Hello, Rubén, and welcome!
Where are you from?
I’m from Hermosillo, Sonora, in northern Mexico. It’s beautiful here, if you love the vastness of the desert. Hermosillo is one of the hottest cities in the country, so bring high SPF sunscreen if you come to visit.
What is your job?
That’s a tough question.
Legally, I own various business either through shell companies or as a stock holder, and I’m a proud supporter of charities and fundraising ventures. My public image of benevolence must always be maintained.
In the shadows, however, I’m a different person. My job as the leader of the Lozano Cartel is not a pretty one—or a clean one. I’ve dirtied my hands countless times to further my goals, in retribution, or to make a statement. The cartel is my family legacy, built on blood and bones. I’m third generation, so I have some big shoes to fill. If my father and grandfather could see me now, I’m not sure how they would feel about me moving the cartel in a different direction—away from constant warfare and death. No, wait. That’s a lie. They would be furious. I don’t believe in killing for the sake of it, for the fun, as they did. I’m much more levelheaded and calm than those who ruled before me.
Are you a people person or a lone wolf?
A people person. You gotta be in the life I lead. From schmoozing with politicians and the media hounds to being the public face behind my legal endeavors, I have to be genial and polite to keep me and my more shady businesses in the public’s good graces.
Do you have any special powers or skills?
Sure, I do. It takes brains and ambition to keep a multi-billion dollar organization up and running. Thankfully, I have a specially selected group of councilmen to advise and help me keep everything in order. Though keeping the council in order seems to be a full-time job nowadays. A few councilmen have turned against me, and it’s going to take all the skill and patience I have to come out on top.
What is your main goal in life?
A few months ago, I would’ve said keeping the cartel running smoothly. Now, it’s keeping Drina Cabrera safe at my side.
I met her ten years earlier and fell head over heels in love. I’m not ashamed to admit that. However, our whirlwind romance came to an abrupt end when she learned the truth about my family. She’s as anti-cartel as you can get, so that was that. She moved across the country, and I moved on with my life. Then fate struck a few month back when I found her at the mercy of my enemies. I did the only thing I could—I bought her from the assholes keeping her captive.
She’s mine now, and I’m never going to let her go again.
Do you have any tattoos or piercings?
I have several tattoos.
On my neck is a pair of wings embracing a crown, which I recently got after I took over the cartel from my deceased father. I have a massive spiderweb tattoo on my abdomen, a bank of storm clouds with sunbeams shooting out on my right pec, and the name Aries scrawled above a star on my left pec. Aries is my son, who died at childbirth. I only ever held him once, and losing him was enough to carve a hole in my heart. Anyway, I also have some black bands encircling my arms.
Who is your greatest enemy and why?
I have lots of enemies, but none are my “greatest.” None of them deserve that distinction. Though, if I have to choose, I would say Alroy Tenorio. He’s one of my councilmen who’s vying for my throne. Tenorio was my father’s best friend, so he thinks that gives him the right to pressure me to do his bidding. Mainly, he wants me to marry his daughter, Marita. Never gonna happen, but Tenorio won’t take a polite no for an answer.
What is Tenorio’s greatest strength?
His supporters. Two other councilmen will certainly side with him if Tenorio stages a coup. A third councilman, my own uncle Jesús, may betray me as well. Tenorio has served the cartel longer than I’ve been alive, as he enjoys reminding me, but his connections doesn’t surpass mine. However, each councilman has his own council and a fleet of enforcers to do their bidding. Even though I’m the top boss, I’m not naïve enough to believe everyone will follow me if there’s a civil war.
What is their greatest weakness?
Arrogance. Fury. Self-righteous indignation. Tenorio truly believes he’s in the right and won’t accept anyone else’s opinion. That’s why he wouldn’t make a good leader. Being the boss and making life-and-death decisions is part of the job, but being open-minded enough to accept advice from trusted confidants is something every decent boss must learn how to do.
Who is your love interest?
Drina Cabrera. After she left me years earlier, I never expected to see her again. She was a girl back then, trying to find her way in the world. Now, she’s a strong woman molded from her brutal life experiences. I’ve always wanted the best for her, which is why I didn’t fight to win her back the first time around. She was safer without me in her life. Turns out, I was wrong. She needs me, even if she refuses to admit it.
What is your favorite thing about Drina?
Her tenacity. When she makes up her mind, nothing short of a miracle can sway her. She’s strong, stubborn, and loyal to those she cares about. I’m determined to become one of those select few she’s let into her heart.
