Page 59

Valeria

C lutching Zara in my arms, I stared at the two-story villa illuminated by the moonlight. The darkness surrounded it like it attempted to swallow it, but the house resisted the attacks with bright lamps placed around the enormous swimming pool and the stone staircase leading to the main entrance.

Before the massive black door with two torches at its sides sat three dogs, watching me cautiously.

Two Dobermans and one Cane Corso had their brown eyes set on me, but they didn’t move an inch.

They didn’t need to do much because only their massive physique and scary looks were enough to stop any intruder.

“Don’t be scared of them,” Malin said, offering me to take Zara, but when she looked at his painted face, she squeezed me for dear life.

“If they wanted, they would have us for late dinner,” I replied, kissing the top of Zara’s head. I tried to calm her down, yet it was hard in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by scary dogs and bodyguards.

“They are perfectly trained.” Malin lit a cigarette, blowing a cloud of heavy smoke toward the dark sky.

“Anyway, I’m returning to the Starlight.

Mrs. Graciela prepared separate rooms for you and the little princess.

But if you want to stay together, it’s not a problem. Zyon should be home in the morning.”

“Be careful,” I whispered, catching his scrutinizing look .

“He’ll be fine,” Malin tried to reassure me, but his words couldn’t do much. Chester was dangerous. The people he worked for were even worse. I couldn’t just relax when I knew Zyon was the center of their attention.

“I hope so,” I whispered, exhaling deeply and glancing toward the house Zyon called our home .

The black monument was gorgeous and terrifying at the same time. Still, I could easily imagine living here. Everything was better than the apartment we shared with Chester.

“Can Alice come here after work?” I asked, realizing I had no one to call except my best friend to keep me company.

Malin’s eyes narrowed at something in front before he nodded, and half a second later, he was gone.

One of the bodyguards who guarded the perimeter led me to the house after Malin left.

The hall was long and shady and smoothly continued into a spacious living room decorated in dark colors.

The gothic sofa with armchairs, complemented by the black marble fireplace and the same-colored bookshelves, created a sophisticated, relaxing, and surprisingly inviting design.

The glass wall behind the couch offered a spectacular view of the garden and a fountain, and on the other side was the door that, according to the guard, led to Zyon’s office. Charcoal-colored walls were the last drop that turned the living room into an elegant place with its own soul.

Climbing the high staircase to my new bedroom, I glanced in awe at expensive paintings, sculptures, and modern decorations. The hall was also full of plants. The shiny floor was partially covered with a black carpet. The place looked like it was cut from the pages of a magazine. It felt surreal.

The bodyguard opened the third door on the right for me to enter, and I stepped inside. Two lamps on the nightstands enlightened another dark interior. I had a suspicion that there wasn’t any piece of furniture in a different color than black.

The king-size bed was covered with luxurious silky sheets and many cushions.

Above the headboard, lavish dark grey wallpaper covered the entire wall, adding depth and a touch of glamour.

Beside the bookcase that stretched along the wall, a leather armchair with a lamp and a wooden desk proudly sat .

I placed Zara on the bed, and we looked around like we were in some fantasy movie. I had never seen such a luxurious and extravagant place. It wasn’t my style. I liked to have light and colors, but I had to admit it was stylish and elegant, and I fell in love with it at first sight.

“What are we doing here, Mommy?” Zara asked in a thin voice laced with fear. I sat beside her on the bed, brushing her long hair.

“I know it’s confusing,” I started, carefully choosing my words. “But this is our home now.”

“And that scary man?” she whispered, moving closer, and I enveloped her in a loving embrace.

“He’s a friend,” I replied, deciding to tell her about Zyon right away. She deserved to know, and if they should meet in the morning, I could prepare her. “His brother, on the other hand, is the man who owns this house.”

“Is he a vampire?” Zara uttered with wide eyes, staring deep into my soul when I burst out laughing.

“No.” I smiled, shaking my head. “He just likes dark colors.”

“Okay,” she exhaled, looking at the closed door. “Can I stay here with you?”

“Of course.”

I removed the cushions and helped her under the cover. I climbed in beside her, stroking her hair and holding her hand while my mind worked overtime to devise how to tell her that the house’s owner was also the man I loved.

“Mommy?” she addressed me quietly, snuggling closer. “Will Dad come here?”

“No, sweetheart.” I kissed her forehead, my heart clenching painfully. I couldn’t imagine what was going through her head.

“That’s great,” she whispered. “He won’t hurt us anymore.”

“No, he won’t,” I confirmed, tears burning my eyes. But then, another thought appeared. “Did he ever hit you? ”

My heart missed a beat when she didn’t answer right away. I pulled away, cupping her face with my palms. It forced her to hold my look.

“Zara,” I said gently but firmly. “I need you to tell me the truth. Did your father ever hit you?”

