Page 20 of Surrendered Hearts

Tomorrow you will be mine and that is all that matters.

I turn the words over that Javier gave me last night. I don’t understand them. Why would me being his matter to him? We’re not marrying for love, after all.

In the six months we were together, I never once picked up on the fact he planned to end the relationship. Our love was consuming. Passionate. I was needy for him like I’ve never been needy for a man. And I thought he’d felt the same way. The night he told me, in no uncertain terms, that we were done, came as a complete shock to me. It had been a slap in the face in the worst possible way and I’d taken a long time to get over him. Truthfully, I never got over him. But he made it abundantly clear two years ago that he wanted nothing more to do with me, so his words from last night make no sense.

He disappeared after he fucked me last night. I went to sleep before he returned, and when I woke this morning, he wasn’t next to me. I know he came to bed at some point, because I woke just after three to his arms around me. Another mindfuck that I don’t know what to do with.

My mother is horrified we’re staying in the same room. That my fiancé will see me on the morning of the wedding. I had to bite my tongue to remind her it’s not a real marriage.

She wanted to help me get dressed today, but I told her no. I don’t want anyone fussing over me today. I just want to get through the wedding and the reception while conserving as much energy as possible to survive Javier tonight. Not that I’m worried about the sex; I’ve already screwed that up. I’m only worried about preserving my heart now. I’m almost certain that is going to be a full-time job once we’re married.

Javier’s angry voice sounds from the living area of the penthouse as I finish applying my make-up. I can’t make out his words, but his tone is enough to draw me out of the bedroom to see what’s happening.

“Get everyone downstairs and make sure Perez is contained,” he roars at Bruno.

His fury is a living-breathing thing, and it causes me to stop and take a step back. I’ve seen Javier angry before, but holy hell, this is something else. Especially since I know he holds his head of security in high regards and usually respects him enough not to take his anger out on him. Or, at least, he used to.

Bruno hesitates. “I’ll stay here with you.”

“No.” Javier is firm, leaving no room for argument. “I want you all down there. I want that motherfucker found.”

Bruno still appears hesitant, but he nods his agreement and puts his phone to his ear to bark his own orders at his team while he exits the suite.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

Javier’s eyes come to me, still flashing with his fury. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

“I feel like itissomething for me to worry about. My family is downstairs.”

He clenches his jaw. “And I have my security watching all of them, Emilia. They’re safe.”

I know who Perez is, so I know that if he’s anywhere close, none of us are safe. However, the men surrounding me like to keep me sheltered, so I also know I have no hope of getting an answer out of Javier about this.

“Fine,” I snap and turn on my heel to go back into the bedroom. I don’t expect him to share information with me. I’m not a fool; I know how this world we move in works. However, I’m frustrated that he won’t ever give me more than ‘this is nothing for you to worry about’ like I’m a woman who should just look pretty and fucking smile.

I’m also frustrated that he’s reduced me to this woman who mutters ‘fine’ when I mean anything but that. I’m an intelligent, independent woman who has never allowed a man to affect me the way I’m allowing Javier to.

Deep breath, Emilia.

Marry the asshole. Fuck the asshole. But don’t let him mess with your emotions.

Easier said than done.

I style my hair into curls and leave them to fall over my shoulders and down my back. It’s my favorite way to style it. Unfortunately, it’s also Javier’s favorite. I do my best to ignore that and move to the closet where my wedding dress hangs.

Nerves that I didn’t expect flutter in my stomach. I can’t decide if they’re happy flutters or nervous ones. They should be the latter, but I’m not convinced they are.

I’ve just laid my dress on the bed when I hear angry shouts from the living area again.

Jesus, Javier is in a mood today.

Except, I realize something bad is happening when gunfire sounds.

Fear rushes through my veins, but only for a split second. My father trained me for this from a young age, and while I haven’t had to deal with something like it in years, I’ve kept my skills sharpened.

Moving fast and without making a noise, I head for my suitcase where I have my gun stashed. The one even Javier’s team didn’t find when they searched my bag. That’s what they get for conducting a sloppy search after assuming a woman like me doesn’t carry.

Once I locate it, I quietly move through the rooms of the suite looking for Javier. I find him and another man in the library.

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