Book 3: Chapter 27

For a moment, Santiago was silent, and she could hear the faint rustle of him shifting his weight. When he spoke, his voice was graver, tinged with an honesty she hadn’t expected.

“I had one tonight, but it was nothing compared to that kiss we shared in the bathroom. Nothing comes close to that.”

Esmeralda frowned, her stomach twisting at his words. “What are you talking about?” She took a breath, forcing herself to stay composed. “Are you saying you were with someone else tonight? Another woman?”

Santiago took a slow drag of his cigarette, "Yeah,” he said, almost offhandedly, “but it’s not like I asked for it."

Esmeralda was silent, the weight of Santiago’s words sinking in as she stared into the dimly lit room. Her chest felt tight, a dull ache spreading through her at the thought of him kissing someone else just hours after he had kissed her.

She had always known Santiago’s reputation, his cavalier attitude toward relationships, and the way he was