Chapter 10
TEN
age 16
I waited down the street of Tatiana’s small apartment, a joint to my lips, trying to calm the fuck down.
I'd been in town for almost two months and was expected to return home in just a couple of days.
After today, I’d planned on spending the rest of my time here with Tatiana. All I had left was to collect the remaining cash from Valentina, one of the jineteras that sold themselves on the streets, and reconcile the accounts with Rowan, our cleaner.
Lita had been spoiling me all day, constantly shoving food in my face, commanding me to eat. You’re too skinny, she’d say. Is my food not good enough? So, of course, I had to eat. Then just as I was finished with Rowan, Abuelo called me in to meet with Manuel Rodrigo. Wanted me to sit in on their meeting. I didn’t understand why my abuelo was doing business with those assholes from Veracruz but I watched carefully, looking over the numbers to make sure they weren’t finding a way to skim more than their share.
It had turned into a whole thing when I found two hundred thousand they were hiding, and there’d been a lot of screaming about trust and betrayal.
Personally, my gut said not to trust them, but Abuelo said we didn’t have a choice.
Finally, after forty minutes of intense fighting, they settled things, and I was able to leave.
I got up to go, and Lita called me in the kitchen again, asking for my opinion over something she was cooking, when I overheard something from Manuel and Abuelo.
Something they’d been hiding from me.
I'd shoved the pan of tres leches into Pedro, my cousin’s, arms then ran out the doors, with the growling voice of Abuelo commanding me to stop. I didn't obey and he didn't send his guards after me, but I knew that I would pay for my disobedience when I returned.
I'd thought their attention was because I was leaving soon, but now I knew the truth.
They were trying to keep me busy so I wouldn’t find out the truth about Tatiana.
Just like my own parents, I couldn't trust them.
And now, I was too late.
There was only one room lit up in her home, the one where I knew their small TV flickered. Her room was dark, but from here, I could see the flickering of a ribbon in the window. It swayed in the wind, each flutter like a sucker punch to the gut.
She'd asked for me, and I hadn't come.
My chest was so tight, I could barely breathe, but I forced my guilt and anger through my lungs, breathing it in and out like air. I'd allowed this to happen to her, and I would pay for that.
Forcing myself to wait, I smoked and smoked, until I was lightheaded.
If I went in there now and stopped them, her family would face serious repercussions.
I was allowed to do what I wanted, as long as it didn't go against a direct order from Abuelo. Even Lita couldn't tell me what to do.
But her parents weren't in the same position, thus extending the same to Tati.
She would be punished for my interruption.
So I paced the road, holding back my wrath, and waited for the man to leave. By the time the door opened, the middle aged man with the paunch waistline and balding head was tucking his shirt into his pants as he stared across the landscape, a satisfied smirk on his face.
Tatiana’s mother appeared by his side and spoke to him, too quietly for me to hear. They spoke briefly and, by the glow of the flickering TV, I saw the exchange of money.
They began to argue, the man’s voice growing louder. He raised a hand and her mother’s chest caved in, spine bowing, her head turning towards the ground submissively. Seething, I gripped the knife in my pocket, running my thumb over the edge of the blade as I watched. Tatiana’s father joined them on the front stoop. The argument grew louder, and no marijuana in my system could keep the rage at bay.
I dropped the joint, toeing it to put it out.
They seemed to come to an agreement. The man paid more, then he began to walk up the street, the loud sound of them slamming the door behind him echoing in my ears.
The pain of the knife slicing through the skin of my thumb made me smile, the rage still billowing in my chest. The man finally noticed me, and he faltered, coming to a stop.
I didn’t move.
His eyes grew wide and even in the darkness, I could sense the panic in his gaze.
I curled my lips upwards in a slow smirk and was pleased to smell the faint scent of sweat and piss. I eyed him lazily, my gaze making its way downward to his crotch.
In the yellow streetlamp, I could see the small spot of wetness there and stared long enough to let him know that I’d seen it.
After a moment, I looked away, letting him have a few more minutes of his precious life. My focus now was Tatiana. I’d committed his face to memory and would deal with him later. If he was smart, the man would leave Cuba and never return.
He ran off quickly and I let him go, instead, walking to the side of the apartment.
The ribbon was gone, and my chest hallowed out inside. I’d failed her.
Growling, I put my hands on the windowsill and easily climbed in.
The room was still dark but I could see the outline of her form laying in her bed. Her sheets were thrown into a pile in the corner, and the smell of blood and sex filled the room. She had covered herself with her thin, white, lace blanket.
I didn't speak at first and she made no move to acknowledge me.
Finally, she spoke. "Go away." Her voice was mumbled and slurred.
Eyes furrowing, I scowled. Something wasn’t right. Something besides the fact that she’d been violated in the worst way. “What’s wrong?”
She didn’t answer, and I strode forward, yanking off her blanket. She rolled onto her back, blinking up at me lazily. “Hello, Knight.” Her lips were parted, her eyes hooded. “Come to save me?”
“What did they do?”
Her gaze drifted behind me, eyes glazing over, her face going slack. I grabbed her arms, yanking them towards my face so I could see them better in the moon-lit room. She didn’t fight me as I scoured her skin, finally noticing a small pin prick of blood.
Rage seared my insides, making my stomach burn and my insides shake. I was going to kill them. I showed it to her. “Did your parents do this?” She didn’t answer. “Did they give you heroin?”
“La cava blanca,” she sighed. “I fought them. My papa held me down while my mom gave it to me."
All I saw was red.
A knife. A gun to the head. Rope around their neck.
No . I would do it with my own hands, watching the life drain from their eyes.
They were going to die, and I would be the one to do it.
Releasing her softly, I stood over her, heaving, clenching and unclenching my hands.
