by René, Dani
“La lengua de una serpietne gotea veneno,” I tell him—the tongue of a snake drips poison—but my words only make him smile.
“Such a pretty girl with such a dark outlook on life and the people who surround her,” Victor observes, stopping at the cell to watch me for a moment, before he shakes his head. “When you realize I’m only here to help you, I’ll allow you back in your bedroom,” he tells me. “Until then, you’ll sleep in here.”
“You can’t leave me in here, it’s cold, the bed is hard as nails, and I need my medication.”
He chuckles. “And as the Devil, I really don’t care.” His golden eyes flash with fire and challenge, stilting the words in my throat. He doesn’t wait for me to respond, he takes the steps slowly, knowing I won’t fight him, because he’s fucked me over, and I’m stuck here until I apologize. He hasn’t said it, but I know that’s what he wants.
Silently, I settle on the hard mattress, my back against the cold concrete wall, as I stare at the opposite staircase. The cool night air is slowly wafting through the rectangular holes in the wall far from my reach.
I can’t believe I’m once more his prisoner. Lifting my legs up, I wrap my arms around them and rest my cheek on my knees. I don’t want to sleep, but I know, soon, fatigue will steal me from this world, and I’ll be captured by golden eyes once more.
* * *
Javier’s voice startles me from sleep. “Get up,” he grunts angrily. When my eyes snap open, I find the dark-haired man glaring at me. His blue eyes are a stark contrast, and I wonder just how he got them. I haven’t seen many men like him: tanned skin, black hair, with those deep dimples when he smiles, and the dark dusting of stubble on his angular jaw. A sharp and prominent nose sits in the center of his face.
“What do you want?” I bite out.
“No me jodas, niña pequeña,” he growls—don’t fuck with me, little girl. The words sounding like an animal. “I’m not Victor, I don’t take your bullshit teenage hormonal outbursts.” His words are meant as venomous snide remarks, but they’re rather amusing coming from a man who’s nearly six-foot five and broad like a warrior.
Sitting up, I cross my arms in front of my chest, my lips pouting at his attack on me. “I wasn’t sassing you, just being observant. And, you’re not a very nice person.”
“No, I’m not. And you would do well to remember that.” The corner of his mouth tilts up, and I can’t help staring at him smirking happily at my observation. “I’m going to open the gate, you try anything, I’ll put you down like a fucking dog. I don’t care if Victor cares for you.” His eyes flame with rage when he unlocks the cell door and pulls it open.
“Where am I going?” I question, but as the afterthought hits me, I wonder what he means—Victor cares for me. That must’ve been a mistake, because Mr. Cordero doesn’t care for anyone.
“Mr. Cordero wants to see you,” he informs me, gripping my arm and tugging me up the stairs behind him. My feet aren’t even awake yet, and I stumble my way behind the large oaf of a man who’s slowly annoying me more than scaring me.
When we finally reach the landing, he tugs me harder, as we make our way down the hall and into a large office that looks like it belongs in old school England. The dark wood with the walls of bookshelves are more like a haven than a horror show. I want to spend all my time running my fingers along the spines of the books, but Javier shoves me into an armchair with a glare pinned on his boss.
“Call me when you’re done.” He leaves without another word, and I watch as Victor stares at the door long after Javier is gone. It’s clear they’re close because Javier wouldn’t be as angry with me if they weren’t.
He let it slip that Victor cares for me and something tells me that he doesn’t like that fact at all. Perhaps I can use it to my advantage. Those shimmering eyes fall to me before he rises and stalks toward me.
I don’t cower, which only makes the color of his gaze turn molten, like gold melting over rocks turning them to gilded gems. He pulls a gun from a holster in his jacket and points it at me. The barrel nudged under my chin, his free hand fisting my long brown hair, and he tugs my head back until my eyes are locked on his.
My collar is exposed, and I know he can see my pulse beating wildly against the column of my neck. He watches me for a moment before he leans in close, pushing the metal against my flesh, causing me to shiver.
