“She is marked, taken already,” he said, roughly grabbing my arm and pulling me towards him, taking a closer look. I could feel his fingers dig into my skin, leaving his own temporary mark. I wished that I had not had to wear this dress, knowing I couldn’t hide the stupid mark forever but wanted to so badly.
“Of course, she isn’t,” father replied hotly, but yet confused.
“She is marked. No wonder why all the other men have backed out,” Miquel said, pushing me away just as roughly. Good thing I was sitting, or I would have fallen. Although, I was positive that no one really cared about my wellbeing in this house. Least of all father.
My father took that moment to stomp around the table and take ahold of my arm, inspecting the burn mark that was clearly seeable through the now red marks left by the man. I had yet to figure out what the design was. It was covering a capital M with swirls and loops. His expression turned from disbelief to furious in a matter of milliseconds.
“How dare you,” father hissed, his hold tightened as his eyes darkened further. I was used to his hands on me in such a manner. Normally, mom would stand in, and she’d take most of his anger. This time, I was alone in my sorrow, in my pain. “When did this happen?”
“I didn’t know,” I said, lying through my teeth. I shook my head as tears began to leak from the corners of my eyes. Surely, I could pass my lie easily enough.
“You never were able to lie well,” he seethed into my face as he neared even closer. “Disrespectful brat.”
“Cody,” mom said, her voice covered in unshed tears. Like me, she learned that tears were never a good thing in this household.
“Stay out of this Lynn,” father said, shooting a hot filled glare her way, instantly making her shut her mouth. Turning back to me, “No wonder why Zachariah was so intent on seeing you himself so soon. He marked you, didn’t he?”
“No,” I cried out, telling the truth. “He didn’t know, I swear.”
“That is his mark!” Miquel said in a way to egg my father onward. “I’ve seen it more than enough times to know. It’s no secret to who the Melendez family is.”
“Don’t lie to me!” father seethed in rage.
“Gemini,” I cried, begging my father to drop it. Begging for him to stop. “He . . . he did it. He planned to give me to someone else when he tired of me.” Tears fell from my eyes as I spoke the words.
“He’s dead,” father glared at me, squeezing my arm tighter with each second that ended as my mother tried, but failed, to contain her sobs from the other side of the table.
“He is,” I confirmed.
I was cut off from saying anything else as father quickly released my arm in a fit of rage, knocking me out of the chair and onto the floor. He had never been quite this rough with me before. What was going on in his head? Did I even want to know?
I stared up at him in shock, not sure what to do. He hid secrets just as much as I did, if not more.
“The Melendez family will come after me if I take her,” Miquel stated as father huffed in rage as he glared down at me. “I won’t touch her, and neither will any other man who is in their right mind. Is she worth that much to risk killing everyone?”
“I need her gone,” father said, still beyond angry.
“I can understand that,” Miquel spoke, his voice more of like a mentor all of a sudden than a man that wanted to win me. “But not at a cost like this. Who knows which Melendez man marked her, she is no longer yours to give away, Cody, no matter the price you are offering. I can no longer be of any help her.”
With that, he stood, shooting me a sad look before speaking for my benefit alone. “You won’t last long there, Avidya. Too bad too. You should have stayed with your captor.”
Miquel left, his footsteps quiet as he let himself out of the house.
I had no idea what he meant, nor who he was for sure. One minute, he seemed to hate me, and the next he pitied me? That made no sense, or maybe it was just my thoughts that didn’t make sense.
With one last breath, father’s black shoed foot made an impact against my ribs, knocking my breath out through my parted lips. Blackness took over my sight as mom’s sobs broke the quiet within the house.
Chapter 15
Zachariah
Excitement ran in my veins. Not much made me feel such excitement, but this, this could never compare to anything else I have yet to experience. I didn’t think this situation could be thrilling.
If it had been anyone else, I certainly would not have to the lengths that I have so far. For some odd reason, Avidya deserved everything I was doing and more. Just from seeing her, knowing just a little bit that I so far knew of her, she would be treated like she deserved to be in my house.
The walk-in closet in the master suite was filled with clothing that I thought would work wonderfully for her, thanks to my sister-in-law. She was, after all, the one that had the best eye for style and knew what I like on my women that I tended to bring to parties that my family was well known to throw. Also, she knew the best fabrics that were comfortable to wear in and out of the house.
Avidya was different. She was pure, and I couldn’t wait till I had her under my roof, fully under my protection. I knew there were threats out there; I would keep her safe.
Now, I just had to wait for the right moment to bring her home. I didn’t want to push her too fast, too far, and not before she could get some information out of her parents about where she came from. It nagged me that there were no papers, no documentation, of where she came from or from whom. I had my theories, but they didn’t lead me to answers to the unanswered questions.
