Chapter 46
1 pat Nico inchis bedroom. As soon as we are alone, he asks
“What’s a cartel, Lina?
I smile without really knowing what to say to him. This is so awful. I can’t imagier this sweet, inocent child, growing up to become part of such a terrible organization. It’s like his father made these children only as slaughter pips, so they can die in the name of this camage…or live to rule it.
“It’s nothing iniportant, Nico.” I say to him. “It’s something stupid.”
He til his head to the side, certainly wondering why I don’t sound so convincing.
-you should play with your toys now.” Ladd. “I’ll be back soon, I just want to investigate what’s going on downstairs.”
Nico sits on his carpeted floor and starts playing with his toy cars, I walk out of his bedcom with tear in my stomach. I know I should stay away just like Ivan instructed but my curiosity is stronger than my will to obey and stay out of trouble needtoluow who the hell is the visitor
I walk down the stairs cautiously, enough to see the hall without being seen myself. I arrive just on time to see a strong–looking old man walk in Ivan stands in front him in a rigidity that reminds me so much of what he looked like when interacting with his father, I don’t like it. Valentino is also there but standing aside.
“Twami’t expecting a visit from you, senior vetro.” Ivansas.
“Indeed..it’s an emergency. I didn’t have the time to inform you, you see,”
“Oh Well, it’knize to have you here. Youton, Martha ”
Martha? My fingers tighten around the stairs, to the point where my knuckles turn white. Valentino is asiding them to go to the living room and talk. As they follow him, I get a better view of the man who I suspect to be Martha’s father. She also appears, walking with pride as if she owns the place, God, I just want to smack her
Lace.
As if she felt the overwhelming hatred 1 have for her, she suddenly looks up the stairs and sees me filding at the top. She’s surprised only for a few seconds before a nasty smirk took over her lips.
I’ll be right there with you, papa”
And so she doesn’t follow the men inside the lining room. When they’re gone, she comes up the stairs to meet me.
It will be a lie it I say I don’t feel intimidated by her. Martha is absolutely gorgeous and she stands at least a foot taller than me. She has that elegance that you only
in people who were born with money and clearly, she makes a better match to Ivan than I do.
Yet, the thing is that he didn’t choose her. She was part of his life far before me and in the end, branchase me. That gives me the confidence I need to face her, even though I have to tilt my head back to meet her eyes.
*Poor little dor…” She chuckles. “You got yourself into the lion’s den, didn’t you?”
I decide to not speak in a hurry and risk saying something that will embarrass me. Martha talus a strand of my hair between her fingers. She looks almost disgusted but she can’t fool me. 1 case the jealousy in her eyes
“I wonder what he sees in you.” She sighs. “You’re just a worthless girl from the slum…Did he pity you?”
“I don’t think pity is strong enough to send me in Ivan’s bed. ”
I should have stayed quiet perhaps but I just can’t stand here and let this woman disgrace me. A scowl appears on her otherwise beautiful face and she lets go of my
“you think you’re so smart, don’t you? But let me tell you something, little girl…You’re not the first and you’re certainly not
not going to be the last
to be the last. Ivan didn’t tell you, did he He has a hubir of messing with desperate girl like you. That’s why we broke up in the first place. He just loved to pick you up from whatever streets. you came from. Made you believe in this fairy tale. Only to throw you into the harsh reality of what your existence. He does it for fun because he loves breaking people. You know where most of those girlsended up? Sold in his human trafficking ring. The others are six feet under right now,”
Martha leats down and her eyes bone right to mine.
“Did he tell you about his father’s abuse? How he forced him and his brothers to hurt women to toughen them! That’s the story he tells all the girls and they fall for itThey want to help him get better. the truth is that, he enjoys doing it, Itis father isn’t forcing him ”
“You’re lying: ”
Why does any voice sound so weak and unconvinced? Martha Laughs. I watch take the states up and 1 follow her so as not to be left in a lower position.
Do you know why I’m telling you all this, little girl? Because I kinda like you. You’re different from the others. You have fire within you and you deserve more than ending up heartbroken and sold in the Whitlocks‘ sex trafficking business. If you know what’s good for you, you will run and you’ll run fast. Ivan doesn’t love
“Idon’t believe you.” I say. “All I see is a bitter and jealous woman who is trying to take a concurent out of the way, I know the real Ivan and he will not hurt me. He’s kind and compassionate. But you know what? You have never seen that side of him so you can’t know what it’s like to be loved by someone so powerful.” Martha’s face becomes pale and colder than ice invade her personal space, knowing that I got the upper hand now.
“You will never have him, okay? His heart lies with me.”
“You’re really delusional, aren’t you?!
“Call it whatever you like!
Martha hares herteethat mes
“Do you know why my father is becc?”
