Chapter twenty-six
TE AMO
SNAKE
Inod to Ben, who returns the gesture as he stands sentry in the foyer, like he’s ready to take on all comers if he has to.
“All that business taken care of?” He asks. I can tell he hates missing out on putting work in with his brothers and the el Diablo.
“Yeah, there was nothing to it but a bunch of scared and confused boys. We took real good care of Fitch.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” He daps me up.
“How are they?” I ask passing by him, eager to get to Saban.
“Good.” He clears his throat, clearly uncomfortable.
“Dr. Everything just left. She checked in on them both. That one girl — Reverie — has a concussion, but she’ll be a’ight.
Saban was bleeding — ” he raises his hand to stop me from charging up the stairs.
“It wasn’t anything like that, Snake. I thought so too after she got out of your truck, but it was just her monthly. ”
I never thought I’d see a grown man blush, but here we are.
Nodding, I look away, saving him from anymore embarrassment.
“Thanks, man,” I dap him up again.
“No problem, let me know how lil’ shortie is doing.” Concern makes him look sterner than I’ve ever seen him.
“Will do.” Slapping his shoulder, I leave him to let himself out.
Taking the stairs two at a time to the second floor, I head straight to our bedroom.
The bed is empty. Heading to the ensuite bathroom, I rid myself of the clothes. I have blood on me from dealing with Fitch before he fed the Shelby Sugar fallow fields for the season.
“Hey.” Speaking on my way to the shower first, I notice that she seems like she’s in her own world.
“Hey.” Mouth barely moving, she keeps her gaze steady on the bubbles in the bath. Shoulders slumping, she shudders a little as she exhales.
I’m done with my shower in record time. Grabbing a towel to wrap around my waist, I go over to her.
Dipping to my haunches, I grab one of her locs, twirling it around my finger.
“How are we doing, pretty girl?” She shakes her head in the negative at my soft question in the negative.
Deep mahogany eyes meet mine — all liquid with tears unshed.
Dropping the towel, I rise to get in with her. Only this time she doesn’t make room for me. “Scoot.” I say ready to step in behind her.
“I’m bleeding — my cycle started when I was down in that cellar. It was awful.” Covering her mouth on the last sentence, she sobs.
Picking her up, I ignore her gasp and the water sloshing over the side. Sitting down in the warm water, I put her on my lap, covering her in the safety of my arms.
“You think I give a fuck about that?” I scoff. “There is not one part of you I don’t love.”
I feel her breath catch. Tugging her locs, I make her meet my gaze. “And I mean that shit with every fiber of my being, mi amore.” Covering her mouth, I kiss her softly.
Tears flow between us and I do my best to comfort her.
“Now tell me what has you so upset. The boys are being evaluated then they will get the help they need. They won’t be separated. Reverie is in the guest bedroom for as long as she needs it—”
Turning, she meets my gaze head-on for the first time since I entered.
“It’s not that. I-I did something really selfish.
Going off like that I could have been killed.
You and my parents would’ve never known what happened to me.
I saw later the message didn’t even go through.
Instead of checking to make sure it reached you, I just followed Reverie.
” Holding her hands up in a manner of helplessness. “That was so fucking foolish of me.”
Anguish fills her face, and it fucking breaks me.
“Don’t ever talk about yourself like that.
” Giving her a little shake, I demand, “Do you hear me? What you did was brave as hell. You know how many people just look the other way when horrible shit happens? Just let atrocities happen because it doesn’t affect them or someone who looks like them?
Saban, what you did today was nothing less than heroic.
I’m proud as hell that you are mine. You saved kids tonight.
Kids who now can heal and have a future.
Hold on to that.” Pulling her into my arms, I hold her.
Sighing, I confess, “I was always going to find you. I tagged you when I found you in Senegal.” Rubbing the small of her back for emphasis.
“You did what?” Reaching behind her, she feels the same spot that I’m touching, her eye rounding with surprised outrage.
“You motherfu—” I cut off her fussing with a kiss.
“As for your parents, we can see them whenever you are ready.” I say later after distracting her with more kisses.
“Tomorrow?” How can I say no to the hope I hear in her voice? “Absolutely. Let get you clean.”
