Jane's POV.I woke up to Alvaro's head tucked into the crook of my neck and his arm around me, pressing me firmly against his chest. I wiggled in his grasp, turning to look at him. I haven't looked directly at him for weeks. Because I knew as soon as those green eyes met mine I was a goner.There was a lump of nerves between his eyebrows and I brought my thumb up massaging the small clump of nerves. His forehead evened out and his face relaxed. It wasn't easy staying away from him. Especially since I loved sleeping next to him. I cried a lot. I felt guilty living my life when I knew someone was out there being tortured because of me. Alvaro gave me his word that he'd look for Carlos and I knew he was trying his best but I was only going to feel better when he returned. When Alvaro crawled into my bed last night I was pretending to be asleep. So I didn't have to talk to him. I didn't know where to start. It had been weeks and I thought it better if I just said nothing at all. I d
"Alvaro," she smiled, reaching for him with a manicured hand. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him as she gave me a brief once-over. "It's been forever." She kissed his cheek. The claws were out. Alvaro looked at me, holding his hands up. She pulled back and her eyes fell on me. "Gianna this is Jane, my wife," he introduced, snaking an arm around my waist and crushing me into his side. Gianna sounded like she was choking as an ugly snarl took over her lips and her nose flared. "Married. You're married?" Her eyes were wide and she looked seconds away from going feral. "You broke up with me seven months ago because you didn't want to commit to me!" "Seven months," I uttered, looking at Alvaro and his eyes were the widest I'd ever seen them. I didn't think the girls he told me about were that recent. "I need a drink," I said and moved to go to the bar. He could handle this on his own. "Jane you can't drink," Alvaro reminded, moving to come with me. "Relax I mean
Alvaro's POV."Can we all please have breakfast together," I called from the bottom of the steps. I woke up early with the intention of spending the entire day with Jane and Mateo. I wanted to surprise them by taking them out to anywhere of their choice and they were taking their own sweet time to come downstairs. We never did a family activity together and soon there would be a baby. I needed to get used to the idea of spending more time with my family and it would start with everyone at least sitting down and having breakfast on Sunday like what abuelo and abuela used to do when we were kids. Abuelo would work all week. Sometimes we'd barely see him at the dinner table but on Sunday mornings he was always present at the breakfast table with a newspaper in hand. I felt like we barely did that anymore and I wanted to today. Last night was amazing and I just wanted to keep the high spirits in the house going for as long as I could.Jane and Mateo both rushed down the stairs. "I'll
Jane's Pov.I couldn't feel my senses anymore. I was unsure if I was even alive at this point. It felt like my soul had been pushed out of my body and was hovering from above. Everyone moved around me and I was sure they were talking because I saw their lips move, yet I couldn't understand a word they were saying. It all sounded like gibberish. "Find him-" were two words that made sense. I prayed that it was all a nightmare. I was waiting to wake up in bed next to Alvaro, knowing Mateo was sleeping soundly in the next room. But I wasn't waking up. Each second trapped in this reality felt like a lifetime in hell. "Jane," someone called. I could feel hot tears rolling down my cheeks as my ears finally popped. Everyone's urgent voices hit my ears at once and it was mind-numbing. "Jane," abuelo was calling me. "Take her home," I heard Alvaro's voice. That seemed to stir an emotion in me. "She can't be here." My head snapped in his direction and something inside me quivered as I
I never thought a parent would ever be capable of hating their child. Especially a mother. As I stared at Christine I wondered why. Alvaro was good to his family. When he loved —he loved hard. Christine never gave him a chance. She cast him out and that hurt him. She couldn't accept what she did was wrong and now she had gone too far. She had taken his child. "Water?" Christine held a bottle of water out to me. I never wanted to hurt someone so badly before and my body was shaking with the rage I was trying very hard to contain. "No, what I'd like to know is where we are going and where Mateo and Carlos are," My voice held showed my frustration and Christine gulped hard. "How is the pregnancy going?" She asked and I narrowed my eyes at her, "I'm surprised you came at all. How did you manage to escape my son and his many bodyguards?" "Where are you taking me?" I asked again. It felt like we had been driving for hours and I wanted to see Mateo so badly that I was having anxiety. "
