Chapter 25
candos changed a lot in the
span of a few were
- s. I don’t recognize him. There is a nasty glint ir
inhiseyes. I freeze in ny spot and watch him approach until he’s
only an inch away
“What are you saying exactly, Ricardo? Lask,
I’m not terrified of him right now, more like offended. Thave limits when it comes to the ways people are allowed to talk to me and Ricardo is currently stepping way out of those boundaries. I don’t want to argue with him, especially since he got beat up because of ane but he might not leave me a choice. He glares at me and don’t look away, my head held high
you knowxactly what I’m saying Ivan seduced you with his money, didn’t he? Y’all girls are
besame. You’re just slats!”
My handles before I can stop it and I dmp a harsh slap across tticando’s cheek. His eyes widen while mine fill with angry tears,
*1 want you out of here.” I yell athiin. “I’m not going anywhere with someone who calls me a shut.”
For a second, it seems like his pupils tam ied. Thave never seen him so angry before. He reminds me of Ivan in a sickening way. I thought Ricardo was a ideod, someone Freuld count on. Hearing his nasty words directed toward me hurts a lot
“the vou know what I had to risk to come here tonight, Catalina?” He says through gutted teeth.
“I didn’t ask you to come and get me. I never intended for you to come back.”
“Really? So you’re saving that you were not acting extra nice with me just so I can deliver you from this prison!
My mouth hanes open. I’m starting to realize that Ricardo probably had the wrong idea since the begining. My friendliness toward him has somehow made him believe that I needed his help. He grabs both of my arms and I shiver in Bear.
“I love you.” He repeats: “I want to be with you.”
“I don’t share those feelings, Ricardo.”
My
close at the sound of his booming voice. Ricardo pushes me away and I fall to the ground, Hector who heard the commotion comes in from the back garden. I notice that he’s holding a gun. His eyebrows almost join in a frown when he sees who’s standing in the hallway.
What are you doing here, Ricardo?”
Ricardo lets out a humorless laugh I manage to get on my feet again, glaring at him from the comer of my eyes. He raises his anns in a sign of surrendering
“Hey, don’t shoot me now, Hector, We used to be buddies, remember?”
“You’re not supposed to be here.” Hector says in a strict voice. “You know the rules better than anyone, I should put a bullet between your eyes for trespassing into
Weah and another one for
one for trying to lure Catalina out of here, right? You know what she told me? She’d rather stay here with that fucking psychopath than leave with me. I came to save her life for God’s sake and see how she rewards me.”
My fists tighten and I really feel like slamming them in Ricardo’s face right now. I don’t even feel bad about him anymore. I know it hurts to be rejected but that doesn’t give him the excuse to be this rude.
Hector is now standing a few feet away, his gun still directed toward Ricardo.
“I don’t want to end your life. You need to leave right away and never come back. I’m not kidding, Ricardo, Ivan will really kill you if you mess with him.”
Ricardo jets out another tour of laughter. The next second, he’s punching the wall right next to my head and I squeak in horror. Hector fices his weapon and hits :– cardo on the arm. The loud sound makes my cars ring and I cover them with both hands. I can see the blood seeping down Ricardo’s arm and dropping on the chuund He grown in pain, clutching his wound.
Brando doesn’t wait to be told a second
He casts one last glance in my direction, fed opens the front door to leave it could have ended there but of course,
When Harendu sperns the door, be “cmet by pounds standing on the other side. They quickly grab him despite his protests. I watch in horror as they drag him sonunatene atones the property, Humuto Hector who just tugged his guisaway.
“Where are the ptakingllandi
de hesitates to respond. He’s staring at acomer of the ceiling. I follow i
¿ his gaze anal foural what caught his attention. There’s a object logged there and I recognize If my titty sureillage conta. I never noticed it prior to this moment. I don’t know if it was here from the first day Farrived or if it has been installed after my
nything for Ricardo anymore.” He ne
Ddon’t need lain freexplain what it means because falteady figured it out. Ivan saw banget in here and now, he’s going to kill him. I burst into tears despite
trasy for you paystu kill people, tadi? | sriram at Hector “Can’t you have any value for human life?”
He ignores me and steps out of the main He di alto lose the door after him and when my the, see that be locked it. Asshole. I min a hand through my hair in frustration befove Liemember the perfect place in piatal watchesbat’s happening outside
The old master Whirledes study room is plunged in a kind of noobideikies tiumdleligla on andd make my way to the winslow trois where I can see the front of The mansion. Hostiser the guards toning in the distan “with Ricardo. They’re leading toa patimilar garage where cars should be pushed but l’in assuming that’s The only thing it ‘Larted Bor
4
At the same time, the gates to the mansion open and in come a vehicle, Ivan gets out of it after a few seconds, followed closely by valentino. I can’t see well but I’m pretty sure that the latter is holding a gun or some sort of weapon. But why would Valentino hold a gun? They both disappear into the garage with the guards
I wait for painfully long minutes, hoping to see Ricardo get our with nothing more than cuts and bruises. But then, there’s the sound of a distant gunshot and a quick flash of lights coming from within the garage. I cover my mouth but no sounds come out of it. Hot tears start to flow down my cheeks.
In the end, Valentine and Ivan come out again. I see them arguing with each other before Valentino runs to a nearby bush to empty his guts. This is more than I can handle. I run out of the study and find myself back in Ivan’s bedroom, the only place where I can hide right now. I clutch the cross around my neck, praying that Jurando is not dead even though I know that there aren’t any chances for that to be true.
Ivancomes in after a while and finds me sitting on the bed. I avoid looking directly at him until he places a finger under my chin and forces my head up.
He uses his thumb to wipe my tears away but they keep falling.
“Y–you killed him.”
He nods solemnly. He doesn’t look either proud or upset about what he did. That’s the scariest part, the lack of emotion he displays after committing such a
esome crime.
“you don’t understand, Catalina. “He matters. “In this world. There’s nothing like morals or compassion because people won’t stop getting in your way unless they are dead 1 let Ricardo live once and see what happened.”
“T–that doesn’t give you the right to k–kl…”
“He was trespassing. He touched what’s mine. I had all the right to dll.”
I shake my head repeatedly, pushing his hand away. Ivan brings it back each time to wipe my
tears
“I’ve come to a decision concerning you, doll.” He adds. “I cannot let you out of my sight anymore. You attract trouble like a magnet and it’s better that I keep you duse. For your own safety.”
“I don’t need your protection.”
He chuckles, mocking me quite openly. He brings me to my feet with a single pull on my am
“Starting from tomorrow, you’ll go everywhere with me.” He announces “Tassume this will make you happy since you always complain about being caged in here. And it’s time you leam more about the Whitlocks‘ family business. ”
Cold sweat coats my forehead. There’s a grim smile on Ivan’s face. I don’t think I’ll like these trips outside of the mansion with him, not even a bit. But who am I to express my opinion‘ I’ve stopped being a human being a long time ago. Now, I’m just property.
Ivan’s property.
