Chapter 12

" R yan was able to hack the system and noticed Sierra was the one that cut the cameras. She's also the one that turned them back on. Sierra helped her escape." Rocco starts running his hands through his hair. "Ryan is pulling up traffic cameras and using his fancy facial recognition thing to find her. He said it would take some time before he gets a hit."

This rivalry is on the verge of becoming a straight fucking war. They hired me to keep her safe and I just fucking let her escape by taking my men off her for one fucking day. If her brothers find out, or if the Columbians find her while she's unprotected… Fuck. She's been gone for hours already and she's on her own. I make a mental note to fucking kick Rocco's ass once we find her. I wasn't even notified until hours later, which meant he was really fucking distracted by some fucking pussy .

Ry's name illuminates my phone screen, so when I accept the call I press the speaker button. I don't get a single greeting out when he says, "She's at the Diamond."

Motherfucker.

Why the fuck would she escape and go to the nightclub? Luckily, Ry is the owner of the club, and even more luckily, I'm a silent partner of the establishment. The only fucking nightclub not owned by her family in this town. It makes sense, but it's a little concerning that instead of running away, she ends up going to a fucking bar.

"We'll be there in twenty. Do you have eyes on her?" I'm fucking furious. This little goddamn brat. I can feel the anger radiating off my body like a cartoon character. I'm about to burn the fucking club down just so I kill all the assholes that laid eyes on her there tonight. I'm not sure how I'll keep my control when we arrive.

"I do, and you're sure as fuck not going to like it," he chuckles loudly. Rocco and Kai start to laugh when they pick up his meaning, and I know full well that Ry is probably right.

"I'm not sure if I'm impressed or fucking pissed that she escaped to go to a fucking nightclub." I say dismissively. Hoping to mask some of my irritation, but the possibility of some scumbag touching her, or dancing near her is making me fucking murderous .

She may not officially be mine to punish yet, but fuck, am I picturing each and every way I can to make her pay.

"Give her hell," Ry says before the line goes dead. I push my foot on the accelerator of the car, going double the recommended speed limit. Kai and Rocco mumble some sort of curses, but at this point I'm not at all paying attention to anything but the road in front of me as I turn the twenty minute drive into ten.

The moment we pull up to the building, I notice just how busy it is. I already have a fucking headache and I have yet to step foot inside. The line of people wrap around the side of the building. The bouncers, Noah and Jack, stand at the door practically filling the space with just how big they are. We each open the door of the car at the same time and step outside. We all walk towards the building in unison. Kai is on one side and Rocco remains on the other. I nod over at the bouncers, and glance up at the camera knowing full well that Ry is watching.

The Diamond consists of two floors with four bars total on each side of the floor. A giant dance floor is right in the center and a huge stage is against the back wall that is normally used by a band. Currently there's a DJ stationed there, the music is being blended and keeps blaring through the speaker. I can feel the vibrations of the bass around my body, and I try to push the memories of explosions from my head again. It doesn't take long before Kai squeezes my shoulder, his grip tightening like he's trying to hold me back from those thoughts and from the crowd of dancing people. The flashbacks are on the verge of gaining control of my mind when I notice him glaring at the dance floor.

The moment I follow his line of sight I spot Catalina dancing. The flashing lights surround her, and when the spotlight hits her just right, her body seems to glow. I take a moment to scan her body, the delicious red dress hugs her curves perfectly. And then I notice a man wrapping her in his arms as she grinds her perfect ass against him.

Red. I see fucking red.

I roar out in frustration, shrugging Kai's hands off me like I just turned into the fucking Hulk. My sole focus is on Lina and the way that man is caressing her body. The sexy ass red dress she's wearing wraps tightly around her waist, slowly riding up as she keeps moving against him. I close my fist in anger as images of him dead cross my mind the closer I get to her.

Her eyes are closed as she sways back and forth to the beat. Sierra is right next to her and the new girl that I recognize from the bar stands close by. Sierra is the only other one with a man behind her, he's probably friends with the asshole touching MY girl. My feet feel heavy as I get closer to Catalina, but I don't dare stop. Sierra's face turns white as a fucking ghost the moment she notices me. She grabs hold of Lina's hand, and starts shaking her like she was scared I'd strangle her right here in front of all these people. Just a few more steps and I close the distance that was left between us. Reaching out, I grab her hand and pull hard enough away from Sierra that she stumbles into my chest, her eyes widening in fear as she meets mine.

"The fuck," the man behind her has the audacity to yell. His eyes widen when Rocco and Kai come up next to me. My eyes never leave Catalina's, her chocolate brown eyes captured me the moment I saw her up close, even now when they are full of concern and worry.

