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 shook my head back and forth. “No, no, no, no, no,” I repeated, placing my hands over my ears like a child, not wanting to hear anymore. I had enough, I’d reached my breaking point.
Why was he doing this to me? What did he want?
“Michael, the piece of shit, cheated on my sister, after they were fucking married. Your daddy fucked your mom behind my sisters back.”
The truth hit me like a bucket of freezing cold water. “Please… please… stop…” I begged not being able to hear anymore, the room closing in on me, coming in and out of focus. My body shaking profusely, feeling myself drifting away. His voice echoed in the distance. I slid down the bookshelf, my legs giving out on me.
I couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t fucking breathe.
“Sophia and Amari were best friends. Your father saw a moment of weakness, of loneliness, and it produced you. Michael cheated on Amari when Briggs was barely fucking walking.”
“Shut up! Shut the fuck up!” I yelled out, uncontrollably. My hands going to my hair, wanting to rip it from my fucking head. “Please! Stop it!” I panted. “I don’t want to hear…” heaving, “Another… fucking… Oh, my God…” gasping, “Word!” I managed to scream. Barely being able to see his silhouette through the rage.
“Is it making sense now, cariño? Are the pieces fitting together? Why your mother hated herself? Why she became so fucking depressed? Why she couldn’t leave your goddamn house? She hated herself for the shitty decisions she made. Her choices ruined your fucking life.”
“Please… Alejandro… Please… I can’t… I can’t listen anymore…” I pleaded, looking at him through blurred eyes.
He leaned over the desk. Shoving all the pictures in my direction. They flew everywhere, falling all around me. I was finally surrounded by nothing but the truth, exactly how he wanted.
“I was there the day he met you. Hiding in the shadows, in the dark. Where I’ve been living all my fucking life. Watching him hold you for the first time. Seeing Sophia’s broken face when he told her he wouldn’t be a part of your life. That you were a mistake, an accident. Your daddy never wanted you. And your mother spent the rest of her life battling her demons every time she looked in your eyes.”
I shut my eyes, I had to. The pain taking me under.
“You look me in the fucking eyes when I’m talking to you,” he sneered.
I slowly opened them back up, realizing that I was truly coming face to face with El Diablo for the first time.
“It was bad enough that he cheated on my sister, but the motherfucker didn’t even have the balls to stick around and help raise his bastard child, nor admit his mistakes and come clean. I gave him time, I was hoping he would own up to his shit, but he never did. Still pretending to be everything my sister ever wanted,” he rasped. “So I made the decision, I gave the order… to have Michael. Your father… murdered.”
My mouth dropped open, sucking in air.
He snidely grinned. “I killed him, Lexi. No one else, but me.”
“What? But Briggs said they were in a car accident. You killed your sister, too? No… NO!”
His eyes glazed over, the pain breaking through his glare only for a second. He shook it off, blinking it away. He stated, “Why not, I killed my own father… Now, allow me to introduce myself, here’s the man behind the expensive fucking suits. Is he everything you thought he would be?”
They say crimes of passion can happen in an instant. If you blinked, you’d miss it. A person can be pushed to the brink of insanity. Teetering on the edge. I just wanted him to stop talking. I didn’t want to hear any more of the vile he was so viciously spewing. I begged him, pleaded with him to stop. I never intended to hurt him.
Or maybe…
I did.
Before I knew what I was doing, I dove for the gun on his desk. Aiming it directly at him. Trying to still my trembling hands.
He didn’t move.
He wasn’t surprised.
It was as if he expected me to do it, like this was what he wanted in the end.
He leaned back, nonchalantly placing his hands in his pockets. Standing taller, prouder, ready for anything. Eyeing me up and down with a menacing regard. “You ever held a gun before?”
“Please… Martinez… please… just stop…” I coaxed, hanging on by a thread.
“Your hands are shaking. First rule of holding a gun. Never let your enemies see your fear. It just makes you a fucking pussy. So, what's your next move? I’m right here.” He spread his arms out at his sides. “This is your chance to get rid of me. To avenge your mother’s death. Do it! Pull the fucking trigger, do it!” he baited.