Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
She rushed forward and shoved me in the chest. “You think you can send me away while you stay here to die?”
Alejandro appeared in the doorway and didn’t look nearly as fearful as he should. He had no idea what I’d do to him for risking her life.
She glanced back at Alejandro. “What, you pendejos thought you could make decisions about my future? Fuck all of you assholes.”
I turned my glare on Alejo. “You couldn’t handle her? She was dead a half hour ago.”
“We taught her too well. She fought back when she learned the truth.” He wiped his bloody lip. “She has more will to stay than I have to make her leave.”
“Then her death will be on your shoulders, Alejandro,” I snapped, unfair as it was.
“To get back to you, she would’ve shot me.” He nodded at her hand. “I’m certain of it.”
She held the White Monarch. I frowned. “Did you shoot someone, Natalia?”
She cleared some hair that’d fallen into her face. “Not yet.”
I sighed. “The boat’s supposed to be far gone by now.”
“We’re still docked,” Alejo said. “I tried calling.”
I took my phone from my pocket. “No tengo señal.”
Nothing.
Nothing at all, in fact. I had no service. No signal. No Wi-Fi.
“Belmonte-Ruiz must’ve turned the area into a dead zone,” Alejandro said.
They’d likely blocked the cell towers in an attempt to down our systems and hinder our attempts at escape.
I would’ve done the same.
And if I hadn’t chosen to stay behind, it would’ve worked. I could no longer detonate anything remotely. I had two options left. Leave with them now and let Belmonte-Ruiz live . . . or implode the Badlands from within the walls.
It was no choice at all.
It would all come down—which meant Natalia couldn’t be here. I had to get her back on that ship.
“If they’re jamming the signal, that means they’re here,” Alejo said. “They could be at the gates any moment.”
I glanced at him. “Vete,” I ordered him out, and he shut the door behind himself.
I put my palms together in front of me. As a man who hardly begged for anything, except only things my wife could give me, I pleaded with Natalia to see the gravity of the situation. “On this, you have to trust me, mi amor,” I said.
“Don’t give me that ‘trust me, mi amor’ bullshit,” she shot back through gritted teeth. “Be a man and come out from behind your excuses. Face me.”
She struck a match against my anger, and it flared. Did she have any idea how difficult she’d just made this for me? I wanted her here by my side—God, I fucking wanted that more than anything. I had no desire to say good-bye. Not at all. But what kind of man would I be if I put her on my back and took her down with me?
I came in from the patio and took her by the biceps. “I ask one thing of you.” I enunciated every word. “Do as you’re told.”
“No.” She shrugged out of my grip and stepped back to cross her arms. “Alejandro and Max didn’t have time to explain. They only said you were planning to take Belmonte-Ruiz down and die in the process.”
I pinched the inside corners of my eyes. “It’s true. This was always a possibility. I hoped it was a lever I’d never have to pull, but I do.” I raised my eyes. “And you can’t be here for it.”
“I can and I will. I’ll stay and fight with you.”
“I’m not fighting, Natalia,” I said. “None of us are. Everyone’s gone but us. We’re outnumbered. You’re leaving with Costa right now.”
Her mouth pressed into a line as it did when she was so angry, she could cry—but wouldn’t let herself. Her small hands formed two formidable fists. “And what about you?”
“I have to stay and see this through.”
“And then what?”
Now that we were face to face, I couldn’t bring myself to lie to her. But I couldn’t tell her the truth, either. She wouldn’t go, and I had to get her out, whatever the cost. “It’s not your job to worry about me. I have things under control—”
“Did you not hear me earlier? I’ll repeat myself—fuck you, Cristiano.” She charged forward and pushed my chest until I was backed up against a wall. Tears filled her eyes. “How could you do this to me? I woke up alone—no husband, no b-baby.” Her voice cracked, nearly shredding my resolve. “Alone. My own father thought I’d risen from the dead and nearly fainted when he saw me.”
“You’re not alone,” I said quietly. “You have people down there who love you. Who don’t want to lose you.”
“Without you, I’m alone,” she said quietly. “I’d rather be with you. Here.”
The tears in her eyes and quiver of her chin told a clear story of her pain. I never wanted to hurt her, but I would to save her. My chest threatened to cave under the weight of the truth—I loved her too much to let her stay.