Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 35602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35602 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Saul finishes his drink and sets the glass down on my desk.
“So, are you going to tell me who you were going to call?” he asks with a grin.
I can tell he’s fucking with me. But I also know he has a point.
He picks up the crumpled notebook from the floor and irons it out on my desk when he sees the name on it. I know he’ll go right to that one. While Selena was never the right woman for me, we had our fun. He smirks at me.
“Are you thinking about Selena again?”
I shake my head. I’m not about to admit the redhead has been on my mind. She hasn’t, really. It’s just that I want to get over this. I will not allow Tallulah Gunn to govern my thoughts and every waking action I make. I will not let her in anymore. All that matters now is finding her again and punishing her for everything she’s done to me.
“There’s only one thing I know for sure,” I tell Saul. "Until I’m finished with Tallulah. There is no way I can move on with a woman. That’s why I want to bring her back. To punish and hurt her."
Saul nods with understanding. “That’s why I told the men not to kill her, because I knew you had unfinished business with her. And I knew you’d want to bring her back. I still don’t think it’s a good idea to marry her, though. This girl has back stabbed you. How can you ever trust her again?”
I stare him down for a long time, pondering my next words. I run a hand through my hair. My shirt is stretching over my arms. I’ve been hitting the gym pretty hard to get my mind off of everything that’s happened. My muscles are bigger than ever, and the ink of tattoos that cover them stretches over the skin, making me look like the beast I am.
“It’s not about marrying her anymore,” I say. “It’s about punishing her for everything she’s done to me. It’s about bringing her back here and showing her pain like she’s never experienced before. I want to know she’s hurting. And I want to know I’m the one who did it to her.”
Saul smirks at me. “Looks like we finally have the old Xavier back. I never doubted you, padron. I just wanted your old self back, the ruthless leader you were before this girl came along. I never doubted what you’re going to do to her when she’s finally caught. Are you going to kill her?”
The question seems so nonchalant. I don’t know how to reply. Of course it’s crossed my mind to drive a blade into Tallulah’s heart and end her suffering, mine with it.
I’m still unsure if I can actually do it. If I can bring myself to kill the one woman who meant something to me, even though she took it all, broke it into tiny little pieces and left me a jagged man.
“We should get to work,” I mutter, walking away from my partner. “There’s people to kill and money to make.”
Chapter 4
TALLULAH
My new life is nothing like the pampered way of living I was used to when I was with my godfather.
Now I live in the Juarez home for women, which is a shelter to help abused women overcome everything that’s happened to them. It’s been a week and so far, everyone is grateful when I do some tasks others have been dreading.
It’s mostly been cleaning the home, cooking some food, and spending time with the little kids here. It’s heartbreaking to see that so many children are hiding out from their fathers. Their mothers are now their only companions and they have to make do with a new life, one in which their abusive parent has no role. I’ve consoled a few children when they cry about their daddies.
I’ve heard so many stories since I arrived here. So many stories of heartbreak, turmoil, and women getting hurt by the one man that was supposed to love them more than anyone else in this world.
A love story that starts with hidden bruises never ends well.
As I prepare food for the dinner that we’re about to have in the cafeteria, my mind wanders back to Xavier. What is he doing? Does he still have my dogs, or has he gotten rid of the pups that shaped so much of our lives together? I choose to believe that he kept them. Xavier will train them to become the bloodhounds they were born to be.
I slice up the onions and add them to the sauce I’m making for the quesadillas we’re having tonight. Next, I saute some vegetables. The corn tortillas are already prepared, handmade by one girl here.
I’ve been trying to make friends. But I think I go unnoticed because I keep to myself. And even though I’m happy to chat to the women here about their problems, I have revealed little about myself. I’m fully aware that letting these people in on my secrets means they’ll be in danger of getting hurt, too. And I don’t have it in me to expose any of the innocent women here to Xavier and his murderous intentions.