CHAPTER 23
Nirah
IT HAD BEEN two weeks since I had my run-in with Sylvester.
Antonio’s nurse had been taking really good care of me so far, so my healing was fast and easy. Rosalia helped an awful lot, too, and I couldn’t be more thankful.
For the first week, Antonio did not allow anyone into the house because he didn’t want anything coming in the way of my healing. I appreciated that he cared, but it got really boring being alone in the house.
Although Rosalia tried her best to spend time with me, she had her work to do.
Logan—who was as stiff as a board, might I add—was not much fun either. He did not smile, laugh, or even talk. He would give me the shortest answers possible without even looking at me. It made me miss Cesar even more.
I still haven’t seen him, yet sometimes, it felt as if he were still here. I could feel his dark, looming presence.
And speaking of a dark, looming presence, Antonio had been MIA as well. He wouldn’t check up on me, have dinner with me, or even be in the house.
Rosalia and Logan would always tell me that I had just missed him, or he was too busy to see me right now. I hate that I hurt him, but I could not let myself hurt the way I did before. Never again. I can’t .
I wished I could just talk to him, but then again, I practically threw it in his face that I had no feelings for him, and was basically just using him when that wasn’t the case, whatsoever.
I really needed to apologize.
Even if he won’t admit it, I could tell I hurt his feelings. I guess he hasn’t fully forgiven me for all the hurtful things I said and did. He probably hates me now.
I lazily clicked the TV remote in the living room, switching through channels. I finally gave up and tossed the remote next to me with a sigh of defeat.
I froze, seeing a figure appear in my peripheral vision. My head snapped towards it as a big smile grew on my face. “Cesar!” I shrieked, jumping off of the couch and charged towards him.
If he wasn’t so tall and sturdy, I would have practically bulldozed him over. “Hello, Miss Nirah,” he said as I wrapped my legs around his waist.
“I’ve missed you so much!” I squealed, tightening my arms around his neck.
He hesitantly tapped my back with both hands, not holding me up.
I’m sure he doesn’t even know what to do right now.
“Where have you been?” I asked, standing on my own again.
“How could you let him pull us apart!” I snapped, punching his arm.
“I thought I meant more to you than that,” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“I am so sorry, Miss Nirah. But he is still my boss and I have to respect his demands.”
“Respect his demands, my ass,” I scoffed. “Where is he? My fists have been itching lately,” I said, hitting my fist into the palm of my hand.
“I see you’ve healed quite well,” he gave me the faintest smile.
“I wouldn’t have to be healing if someone was still my bodyguard,” I rolled my eyes.
“No offense to Ken from Barbie’s dream house, but I couldn’t feel more like my own bodyguard,” I said, and Cesar let out a short-lived laugh.
I wholeheartedly smiled. That was the first time I heard him laugh . And it was because of me .
“I heard Logan’s quite the fighter.”
“You could kick his ass,” I whispered, giving him an assuring nod. “He’s practically my shadow. He only moves when I do and speaks when I do.”
“As opposed to me then,” he sarcastically said, and I smiled.
“You’ve said more to me now than he has in a month, I mean, come on. Would it kill him to crack a smile once in a while?”
“Well, Mr. Antonio hired him to be the exact opposite of me, so yes, it would kill him.”
“Whatever,” I muttered. “I’m just glad you’re back,” I smiled, and his mood shifted. His jaw moved as he tried to speak but didn’t. “You are back… right, Cesar?”
“No, Miss Nirah. I am not. I am only here to assist Mr. Antonio.”
Goosebumps trailed up the nape of my neck. “Are you serious?” I murmured, feeling tears swell in my eyes. “Cesar, it feels like I just got you back,” my voice cracked.
“I apologize if I disappointed you,” he lowered his head. “But I won’t be coming back as your bodyguard. I’ll only be here when Mr. Antonio needs me.”
“Bullshit,” I scoffed. “I really can’t think of anyone better to protect me than you, and surely he has to see it too.”
“I am sorry, but I have to go now. I shouldn’t be seeing you. I just needed some of your energy to get me through another few weeks,” he said almost secretly, and I smiled, partly jutting out my bottom lip. He needed my energy? “ Goodbye , Miss Nirah,” he turned to leave.
My heart ached as I watched him walk away. How do I get him to stay? How do I convince Antonio to let him stay?
Angrily—I rushed up to my bedroom, slamming my door shut. I paced up and down, thinking of a way to get Antonio to change his mind.