“I don’t like fucking games,” he hisses in my face. I don’t expect it, but he suddenly pulls the trigger, and I yelp in fear, feeling the heat of my urine wetting the pants I’m wearing, which only turns my skin bright red in embarrassment.
“I-I-I—”
“Yes, you play me, juguete, and I’ll fucking kill you.” His words are filled with pure rage. There isn’t an ounce of the man who came to me last night in the cell, and I have no idea what he’s talking about. Even though I try shaking my head, I can’t, because his grip in my hair is too strong.
“Y-y-you’re wrong.” Even though I manage to choke out the words, he doesn’t believe me, because it’s written all over his face. Indifference.
It’s all I get out before he glances down to see I’ve wet myself in fear of him killing me. He drops to his knees for a second, his hands hovering over me, as if he wants to lift me up, to touch me and ask if I’m okay.
But the second vanishes quickly when he pushes to his feet and steps back. His mask being pulled back on. His full lips curve slightly, and I wonder if he’s amused that I’ve messed myself. He releases my hair and stalks around his desk. He picks up the phone and taps a few numbers into the base.
“Valentina, my office, now.” He hangs up and watches me for a moment, before gesturing to the chair with his chin. “I’m not a nice man. And I will never pretend to be. You’re here for your protection. If you make my job harder, I won’t think twice about pulling the trigger on a loaded gun.”
“Is that what gets you off?”
He chuckles, lifting his 9mm, and closes the distance between us. “Open your mouth.” I don’t obey immediately, and the thumb and index finger of his free hand grips my cheeks, squeezing until I have no choice but to open for him. He shoves the barrel into my mouth and down my throat, causing me to gag on the metal nudging the back of my throat. “See,” he chuckles. “Soon, this will be my cock. Don’t fuck with me, Sofía. You’re here because I have chosen to help you.”
The door opens; he releases me and allows Valentina to enter. Her eyes are wide when she sees I’ve wet myself.
“Take her to the bedroom and get her cleaned up.” He waves his hand, ignoring us, as he settles himself in the chair behind his large desk. That’s the last time I see him for the day, but my body is still thrumming, and my mind is whirling with what the fuck just happened.
16
Victor
I fucked up. I shouldn’t have done that, but the rage that’s slowly simmering in my veins for this girl boiled over, and now I’m stuck here unsure of what my feelings for her mean. I want to protect her, but I also want to fuck her into next year.
I want her to cry.
I want to watch her crawl away from me, plead with me to stop when I won’t.
I would never fucking stop.
And that’s where my problem lies.
The door to my office flies open, and I’m met with Javi’s angry blue glare. His eyes are the color of the tropical oceans in Havana. Flawless and see-through. Even so, he would never let anyone in. He’s as closed off as I am. And perhaps that’s why we get along so well.
Until now.
“What happened?” His expression is wary, knowing my emotions are taking hold of me, and I’m losing it. No woman who has ever stepped foot on this property has ever made me lose my mind, but for some reason, this sweet, innocent woman who doesn’t have a forever has shoved her fist into my chest and gripped my heart in a feral hold.
“She overstepped her comments.”
“And that’s the reason for making her piss herself?” he questions, bu
t I don’t respond. I can’t. His blue eyes shine with flames of dangerous fire, and I know he’s about to give me a piece of his mind.
All the years I’ve spent around Javier, he’s always been calm. Almost as if he didn’t notice the shit I would do, but now… Well, this is very different. His body shakes with the rage that’s so clear in his eyes. I want to get lost in a bottle of Patron, but for now, I have to take the advice from Javier.
“Ella jodidamente se enojó,” he bites out angrily, his face contorted in a way I’d never witnessed before. He stalks back and forth, pacing a hole in my carpet, before he suddenly stops and glares at me. “You’re in love with her.”
Love?
It takes me a moment to process the words. That one word. And I chuckle. I laugh, from deep in my gut, and the sound rumbles through the office like thunder rolling in from the desert.
