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“Do you really think of me as an idiot?” That’s rhetorical, and I keep my lips shut because truthfully, I want to call him so much worse. My father is the kind of criminal that considers himself above others—untouchable. It’s what all the men in my family believe, from the youngest adult to the oldest—it’s a man’s world, while it’s the woman’s place to dirty her hands for them. A life where public image is more important than the love or well-being of your child. “Cancio is in town and came to see me earlier today. He’s donating a hefty sum to my re-election fund, so I turn a blind eye to his daughter’s future endeavors...” Dad scratches his jaw, a dark gleam in his eyes “...and I agreed, with a catch.”
A sinking feeling hits me, my earlier dinner threatening to make a reappearance. “A catch?”
“There are two things I need from him.”
“Money?”
“Very astute of you.” He uncrosses his leg and switches to the other. “I will get a monthly cut of all his illegal activity taking place in the state of Illinois.”
“And?”
“I’m interested in doing business with someone he knows but has a dislike for me.”
“Interested how?” Something isn’t right. God help me.
“As a suitable husband for you.”
“Husband.” The word is thick on my tongue. Makes my skin crawl. “No. I’ll refuse.”
“Mateo hasn’t agreed to that stipulation yet, but he will,” my father says as if I hadn’t spoken. “It’ll be beneficial for us all. Someone to keep you in place.”
“You can’t do this. I’ll never accept whoever this ass—” My face snaps to the side, the hard sting burning my cheek while he simply sits back. I taste blood in my mouth while heat scorches, throbs in time with my heart, and I swallow back my cry of pain. That would only make it worse. Te odio. Hate you with every fiber of my being.
“Watch your mouth, mi hija. You know the consequences of going against me.”
Cradling my cheek, I bite back my retort because it’s always the same. He threatens me with hurting my mother and younger siblings, and even though she deserves no pity from me, Diego Jr. and Sebastian will always have my protection. “Understood.”
“Good,” he says, softer this time, and I don’t trust the tone. “You will do as you’re told and go where I send you. No more arguing.”
“Okay.”
“Tell Aurora you’re needed for a family emergency and plan to be gone for a few days.”
“Anything else?” I want him gone. Loathe him.
“The information on the artifact will be sent to you via courier in a few days. Study it and prepare, Aliana; I won’t allow a fuck-up on your behalf. That small statue is worth half a billion on the black market, and my buyer is desperate.”
“So much so that you’d put my freedom in jeopardy?”
“So much so that I’d sell you if the offer had enough zeroes attached.” With that, he stands and takes the few steps separating us, and before I can escape, his fingers grip my chin hard and tilt my face up. “You will not fail me, Daughter. Don’t force me to hurt you.”
Without waiting for a reply, my father walks out, and I finally let the tears fall. This is the shame I carry—the burden that no one knows about. And my biggest fear of all is that someday I’ll be caught and live the rest of my life behind bars because no one will believe me.
4
Aliana Camila Rubens...
Her name is the first thing I see after waking up.
It’s on the screen of my mobile forty-eight hours after my eyes landed on her, causing my cock to swell and my stomach to clench. There’s something about the little beauty that piques my interest, makes my body thrum with a heated excitement I’ve never encountered before…
Hunter versus prey.
Swiping a finger across the screen, I open the folder with a grin. I feel no shame while reading each line slowly, memorizing every detail about a slip of a woman I’ve yet to meet face to face. And yet, that doesn’t diminish my interest in the little goddess.
Instead, it makes the yearning to see her again burn just a little brighter. Hotter.
Then again, it’s her face that’s accompanied me the last two days without pause. No matter where I’ve been and how much blood is on my hands, it’s her I think about and what I’ll do once she’s in my grasp.
