Page 21 of Wrathful King

Unable to contain it anymore, I yanked my hand from her grip and rubbed my skin, dragging my nails over it. “It’s the heroin,” she explained. “The last dose they gave you was two days ago.”

“I just… I don’t understand what’s happening to me. Am I addicted?” I rasped. The look in her eyes was my answer. Finally, a sob broke from my lips. Why couldn’t I have died with Amon? That would have been more merciful than this.

A pair of hands reached through the bars and grabbed both of mine. “Don’t worry about that.” Her voice wavered slightly, but I held on to it. “We’ll get the fuck out of this. One way or another.”

The unspoken words were clear.Death. I could only hope for it to come swiftly.

9

REINA

Iheld Liana’s hand as we were pushed across the dock, up a flight of stone steps, then out into a filthy courtyard. There were so many young women dressed in similar white dresses, being herded together like cattle. There were guards surrounding us, armed to the teeth.

“Don’t make eye contact,” Liana reminded me in a soft whisper, shifting us deeper amongst the women.

“Won’t there be police around?” I croaked. “Coast guards or something?”

“This town is overrun by crime lords. Courtesy of the Cortes cartel. There’ll be no help coming from the police. Most don’t even speak English.”

Ache and dread seeped into my bones, taking center stage in this living nightmare. My fingers trembled, and despite the scorching sun, I wasfreezing.

I was terrified. I was furious. I was heartbroken.

My Amon was dead. Our fairy tale had become a tragedy. There was no second chance, no coming back from this. I didn’t even know if I wanted to anymore.

A scream fizzed up my throat. I wanted to rip these monsters apart.

Liana squeezed my hand, almost like she could sense the storm I was brewing beneath the surface. “Breathe, Reina.”

The words were barely a whisper, but I let them guide me. I focused on the one positive: we were no longer caged up in the hull of a boat. I closed my eyes and forced fresh air into my lungs, desperate for the familiar lightness, but all I could taste was the darkness swallowing me. I needed a sliver of hope to hang on to. My sister’s smile. Amon’s laugh. Grandma’s determination.

Be strong. Mamma’s voice was a whisper sailing in the wind.

She was right. They came for me, just like she said they would.

Hang in there, cinnamon girl.The soft breeze carried Amon’s whispers and the throbbing ache in my chest grew. I gave my head a subtle shake. I had to be strong. I had to stay focused.Breathe. Focus. Survive.

We stood near the marina, under the blazing sun. I was so dehydrated I didn’t even think I’d be able to cry, my mental and physical state worsening by the minute.

I caught movement in the corner of my eye. A car with tinted windows came to a stop. Whimpers and cries increased before an uneasy hush descended over the prisoners. A dark shadow emerged from the car.

Tall with broad shoulders. Slicked-back hair. Sleek, black suit molded to his body.

But it was his cruel expression and dark, bottomless eyes that had me crushing the bones in Liana’s hand. He was the one who’d put the final bullet into my husband.

Another man exited the car behind him and—

No. It can’t be…

Short. Stocky. A suit that stretched at the seams. My breath was cut short when our eyes met and he pinned me with a look of contempt. The incident from my boarding school days rushed to the forefront of my mind.Amon’s cousin. I’d never forget that face.

As I watched in muted shock, he turned to say something to his companion, whose dark gaze had already found mine.

A shudder creeped up my spine at his menacing smile. I’d seen bad men. I’d killed bad men. But this one was pure evil.

“Las putas,” he called out, the disdain on his face clear. “Welcome to my territory.”

“Fucking bastard,” I muttered, my teeth clattering while shivers racked my body. “I’m going to murder them both.”