TWENTY TWOCATHERINAI could tell that he was avoiding my gaze which was strange; the man who always pinned me with a stare, taunting and daring me to look up at him was avoiding my gaze. He was looking at his plate with a frown coating his forehead like there was something about my mamma’s food that he found distasteful. The dinner was over… almost over and I was waiting for my papa to move us all back to the hall for the usual fun and drinks before the announcement of the wedding was made.One glance at my sister told me she was miserable and wanted to be anywhere but at her own engagement party.“We should move to the hall for some drinks” My papa said in rapid Spanish and the men around the table cheered, pushing their plates away and rising to their feet.I made no move and neither did Andres who by now was staring at me with a confused and almost furious look on his face“Andres” My papa called to him.He glanced up and then nodded which was my cue to flee from his presence and
TWENTY THREEANDRESHe looked like he had had enough but I was far from done with him. He dared to touch her, smile at her and then drug her right in front of me. The man, whosoever he is had to be taught a lesson and wasn’t it a good thing that I was in the lesson mood.“Wake him” I commanded, cracking my knuckles slightly.He had one eye swollen shut and his lips bust to bits but by the time I was done with him, he wouldn’t be breathing.Cold water was splashed on the man’s face, reviving him immediately as he gasped for air, his one open eye landing on me with terror.“Who sent you?” I asked againIt was the same question I had been asking again and again whilst ramming my fists into the sides of his head.“I swear that I was sent by… no one… I was just messing… with the dulce nina” the man stuttered.“Do not call her that!” I bellowed in rage, slamming my fist again into the side of his face.I heard a satisfying pop signaling the exit of another tooth“Pleasee… just kill me” the
TWENTY FOURCATHERINAI woke up with an excruciating headache, a fever and a very dry and raspy throat. I felt something cold touch my forehead and was quite relieved when the headache lessened only for the something cold to leave my head again.I could hardly remember what I happened but I knew it had to be bad for me to still be in bed. I could hear faintly the voice of my mamma in the background talking about something… I could not quite make it out and when I tried desperately to listen more, the headache worsened and so I gave up.I wondered how long I had been in bed, drifting in and out of consciousness while my body remained rooted to one spot no matter how hard I tried to move it.My mind eye closed one last time and I drifted unsure also of how long until I opened my eyes to see my sister’s face peering into mine.“You are awake… mamma, she is awake” she screamed, her voice upsetting the demons in my head.I winced painfully and tried to get up but felt absolutely weak“You
TWENTY FIVEANDRESI wasn’t supposed to be here but I wanted to know if she was alright. Ever since my exit from her home after the engagement party, I had received no invitation from Manuel and I could only guess that it was as a result of what I had done, the fear I had instilled in his men with my actions against the bastardo that had dared drug his daughter. I could only think that he had probably wanted to do the deed himself and was smarting about me getting to it first. He could hardly blame me; I knew he cared nothing for Catherina and would much rather see her dead.No matter what she had done, he should never have that much hatred for his own flesh and blood and it only showed me the kind of man I was choosing to align myself with. I only hoped he would fall in line and I would not have to take Catherina’s family from her.The news had spread about the man who was tortured and killed just for according to the rumors, staring in the direction of the dulce nina of the Salvador
TWENTY SIXCATHERINAI am a fool… I am fool, I chanted as I fled from his presence.I had thought that maybe it was time to be emboldened and show him how I felt towards him.“What do you feel for him? The husband of your sister” I snapped at myself.I remained in the shadows until I heard the front door close before I walked back out and climbed the stairs to my room.I was thoroughly ashamed and embarrassed and was thankful nobody had been there to witness my shame,It was obvious that he felt nothing towards me and I had allowed myself to be misguided by the fact that he was protective of me.He had killed for me, what else was there to be sure of? I thoughtMy eyes drifted to the jacket that I hung neatly, the one he had given me when he had found me under the rain. He had saved me then too from possible hypothermia and had even berated me.I smiled and I rose to where the Jacket hung; it no longer smelled of him but I could still recall the warmth when he had wrapped it around my
TWENTY SEVENCATHERINA“I have whores for daughters” my papa thundered.I flinched, wondering if he was going to hit me or Audrey who was cowering behind my mamma while I stood in a corner.The news of my sister’s pregnancy had reached my mamma’s ears through me. There was no way I was going to keep that huge secret to myself knowing that she was about to get married and it could cause a problem for my family if the Cruz clan realized that we had given them a pregnant girl for a bride.I had begged my mamma not to inform my papa and should instead find a solution to the matter but she had been so devastated by the news and soon we were in some family meeting with my papa presiding“At least your sister was sensible not to get herself pregnant when she ran off with that dumb boy, troia” he bellowed.I flinched again at the mention of what I had done but said nothing. It was better to let him get it out of his system before we began pleading for mercy. I tried to not look in my sister’s