“Only once,” she admitted, barely audible. “I yelled at him to stop beating my grandmother. He hit me, too, and left.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, horrified that Lisa hid this from me. She had no right to keep it a secret.

“You would’ve argued with him,” Zara sobbed, waterfalls of tears falling down her cheeks. “Then he would have beat you, too.”

“It doesn’t matter what would have happened, sweetheart,” I said, wiping her tears. “You don’t need to protect me. I’m your mom. It’s my job to protect you against anyone.”

“I just wanted him gone.” She burst into loud crying, her every sob breaking my heart a little more. I pressed her face against my chest and kissed her head as she shook in my arms.

“He’s gone, Zara,” I whispered, overcoming the urge to cry with her. I let it go too far. “He won’t ever come near you again.”

We stayed like that for almost half an hour. Zara fell asleep in my embrace almost immediately after she stopped crying, but I didn’t want to let go. My baby girl had gone through so much, and I didn’t even know about it.

Chester was much worse than I ever thought. In my stupid head, I persuaded myself he would never physically hurt his own child, but I couldn’t be more wrong. His actions were outrageous, yet my fear and naivety allowed them to happen. I was as guilty as him.

“Valeria.” Alice’s hushed voice cut through the fog that enveloped my brain as she stuck her head inside the room. I pressed my index finger against my lips and gently placed Zara on the cushion. I covered her neck to toe with a soft duvet and exited the bed, leaving the door open on my way out.

“She wanted to stay with me,” I explained when I joined Alice in the hall and leaned against the wall.

“That's understandable. Are you okay?” She came closer to me, still dressed in her costume. That was when I realized I was still wearing my mask, too.

“I don’t know,” I whispered, looking at the closed door. “Do you think these rooms have en-suite bathrooms?”

“Let’s find out,” she suggested, opening the closest door.

We entered another spacious bedroom, furnished similarly to the one I left Zara sleeping in. Thankfully, we quickly found the bathroom, and I could finally wash away the remains of last night from my face.

“Are you okay, Valeria?” Alice asked again, looking at my smeared makeup. “Tonight was crazy. It’s completely fine to feel conflicted and upset.”

“Chester hit Zara,” I disclosed, a lump forming in my throat as I stared at myself in the mirror. “He beat Lisa and hit her, too.”

“What?” Alice gasped, placing her hand on my shoulder. “That bastard.”

“What have I done, Alice?” I whispered, my voice breaking into sobs. “What have I done?”

I bent over and grasped the edge of the sleek sink, hanging my head low. My cries resonated through the space, bouncing off the black tiles as the new wave almost tore me apart.

Alice pulled me into her arms, trying to soothe me, but nothing could erase my guilt. My daughter went through so much because I wasn’t courageous enough to leave her father and ask for help.

How could I be so blind?

She suffered more than me without an option to escape abuse. Who knew what she endured while she spent the nights with Lisa and I did nothing to put an end to it. I just waited for a miracle to happen. Zara wouldn’t have told me anything if it wasn’t for Zyon and tonight’s poker game.

“Oh, God,” I exhaled, wiping my cheeks when Alice reluctantly let me go.

“It’s not your fault.” My best friend wanted to minimize my guilt, but her efforts were met with refusal .

“Of course, it’s my fault,” I objected, splashing cold water on my face. “I knew he was violent, but I believed he would never touch his daughter. I was stupid and naive.”

“You couldn’t—” she started again, but I quickly cut her off. Nothing she would say would change the reality.

“Stop, Alice,” I said, taking cleaning pads from her. “Just stop and think about how to prevent him from seeing her again.”

“Zyon will ensure it,” she claimed with absolute certainty. But it had a minor catch.

“If Zyon finds out Chester beat me, he will go ballistic,” I sighed, looking at the welt on my jaw. “I’m scared of what he’s capable of.”

“He will keep you safe,” Alice stated, placing her hand on mine. “That’s all that matters.”

I nodded, but my worries stayed with me through the entire night. I couldn’t sleep because I imagined all the things I would do to Chester if I got my hands on him. To keep my mind off the violent scenarios, I texted Zyon, but the response didn’t come. It only deepened my fear for his safety.

The last time I checked my phone, it was four am. After that, I fell into a restless sleep that brought my biggest wish to life. Chester suffered horribly in my dreams. His pain gave me satisfaction for everything he had done to Zara and me, but the guilt stayed. My subconscious couldn’t erase it.

I felt it gnawing me when I opened my eyes a few hours later. However, I couldn’t do much but live with it. I promised myself never to allow anyone to hurt my baby girl again. She needed to know she could count on me.

So, with a fresh wave of determination, I set my mind on a new mission: stop Chester from getting to her. I had to find a way to block his attempts because I knew he would try to take her away from me. He would use everything to punish me for leaving him, and I had to be prepared to fight back.

He wouldn’t get near her. Even if it were the last thing I would do in my life, I would protect her.