Marrying someone would happen either way; it was invertible. I knew it would have to happen sooner or later and on my timetable. My own father knew that trying to push me to marry some nameless woman would just make me pull away from the family.
I didn’t want to marry, didn’t want to have a reason to carry on the family name. I knew without a doubt that Avidya was mine in all ways.
My promise to her to not touch her would stay. I would never dream of pushing myself on her, no matter my lifestyle. She’d be begging me to touch her.
My cell phone rang, drawing me out of my daydream as I sat at the kitchen counter, looking down at the scattered papers that covered the countertop. I had looked these papers over so many times, yet I still couldn’t piece this all together. I was missing something, but what?
“Hello?” I answered, not paying attention to the number that popped up.
“I hear you have picked a wife,” my father’s voice came through without any other greeting. Typical of him.
“Where did you hear that from?” I asked out, not giving anything away.
“You know well by now that I just know things,” he laughed, not giving away who told him. He had men in places just like I did, to keep their ears opened for every little thing.
“Doesn’t mean what you hear is always right,” I said, pushing away from the counter and going to get a bottle of water from the fridge. I also made a mental note that I needed to get someone to go shopping for me once again. I detested shopping.
“Well, who is she?” he asked, tired of playing the roundabout game. He never was a fan of me dodging his questions.
“Avidya Ray,” I replied, holding my breath. How long would it take him to figure out who she was?
“Zachariah,” he sighed. I could picture him shaking his head at my actions once again. “Why her?”
“You know why” I answered. He knew how I came across her just weeks ago, but he had his own part in all this. He wasn’t the Don of the family without good reason.
“That doesn’t mean you need to marry the poor girl to get answers,” he stated.
“I know that,” I said, my voice calm but it had a demanding edge to it like it always did when I did business. “There are others after her, and . . . there is a need to protect her from what she doesn’t know.”
“You have feelings for her,” dad stated without m
issing a beat.
“Of course, not,” I answered quickly. “She needs protecting, and I can give that protection she needs until we bring an end to this issue.”
“She has protection already,” he stated.
“That notion was killed the night she was taken,” I responded, my anger rising. I had no idea why I was so upset about this issue. It really didn’t matter in the long run. “You know that, and there is no one new posted for her protection. It’s only a matter of time. Shemoli and Gemini shouldn’t have even gotten her, let alone into that house!”
“Things happen, and it was all taken care of, wasn’t it?” he asked out calmly.
“No, it wasn’t,” I stated, squeezing my eyes shut. Shemoli was still alive, and I was certain he laid hands on my girl, which he would be paying for sooner or later. One thing we didn’t agree on was how things were handled inside and outside of the family. There was little I could do about it unless I wanted to be killed on the spot. I didn’t fancy dying.
“I know you don’t like the way things work, but Zachariah, you have no say. What was done was done for a reason,” he spoke, knowing just what to say in a way to keep me from losing my shit. He knew me as well as I knew him. “Anyway, bring her to dinner tomorrow. Your mother will want to meet her.”
“Yes, sir,” I answered, knowing that was a request.
Just because dad knew Avidya by name didn’t mean that he knew her personally. Cody made sure that the girl was kept as far away from what he did as much as he could. Sooner or later, it was bound to leak into his home life.
I knew my mother would be thrilled with the turn of events. She wasn’t well known to keep her nose out of other people’s business. Picking up the phone, I called my personal housekeeper and shopper. Avidya would need something that she felt comfortable in to meet my parents. It was the least I could do when throwing both my parents on her at once with hardly any warning.
Chapter 16
Avidya
I woke to a pounding head, much like when I had been stuffed into the back of a van. This time, I was able to open my eyes, although they felt heavy with sleep. I was laying on a bed, covers lightly over the top of me and a low light in the corner.
How did I get here? I asked myself as I noticed that I was in my room. My dresser was across the room, and I could see that nothing was moved, but how did I get here? Last I remember, I was in the kitchen eating dinner. Father was upset about something, which wasn’t anything new in the house, but he was angrier than normal.
As I went to sit up, I whimpered in pain. Instantly, I remembered the attack my father bestowed upon me. He had never gone this far before, so why now? Why kick me in my ribs? Was it because Zachariah already claimed me as his? Or was it because things were not going as he had planned?
“Don’t get up,” mom’s quiet voice reached me right before her gentle hand was laid on my shoulder, pushing me back against the bed. I simply blinked at her, not sure what to say. I had so many questions, yet there was nothing I knew she’d willing answer.
“I’m sorry he hurt you,” she said, generally sorry about it. “It wasn’t meant for you to get hurt. Ever. I do everything I can to keep you from his touch, but . . .”
