Chapter Eight
?? Sebastian ??
Pulling into my house, I feel like she will feel safer here. I’m going against my rules, but I need to know everything about her. I need to feel everything she feels. Her soul somehow feels connected to mine, and I want to know why.
I park the car quickly, and hurry myself getting out and to her side. Opening the door for her, she smiles at me softly before taking my hand as I help her out. She handles herself with a beautiful grace I’ve never seen before. Mariana is simply stunning in everything she does, and like a moth to a flame, I’m there watching her.
“Thank you,” she states with a quiet tone.
“You don’t have to thank me. You never have to thank me, Mariana,” I tell her.
I lead her up the driveway to my front door. I put the key in the locks and listen to the clicks before trying to turn the knob. My heart is racing for various reasons that she may not understand. Not only have I never brought my cases home, but I’ve never had a woman here before. My mom always told me to only bring the right one home when I moved out on my own, and I kept my word when I agreed. Even now, I know I’m making the right choice. I just hope my mother sees it the same way.
Mariana steps in before me as I step to the side allowing her in. She looks around the living room in awe, spinning to get a full view. I smile as I watch her face light up. What’s this feeling in my chest and why does it feel so right? Her eyes look so full of life and amazement, as if she’s never seen a house before. It really makes me wonder what her life was like growing up; what she had to go through.
“This place is beautiful,” she states. “Is it yours?”
I clear my throat as I close the door behind me. Part of me hopes she caught me staring, but the logical side is telling me she’s off limits. “It is. I bought it when I moved to Piper Falls.”
Her face lands on mine with question in her eyes. “You’re not from here?”
“Nope. I moved here when I took this job,” I answer.
She tilts her head curiously. “I would ask you where you’re from, but I feel like you wouldn’t be very willing. It’s not like I’ve given you any reason to tell me a damn thing when I’ve refused to tell you anything about my sister.” She shrugs before going back to ogling around the room.
“Unlike you, I don’t hide who I am.” I follow behind her as she continues to look. “I was born in Mexico, but when I was young, my mom met a man. He brought us back to the states when he married my mom and gave us our citizenship. That man is also the man that I call my father.” I smile, even though she’s not looking because I can only imagine the way her eyes look at this moment. “I was in the military for a while, and then I moved here once I chose to step away. I dragged my parents with me and actually bought them a house close by. I would have bought them the one next door, but I needed my privacy, and with a mother like mine, I was sure I wouldn’t get any.” I laugh lightly at that honest statement.
Mariana turns around with tears lining the bottom lids of her eyes, yet she’s smiling. “That’s actually a really beautiful story, Detective Martinez. Not every family knows how to show affection or care for someone else's child. I’m glad to see that not all men are bad in this world. Only mine.”
“And what’s your world? Tell me more about Mariana.” I take a seat in my leather recliner as she takes a seat on the couch across from me.
“I don’t know where to start.”
“Start at the first thing you remember.” I tell her, hoping she will give me more of herself that way. “Tell me your first and last memory of being Mariana.”
Mariana closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “My parents. I can’t see their faces, but I can see everything else.” She starts to clench her hands tighter.
“Breathe for me. Just breathe and think about them. Tell me what you remember,” I say quietly hoping to find out more information.
She takes a deep breath. “My mom is wearing a deep red, tight fitting dress that reaches the floor. My dad is dressed in a well tailored suit with two rings on his hand. One looks like a wedding band, but the other looks like a symbol of some sort. I wish I could make out its details better.”
“You’re doing great, Mariana. Keep going. Is there anything else you can see?” I ask her hoping for something more from her. Maybe there’s something buried deep inside that she isn’t aware of yet. Something that she’s blocked out until she feels safe.
She shakes her head a bit before calming her breathing. “My dad walks confidently, as if nothing can hurt him or stand in his way.” Her face starts to twist painfully. “There are screams. People are starting to run. What’s going on? What’s happening?” Her breathing starts to pick up like she’s stuck inside the vision in her head. “Something is tight around my body, but I can hear them screaming my name. Gunshots are ringing, but I can’t place where they’re coming from.”
I move over to the couch to sit beside her. “That’s okay. Do you still see your parents?”
“My mom’s heels as she runs after me,” she whispers quietly. “I’m getting further and further away from her, but I can see that she’s trying to reach me.”
My heart beats wildly for her. I can’t imagine the visions inside her head, but I wish I could take away all the pain she feels. Part of me wishes I could erase all the trauma from her life and hide her away for nobody to find, but I know better than that. Someone is missing their daughter, and as much as I hope it’s not the family I think it is, I don’t think she’ll be that lucky. It helps me narrow down why she was taken, though. Everyone knows the Cartel princess was stolen due to an enemy trying to get the upper hand on her father.
“The ring,” Mariana whispers. “I see the ring.”
I lean forward placing a comforting hand on her knee. “What about it?”
“There’s one word in the center of three circles, fuerza.” She looks up at me with wide eyes. “Power. His ring says power.” She rushes out with a small amount of pride lacing her words.
“Good girl,” I coo as I tuck a stray hair behind her ear. “I told you that you could do it.” I wish her discovery would have led us down a different path, but unfortunately it didn’t. If anything, her memory took us deeper into my nightmares.
“What does it all mean?”she asks with a tilted head.
I take a deep breath, leaning forward as I take one of her hands in mine. “It means we might be able to find your family, if that’s something you may want.” Her eyes light up as they widen. Something tells me she’s been waiting for this moment for most of her life.
After we talk for a while longer I notice the way her eyes start to fall shut with each word she says. So, being the gentleman that I am, I offer her my spareroom for the night. Of course, she turns me down at first, but when she yawns and nearly falls over from its force, I don’t give her any other choice. Mariana might think she’s all alone in this world, but I plan on making sure she never feels that way again.