After a solid twenty minutes of running ridiculous plans through my head, a faint knock on my door grabbed my attention. I opened it and Rosalia informed me that dinner was ready. I let her head downstairs while I threw on some sweatpants over my shorts.
As I left my bedroom, closing the door behind me, I saw Antonio walking up the stairs.
“You’re a real asshole, you know that right!
” I yelled across the hall, and his head turned to me.
“How can you be so fucking mean to someone who doesn’t deserve any of it?
” I asked walking towards him and his chest fell with a sigh.
He stepped around me, but I stopped him, putting my hand out.
“No, you’re going to listen to what I have to say—what is your goddamn problem?” I asked.
“I don’t have time for this,” he tried to walk past me but I stepped in front of him again.
“Oh, you don’t have time for this or you don’t have time for me ? Last time I checked, I was still your fiancée, in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Trust me. I haven’t.” His eyes darkened as he looked down at me and a shiver crawled up my spine.
“Well, you sure act like you have.”
“Nirah—”
“This isn’t even about me, this is about Cesar—how could you fire him as my bodyguard? He did nothing wrong.”
“I’m aware.”
“So then why’d you fire him?” I asked in utter confusion.
“To punish you for disobeying me.” What… “I made it clear that you’re not supposed to leave without Cesar.”
“Antonio—”
“Your actions have consequences. They don’t just affect you, but the people around you as well,” he explained, stepping closer to me. “Maybe next time you’ll think before acting out.”
“Are you trying to insinuate something, because if you are you might as well just say it.”
He stared down at me, his eyes never leaving mine. “My house. My rules. Simple. Don’t think you’re above them.”
“What am I? A teenager living with her dad?” I scoffed in disbelief. “You can’t treat me like a child, Antonio.”
“Then stop acting like one by throwing tantrums,” he shot back. “I get it, you’re reckless. You thrive on having fun and living on the edge but things are different now, and if you aren’t careful, you could get hurt. Or worse. Die .”
My throat dried as I refrained from tearing up at his last word. “I’ve handled myself just fine before you, and I can do it again.”
“No, you can’t,” he snapped back, taking a step towards me. “You can’t handle yourself anymore because Sylvester is done playing cat and mouse with you. He’s out for blood now, Nirah.”
“No, that’s—”
“There are men more dangerous than Sylvester looking for you, and you think you can handle yourself?” he asked in disbelief with his hand gripping my arm as he held me to the wall.
“Let go,” I said, pulling his arm off of me.
“To them, you’re nothing more than a pathetic, bubble-headed brunette who can’t see past her fucking nose—” Slap .
His eyes dropped to the floor as his cheek partly faced me. “Quit talking like you don’t see me the same fucking way,” I said, feeling my stomach knot as bile rose in my throat. “You’re just like them. The only difference is that you managed to get me to willingly sleep with you.”
My chest rose rapidly, only then realizing what I had just done. A beat passed between us, and my heart pounded in my ears.
“You’re wrong, tesoro ,” he lifted his eyes to meet mine. “I’m so much fucking worse,” he stated and a cold, weary shiver ran down my spine.
All of a sudden the energy shifted. It was colder— darker . I didn’t recognize the man in front of me right now. His demeanor, his eyes… All of it.
I scraped every last bit of courage inside of me. “You’re worse?” The words came out as a faint whisper. “You leave me for two fucking weeks, then you tell me you’re worse than the men who are after me?” I asked. “Are you playing some sick game here?”
“You want to know what I’ve been doing for two weeks straight?” he questioned, and all the nerves in my body heightened. He eliminated all the space between us, and I lifted my head, looking up at him.
My body felt stiff as he stood in front of me, his eyes looming in darkness and secrets. “Yes,” I managed to let the word slip.
“Think you can handle it, tesoro ?” he taunted, and I swallowed hard.
“I fucked you, didn’t I?”
His lips curled into a grin as he stared down at me. Anxiety crept in as I anticipated his next move.
He grabbed my arm, pulling me with him and I nearly stumbled a few times.
With my heart pumping a million miles per hour, he led me down the hallway. He pulled me down the stairs and down another hallway. When we stopped at a steel door, he let go of my arm and turned the five-inch steel handle.
“Where are you taking me?” I swallowed hard, watching him push the door open.
“Don’t tell me you’re backing out already,” he glanced over at me, and an unsettling feeling brewed in my stomach. I shook my head, and he let me walk in first.
Stairs were descending in front of us.
I placed my foot on the first step, and he followed, closing the door behind us. It was cold, dark, and old-abandoned-mansion type of eerie.