Chapter 26

T his is the goodbye I needed to claim before I leave. My family needs me, and as much as I know they'd do anything to help me, I know I'm making the right choice to watch them succeed. Even if it means sacrificing myself to kill Ricardo and Eduardo. What better way to do that than at my wedding. I'll die trying if I fucking have to.

Enzo's cum drips down my thighs as my legs tremble. He helps me up from my knees, his hand gently running up and down my thigh until his fingers reach my cunt, pushing his cum back inside me. Then he gives me another spank on my ass. When I meet his eyes, he's licking his lips and smirking in a way that makes me putty in his hands.

"How are you feeling, baby?" He asks as he helps me out of my mask and collar. I frown at the loss of the collar around my neck. It's weird just how much I love the feeling of being claimed like that. I've looked into BDSM and have watched plenty ofporn before Enzo. I've always been entranced by the collar, wanting to be publicly claimed. Being claimed by Enzo would be a dream come true.

I sigh in appreciation. "So good, and so wonderfully sore." He's always rough, and I love every second of it. He walks to my dresser, grabbing a bottle of lotion then positions me on my stomach to gently rub some on my ass. I wince at the initial pain, but I savor the contrast of his tender touch.

The sun still shines through the patio, and I groan, reluctant to get dressed. I don't believe my family is back from the hospital, but we should probably get ready and head back to see how my father is doing.

Once we are dressed, we head towards the stairwell of my house. Enzo is walking in front of me, likely trying to avoid drawing attention to what just occurred between us. Downstairs, the living room is filled with hushed whispers - my brothers, members of the organization, along with Kai and Rocco all exchanging uneasy glances. Marcelo's face is colder than usual, not revealing anything, while Rafa stands silently, a glass of tequila in one hand and a bottle of a different liquor with the other.

"What's going on?" I ask. The facial expressions of the other men betraying them more than they intended. I know something is clearly wrong. My stomach sinks as my imagination races with more worst-case scenarios.Julian walks up to me and squeezes my shoulder before Marcelo confirms my deepest fears .

"Papa… he's dead," Marcelo's voice is raspy like he had cried at one point since hearing the news. "He.." he swallows, "didn't make it. The doctors tried everything."

Tears well in my eyes as I silently grieve, and Julian instinctively wraps his arms around me tight. Marcelo and Rafa hold back the emotions from no longer having the only parent we had left even if we didn't always agree. Julian's expression is neutral, and unbothered.

It didn't matter that I had been practically exiled from my father, even if we never grew close after the death of mama. I knew he couldn't bear the constant reminder of what he lost. I knew that, and yet it doesn't lessen the pain. He was still my father. I still cherished the beautiful years we had together. I remember the man he used to be before he was filled with rage and despair. He didn't get the chance to hear me say I loved him. I didn't get to hear what I've wanted most in this life, to know he was proud of me. To know that he loved me even just a little.

Now on his last day on this earth, I willingly gave myself over to a man I can't keep. I don't regret a single moment of being defiled by Enzo but maybe I should have waited to be with a man that I knew would stay, no matter how much he claimed I was his. After all, I'm engaged, still promised to another.

Today will be difficult as we work on the paperwork needed to have our father's body sent to Mexico, where he can be laid to rest next to our mother. At least I can take comfort in knowing that that is where my father will remain, finally reunited with the love of his life. Tombs in Mexico are different from those here in LA. In Mexico we celebrate the lives of our ancestors, but for now our family cannot travel, not until we're certain there won't be a war, which means we'll have to say our final goodbyes the moment his casket is on the plane.

My eyes are dry but my brothers look completely uninterested as we sit through the church service to commemorate our father's life, wishing that he has a peaceful rest in the afterlife. Usually, we would be attending a church service in Mexico before laying his body to rest inside the beautifully decorated tomb permanently. There is complete silence, I don't even utter a single word. Instead, I say everything I've wanted to say every day of my life silently. I pour out every heartbreaking thought, every gut-wrenching question that I've kept bottled up inside because I was simply too afraid to express myself to my father.

How could you send me away?

Why was I never enough for you?

Why didn't you love me ?