For some reason, Tatiana defended her parents, no matter what they did to her. So I needed to do it right now, before she came off her high. Before she could stop me.
It took me several heartbeats to calm down enough to slide in next to her under the blanket.
Tatiana needed me right now, even if she didn’t know it. I would stay long enough tonight to be here when she came off her high, to wipe away her tears and kiss away her pain.
Then I would take care of her parents and that man later.
Pulling her to my chest, I nestled my face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent.
I hated myself in that moment.
Hated that I hadn't saved her from this situation, that I hadn't been here for her when she needed me.
Hated that I felt the need to draw comfort from her, instead of only needing to give it to her.
And lastly, hated that I hadn't been the one to take her virginity.
I'd wanted to wait, thinking her too young and innocent, not realizing that it would be ripped from her regardless.
I was the naive one .
We didn't speak for a long moment, instead letting silence fill the room as we often had before. There was nothing that could be said, nothing that could erase what had just happened to her.
We couldn't take any of it back, but, I could change her future.
This wouldn't stop unless I did something about it.
Her parents would continue to rent her out, using heroin to calm her if she continued to fight, and each time would be worse than the next. The more she was used, the less she would be worth. Then she would have to work twice as hard to keep up with their expectations.
Tatiana's body was only a depreciating asset; she would never be enough for them.
I'd never been so angry in my life, and as I held her, I spent the next hour seething and raging, planning how I would kill them.
I knew once I’d returned home, I wouldn't be allowed my freedom because I’d disobeyed Abuelo, so everything had to be done tonight.
A quick pop to the head was too easy a death for them.
They needed to suffer.
I didn't get off on torturing people, but I would enjoy every minute of pain in their eyes.
Then I would find a way to take care of her after they were gone, even though I was beholden to my own father in Vegas.
He was quickly rising in the ranks of the King Empire, and was pressuring me to leave my best friend, Rook, behind and instead befriend Coulter. Coulter was the second heir to Nero King, the mafia Don in Vegas. I wouldn't be able to stay here, or even to return as often as I wanted now. I also couldn’t bring her home with me, but I could easily open an account in her name.
My only worry was that she was only fifteen. Who would look after her here? Would I take out her terrible parents, only to replace their presence in her life with someone worse?
I would have to make a deal with Abuelo. In exchange for his protection, I would have to give him something he wanted.
"Knight?"
Tati's voice pulled me from my murderous thoughts.
I grunted in response, not wanting her to hear the fury in my voice.
"Are you mad at me?"
I jerked upwards to stare down at her. How the fuck could she think I was mad at her ?
Her face was open, star-blue eyes vulnerable, her lower lip trembling.
“Polva, sweetheart.” I grabbed her jaw, pulling it upwards to force her eyes to focus on me. I gave her a fierce stare. "I could never be angry with you. You’re too sweet.”
Her throat bobbed. "Are you sure?"
"Fuck," I cursed, letting her go and staring up at the wall. "How could you think that?" My voice was cold, but I couldn't help it. Otherwise, I would betray the rage I was feeling, and she would think that anger was directed at her.
"I don't know."
Her voice sounded so sad, it made me close my eyes in frustration.
She was upset and feeling guilty. God, I hated it.
I leaned down, needing to show her how precious she was to me.
Cupping her face, I softly pressed my lips to hers, mumbling the feelings I’d never said before. “I could never be angry at you, my sweet,” I caressed her jaw with my thumb, as I took my time to taste her. “You mean everything to me.”
“Really?” She mumbled against me. “Why though? I’m nothing.”
“You’re not nothing.” I growled. “You are everything .” I pulled back to stare into her eyes seriously, frustrated that she was too drugged out to really understand me. “Everything.” When she didn’t answer, I kissed her again.
She melted under my touch, her returning kiss hesitant, so I suckled and caressed, slowly warming her up to my touch until she'd wrapped an arm around my neck, pulling me to her. "Tati," I nibbled her lower lip, then peppered kisses down her neck, suckling the soft skin there, wanting so much more, but knowing I shouldn’t. “I need to know you're okay," I begged her.
I was an ass for making her comfort me.
"I'm fine, Knight. I've known this would happen for a long time."
At this, I pulled back again, frowning as I stared into her gorgeous eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?"
A shoulder came up. "You can't fix everything in my life, Knight."
"Yes I can," I stated adamantly, angry that she didn't believe me. "I could've fixed this, at least."
"You'd have to kill every man lined up to fuck me, first." It was true. In the past year, Tatiana had filled out, with luscious curves men would kill to touch.
“Maybe I will.” In fact, I was planning on it.
"Then you'd have to kill my parents, because they'd only find another way to use me."
"Would that be so bad?”
She frowned, the pulse in her neck flickering. "Yes, Knight, that would be bad."
"Why?" Why the hell did she still love her parents, after what they'd done to her tonight?
“They're my parents, Knight.”
"And?"
"Don't you fucking dare." Her eyes flashed with anger. For the first time tonight, she was showing some emotion through the haze of her heroin high.
I let the moment pass between us, not answering, giving her the chance to change her mind. When she tilted her chin up defiantly, holding my stare, I let out a breath.
If this was what she wanted....
I kissed her nose. "Of course not, Polva.”
She clutched me tighter. “Swear on it, Knight. Swear you won't kill them."
"I promise." I tried kissing her again but she turned her face away.
"Not good enough. Swear on your life you won't kill them."
I stared into her eyes, making a promise I didn't know I could keep. "I swear on my life that I'll protect them."
Her gaze softened, and she leaned upwards, kissing me softly. "Thank you."
I took her gratitude, tucking it into my heart.
Tatiana hardly asked me for anything, even though she had very little, and even protested when I showered her with gifts.
If this was the one thing she would ask of me, I would give it to her, even if I didn't want to.