by Ashley Jade
Then the unimaginable happens.
My attention focuses back to the man kneeling in front of Alex.
In one swift stride Alex slices through the man's neck...effectively beheading him.
I gasp as I hear cheering all around me.
He then slices the man's sternum and continues to slice down past his stomach.
My own stomach begins to churn, but I'm unable to turn away.
Then, to my absolute horror. He rips out what looks to be part of the man's small intestine.
I hold my breath as he walks over to the other man and wraps the entrails around his neck.
He gives the crowd another smirk as he proceeds to push the man off the chair.
The man struggles for a moment or two before his face turns blue and he hangs completely still.
What's left of my heart, pangs for an entirely different reason then.
I'm no longer looking at the boy who was my first love.
I no longer see the boy who gave me my first kiss, the boy who took my virginity, the boy who I had fallen in love with.
All I see is pure evil.
I'm looking at a monster.
The first person I ever loved...is a monster.
He lifts his head then and looks directly at me.
He gives me a big smile as his eyes turn coal black. “See what will happen if you cross me? Vacation's over Bonita,” he sneers.
Chapter 30 (Dev)
“Get over here Bonita,” he calls to me.
The crowd parts and I take a few shaky steps toward him.
His suit is now covered in blood due to all the horror that he's just launched, but he doesn't seem to care.
In fact, he seems to relish in it.
He gives me a smirk before he reaches for my neck and tries to pull me into a kiss.
I deflect and punch him directly in the jaw.
The crowd of men gasp before they fall silent and draw their guns on me...again.
Alex holds up his hand and their guns drop.
He spits on the ground as his eyes flash at me.
I fight the twinge of terror as he proceeds to drag me past the crowd by my hair.
This isn't real. This isn't happening.
But it is.
We pass by Moe and he gives me a look somewhere between regret, an apology and an 'I told you so.'
Alex continues to drag me into the house and up the marble staircase.
I don't know which is worse.
The fact that he remains silent...or when I look over to Maria, she's a hysterical mess as she holds a pair of rosary beads to her chest while she's doing...
What is she doing?
Oh no...she's making the sign of the cross as she whispers some type of prayer for me.
He drags me into the pink bedroom and releases his grip on me only to slam and lock the door behind him.
“Take off your clothes now,” he growls.
I laugh. “Never. You will never touch me again Alex.”
He matches my laugh as he takes a step forward.
“Any last words?” he asks.
I don't have time to think of anything, before he tears my shorts off and bends me over a large dresser...right in front of a mirror.
I feel his hot breath on my neck before he wraps one of his hands around my throat.
The other hand he spits on before he uses it to spread my cheeks open for him.
My screams go unanswered as I feel the tip of his cock against the entrance of my backside.
Flashbacks of that night 13 years ago taunt me.
“You're just like Diego,” I scream before he slams into my sphincter.
The pain is excruciating...but nothing compares to the pain that he causes on the inside.
Nothing compares to the pain of losing the people that I love.
I hear him laugh as he continues thrusting into me mercilessly, refusing to let up.
“No Bonita...I'm much worse.”
“I loved you Alex. You're a monster! I hate you.”
He pulls my hair and forces me to look at him in the mirror.
“I've always been this way Bonita. You were just too fucking blind to see it.”
“I hate you,” I begin to cry.
Then, I stop myself.
His words echo through me. 'Please don't cry over him, he's not worth those beautiful tears of yours.'
Alex will get none of my tears.
He will only get my revenge.
As he continues to savagely violate me, I'm reminded of the conversation I had with Moe.
“You can't make him pay Dev, no one can. He's unstoppable. You need to be on the inside to do it.”
Alex fooled me and destroyed me.
However, I know that deep down...his weakness is the same as mine.
He loves me just as much as he hates me.
It's the only thing we have in common now.
I only have one option.
There's only one way to take him down.
I need to use that love he still has for me, against him...just like he tried to do to me.
I will make him pay...I will make him hurt.
I will kill him.
But first...I'm going to have to remind him of the love we once shared.
I lift my head to meet Alex's gaze in the mirror.
“If you hurt, then I hurt. If you scar...then I scar,” I whisper.
Something flashes in his eyes before he closes them and he slows down his brutal thrusting.
“Fuck...I wish I could stop loving you Dev,” he moans before I feel the stinging spurt of his release.
I smile.
I smile...because I finally see him for all that he is.
I smile...because I know that I've just managed to do the one thing that he can't.
I've buried all the love so that it no longer exits.
Pure hatred for him has taken over.
I smile....because I don't intend to make Alex stop loving me.
I intend to do the exact opposite.
I smile, because his love....will fuel my own wrath.
Chapter 31 (Dev)
My words seem to have the desired effect on Alex.
After he was finished, he kissed me softly and almost appeared to be remorseful.
The beautiful flecks of gold are now gone in his eyes, but I know I have him right where I want him.