I sat beside Mateo holding his hand as the doctors attempted to remove the bullet. Alvaro was speaking to the nurses in private about how the bullet ended up in his shoulder. I owed my life to Mat. Carlos, unfortunately, had to stay a few days in the hospital. They had to do some blood tests, stitch up his wounds as well as do an X-ray. Fernez was also starving him so he had dropped weight rapidly. Mat squeezed my hand as he ground his teeth. "It's okay just a little more, Mat," I said, wiping his forehead with a cold press. His body was burning up and his face was red. "Motherfucker," he yelped and the doctor removed the bullet with something that looked like very long tweezers. "Fuck," Mateo cried out. "Well I need to go wash my ears out with soap after all that cussing, Mr Castillo," the doctor gave him a reprimanding look as he cleaned up his shoulder and bandaged his arm. I didn't know Mateo had such a sailor's mouth but I guess living with Alvaro did that. "Mrs Castillo," A
Mateo looked himself over in his long mirror. He was dressed in a navy blue tuxedo and his hair was combed to the side. "You look handsome Mat," I complimented. "I hope she thinks so..." He sounded nervous. "She likes you," I said, "why would you think otherwise?" "She's just so great. It seems like a dream whenever I'm with her." "That's cute." I smiled. "Did you go to your prom?" He asked. My memories of high school were fleeting. I didn't have much of a social life. "Yes. I went with a boy I crushed on for two years. We met in tenth grade and then he ignored me until our senior year. He surprised me by asking me." "Seems like a bad boy," Mateo smirked. "He wasn't a complete bad boy. He was a bit of a nerd too." "What happened to him?" Mat asked. "I moved and then he moved. I haven't seen him since high school." "It's nice to know that my wife had many prospects before me," Alvaro popped up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "Plenty," I teased. "S
Alvaro's Pov.I would rather have someone shoot me. Empty a cartridge of bullets in me, stab me with the sharpest knife and carve out my heart. Hollow me out physically. Any physical pain would do. But not this pain. Not the pain of her leaving me. It was like all the happiness in the world had been vacuumed out. She broke me and I let her because I chose to love her. I couldn't hate her for it. Because I understood why she was leaving. I couldn't strap her down and force her to stay because the hate she'd have for me would hurt more than her leaving. And I couldn't stand the idea of her hating me again when I experienced how much she loved me. She was my slice of paradise the reason I looked forward to coming home. And she left me and she took Mateo with her to Texas. I wouldn't be surprised if Mateo decided to move out and be with her. He proved there was nothing he wouldn't do for her. He would take care of her and she would take care of him but I couldn't take that thought.
Mateo's Pov. I always believed I was more lucky than unlucky. I was a homeless boy and then I was adopted by one of the richest families in the city that treated me like their own flesh and blood. I gained a family and it was more than an orphaned boy like me could dream of. I never knew struggle after Alvaro and I was grateful. This time my luck was up again. Maybe I was creepy for this but this was the closest opportunity I'd ever get to see her again. She had tweeted that she would be doing her medical practicals at Hôtel Dieu Hospital in France. I may have admired her from afar for years after I said my final goodbye but I promised her that she would see me again and we kissed one last time. Not a day passed that I haven't thought of her. I saw her in my dreams. From the day I met Julia I was drawn to her. It was like everything in my head just clicked from the moment I saw her in that little boutique. The programme was starting soon and I was stuck in a cab in traffic. I wa
Jane's Pov. 5 years later I sat on a park bench watching a little girl running and leaping with her friends. I couldn't help but wonder how things would be different if it weren't for the sacrifices Alvaro and I made. She was free. I felt two hands come around my eyes and block out the light. "Al?" I asked. "No," I heard Mateo's voice and I sprung up jumping on him. "Easy," he chuckled, stumbling back and trying to regain his footing. "Mat what are you doing here?"I missed him too much to care if I was embarrassing him. "It's Rosie's birthday. What do you think I'm doing here?" He was grinning from ear to ear. "How'd you know we'd be at the park?" I asked. "Today is Saturday. You always come to the park on Saturday to do some bird and people watching." He sat down next to me. Mateo left for college when he turned eighteen. His grades were incredible and he got a bursary to study medicine at Oxford in England. When he chose medicine I asked why and he said it was so he could a
The plane ride was long. My tolerance for travel depreciated. Besides the cramped toilet I couldn't stand being in a compressed space with Alvaro. Especially when he sat close to me. I wanted to choke him and I would have loved to blame my hormones but it would be a lie when I knew it was what I would naturally want. I was upset for a long list of reasons especially this morning when he insisted I get into the car. I didn't know what I would say to my grandmother and mother so he said this wasn't a final goodbye. I could come back after I saw the place and say my goodbyes. Mateo looked between us. He barely spoke to Alvaro it was just mutters and grunts which seemed to amuse Alvaro. "Have you decided?" Alvaro asked him. "Where do you want to stay?" Mateo didn't answer. "Your silence speaks volumes. You chose her, " Alvaro smiled. "I'm not surprised. I knew you would." Mateo looked away from him. "It's okay, mi hijo." Mateo stood and went into the room at the back of the plane.
