.

Yasmine looked to Dean, her what the hell is he talking about stare fixed in place.

Shit.