“It’s okay, mom,” I said, blinking back tears. It wasn’t, but was there anything I could do about it.
“No, it’s not,” she said, shaking her head. “I swore to keep you safe, even with knowing that people would be after you. I can only do so much! Shemoli promised to not hurt you.”
“What?” I gasped, instantly sitting up. I cried out in pain as I did so, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to know what she meant.
“I’m sorry,” she said, covering her mouth. “I said too much.”
“No. You can’t just say that and not explain!” I nearly shouted, remembering last second that I couldn’t afford to wake up father.
“I can’t, Vidie,” she muttered out, hiding her face in her hands.
“Why did you have Shemoli take me? Why? I thought . . .” I wasn’t sure how to finish that thought. It couldn’t be possible. No. Was Gemini just a pawn in all this as I had been and die for nothing then?
“To keep you safe. He promised to keep you safe, take you far away. You weren’t to come back here. I knew who Cody planned to give you to, and I couldn’t let that happen. I don’t know how you got away!” she cried out.
“I got away,” I glared at her. “What does it matter? Who’s after me? Who did father want to marry me off to?” I shot out without pausing.
“Many people,” mom answered. “I should not say anything; it’ll put you in more danger, but you’re my daughter, Avidya. I can’t just let you go in blind anymore. I refuse to!”
“Why?” I asked the simplest question, but yet the one that certainly could not be answered. “Why me? I’m not yours am I?”
“No,” she said in a whisper that carried around the room.
“Who?” I asked out, afraid of the answer.
“She’s dead. And so will you be if you keep asking things that you do not need to know,” father seethed from the doorway. He stood, arms crossed over his chest as he glared at me. “And so will she if you can’t shut your trap.”
“Get some rest,” mom said, pushing me back against the bed and tucking me in, hiding her fear from the man she married. Did she really think I could sleep now?
“In a box in the basement are answers,” she whispered near my ear. Louder as she moved away, “I’ll get you something for the pain in the morning if you need it.”
With that, she left, head down as my father glared at me through dark eyes. I gulped, seeing so many things in a new light. He shut the door before leaving me be with a low light from the bedside lamp. I knew he’d go teach mom another lesson for speaking when she shouldn’t have, but maybe this time, mom felt it was worth whatever he did to her.
Slowly, I made my way out my bed, not sure what I could do. There was no way in Hell I’d willingly leaving this room at the moment to go look downstairs. I didn’t want to risk my father catching me. Surely mom knew how to get me the answers I wanted. No, they were answers I needed.
Turning off the light by the bedside table, I then made my way to the window.
Lightning streaked across the night sky, illuminating the yard that my bedroom window looked over. The crash of thunder instantly followed. I didn’t jump from the shake of the ground as another strike soon followed the first.
This was the best part of thunderstorms at night, no matter how late it was. I loved watching how simple lighting could be so pretty, like a piece of art in the sky, yet so deadly at the same time. Each lightning bolt left its trail of smoke in the sky for a couple of seconds before dying away.
Normally, I didn’t pay attention to the ground, nor the trees that dotted the yard or neighboring houses. But as another lightning strike lit up the darkness, I gasped as a figure could be seen from between two trees. I couldn’t tell who it was, but my gut was sure that whomever this person was, they were watching me. My skin tingled as though they were there for me and me alone.
Not like the man could see me from his position as I left the lights off, I still froze in place. How could I watch the lighting show without darkness?
He stood there, hands in his pockets, and covered in black to blend into the night. I was positive that it was a man from the way the figure held their body. As another flash of lightning flashed across the night sky, hitting a tree towards the back of the yard, I screamed in shock as the house shook.
The scream was not from the huge crash. No. It was from the man as he looked up at my window that was just beside me. His eyes had to be as dark as the night, and the man I never thought I’d see again.
Chapter 17
Avidya
With a deep breath in, I closed my eyes, letting the pain meds take effect as I stood against the bathroom counter. Opening them, I met my paler than normal complexation. Makeup did wonders in hiding the dark handprint on my cheek and
tired eyes. Too bad it did hardly anything on the other bruises that covered my body.
It wasn’t often I wore makeup, but times like this was the perfect time to use the untouched makeup.
Zachariah had sent a dress for me to wear with matching black sandals. I couldn’t not wear it since he took the time to find me something nice, something that fit me to wear to meet his parents. Why, though? I couldn’t wrap my head around why he wanted me to meet his parents, as I didn’t see it would do any good.
The dress was no doubt priced higher than anything I owned, but it was something I liked. The thin straps sat on my shoulders, and the cotton-like fabric went down to just above my knees in a black wave. It wasn’t overly dressy, but yet still classy. I couldn’t help but like how it fit me, except that it clearly showed the marks on my arms.
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