23. Twenty-three

I want to scream and shout and tear things apart as I walk back across the street. Instead of going inside, I slide into my car parked outside the gate. Once buckled, I put the key in the ignition, and freeze when my gaze is met with someone else's in the rearview mirror. The man smiles and the darkness filling his eyes is unnerving. "Hello there, pretty boy."

It"s the man from the club. The one Santiago kicked out almost a month ago. Before I can speak, he presses a knife to my neck. "I"d think about your next move very carefully if I were you."

I close my eyes as the knife presses to my skin. I remain still, gripping the seat with my fingers. I don"t want to know or see what"s about to happen. I let myself drift off into my safe space, instead it"s no longer me playing in the garden with my brother, it"s Gabriel holding me in my bed and kissing me in the shower.

As much as I don"t want him to be, Gabriel has become my safe haven. Which makes no sense since he set out to ruin me. I tremble at the touch of cold hands sliding beneath my coat and the smell of liquor and cigarettes hangs so strongly in the air. It pulls me further away from my memories, bringing me back to reality as the man"s hands slip further down my body. Bang! Everything shakes and goes blurry around me, and time stands still with a loud ringing in my ears.

I open my eyes and broken glass is everywhere. The guy is motionless in the back seat. I step out of the car and a black sedan drives up. I think it"s Gabriel until a man I"ve never seen before gets out. "Get in the car."

I shake my head. "No, I don"t want to."

"I said get in the car. It"s at your fiancé's request."

I swallow hard and another guy gets out and walks toward the backseat of my car. "I"ll get this mess cleaned up and call for Ivan to take care of the body."

The other guy nods and opens the back door of the sedan and I climb in. I jump up in my seat when I notice I"m not alone. Santiago is wearing a scowl on his face, along with one of his fancy suits. "Hola, mi amor. Did you have a good time tonight? I hope so, because it will be your last night out for a while." He glances from me to the front of the car, tapping the back of the seat. "Driver, go around the block a few times."

"Yes, sir."

He reaches for my hand and I shake it off. Sneering, he grabs it again and places it on his leg, wrapping his fingers in mine. "Once we"re back at the house, I"ll tuck you in bed, and we are going to have a nice long chat in the morning. In the meantime, I brought you that tea you love so much from the coffee shop up the road."

He hands me the warm cup and I clasp it in my free hand, staring down at it. "Drink it. It will help settle you."

"Did you kill that man?"

He laughs, and his head falls back on the seat. "Yes. He touched what"s mine after being warned before. Looks like someone else should have died right along with him. I need him alive for now though."

"Who?"

He laughs again. "Oh, Mateo, you and your stupid questions. You know damn well who. Now please, mi amor, drink your tea."

Needing to feel the warmth in my throat, I sip my tea and calming music comes from the front of the car. It"s even more soothing than the tea. My eyes grow heavy and my body becomes relaxed. I know something must be off because I am never at this much ease when I"m near Santiago. It can only mean one thing. My head grows too heavy to hold up and I willingly let Santiago place it on his shoulder. The asshole drugged me.

I wake up to someone tucking me in too tightly. My head is still spinning, and I move it back and forth, trying to keep my eyes open. Santiago smiles down at me with a dark stare. "You must think I"m some kind of moron and that I would never catch on to your little sneaking out routine."

I stare at him, trying to focus where his eyes are, but failing to make full contact with everything being hazy. "You won"t be going anywhere else tonight. I slipped you a sedative in your nightly tea to make sure of that, and if I have to do it every night, I will."

He slides a hand through my hair, trailing his thumb down my cheek. I want to scream out for him not to touch me, but can"t manage more than a few mumbles. "I became suspicious weeks ago and decided to set cameras outside your room. I got way more than I bargained for. You really put on quite the show. You won"t be seeing your friend anymore and, if he comes here again, he won"t be leaving alive. Don"t worry, this little secret will stay between the two of us. I don"t want your father to get the idea I can"t keep his son under control. You will behave from now on or I will make you behave."

I blink a few times before dozing back off. I can feel his lingering presence even in my nightmares.