FIFTY SEVENANDRESI heard the shot; one minute there was total darkness and the next one singular shot rang out, stopping me in my tracks before I sped again in one direction.CatherinaI charged into the room just as soon as the light fluttered on; her mamma was hovered over a bleeding Audrey but Catherina was nowhere in sight.“Catherina” I beganThe woman shook her head, tears streaming down her face as she cupped her daughter’s face. I could see that she had been shot in the stomach and her breathing was labored but she was alive.“Let me” I nudged the woman to the corner and carried Audrey, her eyes pinned on my face, unseeing“You will be alright” I told her right before I began running in the direction of the doctor’s home.Catherina, my head screamed.My chest seized as I continued running with Audrey; as much as I wanted to dash out and begin looking for her, I needed to be rational and I did not think that when I found her she would ever be able to forgive me for letting he
FIFTY EIGHTCATHERINAFucking tight space, my mind screamed as I came to.I could not move neither could I see anything due to the blindfold over my eyesI cannot breatheI was gasping for air, desperately trying to draw something into my lungs as panic seized me, watering my eyes.I am not going to die… here, I thought, pushing myself forward and backward.I was in the truck of a car and it was moving; that was all I could make out.I was hyperventilating and clawing at my throat as I pushed and banged until I noticed that the car had stopped.I heard someone curse in Spanish right before the truck opened up and I was pulled out and the blindfold ripped away“If you do not stay fucking quiet… what is wrong with you?” the man before me asked“I…cannot…breathe” I gasped, hitting my chest“Maldita perra” the man cursed, approaching me.Tears streamed down my face as I concentrated on trying to get air in my lungs. His fist cracked against my cheek sending me spiraling to the ground“Shu
FIFTY NINEANDRESI sat motionless in the dark den, fury coursing through my veins as I drummed my fingers to a steady rhythm in front of me. I had sent Ana on her way because I wanted to be alone to think of what punishment I shall bestow on Miguel when I finally caught him. I could hardly do anything at this point, not when I knew that Catherina was at his mercy and he knew this; the man had read my feelings for her all too well.My heart pounded furiously in my chest and I could almost hear the blood rushing in my veins in the quiet of the den. I wanted blood, I wanted Miguel’s head and I was going to get after I was sure Catherina was safe and not a minute before.The door to the den opened and Ana walked in, the sound of her feet contrasting with the quiet.“I have gained no information about the whereabouts of Miguel but I know that he cannot be far” she said“I asked that you do not return until you have something for me” my eyes snapped up to meet hers.The harsh edge of my vo
SIXTYCATHERINAI was blindfolded; my hands bound tighter this time since I had been caught trying to escape. I listened very carefully as Miguel barked out orders to the men in front of my door; orders to be prepared for Andres’ arrival.The door opened and he stepped in; I could tell he was the one judging from the chuckle he gave as I shrunk farther to the side of the bed. I wanted to disappear so he did not touch me with such filthy hands.“Andres is on his way to rescue you as I have heard” he announced.My heart stilled for half a second before it began pounding mercilessly against my ribcage. If Andres was coming here, he was going to die… I knew that Miguel would not let him live to challenge for the throne again.“Why are you doing this?” I blurted, tears threatening to fall.I could feel his presence in front of me right before he snatched the blindfold away from my eyes.“I have served Andres for a really long time; don’t you think it is time I finally claimed my place as h
EPILOGUEANDRESI stormed into the hospital with an unconscious Catherina in my arms.One look at my face and I was ushered into a room immediately where a doctor was waiting.“Please leave, we have to be sure she has no internal injuries” the doctor said“I will remain here; now get to work” I snapped.The man’s face paled but he said nothing as they scrambled around her, checking and proddingMy gatita, my heart sangShe looked so pale and small, laying there and she had bruises all over her face and her wrists were swollen and bloodied.Bastardo but I was going to enjoy torturing Miguel and then I was going to kill him but he will suffer slowly until his heart gives out, I swore silently to myself.“She is going to be okay; she is stressed, dehydrated and has probably not eaten in days” the doctor concluded“She will be fine?” I echoed“Yes Mr Cruz; now I need you to fill in a form and state your relationship with the patient and to do that you have to leave the room and come with
PROLOGUE“You have to leave now” Ana said as soon as she had freed Alejandro.He could barely walk and his face was a bloodied mess of scar tissues which were healing atop each other.“Why?” he mumbled.The man was incoherent and she wondered if she was doing a good thing by setting him free. She needed someone on the outside and Miguel had said it was a good enough distraction for Andres who was frantically searching for the traitor in their midst.She supported him slowly as they walked with him stumbling but maintaining his grip on her shoulderHe wanted to live, she realized and she was going to help me one way or the other“You are going to be safe when we get you outside the gates. Your people are waiting and they have a yacht ready to take you anywhere you want, Alejandro” she whispered urgently, hoping he understood what she was saying.She kept to the walls, holding up Alejandro and stopping when some of Andres’ men passed. If she was caught, it was going to be all over for h
ONEAUDREY“Explain to me again why a man that very nearly killed you is being celebrated?” I asked, the phone hooked to my ear as I turned to the corner of the road.“It is not a celebration but more like a remembrance and it is their crazy culture; please tell me that you will show up this time” My sister begged“You know that I cannot, Hermana. I have to be at the art studio; then I have to go to that party for cosplayers that I told you about; besides I do not want to be in a celebration for dead killers”I could hear Catherina sigh heavily on the other end and was almost tempted to change my mind. I knew she was longing for there to be a meet-up between us or reunion of some kind but I wasn’t ready to go back to Spain just yet and she knew this. I already had a life here with a couple of artist girls such as myself and the cult I had joined for cosplayers.It was exciting and something I loved to wake up to.Spain wasn’t it for me and after I had lost my baby during one of their
TWOALEJANDROMy blood pounded with renewed force as I watched her walk away and it continued long after she was gone. This was the last place that I had thought to meet Audrey Salvador and judging from the painting she had been carrying, she was here for the presentation.What is a little bird like you doing so far away from home, I thought“Is everything alright?” Gonzalo asked, stopping behind me“Everything is perfect; get me the owner of this place” I commanded.I was here because I was collecting in on the debts that were owed my father before his rather unfortunate demise and it would seem that the owner of this art studio was owing a rather large sum.Did he think that because my father was dead then he was free to not pay back?I would have to educate him properly on how that was unwise.Gonzalo and Felipe sauntered into the studio while I followed closely behind them. I could see the inquisitive gaze of the students follow me but none of those eyes belong to Audrey.I was go