Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
I sat in the seat next to him in the limo. He immediately lifted my legs to rest on his lap, with his hands set on my thighs as if he knew I needed his touch. When in reality, he seemed like he needed mine more than I did his. The silence was deafening all around us, no one spoke a word the entire drive. He just peered out the tinted window, letting his plaguing thoughts take him under. This was supposed to be a vacation, but so far it didn’t feel like that at all.
We passed what appeared to be slums with their colorful bright stack homes, buildings upon buildings, and natives walking in every direction. Staring at the limo and security cars that formed a line in front of and behind us, like we didn’t belong there. The unmanaged, dirt roads made for an uncomfortable ride. We turned down a secluded path with palm trees on either side and drove for about ten minutes. I started to see an infinite amount of water all around us before we took a sharp left down a surprisingly nice paved road. Up until that point they had been uneven, jagged, and coarse.
An endless amount of beautiful tropical trees mixed with lush greenery took up the sides of the road. Definitely something that had been planted there for a purpose, they weren’t natural. You couldn’t see anything behind the landscaped wall as we sped closer to our destination. Wherever we were going, they wanted undisclosed privacy and spent a small fortune to provide it.
My eyes widened when we pulled up to the massive iron gates. Lined with a dozen or more men, holding assault rifles tightly in their grasps. They were dressed like soldiers, carrying more weapons on their bodies. The gates opened immediately, letting us pass through, obviously expecting our arrival. Martinez glanced over at me, feeling my fear, reassuringly squeezing my thigh for comfort. The driveway was about a hundred yards and it led to a roundabout where the driver parked the limo.
He grabbed my hand before opening the door to step out onto the limestone pavers that led all around the enormous property. Still not saying a word. My eyes widened when I looked up. This wasn’t a house. This was a mansion. I’d never seen anything like this before. A tan waterfront estate with a terracotta tiled roof, resembling a villa. There was a stoned path in between the ten cathedral archways, five on each side, which held one vehicle in each port. The live-in part of the estate was settled further back on the property.
I could smell the salty breeze coming off the water as he led us up to the home. The courtyard doors opened for us, revealing four older women dressed in maid uniforms standing there, greeting us as we walked in. Of course Martinez instantly dismissed them with a wave of his hand. Grand, angled stairs led up to a set of ten-feet-high, custom made iron doors with intricate latticework covering all the windows. Opening to a wide foyer with shiny marble floors. Walls as far as I could see. He let go of my hand, knowing I wanted to look around and wander.
My jaw dropped as I turned in a full circle, taking in my surroundings. Stopping to look at him. He nodded with a small smile playing on his lips, giving me the okay to go explore. First, I made my way into the elegant main sitting area. The sun was shining through every window in the wide-open space, illuminating the huge family portrait over the mantle.
I heard his footsteps coming in my direction, abruptly stopping when they were close. I turned around, looking at him as he leaned against the wooden post. His strong arms crossed over his chest. He was glaring at the portrait with cold, soulless, dark eyes.
“Alejandro,” I murmured, my voice echoing through the mansion. His intense gaze reluctantly wavered to mine. “This is your family’s vacation home, isn’t it?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. Each second that passed between us felt like minutes, hours, days. My heart beat rapidly in my chest, waiting for his answer. He peered back up to the portrait, unable to resist the urge any longer.
“This used to be one of my favorite places to come to, growing up. My mother would bring my sister, Amari and me here every summer.”
My mouth parted, I never expected what would come out of his mouth next.
Looking back down at me, he stated, “I haven’t been back here since she was murdered under my father’s orders.”
Everything looked exactly the same. I spent a small fortune making sure it was well taken care of on a daily basis. Out of every home my father owned, this was always my mother’s favorite. I couldn’t part with it. This house was the only memory I kept alive from my past, selling off every other possession that was in his name. I couldn’t bring myself to come here, too many good memories now mixed with the bad.