Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34380 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 172(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
I hide in the shadow of a tree and watch their heated exchange. Antonio looks upset and more riled up than I’ve ever seen him, but his older brother keeps his composure, just as I expect him to. Julio’s a trained sicario, and his brother... he’s just a little soldier for now.
And he’s expendable while Julio isn’t.
Even when the little pendejo shoves Julio backwards, he doesn’t take the bait. Antonio continues arguing. I stay hidden until I hear Tallulah’s name spoken.
My clueless ward is sitting on the bench I put in the rose garden for her, completely engrossed in a book and blissfully unaware of the fight going on. Her blonde hair spills over the seat of the bench and her dress rides up just enough to make me fist my hands. No one should see her this way, barefoot and wild. That version of Tallulah belongs to me. I’m going to make it my privilege alone.
I smirk, knowing there are so many more things I can take from my ward. It will be so much fun to slowly corrupt and ruin her sunny disposition.
I’m tempted to choke the shit out of Antonio just for saying my angel’s name, but I force myself to stay low and see what happens next.
Antonio lunges forward and grabs Tallulah. Her book falls to the ground, and she shrieks while Julio attempts to restrain his insolent shit of a brother. I rush forward and pull my crying word from his arms. She cowers behind me while I turn my death glare on.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I snarl at Antonio. “I told you to stay the hell away from Tallulah.”
“Please, don Xavier,” Antonio pleads with me. “There’s something you need to know.”
“What?” I hiss. “That you’re in love with the girl? It’s obvious, pendejo. Get the hell out of my sight.”
“No, padron,” Antonio shakes his head, snake eyes going to Tallulah as he points at her. “It’s the girl. She’s not to be trusted.”
Tallulah whimpers while Julio points a gun to his own brother’s head.
“Padron, he’s talking shit,” Juan mutters. “He’s losing his mind.”
“She’s easy to lose her mind over,” I smirk, kissing the top of my ward’s head. Tallulah’s intoxicating scent enters my nostrils and I have to force myself not to groan when I’m next to her. She’s a temptation on fucking legs. “Deal with this, Julio. I don’t want to see him here again. Get him some help.”
I walk away with Tallulah, handing her the book back. But Antonio doesn’t step, shouting after us as we walk back to the house.
“Please, padron! She’s crazy! She’s planning something, I know it!”
“What is he talking about?” Tallulah whispers. “Why does he hate me so much?”
“Love makes people crazy,” I grin as I lead her into the house. “Come on, angel. Don’t preoccupy yourself with him. He’ll get what’s coming to him. He’s practically begging for it.”
“Okay, Xavier,” she whispers, lingering on the staircase leading up to her bedroom. “I miss you.”
I look up at her above me, illuminated by the sunset streaming in through the stained windows. She looks like a mirage, fucking beautiful.
“I miss you too, angel,” I get out. “We’ll be able to spend as much time as we want together soon.”
She nods with a bittersweet smile. Before I get to question her any further about it, my little vision escapes back to her cage.
I want to follow her, but once again, I force myself to stay away. Antonio’s apparent madness wrecks havoc on my brain. The guy has really lost it. It’s sad, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t kill him. His obsession with Tallulah is becoming dangerous, and I don’t know what he’s capable of.
While I do feel loyal to Julio, who is a good man, I don’t know if I can trust his brother enough to let him live.
He’ll have to show me his sanity once again for me to trust him, not just spew nonsense like this Tallulah bullshit. My angel is innocent, and I’ll have nobody saying otherwise.
Chapter 6
TALLULAH
The events in the garden are still fresh in my mind. I can’t stop thinking about Antonio and his strange behavior. Since he’s confessed his love to me, he’s been acting out of sorts, and the argument with his brother only serves to prove that further.
Antonio’s mind must be going. It’s not hard to imagine, given the world we live in. Constant exposure to darkness and gore must have made him lose a few marbles. He doesn’t seem like himself. At first, he was so intent on helping me, but now he seems convinced I’m out to hurt Xavier.
It’s becoming dangerous. I think he wants to hurt me, and I’ll have to speak to my guardian about it all soon. I can’t risk Antonio ruining my life. He’s just a guard, and he needs to be silenced.