"Okay." I'm not trying to come off as petulant, but my emotions are getting the better of me.
"Is there anything you like to do for fun?" he asks.
"I usually run, but since I’m sure you’re not going to let me out of the house, I read."
“Don’t sound so miserable. There’s a gym in the house and a treadmill if you really want to run and are not just trying to bust my balls. We have a library. It doesn't have any contemporary romance novels, but it does have the classic ones if that's what you want to read. I can get you one of those reading devices if you want and you can select books to order online."
"Do you all have a bookstore nearby?”
"There are bookshops in Madrid, but most of the literature is in Spanish."
"Oh. I forget that I'm not home.” I sigh heavily. I could really use a Barnes and Noble.
"This is your home,” he snarls. Goodness, he really hates when I say that.
"I meant in New York where Spanish is the second language."
"So if it's the second one, how come you never picked it up?" It’s a fair question, I suppose.
"I failed it in school. I hated my Spanish teacher. He was a grade-A prick who thought my eyes were located on my chest."
"Oh. Okay."
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing. I'll have a Kindle for you when I return, and then you can order whatever books you'd like."
"Even how to dispose of a dead body?" I challenge, thinking I’m funny.
He closes the distance and then slides his hand into my hair and pulls me close so his breath tickles my neck and then says, "Then you could help me, but the books don't really do it justice." He kisses my lips and walks out of the bedroom door. I shake my head and smile, pressing my hand to feel the heat and electricity. Then, the door pops open and Victor sticks his head back in. "Remember what I said about anyone touching you."
I nod. "Okay."
I walk into the bathroom and still smell his body wash. I hate how much I crave his smell. I look over the latest marking and frown. I can’t look at the possessive marks when he seems quick to fuck and run. I take my sour mood and push it away. He ran a nice hot bath for me, and I have the house to myself. What is there really to complain about? What would my life be like if I was forced to the streets if I escaped my father’s grasp?
I laugh to myself as I slide into the bath. A moan escapes my lips as the heat feels great on my aching body. I’ve never been in a bathtub this large. I probably will never get out. I lay my head back and think about my father. What must he be thinking now? Is he freaking out? Missing out on another payday with me? I’m sure he’s pissed that his only asset was snatched away.
Snatched away by a wicked Spaniard with a need to devour every inch of me. It’s hard to stop being turned on by Victor. He left, and I’m still aroused. I need to find a hobby. I wonder how massive his library is. Is it Beauty-and-the-Beast massive, or barely a study’s space worth of books? In this day and age, most people don’t have physical books. I love having actual books in my hand, but I’ll settle for whatever I can get. Finally getting out of the tub when I’m chilled and my fingers and toes are wrinkled, I wash off the bubbles and wrap a massive towel around my body. Feeling the exhaustion of everything, I fall onto the bed and pass out.
* * *
I wake up, and the sun is bright in the sky. Looking over at the clock, I see it’s already one thirty, and my stomach rumbles. I do the math on my fingers. I passed out for two hours. Strange. There’s a blanket covering me. I don’t remember pulling it over me. I stretch out and feel the ache through every part of my body. Well, I better get dressed and look for some food, and then I need to find this library. I slip on panties and a bra, then dig out a plain white T-shirt and a pair of green khaki shorts from the drawer. My hair’s a little curly from falling asleep with it wet, so I brush it and put it in a long braid. I’m so grateful whoever brought the clothes and supplies remembered basic hair ties. I slide on a pair of almost generic flip-flops.
As soon as I step outside my door, I'm surprised when I nearly collide with a guard. "Oh my goodness. Sorry." All the while, my mind is racing about why Victor has someone keeping tabs on me.
"I'm the one who's sorry. I'm Vicente. I normally guard around the house. I just spoke to the boss, and he's gone for the day. Do you need anything?"
"I'm actually heading down to the kitchen." I remember where that is because it's the one place I've actually spent time in other than our bedroom since I arrived.
He nods and continues to patrol the corridor before coming down the stairs. I hear him say “all clear” into his earpiece.
I don't know why they would do a check upstairs when no one got in or out of the house, but whatever. I'm new to this world, even though it's how we met. My father was mafia adjacent, an errand boy of sorts, but that's all I know about the life.
Frankly, I have no idea what Victor does or how dark his story is, and I don't want to know. I'm not sure I could handle the details.
When I get to the kitchen, his housekeeper, Maria, is in there with the cook, whom I haven’t met yet.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Serrano. How are you?”
“I’m starving, actually.”
“Oh, no. Let us get to it.”
“No, it’s okay. I can make my own food.”
“Señor Serrano left strict instructions that I’m to prepare your meals. I am Geraldo, by the way. I am the chef around here.”
“So do all of you live in the house?”
“There are several employee homes on the estate. There are the old servants’ quarters that Señor Serrano keeps for the staff who have to stay overnight or work long days, but the rest of the mansion is for his family. Dona Serrano and Hector have their own rooms, but they rarely stay.”
