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“Are we going to stop somewhere?” I’m a bit nervous about the answer. If we stop somewhere here, even outside of Lisbon, there’s a huge chance Duarte might have his people looking for us.
“Yes, somewhere. We need to get Lom checked and assessed soon.”
I nod, understanding what his right-hand man wants. The number one thing for us all is our safety, and Lom literally took a bullet for my children and me. Whatever the man wants, he’ll damn well get.
Chapter Nineteen
Nazyr
“These paintings are marvelous. How is your artwork not spread across the world yet?” Duarte’s making an effort to impress my sister by flattering her, but it won’t work. She’s not some average woman who he can get to swoon over him whenever he feels like it. Hell, the bastard tried hitting on her not long ago. Then Eset put him in his place, reminding Duarte she’s married to Santos Ramirez.
I do find it funny how Duarte brought up the fact he’s friends with Santos’ father, Julio. The same man who we’re going to have an impending problem with.
“I haven’t done too much marketing yet, but I have made a few connections in the art industry. Soon enough, my work will be in New York and Los Angeles.”
“That’s amazing. I do need some of your work in my home. If I buy in bulk, do you offer a discount?” What a cheap, sleazy bastard.
Eset chuckles lightly. “Unfortunately, I don’t. Some of these paintings take me hundreds of hours to complete, so the price posted on the back of the canvas is accurate. I always accept payment plans if that would be your speed.”
Fuck, I love my sister. She’s insulting the man without even getting her hands dirty.
“Ah, well, I don’t need a payment plan. I only assumed since I do so much work with your family that you might be inclined to offer me a deal.”
“That’s where you made your mistake,” Eset replies.
“I’m sorry, I’m not following along.”
“You assumed. You shouldn’t have done that. Now it makes you look dumb, and I’m sure it’s humiliating you.”
I’m doing my damndest to keep my smile from actually slipping as Duarte glares at my little sister.
“You know what, maybe I’ll find another artist’s pockets to line. I don’t feel like you’re going to need my money in the long run.” Duarte tries to walk for the stairwell, but I’m standing in front of it and don’t let him pass.
“Nazyr, I would very much appreciate you stepping out of my way so I can leave.”
“I know you would, but I can’t let you leave. You see, Duarte, you’ve hurt someone I care about, and I’m not going to stand for it any longer.”
“What?” Duarte furrows his brows together and looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind.
“Don’t act dumb. You know what you’ve done. You had to look at her face every single day. At the scars that you gave her.”
Duarte begins laughing like I’ve just told him the funniest thing in the entire world. “Hold on a second. You’re really trying to intimidate me over some whore?!”
“She isn’t a whore, Duarte. She’s a person who has feelings and actually deserves respect while she was with you. Instead of receiving that, you put her through hell, beating and raping her whenever you felt the need. And you’re the reason she lost her son.” I make it a point to say hers because I know it’s going to drive him absolutely mad.
“My son. Not hers.”
“Her son, Duarte. Just like her daughters are being taken from your home right now.”
Duarte blinks a couple of times at me as the realization settles in. Duarte takes a long, staggering breath before he speaks up. “I know you must be joking. There’s no way in hell you’d send someone on my property to take my children. It’s a death wish, and my team is impeccable—”
Eset turns around her phone and shows it to Duarte. “Impeccable, my ass. Look at all the dead bodies, Duarte. We have what we need, and it was a piece of cake getting it.”
For a split second, anger crosses over Duarte’s face. His nostrils flare, and he balls his fists at his sides. He clears his throat and deepens his tone. “Now, why in the fuck would you go this far? Is that whore really worth the effort your family is putting in?”
“We did it because it’s the right thing. Obviously, you wouldn’t know anything about that,” I snap, unable to keep back my rage.
Duarte used and abused Mona in every way he could. I’ll put my money on the fact he’ll be doing the same damn thing to another woman if he isn’t right now. This man doesn’t deserve to live. There isn’t one part of his soul that could have an ounce of redemption in it, and even if he did, I don’t know if I’d show him any mercy.
