Chapter 9: Chapter 9

The woman’s dead body was imprinted in my mind as I absentmindedly stared out the window of the car.

The welcome ceremony had come to an end with three spies being found among the women. Two were taken in for questioning, and the third died after getting shot in the head by security.

Everything after that was a bit of a blur. Stefano had been at my side in an instant, leading me away. Now we were on our way back to the mansion, and I couldn’t find anything to say. My stomach was in chaos, yet no bile came up.

It was the first time I’d seen a dead body.

I was the last person she saw before she died. Logically, I understood that she was an enemy of the family, but she was still a person. I couldn’t begin to fathom what went through her mind in that moment.

I’d almost forgotten how dangerous this world was.

A hand landed on my thigh, and I flinched. My eyes snapped to Stefano’s.

He frowned. “Are you all right?”

I took a deep breath and nodded.

He squeezed my thigh. “Don’t lie. You’re tough, but even tough men cough up their lungs the first time they see someone die.”

I said nothing, my eyes straying to the flashing scenery outside. There was nothing I could think to say. My mind was a jumbled mess of confusion and fear.

I could die here. That was a certainty.

“You did great tonight.” He tried to reassure me, but his words went in one ear and out the other.

“Catalina.”

His use of my name made me look at him. He rarely called me that unless he was serious. He grabbed my hand and lightly tugged me to him. “Come here.”

I shuffled over the seat until our legs touched, but he didn’t seem satisfied. His arms curled around my waist and pulled me onto his lap. He lowered the window, allowing the cool air to permeate the dead silence of the car.

It caressed my face and woke me from my daze. I released a shaky breath and leaned my head on his shoulder. His heavy hand caressed my head reassuringly.

His breath tickled my ear as he murmured, “What you did today possibly saved many of the people in that room. You’ve always been quick to catch on to things. My father now sees you as an asset to the family. I’m happy.”

I said nothing.

“What’s on your mind?” he asked.

I closed my eyes and chose to be honest. “Seeing her die so easily today made me aware that I could be next.”

“You won’t be.” His arms tightened around me. “I won’t let that happen, amorina. I will teach you everything you need to survive in this family. Nothing bad will ever happen to you.”

“How can you be so sure?” I turned my head so I was now facing his side profile. My eyes traced his sharp jawline, my fingers itching to play with his beard.

“I’ve come across a lot of people in my line of work, but I’ve never seen anyone so determined to protect the people they love. You refused to give up on your aunt, and you did whatever you could to take care of your little sister when everyone else abandoned you. I admire that. I admire you.”

A choked laugh escaped my lips, and I raised my hand to wipe the tears that had forced their way out. “That’s what attracted you to me? That I haven’t given up on my aunt? You’re so weird.”

He chuckled. “Say what you want, but not everyone would be willing to go to such lengths for their family.”

I smiled and leaned into him further, inhaling the earthy cologne that tickled my nose. I engraved the scent into my memory, loving it on him.

“Don’t take us home yet,” he called out to the driver. “Take a few swings around the block. My girlfriend needs some fresh air.”

Girlfriend…

My hands clenched in my lap as the word echoed through my brain and made its way into my heart.

This felt too good to be true. There were many things I still didn’t know about Stefano. He could be hiding something dangerous from me, yet in that moment, I didn’t care about any of that. I just wanted his warmth.

After an hour of driving in circles, my heart finally settled, and Stefano directed the driver back to the mansion.

I walked into Stefano’s bedroom and struggled with the zipper at the back of my dress.

“Let me.” His words caressed my ear as he came up behind me. My breath hitched as his fingers grazed my skin. The sound of the zipper running down my spine increased the tension in the room.

My stomach flipped, and I murmured, “Thanks.”

I turned toward him, drawn to his commanding presence and confidence as he started to remove his suit.

“You’re welcome. You can wear one of my shirts for now. You’ll get your own set of clothing soon. My mother is very excited to shop for you.”

I chuckled. “She’s like a whirlwind of emotions.”

“She’s a bit overwhelming, but you’ll get used to her.”