What is the most annoying thing about Drina?
Again, that would be her tenacity. She’s built some major thick walls around her heart, vowing not to let anyone in. She’s been hurt before, so it’s hard for her to trust.
Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?
Lost in His Spiderwebs is the second book in the Lozano Cartel series, in which all the books can standalone. Up next is Corrupting His Wife and will be released in early 2026. It’s a dark romance where my best friend, Enrique, kidnaps a woman the week before her wedding to another man. It’s going to be a mess for me to clean up. Right now, though, I’m too busy dealing with my own wayward woman to worry about Enrique with his.
If you want to stay updated on Lost in His Spiderwebs or Corrupting His Wife, make sure you sign up for my author’s bi-monthly newsletter. It’s the best way to stay in the know.
Thank you for stopping by!
Lost in His Spiderwebs
by Amber Daulton
Genre: Dark Romance
Kidnapped by the enemy. Bought by the jefe. Will his smoldering touch thaw her frozen heart?
Rubén Lozano, the new leader of the Lozano Cartel, craves peace amidst a legacy of bloodshed and death. He never expected to find his ex-lover, Drina Cabrera, in the clutches of his vicious rivals. Her haunted eyes compel him to rescue her, but freeing her is another matter.
After five months of captivity, Drina trades one captor for another. Though she succumbs to Rubén’s masterful touch, the bittersweet memory of her daughter and the life she was stolen from is a constant wedge between them.
When Rubén’s darkest secret comes out, he will have to wash his hands in crimson. Will Drina let her king face the danger alone, or stand at his side as his cartel queen?
– Book two in the dark romance series, the Lozano Cartel. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.
– Scenes featuring forced seduction, drug distribution, torture/violence, kidnapping/captivity, and attempted sexual assault may be uncomfortable for some readers.
Excerpt
“Smile,” Rubén told her. “It’s showtime.”
She nodded and lifted her chin, wincing a little in the flashing camera lights.
As three hand-picked paparazzi snapped pictures of him and Drina from all angles, Rubén counted to thirty before he steered Drina past them to the music room.
“Wow,” Drina murmured as they passed the piano for the ballroom.
A massive chandelier gleamed from the lofty ceiling, its decorative crystals reflecting the soft white light and dancing spots across the ivory walls and the chattering, laughing guests. The live band played instrumental music at the far end of the rectangular room, where Esme’s team had set up fancy tables and chairs for the speech and dinner portion of the evening.
“Why do you keep this room locked up? It’s magnificent.”
He shrugged. “It’s a bitch to clean.”
His blunt answer steepled Drina’s eyebrows. “My, what consideration. I’m sure the housekeeping staff appreciates it,” she teased and pulled him onto the dance floor alongside several other couples. “Let’s dance.”
As her arms slid around his shoulders, he rested his hands on her waist. Her body heat and strawberry aroma enveloped him. Groaning, he gripped the thick fabric of her dress so hard that it bunched and the band of his rings bit into his skin. She rested her head against his chest, and her hair teased his nose. They swayed, lost in each other as though they were the only people around. A foolish notion, one he shouldn’t revel in. If he did, he would ravage her on the floor.
“You have a good turnout,” she murmured while he twirled her about. She spun back into his embrace. “Are any of these people your friends?”
“Hardly.” This was his world. Glamour, power, prestige. The public mask he wore to hide his sinister nature. “You’re swimming in dangerous waters. The sooner you realize I can buy and discard all these sharks and guppies with a flick of my wrist, the better off you’ll be.”
“I’m well aware you’re king of the sharks.”
He snorted, holding her closer. “You’re a barracuda. Lithe grace and sharp teeth.”
“Ooh, I like that.” She nipped at his chin. “I’ll never be a guppy.”
Damn right. As the song ended, he guided her off the dance floor. Duty called.
Purchase Links:
Universal: https://books2read.com/LostInHisSpiderwebs
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4joCJUV
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-in-his-spiderwebs-amber-daulton/1147318586?ean=2940184374895
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lost-in-his-spiderwebs
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=7lNYEQAAQBAJ
Apple/iBooks: https://apple.co/4jpLyht
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1648364
About Amber
Amber Daulton is the author of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, the Embracing You, and the Ramseys in Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.
She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.
Author Links:
Follow Me: https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton
Check out my website (Daulton Publishing): https://amberdaulton.com
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Thank you for sharing Ruben’s interview. “He” had a blast with it!