The questions keep coming, one after another, making me even more furious than I was when we arrived. A comforting hand on my lower back pulls me out of the dark pits of my mind. I recognize Enzo's touch immediately, his smell of pine trees always brings me back to him. I feel the urge to scream at fate and the life it has dealt me.

"Princess, it's time to leave," he whispers, brushing his knuckles along my jawline. It's almost like he's trying to commit my face to memory. He starts to say something, then hesitates, raising a hand in a silent request for me to follow him out of the church and back to our black Mercedes.

"We are heading back home." he informs the driver, still holding onto my arm as we settle into the car.

"Fine," I say, "Sierra is meeting me and we are going out. I don't want you coming with me." I shift my body so I'm looking out the window. I don't want to see the look on his face. I couldn't bear to see the disappointment or annoyance when I say everything I have to.

"I am not leaving you," he says firmly.

"Enzo, you are leaving me. You're relieved from your duties. The Columbians will get what they want. I'll marry Eduardo to prevent a war, to stop my family from being slaughtered." I say it without emotion, but he knows I don't mean it. He knows that I would never ask him to leave me, but I have to do this. I have to help my family, even if it means sacrificing what I love most .

"No."

"I wasn't asking." I take out the headphones I carry in my purse and put them on, drowning out the world the entire drive back to our home in Santa Monica, to my gilded cage that I'm tired of living in. It's about time for me to break free.

Me : I need you to meet me at home.

Sierra : You got it.

Sierra : Need anything else?

Me : We need a way to escape. There's so much more to tell you.

Sierra : Okay?

Me : Enzo and my brothers can't know.

Sierra : Okay? We got this.

Me : I trust that we do.

Arriving back at my house, I fling open the car doors and race up the stairs to my room. Locking the door behind me so that Enzo can't possibly get close to me. If we were meant to be together, he would let me make my own decision. He should give me the chance to get myself out of this mess we created.

A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. "Lina, open the door," Enzo's voice calls out, cracking with emotion.

"Go away, Enzo." I can hear the hurt in his voice as I continue pushing him away. I sit on the now disheveled bed. The covers are completely undone and the room is a mess. I had lacked the energy to tidy up since we left. I grab the pillow and scream into it hoping to muffle the anger I feel. I toss whatever I can find, creating an even bigger mess, like a damn child. Crossing to my dresser, I knock everything of value onto the floor with a loud crash, filling my once safe haven with the state of my rage.

Then I noticed something I hadn't noticed before. Leaning in close, I realize there's a lens at the center. My face so close to the wall to see that there's a lens in the center. A camera. A fucking camera. In my space, my safe haven. The lack of privacy stings, though I know in my heart it was done for my protection. I understand the need to ensure I'm okay. But the realization that I had never had a moment alone, that the eyes I've always felt on me, were in fact always on me. The whole thing leaves me conflicted because as much as I know I should feel hurt, I also feel loved and seen.

Unsure of what else to do, I grab my pack of cigarettes and start smoking, needing something to occupy my hands. The repetitive motion helps keep me distracted from the urge to throw everything else around the room. By the time I've lit my third cigarette, I hear the light tapping at the door and the sound of Sierra yelling at Enzo to back off.

I quickly place the cigarette in the ashtray on the thick patio railing and unlock the door to my room. Sierra strides in, holding two bottles - one of tequila and the other of my favorite soda, Squirt, to use as a chaser. She enters the room with a warm smile that reaches her sky-blue eyes as her signature long ponytail swishes back and forth.

She has on leggings and an oversized tee just like me. I'll allow myself one night of drinking before doing what I have to with Sierra's help. Sierra follows me to the patio as I grab the lit cigarette and sit on the ground. She sits in front of me, opening the bottle of Patron, and takes a swig directly from the bottle. She hands it to me while she takes a swig from the soda bottle. I mimic her actions, letting the tequila and cigarette smoke burn my throat.

"Want to tell me what's going on?" She sets the Patron down on the floor, scooting closer to me, close enough to take my hand and grasps it firmly.

The guilt of my actions weighs heavily on me. "I got my father killed, just as I got my mother killed, and now I'm second guessing everything I've done. I know I have to get my brothers out of this mess, but the only way I see it is to marry the Columbian. I can try to kill him if I get close enough. I refuse to start a war that my brothers might not survive." My voice breaks.