“We can’t wait until there are little ones running around here.”
“How long have you been working for Victor, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“You can ask any question you like. I actually worked for the winery’s restaurant when Señor Serrano’s father died. He was looking for a new housekeeper and offered to give me the job. I have been here six years now.”
“I’ve only been here for five years after working in France for a decade.”
“Wow. France? I’ve never been there. Hell, I hadn’t left New York until Victor scooped me up and brought me here.” My stomach rumbles loud enough to gather everyone’s attention.
“Let me feed you before it’s the end of my five years. What would you like?”
“Something simple. I don’t know if Victor’s going to be home in time for dinner. I don’t know how you all operate over here.”
“Dinner, as you’d say back in America, will be around seven, assuming there is no change in plans. Señor Serrano is extremely easy to please when it comes to his foods. What do you like?”
“Not to starve. A salad or sandwich would be good. Breakfast was delicious, but I’ve hardly eaten in the past couple of days, so I couldn’t eat that much.”
“Will a pork sandwich hold you over until dinner?”
“Yes, please. I’m not a picky eater, but I’m not accustomed to the food here.”
“You’ll get used to it. Tell us if you don’t like a dish I make or if you do, and that way I’ll be able to feed you. Also, I have traveled over my lifetime and learned many American and Mexican dishes if you choose to have something from your old home.”
“Thank you.” For the next twenty minutes, Geraldo tells me about the places he’s been while Maria makes a list of things I like. So far, the staff has been excellent and this pork bocadillo is fantastic. By the time we’re done chatting and eating, I decide to head over to the library somewhere in this big house.
“I’m going to run and pick up the things on this list that we don’t have.”
Do you need anything?" Maria asks.
"I think I am fine. You supplied me with everything so far. I can't ask for more."
"Thank you. If I do think of anything, I will let you know. I'm off to the library now. Thank you for lunch and the chat." I walk out of the kitchen and nearly bump into Vicente again. "We have to stop meeting like this," I say playfully. He's older than me, but not much older. He's dressed like the others, but there's something about him that screams arrogant. Maybe it's the way he carries himself. Either way, it's none of my concern because Victor knows who he has working for him.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Serrano."
"It's okay. I'm off to the library, so beware. Oh, and by the way, which way is it?"
"I'll escort you there." He leads the way, making sure to keep his distance. I feel an awkward silence that unsettles me, so I make some small talk as he leads me down the long corridor off the kitchen.
"It's sad that I'm lost around here, but I'll get the hang of it."
"Yes, we can't have you getting lost forever." He gives me a nervous smile that brings my own grin to my face.
"Here we are." He waves his arms at the large wooden doors.
"Thank you. I don't know how long I'll be in here, so you don't have to follow me anymore. It's not like I'm going anywhere."
"Just doing my job."
"Well, I don't want to be disturbed." It may come off rude, but seriously, I'm a little annoyed that he's up my ass. I know Victor doesn't trust me, and that's why he has his minions following me like puppies. Still, I find it irritating.
"Call out if you need anything." He nods and turns on his heel in the opposite direction we came from. This house is practically a castle. It definitely has that historic charm. I open the double doors like I'm in Beauty and the Beast and to my amazement, the library is massive. Two floors with a walking path on the second. It's beautiful. I close the door behind me and then walk to the nearest bookcase and run my fingers along the spines of the books while breathing in the scent of paper. A happy sigh escapes my lips, and then I scan the titles. There are so many titles that I'm not sure which one to pick.
I randomly grab a small stack and sit on the most comfortable chaise ever. It’s heavenly.
I pick up the first book. It’s A Tale of Two Cities, which I immediately put down. The next is Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. This time, I read at least a page before setting it on the table beside the head of the chaise. Next is Dracula by Bram Stoker. Unable to stop myself, I dig in. Page by page, I devour the story until there’s a knock at the library door.
“Yes?”
“Señor Serrano has pulled into the driveway.”
“Thank you.” I don’t care. I look at the clock on the wall, and it’s already six thirty. I grumble the time to myself and go back to my book. I refuse to look up when he enters the library.
“If that’s the greeting I get when you’re engaged in reading, I’ll just have to take this back to the store.”
“You’re late,” I hiss, refusing to look up from the book.
“Oh…well. I was busy working.” I turn and look at him, and he’s wearing a different shirt.
“Working? Why is your shirt different?” I question, narrowing my eyes so he knows damn well I’m not stupid.
“I spilled wine on it.”
“Oh, work. Wine?”
“Dove, we own a winery,” he says.
“A winery?” Well, I didn’t know that.
“Yes. An entire vineyard as well. I’ll take you one day if you’d like.”
“That sounds good.” I stare at him and wonder why he had wine and why he spilled it on himself. “Do you keep extra clothes just lying around?”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous.”
“Not in the least. I’m just curious.”
“I do, actually. I hadn’t planned on getting dirty, but sometimes that comes with the business.” I don’t know which business he’s actually referring to, and I’m not going to ask. “So anyway, wife. Any more questions, or can I give you your tablet?”
