Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
He takes a menacing step forward. I’m frozen to the spot. I know better than this. Know how to defend myself. But my guilt is making me unable to move.
Julio’s tattooed fingers wrap around my throat, squeezing tightly. I choke out a no, but he doesn’t stop. I claw at his hands with my nails.
“Xavier will see,” I rasp. “You’ll bruise m-me. I’ll t-tell him...”
“You’ll just have to make something up, won’t you?” Julio smirks at me as he grips tighter. My vision becomes blotchy and I know I’m going to pass out soon. “I need to leave you with a little reminder, don’t I? Can’t have you forgetting...”
Those are the last words I hear before my vision goes dark.
***
I wake up with a start. I’m still in my bedroom, and Zeus raises his head and wags his tail when he sees I’m awake. The armchair is empty.
Pushing my legs out of the bed, I shiver. It’s light outside. Did I dream Julio came in here?
I tell myself it was all just a terrible nightmare, spurred by the terrible things I witnessed last night. But it’s all over.
I walk to the bathroom and splash icy water on my face. When I look at myself in the mirror above the sink, I stop.
There are bruises in my throat. Bruises left from fingers being wrapped around my neck, choking the life out of me.
An involuntary whimper leaves my trembling lips. He was here. It was real.
And I can’t tell anybody. I have no way to contact my parents. And Xavier can never find out.
Dread and terror fill me with weakness.
But I force my shoulders back and stare at myself in the mirror.
Antonio is just another chess piece. An obstacle that will be eliminated soon enough, before he can hurt me.
Until then, I must stay focused on the reason I’m in this house.
Xavier Gunn falling in love with me.
I’m so close I can taste it. My birthday is fast approaching. I need to act fast. If I don’t, there will be no getting away from my guardian’s cruel torment. Time is running out.
When I open my eyes again, I know I’m over the past day and night. I will not allow myself to break down, not now, when I’m so close to my goal.
I will rest once it’s done. Only then will I allow myself to break down.
But as for now, I have a purpose that is bigger than my fear. A purpose that will change so many people’s worlds for the better.
And I will not give up on it until my mission here is done.
Pushing all my emotions down, I paint on a face with makeup and get dressed the way Xavier likes. I will be the perfect ward. I will fulfill my destiny.
Chapter 10
XAVIER
One day left. One day and Tallulah will be eighteen years old.
I wake up early that morning, skipping breakfast and burying myself in work. There’s some business I have to attend to in a few hours. Julio’s initiation as a hitman for the Scorpion cartel will happen today. I’ll be there too, to ensure everything goes smoothly.
As of now, I’m undecided about Julio. He hasn’t disappointed me yet, and I believe he’s becoming an integral part of the cartel. He’s shown a lot of promise and I believe he is valuable. But no matter how cruel I am, I don’t underestimate the effect the brutal things I made Julio do have on him.
Something inside him broke when he was forced to kill Antonio. Hopefully, it broke for good, and he can become the ruthless sicario I need him to be. But only time will tell.
“You ready?”
I lift my head, my eyes meeting Saul’s. I smirk. “I’m always fucking ready, padron.”
My right-hand man gives me a stern look, saying, “And you’re sure your little captive won’t interrupt today’s activities?”
“She’s not coming with us.”
“I know,” Saul drawls out. “But your mind is always preoccupied with her. I don’t want it to impede work. I know tomorrow is her birthday…”
“That doesn’t change what’s going to happen today,” I hiss. “It’s Julio’s initiation. That’s the priority, not Tallulah.”
“If you say so,” he mutters, clearly not believing me. My hands form fists. I want to punch him for doubting me, but I feel like I’ll assert my dominance more if I don’t. I walk away from him, down the hallway and I don’t pause at Tallulah’s door, even though everything in me wants to check on her.
I haven’t talked to my ward since Antonio died. I figured she needed some peace and rest after the traumatic experience, so I’ve kept my distance. And now I can’t risk my position as the don of the house by showing my weakness for Tallulah.
I walk out of the house and get into the car that’s waiting for me. Julio’s in there already, greeting me with a cool smile.