TWENTY EIGHTCATHERINA“You refused of course and told him to shove it” I asked no one in particularThey were all just staring at me like they had sent me to die and this was my funeral procession.“You have to do this for your family” My papa said grufflyThis was probably the first time I had seen him not staring at me with anger or disdain or hatred. He had pity in his eyes and sadness.“I am not going to marry Andres Cruz, papa” I cried out.“It is settled; you have no say in the matter” my papa said, turning away from me.“You did not hear me. I won’t marry the man and I do not care what say anyone has in it. I am not going to subject myself to such… I refuse to be like… mamma” I blurted.“Catherina Elizabeth Salvador!” my mamma’s voice rang out.I turned and fled for the second time in two days and from the same person. He had pushed me away the previous day like I was some whore that had forced myself on him and now he wanted to marry me? No, the damned man wanted to punish me
TWENTY NINEANDRES“You are going to allow them get away with shaming our clan?” Miguel’s voice echoed.“Yell at me one more time, Miguel and you will not leave this room alive” I threatened.My step brother fell silent and so did everyone at the table. They had expressed their discontent at the news on the table this morning and were waiting for me to say something namely when the attack on the Salvador’s would begin and how many men I needed.It would have been so during my father’s time… hell, even right now, the call to arms ringing in my head was very strong but I had to consider Catherina. She was the only reason I hadn’t given the familiar order that everyone was waiting for and I was sure my cousin knew this judging by the way he was staring at me, his eyes voicing unspoken words.I was going to have to tell them that I had chosen to exchange one other for the other even before calling for their presence and there was nothing they could damn well do about it.Ana sat by my rig
EIGHTEENALEJANDROShe was sitting too quietly for my liking… just there with her legs bunched together like I had taken the life force from her when we were barely started in our question for revenge.I had sent the nude pictures I had taken of her, straight to Andres’ through an untraceable network and I was now waiting for him to call me with the number I had dropped alongside the pictures. If there was anything I knew about my cousin, he was going to try and trace where the picture had come from and only when he is sure that he has exhausted all possible ways to find me will he place that phone call.I was giving him an hour at most before I heard from him… the empty threats. I call it empty because he would not be able to catch me so easily ever again. The last time I had allowed him do his worst to me even when I had not been directly involved in what had happened to his pet.I had given the order so yes, that would make me the most guilty in the matter but he and I were family
SEVENTEENAUDREYI don’t know how long I sat there, naked with my legs drawn up to my chest and my head bowed low as I thought about how the fuck I had allowed myself to be so seduced.I don’t know how long I slept before I woke up in a cold sweat, my heart pounding furiously in my chest as my eyes took a sweep round the room.It wasn’t a dream… not a nightmare either, I thought as the memories flooded back; memories of my own shame.I buried my face in my hands and berated myself for my stupidity.How could I have been so blind? The truth had been staring at me in the face but I had been so fucking stupid and horny.I had hoped that he loved me but how could a man… I should have figured out immediately he started paying special attention to me that there was something wrong. I had let myself be seduced by his smooth words and charming demeanor, never once suspecting that he was the same man who had caused so much pain and suffering in my family.Now, as I sat in the dimly-lit cabin,
SIXTEENALEJANDROShe remained sitting, her arms folded across her chest and her eyes pinned somewhere above my head. She had her mouth in a thin line and was trying not to look in my direction even as I stared pointedly at her.My cock twitched as I pinned her with a glare, my mouth also set in a grim line. She wasn’t supposed to have heard about what Sergio and I had talked about; I wanted to do this my own way but oh well… it was what it was.I pushed back from the wall I was standing, twirling the knife she had almost used to stab me in my hand; the very same that her brother in law and my cousin had marked me with.I could feel the rage spinning in my chest and welcomed it, allowing it fuel me as I approached her until she had no choice but to look up at me.She was glaring, her eyes twinkling with distaste and disgust, two emotions which were so foreign to her countenance and person…As foreign as the scar on my face, I musedI wanted to think that I knew her but she was the ene
