Dina's brothers raised a fuss upon learning that she would be flying to Los Angeles with Armand. Dante thought there was no way he would allow his little sister to travel alone with that man.
"We'll be heading back too. I have a lot of work, so we'll leave together," Dante said. Darius felt a sense of relief upon hearing this; he wanted to avoid temptations, and Dina was a significant one for him.
"But son, we hardly see you, and you promised to stay longer," his mother said.
"I can't, Mom. Some unforeseen issues came up at the corporate office, and they informed me just this morning."
"If that's the case, so be it, son," Dionisio said. "My love, I assure you I'll take you to visit them soon."
"May I speak with you for a moment, Father?"
—Of course, son.
They headed towards the office; Dante didn't want his secretary or his sister's boyfriend to keep finding out private family matters.
"What's going on, son?"
"Father, you must be careful with Santori. He's not a trustworthy man, and you know it. I'm concerned that they're staying here. They should travel with us to the United States. Besides, my brothers don't listen to reason and always go out at night."
"Are you asking me to flee? A Damasco never flees, and you know that."
"It's not about that, father. I'm worried about you all. Santori has already dared to enter here. What assures us he won't do it again?"
"Don't worry, son, go without worry. I'll double the surveillance on all our properties."
"That's another thing. Where were the guards when that man entered?"
"I'll investigate what happened."
Shortly after, father and son returned to where the others were; Dina had already brought down her luggage.
"Well, little sister, it seems you're in a hurry to leave with Armand."
"Oh, stop being a pest already."
"My love, we better get our luggage sorted," he said, addressing Vane. The two went up to the room under Darius's suspicious gaze.
"I feel like my dear brother-in-law is watching you too much."
"Me? Haha, I don't think so," Vane nervously laughed.
A couple of hours later, the two couples boarded the private plane to Los Angeles.
Dante had to continue pretending that Vane was his fiancée, at least in the presence of his brother-in-law and sister.
The girl stood up to find a more comfortable place; she was sitting by the window, with Dante next to her. As she walked past him, he took her hand and pulled her towards him, and she fell into his lap.
Dante placed his hand on her leg, then gave her a passionate kiss. Darius, who was sitting nearby, clenched his fists; it seemed that Dante intended to take advantage of the drama he had created to touch his sister inappropriately.
Vane couldn't help it; she responded to that kiss. It was impossible not to. Dante knew exactly what he was doing. Dante's hand moved a bit higher on the girl's leg, and Darius was about to stand up to put that bold man in his place. However, Dina spoke at that moment.
"Hey! Guys, stop it. You seem to have forgotten that you're traveling with us. Believe me, it's really uncomfortable to see what you're doing. Brother, you know the plane has a room, so, you know, move from here."
Darius paled upon hearing her. Would Vanessa dare to go to the room with Dante? Then his expression turned sad as he remembered they had been sleeping together.
"Is everything okay, love?" Dina asked, concerned, seeing him.
"I'm fine, just that flying is not to my liking, especially on long trips."
"Don't worry, little sister, we don't plan to join the Mile High Club, at least not for now. And I'm tempted to do it, but on a private plane, it wouldn't be interesting. You need to do it on a public plane, as those who have enjoyed such an experience say the lower atmospheric pressure in the flight cabin and the continuous vibration enhance orgasms. Obviously, you also have to add the risk factor and the thrill of doing something forbidden."
"Disgusting! Shut up, Dante, you're gross," the girl exclaimed scandalized by what her brother was saying, obviously doing it to annoy her.
Darius adjusted his shirt collar, visibly uncomfortable. It was no secret that joining the mile-high club was the fantasy of many men, but it wasn't attractive to hear about it with his sister present.
"Don't you think so, Armand?"
"I think that..." Dina hurriedly covered her boyfriend's mouth with both hands.
"Let's watch a movie instead, let's get away from this jerk."
"Watch out, I'll be watching you," Dante said as Dina turned around to stick out her tongue, signaling her disapproval of his behavior.
Vane got off Dante's lap as soon as Dina and Darius moved away. Dante stared at her as she adjusted her skirt.
"I'll ask him not to do that again. Remember, our relationship is just a show," he said in a low voice.
"Well, you're not going to deny that you enjoyed it, because I did."
Vane turned away from him. What had her boss eaten that day that he was behaving like such a shameless person?
!
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Darius had to say goodbye. He didn't want to leave his sister in the hands of that man, but he had no other choice. So, he bid farewell to his supposed girlfriend.
"We'll talk tomorrow, my love. I have a lot of work, but I'll find a way to escape to see you."
"Until tomorrow, my love. I'll wait for your call. I'll stay in my brother's apartment."
Darius left after saying goodbye to Vane and Dante. Later, the three of them got into a waiting SUV.
"How cool, sister-in-law! You live next to my brother. Are there any available apartments in the building? I would like Armand to move in, so we would be close as a foursome."
Dante made a face. He didn't like how this Armand guy was looking at Vane, which is why he had behaved that way on the plane – to keep him at a distance.
"No, they've all been sold. I tried to buy Vane's before she moved in, to expand my apartment, so I would be the only one on the floor, but it had just been sold."
"And who would have thought that I would live in it, precisely the woman you're going to marry."
"Who would have thought, little sister, who would have thought," he replied while looking out the window.
Upon reaching the building, the three of them took the elevator. Dante showed Dina the apartment, then escorted Vane to her door.
"Thanks for playing along with this. It's essential to me that my family doesn't find out. I'll think of the best way to get out of this. I just ask you to give me time."
"Don't worry, Mr. Damasco. I'll wait as long as necessary."
Dina appeared at the door of the other apartment. Dante took Vane by the chin and planted a warm kiss on her.
Then he turned around to enter his apartment. Vane thought the problem would be that she might actually get used to this.
Meanwhile, in the apartment Katrina had rented for her mission with Evenus, she received a visit from the desperate man.
"I've finally been able to find you. You don't know how many times I've come looking for you."
He said while standing in front of the door; Katrina's eyes welled up.
"Evenus, I'm sorry, but I've made it clear that it can't be between us."
"Please, Angelina, let me in. Let's talk."
Evenus entered the apartment, went to the living room, sat down, and asked Katrina to sit next to him.
"I haven't been able to get you out of my mind. I want to be honest; no woman has ever treated me with such disdain."
"So, is that why you keep looking for me?"
"No, it's true when I tell you that you've settled deep inside."
"I don't know if I should believe you. Besides, you're married, and I can't be so cruel as to let another woman suffer because of me," Evenus was about to reply, but something caught his attention.
"What's this?" he asked, noticing a series of small images on a sheet on the coffee table.
"Oh! You weren't supposed to see this," the girl's face revealed that it wasn't something good.
"What is it?" Katrina got up, took the images, and brought her hands behind her back to hide them.
"I'm sorry; you shouldn't see this."