“I don’t love, Javi, you’re being ridiculous.” In my attempt at shoving his confident conclusion away, I glance out the window, trying to look calmer than I feel, because every fucking nerve ending in my body is alight with want and need.
“Look me in the eye and tell me she means nothing to you.” His command causes me to glance his way. “Did you fuck her?”
“You’re out of line, amigo,” I bite out, shoving away from the desk, causing my chair to slam into the wall behind me with a resounding thud. Stalking around the desk, I maneuver my way in front of Javier, pinning him with a glare so fierce, I’m certain he’d drop dead if I could kill him with a glance.
“I’m not stupid, Victor,” he tells me. “I’ve known you all my life. When you lie…” His words taper off, and I’m burning to know what exactly he thinks he knows about me. “I can see it. There’s no way of hiding it.”
“Are you growing a pussy, Javi?” I taunt, attempting to push the focus on him, but I know he wouldn’t fall for that trick. I’ve done it before, and he’s picked up on it immediately.
“Victor.” There’s a hint of frustration, but mostly fear, in his voice. “This isn’t a teenage crush we can laugh off in a few years.”
“I never said she was. This has nothing to do with feelings. It’s a fucking job, just like any other that we’ve had.” Casting my gaze to his, I meet the shrewd glare he’s pinned me with. There’s no reason for him to believe me, but I know he will anyway. Because I’ll ensure he does. Fuck. If I’m being brutally honest, I need to ensure I do, too. I can’t have feelings for her; she’s a means to an end.
“She has nobody else in her corner and you’re coming down with some fucked up knight in shining armor complex,” he bites out.
“Is there something you’d like to tell me, Javi?” Tipping my head to the side, I face him fully, waiting for the confirmation that’s slowly settling in my veins. There’s something more here, something I didn’t expect.
“¿De qué estás hablando?” His dark brows furrow together in mock confusion as he questions, what are you talking about, and I see it clear as day in his expression. It’s dancing in his eyes like a fucking beacon in the night.
Leaning my elbows on the desk, I tent my fingers, resting my chin on them, while I stare at him for a moment before questioning, “Are you jealous?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he scoffs, chuckling as if it means nothing, but I’ve known Javier most of my life, the same as he’s known me, and this is, indeed, his green-eyed monster rearing its head.
“Tell me, Javier,” I taunt him once more, rising from my seat, rounding my desk to stalk toward him. Stopping in front of Javi, I stare him down, knowing he won’t back down at all. That’s one thing about Javier, he’s as stubborn as I am ruthless.
“We have a meeting tonight, I’ll see you in a few hours.” He spins on his heel and leaves the office with me staring after his retreating form. Of all the years I’ve known him, he’s never been jealous, we’ve always had our own likes and dislikes. Meaning, any pussy that I plunged my dick into was mine. We never had the same taste in women.
Shaking my head, I settle back in the chair and respond to the emails that came in this morning. But, even as I attempt to focus on the delivery of coke heading for the States, I can’t stop thinking about my best friend and my little captive.
Just then an email pops into my inbox with a subject line that stills my breathing. Clicking on it, I open the video attachment to find a faceless man. The voice has been distorted, but I can hear his words clearly.
“Bring her to the address in the email. We will give you a week to decide. If you refuse, you’ll be sorry you stole what belongs to the Trituradoras de cráneo.” The video ends in a black screen of nothing. Nobody threatens me, they know better. And this asshole may think he can fuck with me, but he doesn’t know I’m El Diablo, and I’ll burn him alive and bask in the sizzle of his skin.
Pushing up from the desk, I head to the exit. There’s only one place I can find answers.
Time to talk to my captive.
17
Sofía
The bed is soft and warm, but I’m still shivering wildly under the heavy comforter. My body aches, and my eyes are puffy from crying. Valentina left me to sleep, but my mind has been working overtime since she walked out of the bedroom.
There wasn’t anything else for me to do but recall the way Victor scared me. It’s been a long time since I felt fear like that. The last time was when my mother died. Knowing I would be without her for the rest of my life was something I could never prepare for.
