Page 69

Exhaling, I raked my hand through my hair and the moment I did, I caught sight of the dried blood on my fingers. While I’d felt the horrors of a direct attack before, it had been years and never inside my childhood home. Everything felt different now, as if I’d been playing a game of cops and robbers. The reality was a dangerous and very bitter pill.

“I’ll tell him you refuse,” Antonio said and started to walk away.

“No. Wait.”

“What are you doing? We can’t leave here,” Marco said. He remained highly agitated. Not that I blamed him. I’d seen a glimpse of the boy I’d remembered, but now sensed he’dhardened himself again, ignoring the emotions that had been a welcome change.

“We’re not secure in our house any longer, Marco.”

“We have soldiers.”

“Yes, but I’m not sure there’s enough to also maintain a watch on our warehouses.” I felt numb inside, wishing I could have my father’s advice.

“You can’t trust Torres, Genie. He’s a pig.” He hadn’t called me Genie in years. As a child, he hadn’t been able to pronounce my entire name, so we’d shortened it.

I squeezed Bella’s arm before standing and facing my brother. “Yes, he is, but he did provide help after I called him. You need to trust me. We need a safe place until we can figure out what to do.” I expected kickback from Marco, but he slumped as his guard fell.

“I do trust you.”

“We will be alright. You’ll see.” I tipped my head toward Antonio. “Let Jago know we’ll be down in a few minutes and we’ll go with him. Prepare a detail of men who will be coming with us whether Mr. Torres likes it or not. I want the house cleaned up and secured. Place extra men on the warehouses.” Emiliano had appeared in the doorway after hearing everything that was said. I didn’t need to stare at their faces to know they were concerned. Hell, I was shaking like a leaf, but now wasn’t the time for me to allow anyone to exploit my fear.

The two men looked at each other.

“Just do it,” I added, hating the exasperation in my voice. With nothing seeming real any longer, I was forced to shove everyemotion away for now. Lamenting over the past week or the violence, the loss or the hatred and anger wasn’t going to do me or my family any good.

“Yes, Madame Morales.”

We were left alone again and the cold chill I’d experienced before felt even more oppressive. At least the storm had started to die down, only light rain tapping against the windows.

“What now?” Marco asked. I didn’t need to look at him to know he was still angry with me.

“Now, we pack.”

“Then what?”

The truth was I knew the answer, but I’d yet to gravitate around it in my mind. “Then we’ll see. Bella. Are you going to be able to pack a bag or would you like me to do it?”

When she looked at me, there was such a tremendous depth of sadness in her eyes that I was pulled momentarily into her soul. She was so young, so vulnerable, but in a week she had aged.

Just like I had as a child.

I’d hoped for better for her and for Marco.

But in this life, children weren’t allowed to enjoy growing up. The celebrations were there, Christmases and birthdays, Easter and the Feast of St. James, but they were all controlled, protected.

Armed guards everywhere.

School was different. Friendships were different. Sports. Dances.

Nothing could be anywhere close to what normal kids experienced. That’s why I’d never thought about having a child. Not once. I’d deemed the thought let alone the action of bringing a child into this blood world cruel.

Now I was parenting two teenagers while still wishing I was a kid again myself.

Whatever my final decision was with Jago, I made a promise to myself that I would never concede to parenting a child with him.

Hell would freeze over first.

“Is this a castle?” Bella asked as soon as the driver rounded a hill and the headlights presented a massive structure in front of us.