Well not exactly, because I want him dead...but at least this is a small start.
I grab him and kiss him with so much passion that he takes a step back.
He looks both shocked and lustful before he kisses me back with just as much fervor.
“Dammit Bonita,” he sighs before I nibble on his bottom lip and press myself against him.
He lightly pushes me off him.
“I have a business meeting to go to. Do not leave this room. I will have guards stationed at the bedroom door, so don't even try it. I will see you for dinner later," he says before he leaves the room.
Maria walks back in looking both relieved and surprised.
She flings her arms around me and hugs me tight.
I wish I could tell her what's going on but I can't.
Or can I?
There's only one way to find out.
I nod my head toward the door. “Tú eres la más hermosa venganza,” I whisper.
Her eyes open wide and she looks frightened.
She shakes her head. “Peligro,” she whispers.
I know that word. It means 'Danger.'
I shake my head. “Venganza for my amigo's.”
I close my eyes “For Tristan.”
She looks at the floor, then back at me. “Sotano,” she says.
I sigh out of frustration because I don't understand what she's trying to tell me.
I hear a knock on the door before Moe walks in.
He looks melancholy, but relieved to see me still alive.
“I only have a few moments. The other guard is on a bathroom break.”
His eyes wander over to Maria and he looks at me again.
“It's okay. She's my friend.”
He looks unsure. “I swear Carlos...she's my friend.”
He takes a deep breath. “What makes you think Tristan is dead?”
“I already told you, the voicemail that he left me.”
“Fuck...”he mumbles.
Then it occurs to me. “Do you know Spanish?”
He shrugs. “A little. Tristan taught me some Spanish when we were in the mob together. Why?”
I look at Maria and she gives me a hopeful glance.
“Do you know what 'Sotano' means?”
He looks lost in deep thought for a moment before he answers.
“Yeah. I think it means basement.”
Motherfucker. A dash of hope runs through me.
I turn my head to Maria. “Tristan...Sotano?” I ask.
She nods her head rapidly. “Si, Si!” she screams.
“Shit, she's been trying to tell me for days now. He's trapped in the basement,” I say before I start marching toward the door.
Moe pulls me back.
“What the fuck...Carlos?” I snap.
“You can't go down there. No one can. Not even me. Only special guards within certain ranks can. Usually the guards that are relatives of the Cartel. Also...I guarantee Tristan is chained up down there. That said, I highly doubt that the key to his chains are accessible to any of us.Even if they were, we still can’t get past the guards without getting killed. Trust me...Alex isn't stupid. He's a lot smarter then Hector, Dev, especially since he spent all those years trapped down there himself.”
Maria nods her head and looks down at the floor.
“Tristan...infectado,” she whispers.
The feeling of dread creeps through me.
Tristan's sick.
I look at Moe...his expression is the same as mine.
“Moribundo,” she then says.
Her voice is so full of sadness that panic lurks it's way up my spine.
I look at Moe. “What does that mean?”
He looks down at the floor. “He's dying Dev.”
Chapter 32 (Dev)
“He needs antibiotics,” I say as Maria nods her head.
“Alex. He say...no,” she whispers before she starts crying.
I take her hand and give it a squeeze. She really has been trying to help.
“Shit,” Moe mutters.
If I didn't hate Alex before...this just gave me a fresh new wave of determination.
I have to find a way to get my hands on antibiotics.
Then I see it.
The sink.
Before Maria or Moe can stop me I run over to the sink and turn it on.
Maria screams and tries to tug me away, but I continue chugging the water down with lightening speed.
“Dev what the fuck are you doing? That's the only sink in the mansion that doesn't have filtered water. You're gonna get sick,” Moe shouts.
I lift my head up, wipe my mouth, and turn the sink off. “That's the point.”
*************************
Hours later I'm huddled over the same sink, puking my guts out as I stand next to a horrified Alex.
“Why the fuck did you let her drink the water?” he screams at Maria.
I tilt my head as much as I can. “It's not her fault. She was in the bathroom. I didn't know that this water wasn't filtered,” I say before I begin retching again.
He rubs my back. “I'm so sorry Bonita. It's the only sink in the house that doesn't have filtered water. I'm going to have it fixed, I promise. In the meantime, I've called a doctor. He should be here shortly."
I flinch at his touch but he doesn't seem to notice as I continue to toss my cookies.
I lift my head and look in the mirror.
I'm sweaty, pale, and visibly trembling.
I'm pretty sure this is the sickest I've ever been .
What the hell was in that water?
Alex leaves for a few moments and Moe walks in.
“I really hope this was worth it Dev. Christ,” he says as I begin dry heaving again.
It will be worth it to get my hands on antibiotics for Tristan.
God, I hope I'm not too late.
“Tell Maria that she needs to distract the doctor and Alex for a few moments when he gets here,” I pant out through awful stomach cramps.