“You got it for me?” I gasp, shocked by it.
“Of course I did. I couldn’t get you a Kindle, although I can order you one from Amazon, but I was told you can download the app on here and it works the same.” He hands me a Samsung Tab A. “Oh, and you’ll need this to go with it.” He hands me the latest Samsung, or at least I think it is. I don’t know about phones other than the multitude of ads I saw on the bus in the city or on the TV sometimes. I used to have the first Samsung Galaxy they ever made, or at least it felt that way.
“Thank you! I’ve never had a new phone or a tablet before.” I throw my arms around him again today for spoiling me. We might not have a real marriage made from love, but he’s not doing a bad job on some of the aspects of being a husband. It’s better than being trapped doing nothing. At least I think I can play games on this thing.
“That’s much better. I have to leave again, but I will be back around midnight. I picked this up at the store. You can use it to order your books.” It’s a hundred-dollar Amazon gift card. Wow. “Let me know if you need more. I can set up an account. I’ll be back.” He takes my lips fast and hard before rushing back out of the room.
I forgot to ask him about the phone. Then he comes back in. “Oh and there’s no point in calling the cops. They won’t come here to get you, okay?” His mouth is on mine once more before leaving. Damn, I hadn’t even thought about the cops. I set everything down and go back to my book. I guess I’ll be having dinner on my own while he’s out doing God knows what and with who. I don’t think he’s cheating. He’s gone through too much trouble and he’s fucked me way too many times in the past twenty-four hours to need his dick hard again.
I sit on the chaise and continue my book until there’s a knock at the door half an hour later. “Mrs. Serrano, I’m sorry, but dinner is ready. Would you like it served here, in the dining room, or in the kitchen?”
“The kitchen, if you don’t mind.”
“This is your home.”
“I have to remember that.” They have been so nice to me. “I’m coming now.” I take my book and my new gadgets and carry them with me into the kitchen.
9
Victor
I've been out of the house all day, dealing with the new family out there. I couldn’t believe it when I learned who it was. Julio Montoya had the balls to finally go up against me, but what he doesn’t understand is that I have more to lose now than ever, and that means I have something to fight for. I’ll fight to the motherfucking death to protect my Dove.
I can’t prove who set the blaze in my damn vineyard. There are many dirt roads with access to the vineyards. We can’t have it locked up because it brings in the tourists, but now it’s allowed the rats to enter. With a wife and hopefully a baby on the way, I don't want a war, but they've pushed me to the point I must make a decision. A quarter of my vineyard burned to ashes in broad daylight means someone’s going to get their heads lobbed off.
I spent the morning working to evaluate all that we lost. When I finally checked the time, I realized I was fucking late as hell. Fernando rushed me to the store to get Dove’s present. Seeing her jealousy pissed me off. She can call it whatever she wants, but she thought I was out fucking another woman and came home with a different change of clothes. What she doesn’t understand is there could be no one else. I only see her now, and nothing will change that. It’s not love or respect that gets her to distrust me. It’s our lack of it that makes her think that I have nothing else on my mind. I bought her like a prostitute, after all.
When I handed her the phone, I nearly caved, but I have to have a way to get in touch with her and vice versa. I don’t want her to ever think she can’t call me. My number and Fernando’s are the only ones programmed into the phone because I want her to be able to call me whenever.
Damn it. I should have told her that. “Have you hear
d any movement on the Vitalis’ end?”
“None. I contacted the businesses nearest the entry to the vineyard for any footage.”
“We need to install cameras up and down on all the telecommunication poles.”
“Nothing flashy and nothing that’s going to grab people’s attention. I don’t want it to look like the surveillance at the house.”
My phone rings, and it’s my half sister Maria Luisa. “Are you still coming to your godson’s party?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to bring your lady friend?”
“No. How did you hear about her?”
“I thought it was idle gossip. I didn’t believe it. I can’t believe it. I’m so happy for you. I want to meet her one day, but I won’t push.”
“One day, I will introduce you two. So who told you?”
“We’re women. Word spreads quick. Mi amiga works next to the store and heard about a large delivery and how the owner was worked up about getting it right.”
“Well, I will say this. I can’t go without an heir forever.”
“Good. I’m so happy for you. Take care of yourself. Treat her right.”
“I will. Take care as well.” I end the call.
“I’m ready to go home. I think we’ve done enough for the night.”
“Sounds good. I need a fucking shower and some food.”
“You should have eaten with the guys.”
“Nah. I didn’t want that shit. I was hoping for Geraldo’s famous caldo.”
“I’m sure there’s a lot left. There’s only Dove eating. Shit. I didn’t ask if she’s allergic to anything. Damn it. I’m fucking this all up.”
“I don’t know about all that shit, but I say we cap her father and Avanti soon so she has nowhere to run to. You gave her a phone. I wouldn’t have.”
“She can’t make international calls on it.”
“There’s still internet on it, right?”
Stolen Dove: Stolen Hearts Series Page 9