FIFTEENAUDREYI heard him climb out of the bed and muttered my protest as he carried the whole heat of his presence with him. I had had sex before, with a boy my age and in the house of my papa where we had to be quiet and afraid as we did the deed.It was the last time that I had allowed anyone of the opposite gender touch me until Victor. He was everything I envisioned powerful lovemaking to be and we had continued well into the night in as many positions as I could imagine.My eyes fluttered open as I sighed deeply and contentedly, stretching and wincing at the sore I felt in between my legs. I sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep away from my eyes as I stared around the room, taking in its appearance. I was fascinated by the way he had designed it and although I considered it really odd to have whips of various sizes strung to the wall and…I scampered out of the bed, reaching for the knife that was hung at the far end of the room. It had a very peculiar hilt and it was somewhat curv
FOURTEENALEJANDROShe looked like an angel sleeping there with her hair thrown back and her mouth slightly agape but it was not watching her that kept me awake; it was the energy thrumming through my body in waves and I wanted to tell myself that she hadn’t just touched something within me that had died with my torture but it was impossible not to feel everything she had given me and everything I had not returned.I smiled as she sighed, snuggling in closer to me and my arm involuntarily locking around her waist; she was beautiful and so innocent in many ways.I frowned hoping the hurt in my chest was because I hadn’t eaten in a while and was quite hungry and not because I was feeling sorry for what I was about to do to her. She needed no pity from me after all I had to endure from Andres and because of her sister; I wanted her to get the same equal measure of punishment and I wanted to break her so bad that she would never be able to smile ever again.As if on cue, her lips curved i
THIRTEENAUDREYThere were so many scars and I knew that it was the sign that I needed to be running for the hills but I was more intrigued with him than I had ever been with anything in my life and I could not tear my eyes from his body nor could I move as he stared at me with black eyes while I trailed my fingers over his scars.He looked like I was doing the exact opposite of what he had thought I would do and it fascinated him tooI rested my gaze on his chest, swallowing painfully at the scar that matted it even then; he must have been tortured to have been scarred this bad and I wondered who the hell would hurt him in such damning way.I watched his lips turn up in a smile before they descended on mine, his tongue forcing my mouth open and plunging deep. I was hit by the intensity of this kiss and clung to him to steady myself against the onslaught of heat pooling in my belly.He tasted like absolute sin and the danger I had been trying all my life to run away from but I was com
TWELVEALEJANDRO“I want to do this” she murmured as soon as we satI had no idea what she was talking about of course and told her so.She blushed beautifully, twirling her fingers in front of her as she sought words to properly convey what she was talking about.“Yesterday you said you felt something…I just… I really”My eyes twinkled as I watched her struggle to form words, glancing at me for help“Dance with me, Audrey” I murmured, putting out a handShe smiled, glancing around the quiet room.“There is no music” she pointed out“Isn’t there?” I asked.As if on cue, music filtered through the speakers I had positioned and had covered at the edge of the room. I watched her eyes widen in surprise and then amusement as she placed one hand in mine and allowed me drag her up so we were inclined against one another.I twirled her first before placing my hand on the small on her back and guiding her through the steps while she laughed.She was stunning; absolutely and deliciously stunnin
ELEVENAUDREYI was giddy with excitement and then terrified that I was giddy with excitement.How could I be excited that I was about to have sex with some man that I barely knew; I had no idea who he was and if he was even who he said he wasIt is just sex, I had tried to reassure myself and it could never be more, I had said but the shivers my body was making and the war that had been raging at the pit of my belly for the whole day was saying otherwise.Not even Valerie’s reassuring words was helping the terror and nervousness threatening to overwhelm me. The last intimacy I had had with a man was with Bruno and it hadn’t been as earth shattering as Valerie always described her rounds of sex with men.It had been something between two people that were scared of being apart and it had been done under my father’s roof with the fear of being caught overruling the passion and pleasure of the moment.There was also the case about an orgasm; I had no idea what that was like and I would h
TENALEJANDROMy eyes moved from the laptop in front of me to Sergio’s faceSomething was wrong“What is it?” I asked urgently“We have to proceed with the girl” he sighed“What is the hurry?”“Ana thinks it is a horrible idea and while I think it is fantastic, she is of the notion that it was going to make the revenge more complicated”“But?” I proddedHe blinked, confusion dotting his forehead“But what?” he asked“You have a but there” I told himHe chuckled, grabbing a seat“I think it is bullshit and she is only saying that because… well she is Ana and she is crazy. I wouldn’t take whatever that woman says serious”“I didn’t think so” I smiled, returning my eyes to the laptop“We need to…”“We will do it my way, Sergio” I interrupted, whipping my eyes to meet his.He remained silent while I boiled with anger.Every one of them wanted their moment with Andres but couldn’t find the guts to fucking go for him themselves. They wanted me to do it so they could hide in my shadow and po