Chapter 19
G enevieve
I’d killed someone.
I hadn’t given it a single thought before driving the knife into the man’s neck. Or had it been his eye? Or his heart? I wasn’t entirely certain. I’d reacted. I’d been terrified. I’d screamed and kicked, fearful Bella would be hurt.
The horrible man had tackled me to the floor, wrapping his hand around my throat.
With every labored breath I’d taken, I’d seen images of my family and my friends, graduations and birthday parties.
I’d almost given up, but something inside refused to allow me to die without fighting with everything I had.
So I’d pulled out the knife and I’d killed him.
Was I remorseful?
Maybe the answer was worse than the act.
No.
At least I was still horrified.
“The bastard wants to take you to his house,” Antonio said the moment he’d appeared in the room.
I lifted my head, suffocating from the fear that had yet to fade.
Marco immediately turned his head toward me.
He stood by the window, staring out at the body-strewn lawn.
I’d seen them. I’d stood and stared out the window exactly as he was doing now, trying to make sense of what had occurred.
Everything about the past week had seemed surreal, as if living in a strangled nightmare.
Every muscle in my body ached, the brutal punch to my face I’d taken hurting like a son of a bitch.
Bella sat at the end of her bed, staring down at the floor.
She wasn’t talking, wasn’t sharing her feelings or her fear.
I prayed the catatonic state was because of shock that would eventually wear off.
“Not enough security,” I managed.
“He assures me he has other real estate.”
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’d hardened 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 every emotion 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.
I leaned forward in the seat, cognizant Jago was watching my reaction. As usual, he wore a smirk. Did he think taking me to a dilapidated castle was going to impress me? He was a fool if he did.
“I don’t know, sweet sissy. Maybe it’s just a pile of stones and guillotines.” I was being far too snarky since he’d come to my rescue and was providing a safe place to live, but I couldn’t make right the threat or his offer in my mind.
“It’s an eighteenth-century castle held in my family’s name. I had it renovated several years ago, Bella,” he told her. “I think you’ll find it acceptable.”
She barely looked at him. “I think it’s creepy.”
I bit back a laugh, but Jago didn’t.
“She’s very much like you,” he told me.
“Both my siblings are, although Marco is much more like my father. I would watch out for him if I were you. There’s nothing quite like the wrath of an angry young man.
” Marco had chosen to ride with Antonio in one of our vehicles.
I couldn’t blame him. The air in the SUV Bella and I had been forced into was stale.
Although from the moment I’d eased onto the seat, I’d gathered a distinct scent of Jago, the fragrance that had enticed me the first time.
While I was tingling, I doubted it had anything to do with desire.
I was still running high on adrenaline. At least I’d been able to take a quick shower, scrubbing the bloodstains off my skin.
The driver pulled to a stop and I gripped the edge of the seat next to me. This felt wrong, but there was little I could do.
We were led inside and I immediately concentrated on the sound our shoes made on the tile floor.
Everything was scaled larger, the ceiling in the foyer at least sixteen feet high.
While I’d expected furnishings that originated from the era the castle was built, I was at least pleasantly surprised only the entrance felt cold and oppressive.
When we walked into the massive living room, I was struck by the wide-open appearance and the choice of furniture.
Yet this wasn’t my home and certainly wasn’t somewhere I could feel comfortable.
“Benito. Take Marco and Bella to their rooms. I’m certain they’d like to get some sleep. Kruz, you can go. Make certain the security is in place and begin a patrol around the property.”
Jago’s voice held an authoritative tone and his soldier immediately reacted, motioning my brother and sister from the room.
Kruz eyed me warily. I could tell the man didn’t like me very much. What a shame. I didn’t like him at all.
Bella looked at me helplessly and I nodded. At this point, I needed to spend some time alone with Jago. I might not like it, but at this point, I had no other choice.
“It’s okay, Bella. Just try and rest. We’ll explore the castle in the morning.” I had no idea what time it was. I remained partially in a fog, time and space holding little meaning.
She nodded, trying her best to keep from crying. I noticed the intense lines on her face as exhaustion combined with fear.
“Emiliano, go with Kruz and check the grounds. You need to learn the security.” I didn’t look at my commander, instead keeping my eyes on Jago. He wasn’t going to play the God-almighty card with me. I would have a say with my men.
Even if so many of my choices had been ripped away.
Jago nodded to Kruz while I felt Emiliano’s tense stare. Why did everything need to feel like a standoff with the men?
Why was my mind playing with me, screaming danger , danger over and over again? Because Jago was dangerous and I was mixed up in a world I had no business being in. However, I needed to shove that aside and get down to business.
He was awaiting an answer. While I still had a few hours until D-day, neither one of us were in the mood for a long, drawn-out game.
Yet he wanted to play the anticipation card, already heading toward the other side of the room. Meanwhile, I stood where I was, feeling a strange draft and wondering if it was from all the ghosts that had likely lived and died in the place.
Before he made his final approach to a gorgeously ornate bar, he stopped long enough to turn and look at me. Did he think I was going to try to escape? I wasn’t even certain I could find my way back to my father’s estate at this point.