21. Santiago
SANTIAGO
Staring at the clock on the wall, I counted the seconds passing while gritting my teeth. For fuck’s sake. I’d been like this for the past two hours, waiting until it was time to leave the house and go meet him.
What the hell was he up to now? One second, he pointed a gun at my head; the next, he told me he had plans for me.
Shit.
My stomach turned, and feeling sick, I walked over to the kitchen sink.
Opening the tap, I filled my palms with water and splashed it on my face, trying to get a fucking grip.
He didn’t kill me last night, but maybe he planned on doing it tonight?
Shutting the water off, I then leaned both hands on the counter, trying to think it through.
The hotel was busy yesterday, obviously too crowded to kill someone, and that bastard was too clever to risk it. Still, I couldn’t not show up. It would probably piss him off even further. But if I did go there, I’d just be walking into my own death trap.
I looked aside, eyes locking in on the cutlery drawer.
Reaching down, I opened it and took out a folding knife we kept there.
It was still sharp, sharp enough to cut through flesh if needed.
Weapons were never my first option, but that white-haired bitch was pushing me into a corner, one I wasn’t sure my fists would be enough to get out of.
Slipping the knife into my sweats pocket, I glanced back at the clock.
It’s time.
Taking a deep breath, I relaxed my fists while doing a few jumps to let out stress. I had to be on the top of my game when I saw him and, most importantly, not let him get into my head.
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, and I grimaced when I heard Gabriel’s voice.
Fuck.
I didn’t have time for him, not now. Should I sneak out of my bedroom window?
“I know you’re in there, Santi,” came his voice from outside, making me swear under my breath.
Unwillingly, I walked over and opened the door, my eyes meeting his.
“I was just about to head out,” I said, stepping out and locking it behind me.
“Where to?”
I huffed. “How’s that any of your business?”
“Santiago.”
“What?” I grunted, irritated.
“Are we going to talk about what happened last night?”
I glanced back at him. He was still in his uniform, which explained why he hadn’t come here sooner. He’d probably waited all day for his shift to end so we could talk. What a waste of time on his behalf.
“No.”
I began walking down the path leading to the street, with him following me.
“You’re shitting me, right?”
“Not at all, Gabe.”
He grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to turn around.
“You’re insane if you think I’m going to drop it.” His thick brows creased. “Last night—”
“Was a mistake,” I finished for him, unbothered by the hurt in his eyes. “Just forget about it.”
“Oh, you mean forget how you asked me to choke you?”
My jaw twitched. The last thing I needed was for fucking Gabriel to toss this in my face. It was bad enough to learn I got off from this shit, but needing to explain that to him? Fuck no.
“The hell was that all about?” He stepped closer. “You were never like this back then—”
He tried touching my arm, but not having any of it, I shoved him back.
“Fuck off, Gabriel.”
He stared at me, lips slightly parted, before he snapped out of his shock.
“Are you on something?”
I frowned. “The fuck?”
“Are you mixed up with drugs now, is that it?”
“Fuck no.”
“So why the hell are you acting this way?”
“Never heard of a fetish before?” I muttered and pulled out my phone to check the time.
“O-of course I have.” He sounded a bit out of breath, and I glanced up from my screen to see him blushing.
Idiot.
“But it was so sudden, not to mention you ran away—hey, are you even listening to me?”
With a sigh, I pocketed my phone to glare at him.
“Again, what do you want me to say, Gabe?”
“Jesus, Santi… You kissed me last night.”
Yeah, and I fucking regret it now.
“You’re right.”
The tension between his brows relaxed, but before he could get his hopes up—
“And I shouldn’t have.”
“Santiago—”
“I have to go now.” I was already on the move.
“When will you be back?”
Get a fucking grip, Gabe.
“No clue.”
“W-well, I’m going to wait until you are.”
I didn’t bother replying to this persistent idiot and just walked away.
Gabriel had every right to demand answers to the very questions I’d asked myself. Why was I getting off to violence? Fuck me if I knew. The same went for why I was walking into my own death trap right now—another question I couldn’t answer.
