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“I know.” She turns back around, leaving me wanting to see her eyes. Even if they are sad and full of tears, she’s still the most beautiful person in the world to me.
Sitting on the opposite side of the seat, I place my hand on her leg. “It’s going to take time, and I’m willing to give it to you. I want you to know…I will always love you.”
Aribella sucks in a deep breath but doesn’t turn to me. Gently, I move my hand up her leg. “Look at me,mi reina.”
Slowly, she turns to me, and I see the confusion in her eyes. There’s hurt and uncertainty laced within her. I don’t blame her. Not at all.
Chapter Eleven
Aribella
Vincent’s hand creeps farther up my leg, past my knee. I cannot deny how much he turns me on. However, I don’t feel like I can trust him. I don’t know if I can trust myself either. I should be angry at him for taking my brother. For some reason, I feel at peace knowing that Carlos won’t be causing any more trouble. How horrible of a person does that make me?
“I don’t trust you, Vincent. Not for the reason you think, but because you’ve lied to me over and over.”
Pulling my legs up to my chest, I wrap my arms around my knees. “My brother, for the longest time, was a good man. He turned to gambling and drugs to cope with our parents passing and having to raise me.”
The library door opens and Mossimo comes into the room with Espresso. “He wanted to see you.”
A laugh escapes my lips, and I smile. “Oh, my good boy knows when Mommy needs him.”
“Boss, I’m going to take care of business.” Mossimo leaves and my sweet Espresso curls around my feet, meowing at Vincent. It almost sounds like he’s telling him off.
When the door closes, Vincent looks at me and shrugs. “Continue,” he demands, and a small smile graces my lips. I should have insisted that he let me leave. However, I have no doubt that Carlos got into hot water and put me in danger as well.
“I knew a few years ago he was going to get us killed, but I didn’t want to believe it. So, I went to college, and I’m almost done with my degree. He begged me to get far away from him, but our father made us promise to stick together.”
Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I look at Vincent. “At least I know what happened to him, and frankly, it’s a relief to know he’s not being tortured. I don’t know if I can forgive you for killing him.”
Vincent’s face turns to stone right before my eyes. I tremble as he looks at me and growls. “I told you that you’re free to go.”
“That’s a lie too, Vincent. You think I don’t know that you will hunt me down?” A sarcastic laugh slips through my lips, and I roll my eyes.
“You are correct. I would hunt you down like the beast you think I am.”
He moves and Espresso meows. “Don’t think about taking my cat from me again.” My voice cracks, but I am standing my ground and I refuse to back down.
“It’s not like any of my men would kill him. Mossimo is wrapped around his little paw.”
I square my shoulders and put my head up high. “And you are wrapped around me. I’d be dead without a single thought if you didn’t want me.”
He says nothing as he grabs me by the arms and kisses me hard. His lips are unyielding, and that wicked tongue of his barges into my mouth. I whimper a protest, but it goes to deaf ears as he controls my mouth with his own.
One moment we are kissing, the next he is gone. He’s huffing and glaring at me. “You need time to recover from our last love session. But heed my word, if you stay here, you are mine and I will not let you go.”
Vincent storms out of the room, and I’m left there, aching in more ways than one.
The confusion and other crazy thoughts kept me rooted to the window as I watched the wind blow outside. On one hand, Vincent killed my brother and freed me from the burden of living in fear. On the other hand, I’m not free at all. No, he will hunt me down if I leave.
Do you want to leave?That’s the question that keeps befuddling me. I should be running for the hills, trying to get as far as I can from this world. Instead, all I can see is the deranged look in Vincent’s eyes. The love. Well, I think it’s love. It could be possessiveness.
Making up my mind to stay, I know I must at least give him a chance. If I walk out right now, my life is in the hands of the unknown. Better the devil you know. Right?
Going to Vincent’s office, I stop in my tracks. My hand is raised to knock on the door when I hear moaning.
“Fuck!” There’s only Vincent’s voice, but I hear the moaning. Closing my eyes for a moment, I steel myself and back away. I should have known.
Turning around, I flee. There’s no reason to stay here. Naive. That’s all I am is a naive girl thinking a man like Vincent could be faithful.