He turns to Maria and whispers something in Spanish.
She nods her head as she puts a cold washcloth on my neck.
A few moments later a man wearing a white lab coat and carrying a little black bag walks in the room.
Alex takes my hand and leads me to the bed.
Maria appears by my side with a bucket and I begin throwing up again.
Moe walks out and returns to his post outside my room.
After examining me for a few moments, the Doctor declares that I have a bad case of Montezuma's Revenge with possible E-coli contamination.
“So you're gonna give me antibiotics, right?” I ask a little too cheerfully.
He gives me an odd look. “Yes, I heard you were in the medical field yourself. You're a nurse...correct?”
I nod my head before I reach for the bucket again.
My stomach continues to cramp as I see him take out a vial and a needle before he plunges the needle into my deltoid.
I give Maria the signal and she pulls both the doctor and Alex over to the side to talk to them.
I take the opportunity to sort through the doctors bag .
I'm hoping to find the right antibiotic to have Maria administer to Tristan.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I see that there is in fact, a vial of a high dose antibiotic in his bag.
I quickly take it, along with an unused packaged needle and hide it under my covers.
I look at Maria again and she smiles.
Alex walks over to my bedside and sits down.
He reaches for my hand and I try my best not to throw up.
“You're to be on bed-rest for the next 3 days. The antibiotic should kick in shortly. If you have any other symptoms or problems please give me a call. I've given Alex a bottle of Zofran for you, in order to help with the nausea. Drink plenty of fluids once it kicks in. I hope you feel better," the doctor says.
He then turns to Alex. “Please ensure that you get that sink fixed Alex. She may not have made it. It's a good thing you called me when you did."
Alex nods as the doctor and Maria leave the room.
“I'm so sorry Bonita. I don't know what I would have done if I lost you,” he whispers as he tilts my chin up to look at him.
I fight the nausea for a whole different reason then.
“It's okay Alex. Thank you for calling the doctor. Thank you for everything,” I say deadpan.
He brings my hand up to his lips and I smile.
“Get some rest Bonita. I'll be in to check on you in a little while,” he pauses. “I do love you Bonita.”
I lift my head and look him right in the eyes. “I love you too Alex.”
He gives me a big smile before he leaves the room.
“But I fucking hate you even more,” I grit through my teeth.
Maria returns and I pull out the vial and syringe.
I spend the next few minutes honing my nursing skills while I give her a quick lesson on how to give an injection.
I draw up the medication for her and point to my arm.
“It has to go in the muscle at a 90 degree angle, like a dart.”
I give her a quick demonstration and she nods her head and takes the syringe.
After she leaves Moe steps in the room again.
He looks worried. “Are you sure you can really trust Maria, Dev?” he asks.
“Of course. She's been trying to tell me the truth this whole time. She's on my side.”
He looks down. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, why wouldn't I be?”
He lifts his head and meets my gaze.
&n
bsp; “Because she's Alex's mother.”
Oh, fuck.
Chapter 33 (Tristan)
“Dev?” I sigh.
I'm drifting off in a daze as sweat pours down my body and chills rake up my spine.
I close my eyes. I feel the prick of something in my arm.
Hmm...maybe Alex had finally decided it was more humane to put me out of my misery and this is some kind of lethal injection.
I open my eyes and I'm baffled to find Maria standing next to me.
“What did you just give me?” I ask.
“Antibiotic,” was her only reply.
She turns to walk away.
“How's Dev?”
She looks down. “Enfermo.”
Shit...Dev's sick.
I lift my head as she turns back around to face me.
She smiles. “Alex llamada doctor. Dev estar bien.”
Relief washes over me.
“Gracias Maria.”
“Gracias Dev,” she says.
She then gives me a meaningful look along with another smile before she walks away.
I don't really know what to make of the look that she gave me, but I can't help but feel that somehow, maybe...Dev just saved my life.
Chapter 34 (Dev)
I never in my life thought I'd find myself hurling a 50 year old woman across the room...but desperate times call for desperate measures.
She understandably looks both hurt and afraid as I hold her up against the wall and slowly squeeze my hand around her throat.
Then I see it.
Her eyes...they have beautiful flecks of gold in them.
Just like Alex's used to.
It's true.
She begins sobbing, and for a second I almost let down my guard.
Then I remember...she's responsible for bringing Satan himself into the world.
“You tricked me. I trusted you.”
She shakes her head and starts screaming “No.”
That's when I feel a pair of arms pull me back.
“What the fuck are you doing Dev? Are you insane? Do you want to die?” Moe hisses.
Maria takes a deep breath before she begins speaking a mile a minute in Spanish to Moe.
“What is she saying?” I ask.
“She said she wants us to go up to the roof so we can talk. It's the only place she feels comfortable speaking about this. She wants to explain everything to you. She said that since Alex is sleeping right now...we should be safe for the time being."