The asshole and his friend dancing with Sierra lift their hands in unison and back away slowly like they had just seen a wild animal getting ready to pounce. Rocco and Kai begin to walk off with Sierra and Mika. Sierra is noticeably arguing with Kai but they all disappear into the crowd on the dance floor. For a momentary lapse in judgment I think of dragging her over to my penthouse, but the way she's looking up at me like she desperately wants to see me lose my resolve has me dragging her to the end of the dance floor near the stage instead. We take the right through the door that leads you to a hallway with two different offices, one for Ry while the other is mine with a third door to a bathroom for management.

She wiggles under my grasp, trying to force herself off from my hold. The music is a faint whisper by the time we enter my office. I release her arm, and close the door behind me. She stands there for a second just taking in the room around her. I've tried to keep it as neat and minimal as I could, but instead it feels like a damn therapists office. A large brown mahogany desk sits on the right with two small chairs in front of it, and two large black couches sit against the opposite side of the room separated by a small coffee table that matches my desk.

"What the fuck was that!" she slurs. Her hands waves in the air while she continues muttering words in Spanish. I understood about a fraction of her curses, words like pendejo, hijo de tu madre are the only ones that really stood out. Jesus, how many drinks did she fucking have? What if she had been drugged? Fucking hell.

"He had his hands on you! He's lucky I didn't fucking cut them off," I scowl. She swallows as she takes in my words letting reality slowly settle in.

"You just can't just chop off someone's hands for dancing with me," she argues.

There's that bratty little fucking mouth. Her plump lips are ruby red matching her goddamn fucking dress. I have to bite my tongue to keep the idea of it smeared across her face. Her cheeks are already a flushed shade of pink from all the dancing and the alcohol. The image of her ass bruised the same shade by my hand makes my dick start to harden under my slacks.

"Wanna bet?" I declare, holding back from the punishment I so desperately want to inflict on her perfect body.

"I was dancing, I wasn't in any danger. What if I was trying to fuck him? What if I wanted to take him back to my hotel room for some fun?" Her voice cracks saying the last bit, just for a second.

I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palm as I struggle to contain the rage boiling within me. Despite her intoxicated state, I want her bent over my desk taking my punishment, and fucking thanking me for it more than I want to breath. I don't know how accepting she would be of this darkness that plagues me. This darkness that consumes me craves to transform into a savage beast, devouring his prey without mercy.

The things I want to do to her are anything but gentle, I want to see her tears flow down her pretty face.

I inhale the aroma of strawberries and it shatters another fragment of my resolve. Sharppain shoots through me from digging my nails into my skin and the way I bit the inside of my cheek, leaving a metallic, coppery taste on my tongue.

Stay in control.

"What if I wanted his hands on me?" She taunts, provoking me like she wanted to push me over the edge. Her hands gently move up my chest, her touch burning as she wraps them around my neck and burying her face against my throat. Her taunts repeat over and over in my head. I'm fucking weak when it comes to her.

I bring my hand to her chin, gripping her so I can look into her eyes. She eyes me in cold triumph without removing her attention from mine like a silent form of defiance, she parts her lips slightly and I immediately follow the movement, my heart pounding rapidly against my empty chest.

"What if I wanted one last fuck before I'm forced into a loveless marriage," she whispers.

"You're not marrying that asshole," I declare. Her hands move back down my chest. It's a feather light touch. Like she's just purposely hovering over my body and down my covered abs. My fingers tightens over her trembling chin, as the harsh uneven rhythm of her breathing causes my cock to thicken.

A good man would stop her. A good man wouldn't think about all the ways I'd fuck her. Every single way I'd mark and claim her. She deserves a far better man than me. A good man would make their first time special, woo her just a little bit before he fucked her. Maybe with flowers. I am not a good man. I take what I want through blood and violence. For her, maybe I can try to have some sort of consciousness. I won't take her yet, but that doesn't mean I can't punish what's mine and make her come in the process.

"You want hands on you, Princess? Mine will be the only hands to touch you. Got it?" I say hoarsely. Looking at her lust filled eyes I grip her chin with a little more force. The slight hitch of her breath, the way her chest rises and falls rapidly are the only answers I need before sliding my hand to the back of her neck.

My arms encircle her, moving her closer to me until our lips are mere inches from touching. We breathe in each other's air. Her hot breath mixes with mine before our lips connect. Her resolve is shattered with the hunger of our kiss. Her plump red lips open for mine and our tongues move in sync. As our bodies mold together like a piece of a puzzle. My mind silences. My control fades and we become engulfed in this moment. Where I can taste her and the mixture of coconut and lime on her tongue. She lets out a whimper and I take the sounds as I silence her with my slow drugging kiss.

I know I'll start a war for her. I'll start a million fucking wars and die a happy fucking death to have experienced this moment with her.

With my Catalina.