The only thing I knew was that when it came to Ariyan, nothing made sense, and yet, I kept falling deeper and deeper into that lunatic’s trap. It was as if I was hooked on pain or something. Every encounter with him left me bruised and bleeding, and yet there I was, coming back for more.
So maybe I was starting to understand Gabriel better, because at this point, we were both idiots going back for more when we should just stay the fuck away from the very thing hurting us.
* * *
Standing in front of his office door, I checked the time on my phone.
09:59:55.
I bit my lip, counting the seconds before I knocked.
09:59:57.
09:59:58.
09:59:59.
10:00.
Fucking finally—
“When you put your mind to it, you’re more than capable of behaving, Mr. Rivas.”
Turning around to the sound of his poisonous voice, I saw Ariyan walking down the hall, a smug smile on his lips, until he stopped before me.
“Right on time.” He checked his wristwatch. “Well done.”
My jaw twitched, and I gritted my teeth, doing my best not to snap when his eyes dipped down my body.
“What are those things you’re wearing?”
My brows furrowed, and I glanced at my gray sweats. “Joggers?”
“I know what they are. The question is, why are you wearing them?”
“They’re comfortable.”
He clicked his tongue, clearly displeased. “I never understood this trend of going out of the house in pajamas.”
That made me huff. “They’re just pants.”
“No, they’re not. They’re a disaster. Never wear them in my presence again.”
Is this dude for real? Half the world was wearing joggers.
Shoving my hands into my pockets, I grinned. “Technically, I’m off the clock right now, so you can’t tell me what to do or wear, asshole.”
His eyes shot to mine, one brow raised. “For a change, we had a good start. Do not ruin it by getting on my bad side.” His nose scrunched up, as if talking to me made him ill.
It pissed me the fuck off, ’cause ain’t no way this murderer was better than me, and angry, I clenched the knife in my pocket. I wasn’t about to use it—hopefully—but for now, it was a way to let out this stress.
Still looking at me like I’d shortened his life span, Ariyan tsked.
“Follow me. We have places to be.”
Without saying another word, he started walking, with me right behind him.
“Where are we going?” I asked, trying to catch up to his pace.
“You’ll see.”
“Are you going to kill me there?”
“Perhaps.”
“You’re sick in the head, you know?”
“Why? Because I enjoy imagining a bullet going through your brain, creating one bloody mess?”
I grimaced at the vivid picture.
“You sure put a lot of thought into it, didn’t you?”
“Please.” He huffed. “You’re not important enough to catch even a fraction of my thoughts—oh, Miss Taylor,” he called to the girl working at the reception desk before walking over to her, leaving me behind to stare daggers at his back.
Not enough to catch a fraction of his thoughts?
Sick motherfucker. All I could think about was him while he saw me as nothing more than the shit smear on his fancy shoes.
Also, why couldn’t he speak like a normal human being for crying out loud?
Half the time, I didn’t understand what he was even saying.
But maybe it was for the better because something told me he was just insulting me with words I didn’t know.
“Mr. Rivas, what are you doing over there? I thought I asked you to join me,” he said with a big-ass smile.
Oh, when there are people around, he’s suddenly nice, huh?
“Sorry, boss, I was trying not to occupy your thoughts with my presence.”
He was still smiling, yet I could see the loathing burning in those golden eyes of his, and it was good enough for me. Telling the chick at the reception desk good night, I then followed Ariyan to the parking lot, where he stopped before his bike.
“Ain’t no way I’m getting on this shit again,” I snarled as he grabbed his helmet.
Last time he gave me a ride, I nearly shat myself.
He huffed a laugh, and the mean sound made me frown.
“What?” I scoffed.
“What made you think you’re getting a ride to begin with?” He got on his bike, my eyes locking in on his ass as he settled down.
Shit, he’s hot.
“How else am I supposed to get wherever we’re going?” Finally tearing my eyes from his sexy ass, I stared at him.
“Don’t worry, I got something for you.” He nudged his chin up.