Neither of us can sleep as we look at the sun rising over the horizon. I don’t know what prompts me to lay my heart out in such a fashion. Maybe it’s the ordeal of nearly losing her or the sheer joy I felt seeing her locs emerging from that hatch.
Her warm little body curled against me is what I’ve longed for those long nights I hunted her.
Then after I had her back in the safety of my home, I couldn’t stop watching over her.
Obsessed with her to the point where I couldn’t sleep if I wasn’t holding her.
I won’t apologize for the feeling she evokes in me.
It took me long enough to come to terms with what she is to me.
I may never be worthy, but she will always be mine.
“I swear to you—on the name I once disgraced, on the blood I spilled for right and wrong, on the serpent I had to become and the man I still hope to be — I will rip the sun from the fucking sky if it means keeping you safe by my side. All I ever wanted to do was protect you. I will be your monster, little trouble. You should be very careful loving me.” Tipping her face up, I take her lips.
“Now, tell me the words you were so eager to say earlier.”
“Ti amo, Hadrián.” Cupping my face, she places light kisses all over my face. “Ti amo, La Serpiente.”
New Orleans
SABINE is emblazoned on the marquee of the quaint little restaurant that sits on the corner of one of the busiest streets of the French Quarter.
“O mezanmi!” I look down to see my little jewel cupping her cheeks as surprised delight washes over her in wave after wave of happiness.
“T-they named their restaurant after me.” Eyes wide with wonder, she takes slow, measured steps toward the entrance.
A bustling atmosphere and delicious-smelling food greet us as we enter, as well as a tall, severely dressed maitre’d.
“Reserved under?” His gaze sweeps over us with disdain, although we are dressed similarly to those at the table. Only these other couples aren’t sporting visible tattoos, whereas our bodies sport the most magnificent artwork.
“Hadrián Cabrera.” Having anticipated being turned away, I insisted on making reservations.
“Hm,” he peruses the guest list for an inordinate amount of time.
“Unfortunately, I don’t see the reservation.
Perhaps you got the names mixed up? It happens quite frequently.
” His tone drips with condescension. I wonder how many tourists he denies entry because they seem too gauche to sit at a five-star restaurant.
“Can you tell the owner their daughter, Sabine, is here.” Tilting her head to the side, she smiles at him in a nasty-nice way. “I promise you, we are expected.”
Drawing himself up, he clutches his throat. “Qui, yes of course. Monsieur Pierre said…” trailing off, he gives us a plaintive look. “Pardon, — excuse me, I will get Monsieur and Madam right away.”
Signaling to a hostess to take his place, he hastens through the restaurant with as much grace as a man who’s under threat of losing his job can muster.
Seconds later, a beautiful woman and a rugged-looking man emerge from the back of the house.
Stopping just short of us, they look us over. Their eyes seem to kiss every part of Saban they touch.
Reaching her hands out in supplication, Angelique approaches Saban as if she’s afraid she’s going to run away. Saban’s small form next to mine seems to brim with anticipation.
She’s confessed her concerns that her parents would reject her, thinking they wouldn’t appreciate her tattoos.
“I think the only thing they care about is your being alive and back in their lives, mi amore.” I told her, holding her close in the hotel earlier.
“Yeah, but once the happy reunion is over, then come the hard questions, like how I ended up with my guardian. Worried, she pulled out of my arms, but I snatched her back.
“I will tell them because I love you, and I won’t spend another second without you.” My voice was hard, and I know my eyes were too. She needs to know I will go head to head with her parents or anyone else who dares question what we have.
“I bet you will.” She smirked, getting on her tiptoes to kiss me.”
“Now looking on as he mother then her father wrap her in their embrace I know that no matter the questions or concerns they have it will be out of love and these folks won’t be doing anything to push their daughter newly found to them out of their life.
“Come, let’s eat.” Pierre reaches out to shake my hand. “I heard you save my bebe and took real good care of her.”
“Yes. He did.” Saban smiles at me over her shoulder with her mom’s arm wrapped around her.
“She saved me too in more ways than with of us ever realized.” I say to them never taking my eyes off pequena amenaza.