Victor, on the other hand, wasn’t something I had been prepared for. When he lost his shit, I was no longer the strong girl I’d promised myself I would be. My heart and mind escaped me, and I was left a trembling mess.
As much as I hate him, I can’t help wondering what he would’ve done if I’d retorted in that moment. Would he kill me? Yes. Of course, he would. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s capable of pulling a trigger without flinching.
Rolling over onto my back, I stare up at the ceiling, which is ornate with designs and patterns. The swirls make me dizzy, and I realize I haven’t eaten today. As if reading my mind, the door opens, but the person who enters isn’t who I was expecting.
Instead of Valentina’s friendly face, I’m met with the cold golden glare of Victor Cordero. Shuffling up against the headboard, I pull my knees to my chest, hugging myself, not dropping my gaze from the predator who’s just entered my bedroom.
“Sofía,” he utters, shutting the door behind him. I watch him turn the lock, which makes my body tremble with anxiety. “We need to talk, little one.” His voice is controlled, too even and cold, which makes me wonder what I’m about to experience. Will he torture me? I have no idea what I’ve done, but clearly, he’s not happy about something.
He doesn’t come near me. Instead, Victor stands at the window, his tall frame almost covering the light that’s slowly fading on the horizon. His hands are twined behind his back, and I take in the beauty of the Devil as he stands looking out over his kingdom. The golden glow makes him seem ethereal, but I know there’s nothing angelic about this man. Perhaps a dark angel, yes.
“Get off the bed,” he says in a chilly tone.
I move quickly, not wanting to anger him further. When I’m standing a few inches from him, he finally turns to regard me. He reaches for me, his fingers tangling in my long dark hair, and tugs my head back harshly, causing me to whimper in agony.
He doesn’t seem fazed by my pain. He pulls me closer, until I’m practically standing on his shoes. I can feel the cool leather beneath my bare feet. His hand tightens, causing the strands to sting my scalp, drawing another yelp from my lips.
His mouth tilts at the sound. “So pretty when you cry. Do you know how hard my cock gets when you whimper and moan like that?”
“You’re hurting me.”
“I know, juguete,” he grins. And damn him because it only makes him more handsome. “You see, I don’t like liars.” He doesn’t relent on his hold as he tells me this. If anything, he only grips me hard
er, drawing more pained moans from me. “They make me angry, and when I’m angry, I do things that you wouldn’t like.”
“I don’t know—”
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Sofía,” his harsh grunt sends vibrations through me from head to toe and back again. I can’t breathe, he’s far too close to me, invading my space. He’s all I see. Victor’s looming frame dwarfs mine, and I know there’s no way I can fight this man off.
A memory slams into me of my father teaching me to fight off an attacker. And in that moment, I grin, before lifting my knee and finding his crotch, feeling the contact the moment he doubles over.
I make a run for it. I don’t know where I’m going, but I have to try. My heart thuds painfully against my ribs, threatening to fight its way through my chest. When I reach the door, my mind is thundering with how to get out of this house. Twisting the lock, my hand is on the doorknob when I feel two large hands grip my arms.
Pushing me against the wood, he presses me against the surface with his heavy body. The heat of him almost comforts me until I remember who’s behind me. Shoving my hands against the door, I attempt to push away, but Victor is too strong.
His hand finds my throat, and his fingers wrap around the column of my neck while his free hand grips my hip, his fingers digging into the flesh, causing me to cry out in pain. When he rolls his hips, I feel the hard-on pressing against my ass.
Gasping, I attempt another shove, but I’m only tiring myself out. I can’t do this. Tears sting my eyes as I give up the fight and allow him to take control.
“You know, I would’ve believed you if you’d told me you didn’t know anything, but then you went and fought me.” His voice whispers along my cheek, the heat of his breath causing my skin to dot in goose bumps. “But what you don’t know, juguete, is that I like when you fight. It makes me want to pin you down and fuck some sense into you.”