I glanced in the direction he pointed to see a rusty bicycle leaning against the wall.
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
“Not at all.”
I glared at him. “What do you take me for, some schoolboy? Who the fuck rides bicycles?”
“Many people.”
“Many lame people.”
“So it’s perfect.” He grinned.
“Hey—”
“And if you ask me, it’s a better option than the bus.”
I rolled my eyes. “Says the guy on the Ducati. Just give me a ride.”
“No.”
I gaped at him. “Why not?”
“I don’t want your germs on my motorcycle. Besides—” His eyes darted down my body. “—last time, I nearly cut off your dick with how you kept rubbing it against me.”
My cheeks heated up with the memory, and I swallowed hard.
“F-fine.” I scratched the back of my neck. “I’ll take the fucking bicycle.”
Walking over to it, I grabbed the handles and tested the brakes. In response, the piece of junk squeaked, and I grimaced.
“You sure it’s safe—hey!” I shouted after the bastard hit the gas, and his motorcycle roared through the empty parking lot before he drove off.
“Fucking asshole!” I got my ass on the dumb bicycle and began pedaling, trying to catch up, although I knew it was impossible.
Surprisingly, Ariyan was kind enough to wait for me, yet every time I nearly caught up, he drove ahead, forcing me to increase my pace until my lungs burned and my quads ached.
I had no clue how long I chased him on that shitty bicycle around the city, but the motherfucker sure enjoyed it.
How did I know? We’d just gone through the same street for the third time, only I couldn’t complain, not when I could hardly breathe.
Sure, I boxed and jogged, but who the hell knew cycling was this hard?
Not to mention, the bike he gave me only had one gear and was probably a hundred years old.
“You seem a bit out of breath,” Ariyan snarled after I finally caught up to him.
At this point, I was dripping with sweat, enough for my T-shirt to change color.
“F-fucking—” I paused for air. “—psycho.”
“Regretting some life choices?”
I forced a smile. “F-fuck no.”
“You will soon enough.”
He then got off his bike, and I realized we’d reached our destination.
Pushing my damp hair away from my sweaty brows, I looked up. While I could tell we were on one of the harbor’s docks, I had no clue where, exactly. If anything, the place seemed abandoned, with barbed-wire fences and “No Entry” signs hanging everywhere.
Fuck.
My body turned cold because, from the looks of it, he really did take me to an isolated place to kill me. Quickly getting off the bicycle, I left it against the fence, fists already clenched and my body on alert.
“Why did you take me here?”
“You’ll see.”
“So you can kill me?”
With his helmet tucked under his arm, Ariyan began to walk along the fence, unbothered by my question.
“Fuck, just answer me,” I yelled.
“If you truly think I’m about to kill you, why not use the knife you’ve been carrying in your pocket since we met?”
I froze, eyes locked on his back, because how the fuck did he know—
He glanced to look at me over his shoulder. “Nothing gets past me, Mr. Rivas. It’s about time you realize it.”
My mouth dried out, and I pressed my lips together, unsure of what to say when he went on.
“Now, then, let’s move. I’d hate to be late for the fight.”
Fight?
“What fight?”
“Has no one ever taught you patience?”
Annoyed, I jogged ahead to catch up.
“Fuck off, I’m just curious.”
“You really are a dog.”
“Hey—”
I shut up after the sounds of shouting reached my ears.
No, not shouting, but cheering. The voices were muffled, but without a doubt, they were the sounds of a crowd, as if somewhere among these hangars, a football stadium was hidden.
Now keeping quiet, I followed Ariyan until we reached a big hangar, with guards standing outside of it.
What the hell?
“He’s with me,” Ariyan said to one of the men before he opened the door for us.
He walked in first, with me still doubting my next step. Those men, they were all armed, and the shouting coming from the inside didn’t make me too eager to walk into this unknown danger.
“Mr. Rivas?”
Ariyan was staring at me from the doorway. With nothing but darkness around him, he shone like a lone star, dressed all in white. My heart stopped, thoughts all quieted down, and without realizing what I was doing, I went ahead and followed him in.