Seven Black Diamonds Read Online Free

as he told her, “I want you to talk to him. If he doesn’t give you his contact information, I’ll have Shayla get it for you. You need to know more of your people. That’s why I brought him here.”
    Lily glanced from her father to Creed and back again.
    “Happy birthday, Lilywhite,” Daidí said.
    The real present wasn’t the party, or the jewelry, or even the concert. Her father had delivered Creed Morrison to her like a gift. All he needed was a bow.

three
    LILY
    After Creed’s second song, Shayla arrived at the table, and Daidí stepped away, signaling to the guests that they could begin their procession of offerings. Nothing in the gifts they carried could be quite as shocking as the gift her father gave her. She watched Creed as he continued to sing to her, wishing that she could be so bold as to end the party for everyone but the two of them. She couldn’t. She wouldn’t. Instead, she smiled politely at the head of the Gaviria family and his sons as they all bowed their heads to her.
    The Gaviria cartel was Daidí’s strongest ally, and as such, they were always first in line to offer felicitations. Their cartel was not a new organization like so many today. They had a history stretching back before the early 2000s, before the war, before the guerrilla attacks by the Queen of Bloodand Rage’s terrorists, back when this continent was called North America.
    “ Feliz cumpleaños , Lilywhite,” Señor Gaviria greeted as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the air just above the skin.
    “Gracias.” She smiled and repaid it in kind by saying, “It’s no wonder your sons attract so many beautiful women with you as an influence.”
    “Gracias.” He sighed, keeping her hand in his. “Pero” —he shrugged and looked at Erik, his eldest son and her closest friend— “Erik necesita una buena esposa.”
    Erik met her eyes during his father’s oft-repeated comment, but he said nothing. Like Lily, Erik was being raised with the necessary skills to take over the family business. Unlike her, there was no doubt that he would do so.
    Studiously not glancing at Erik, Lily said, “I’m sure all of your sons will find good wives.”
    “Espero que sí.” Señor Gaviria half sighed the words.
    Dutifully, Erik held out a beautifully wrapped jeweler’s box. It was too big to hold something dangerous like a ring, but whether it was a necklace or bracelet, it was clearly meant to be a reminder that he was wealthy and had impeccable taste. She didn’t need those reminders. She’d known for years that their fathers had hopes of a marriage. Erik was four years older than her, and while they’d kissed a few times, they both knew that Erik would require a wife meeker than Lily could ever be.
    “Exquisite as always,” Erik said with a bit too much familiarity for a casual friend. He lifted her hand to his lips, echoing his father’s words and actions.
    “Too kind as always,” she replied lightly.
    “We will dance,” Erik said, not asking as most boys would. His assertiveness was part of his appeal, but it was the sort of appeal that only worked because he had no actual authority over her.
    “I always enjoy dancing with mi amigo de confianza .” She switched to Señor Gaviria’s preferred language and hoped that his father heard the word friend clearly enough.
    Erik didn’t have her heart—any more than she held his—but tonight, she needed a safe, human touch. She needed her friend to be nearer to her because of what he wasn’t. Being in his arms for a dance would help remind her of who she was—and what she was pretending not to be.
    She laid her hand on Erik’s arm. “Soon. We will dance soon.”
    Señor Gaviria beamed approvingly; his youngest two sons said nothing. They were not expected to do more tonight than be seen showing their respects. The Gavirias moved on so Lily could talk to the rest of her well-wishers and approval-seekers. She liked most of them well enough, but after the