I nodded.

We quickly changed into more comfortable clothing. I sat on the edge of the bed wearing nothing but his shirt and my panties. But I was restless. Something was bothering me, and I needed to know the answer.

He walked out of the bathroom, and I couldn’t stop the words that came out of my mouth. “Who are the Perez family?”

He froze.

“Why did Stacy ask me if I knew about the Perez family?” I pressed. “Why did you?”

He sighed and removed his watch, placing it on the side table. “The Perez family emerged two years ago. They’re small, but they’re like leeches. We’ve been trying to weed them out, but it’s futile. Until we find their head, the tail will continue to grow.”

“What does this family have to do with me?”

His eyes held mine as he walked toward me, stopping between my legs and forcing me to look up to keep eye contact with him. “We had reason to believe that you were involved with the Perez family, but after approaching you myself, I found that we were wrong.”

My heart sank as I realized what that meant. “So, when we were together…”

He nodded, his lips pulling into a straight line. “That’s right, but don’t get it twisted. My love for you that entire time was real. That’s why I had to leave you. I didn’t want to involve you in my world.”

Anger bubbled inside me at the thought of being used like that. My heart clenched. No matter what he said, he’d approached me with ulterior motives. He’d made me believe he liked me. How could I not be hurt?

I glared up at him. “And what about now? You involved me anyway. Am I supposed to just believe you?”

He reached out to cup my cheeks, but I smacked his hands away. “Don’t touch me.”

“Amorina.” He went for my hand this time, but I didn’t let him.

I sprang off the bed and again smacked his hand aside. Then, in my anger, I swung and hit him in the chest.

“You didn’t love me!”

“I did. I ~do~ love you,” he stressed, not blocking the barrage of punches I sent his way.

Tears streamed down my face as all the hurt, sadness, and pain I had bottled up came pouring out. I’d spent an entire year trying to get over him, only for him to come barging back into my life like nothing had happened.

And just when I was finally beginning to accept him again, he went and pulled this shit? So what? Was nothing between us real?

“If you love me, then why did you leave? Why?” My punches mellowed into soft jabs at his chest, yet he still didn’t try to stop me.

“It was to protect you, Catalina. My father was killing everyone rumored to be involved with the Perez family, whether those rumors were true or not. I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t risk it. Couldn’t risk you.”

“Then why now?” I didn’t understand. “Is it just because your father is forcing you to participate in the games?”

He shook his head and gripped my wrists, tugging me into his chest. I was too weak to fight him. My head landed over his heart, and I could feel the powerful thumps that were in tune with my own.

“That was an excuse. My father did threaten me, but it was a weak threat considering who the alternative is. His threat was my opportunity to get you back. I’ve missed you, amorina.”

I shook my head and whispered, “I don’t believe you.”

“Look at me.” He cupped my chin and tilted my head up so I’d look at him.

“I may have approached you with ulterior motives, but I stayed as long as I did because I fell in love with you. Your presence is a breath of fresh air for me. You’re tough, but you’re also fragile. You’re excitable, but you’re real. I wanted to protect you, and leaving was the best way I knew how.”

As always, his eyes sucked me into the comfort of him, and I couldn’t find it in me to deny the feeling, the unexplainable trust that came from knowing him for those few months we’d been together.

His rough hand cupped my cheek, and I closed my eyes and leaned into it.

“If you’d let me, I can show you my love in many other ways than just words.” The husk in his voice had me opening my eyes, and my heart trembled at the intensity I found in them.

That look of hunger.

Like he’d devour me whole if he could.

My core tightened in response, and I was brought back to the times when we’d hold each other, my nails sinking into his skin as he buried himself in me. His powerful thrusts would hit my core, claiming me for what I was. His.

“I hate you.” The words came out in a whisper, a contrast to what I was really feeling.

He leaned down until our lips brushed. Our hot breaths intertwined as our chests rose and fell with the heat building between us.

“That’s okay. I have enough love for both of us,” he murmured. Then his lips slammed onto mine.

I clung to him and fell into the abyss of my desires.