"Enzo might hate me for it, but I don't see any other option. I'd rather he live and hate me than die trying to protect me." I say, holding back the tears. "I can't let him die. I," love him, regardless of his stalker tendencies. Regardless if he watches me without me knowing, or if he invades my privacy. I love him. I swallow the words before they even dare come out, but the way Sierra's crystal blue eyes look at me suggests she already knows how I feel.

"Okay, so what do we need to do to get you there? I'm not heavily involved with this so I'm not sure what you need," she says while taking another shot of tequila.

"I need to escape and find Eduardo in Vegas. All I know is that he lives there. I just need your help getting out of here. I won't put you in harm's way either. I can handle Vegas on my own." I take my pack of cigarettes and slide a new one between my lips, using the lit one as a makeshift lighter and take a long drag to ignite the new one.

Sierra gets up and goes to my closet, picking out black clothes and socks. She stops when she finally takes in the mess I made during my outburst.

I grab the bottle of tequila and gulp down as much as I can, embracing the fiery sensation as the clear liquid warms my chest.

"Okay, let's change and put this plan into motion. I'll go downstairs and convince Enzo you need help in your room. You go through the patio doors downstairs first to make sure it's clear, then I'll follow. Your brothers weren't around when I arrived, and I only saw the one guard out front. I'll order an Uber to get us out of here."

We nod at each other. A small part of me welcomes the punishment my stalker will inflict once he catches me, while the other part yearns for his dark side to devour me until he can never remove himself from the depths of my heart. At least, it would mean he's alive, and has survived this war.

Sierra and I dress quickly. We're about the same size, except she's a little taller than I am. Luckily, she's already wearing black leggings. She pulls a black beanie from the pile of clothes and puts it on, covering her blonde hair to avoid standing out. She leaves my room first, as I carefully make my way downstairs and to the kitchen, avoiding the creaky steps. Sierra separates from me to get Enzo to my bedroom while I slip out through the patio door.

Normally, there's only a guard stationed at the front door, leaving the backyard unattended due to the tall shrubs in the backyard. They are far too tall for anyone to jump over, however, I've noticed a small gap near the trees by the pool. As I walk closer to the treeline, Sierra quickly catches up. Leading her down the secret path, I can hear Enzo yell my name in the distance.

"Go, go, go!" I shout, trying to catch my breath as the adrenaline courses through me. We rush towards the waiting white sedan parked down the road from the house.

Sierra sighs, relieved and surprised that we escaped so easily. It's as if we both recognized the severity of our situation, but now we have nowhere to go from here. She had arranged for the Uber to take us directly to the bar, giving us a head start since that's likely the first place Enzo will look. Sierra lives just above the bar, another detail that my family already knows, but I can't bring her with me. I want her to be safe, away from this. My knees tremble as I wait, bracing for everything to come crashing down around me in this stranger's car.

The flashing green light turns red as the car slows to a stop. The driver seems to be distracted, glued to his phone as we wait for that light to change. My irritation grows, and my nervous tics increase - I'm fidgeting with the cuticles, and my legs are shaking rapidly.

Before long, the car door swings open and two men grab Sierra and I, dragging us out and into a different vehicle. Everything happens in slow motion - the surprise, horror and regret etched on our faces. I stare down the barrel of the as we obediently sit in the backseat of some truck with one man either side of us.

We watch in anguish as the driver from the previous car douses it in gasoline and casually sets it on fire before joining us. Sierra's normally pale face is now ghostly white, the fear evident in her eyes. As a needle is injected into her neck, her dilated eyes flutter closed despite her attempts to fight it. I didn't even realize that I had been yelling out her name.

Laughter erupts around me as a sharp pinch on my neck slowly attempts to drag me into the darkness, to drown me in the shadows. The view of Sierra's limp form sagging against a man's chest is one of the last things I see. My limbs grow heavy and the world starts to spin, as my eyes slowly flutter shut, trapping me in a quiet peaceful void.

My thoughts drift to the rich, chocolate eyes of Enzo Giordano.