Jane's POV. "We've been here for a week," Mateo mentioned. I covered my eyes from the sun to look at him. The sun was setting and we were outside painting the barn. Maybe I was just trying to bide time until I was all alone. Mateo agreed to come with me to Texas. I thought it would be better to have him with me this time.My grandmother and mom loved him. They treated him like their own and I appreciated that. Mateo wasn't happy with my decision to leave Alvaro but he did support it. The last thing I wanted was to come between him and Alvaro. If he chose to stay with Alvaro I couldn't force him away. "Why haven't you asked me to come with you?" He questioned. His face held a certain amount of offence. "I thought you would by now." "Because I don't want you to have to choose between him and me. I want you to know that you are always welcome to live with me. I'll take care of you. I might not be able to spoil you the way Alvaro does but you'll have a home and you'll be safe." "Wh
Alvaro's Pov.I would rather have someone shoot me. Empty a cartridge of bullets in me, stab me with the sharpest knife and carve out my heart. Hollow me out physically. Any physical pain would do. But not this pain. Not the pain of her leaving me. It was like all the happiness in the world had been vacuumed out. She broke me and I let her because I chose to love her. I couldn't hate her for it. Because I understood why she was leaving. I couldn't strap her down and force her to stay because the hate she'd have for me would hurt more than her leaving. And I couldn't stand the idea of her hating me again when I experienced how much she loved me. She was my slice of paradise the reason I looked forward to coming home. And she left me and she took Mateo with her to Texas. I wouldn't be surprised if Mateo decided to move out and be with her. He proved there was nothing he wouldn't do for her. He would take care of her and she would take care of him but I couldn't take that thought.
Mateo looked himself over in his long mirror. He was dressed in a navy blue tuxedo and his hair was combed to the side. "You look handsome Mat," I complimented. "I hope she thinks so..." He sounded nervous. "She likes you," I said, "why would you think otherwise?" "She's just so great. It seems like a dream whenever I'm with her." "That's cute." I smiled. "Did you go to your prom?" He asked. My memories of high school were fleeting. I didn't have much of a social life. "Yes. I went with a boy I crushed on for two years. We met in tenth grade and then he ignored me until our senior year. He surprised me by asking me." "Seems like a bad boy," Mateo smirked. "He wasn't a complete bad boy. He was a bit of a nerd too." "What happened to him?" Mat asked. "I moved and then he moved. I haven't seen him since high school." "It's nice to know that my wife had many prospects before me," Alvaro popped up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "Plenty," I teased. "S
I sat beside Mateo holding his hand as the doctors attempted to remove the bullet. Alvaro was speaking to the nurses in private about how the bullet ended up in his shoulder. I owed my life to Mat. Carlos, unfortunately, had to stay a few days in the hospital. They had to do some blood tests, stitch up his wounds as well as do an X-ray. Fernez was also starving him so he had dropped weight rapidly. Mat squeezed my hand as he ground his teeth. "It's okay just a little more, Mat," I said, wiping his forehead with a cold press. His body was burning up and his face was red. "Motherfucker," he yelped and the doctor removed the bullet with something that looked like very long tweezers. "Fuck," Mateo cried out. "Well I need to go wash my ears out with soap after all that cussing, Mr Castillo," the doctor gave him a reprimanding look as he cleaned up his shoulder and bandaged his arm. I didn't know Mateo had such a sailor's mouth but I guess living with Alvaro did that. "Mrs Castillo," A
I never thought a parent would ever be capable of hating their child. Especially a mother. As I stared at Christine I wondered why. Alvaro was good to his family. When he loved —he loved hard. Christine never gave him a chance. She cast him out and that hurt him. She couldn't accept what she did was wrong and now she had gone too far. She had taken his child. "Water?" Christine held a bottle of water out to me. I never wanted to hurt someone so badly before and my body was shaking with the rage I was trying very hard to contain. "No, what I'd like to know is where we are going and where Mateo and Carlos are," My voice held showed my frustration and Christine gulped hard. "How is the pregnancy going?" She asked and I narrowed my eyes at her, "I'm surprised you came at all. How did you manage to escape my son and his many bodyguards?" "Where are you taking me?" I asked again. It felt like we had been driving for hours and I wanted to see Mateo so badly that I was having anxiety. "
Jane's Pov.I couldn't feel my senses anymore. I was unsure if I was even alive at this point. It felt like my soul had been pushed out of my body and was hovering from above. Everyone moved around me and I was sure they were talking because I saw their lips move, yet I couldn't understand a word they were saying. It all sounded like gibberish. "Find him-" were two words that made sense. I prayed that it was all a nightmare. I was waiting to wake up in bed next to Alvaro, knowing Mateo was sleeping soundly in the next room. But I wasn't waking up. Each second trapped in this reality felt like a lifetime in hell. "Jane," someone called. I could feel hot tears rolling down my cheeks as my ears finally popped. Everyone's urgent voices hit my ears at once and it was mind-numbing. "Jane," abuelo was calling me. "Take her home," I heard Alvaro's voice. That seemed to stir an emotion in me. "She can't be here." My head snapped in his direction and something inside me quivered as I