Page 51 of Pain and Pleasure

It's dark and cryptic, but it makes sense. The men in this world are capable of anything. Even silencing us.

23

Esmeralda

Gabrielaand I make our way back to the dining hall.

I wouldn't say we're closer after our chat, but I will say that the tension has eased since understanding has stepped through. The men are still chatting idly as we walk in, but the energy feels off. It feels...anxious. Or maybe that's me because Dante is now looking at me with a worried look on his face, something I've never seen before.

"What's wrong?" Gabriela asks, the energy feeling off to her too.

Oscar lights a cigar and leans back in his chair, smoke billowing into clouds right in front of his face. I walk to Dante and stand next to him. His hand reaches out to grab mine, but I don't sit as I stare into his worried expression.

"It seems after further investigation from Oscar and his men, Juan Carlos has been recruiting several men and has not only found the mansion's location, but has set up a camp not too far from here."

Hairs stand all over my body as Dante utters the words. I feel my stomach drop, low and filled with lead.

"He's been working beneath us the whole time. Oscar is going to bring some men here from Columbia, but we will need to train them diligently," he says and I sit next to him, staring at Oscar's smoke that billows in the room.

"He's going to stay here to assist with training. Gabriela, you will return home to mama. A few bodyguards will stay behind."

The room is silent and Gabriela stares at the floor for a while before looking up and addressing everyone in the room.

"I'll stay here. Mama doesn't need any more of my stress back home. And I'm tired of being kept in the dark. I'd like to know the war my own blood is in." She says this with conviction and surprisingly, the men don't argue with her.

"We’ll clear up some rooms in the east wing. It hasn't been occupied in quite some time," Dante says. "In the meantime, Emmie, you and I will be going on a little trip while Oscar brings the men here. It'll just be for the weekend."

A trip?

“Why can’t we be here for that? Shouldn’t you be here for that?” I question him, feeling like some more truth is being withheld.

Judging by the small, but anxious look on Dante’s face, I’d say that I’m right.

“Oscar, everyone, Sergio will guide you to your rooms. I’ll have some bags sent for you when we round up our men back home. In the meantime, please excuse us.”

Dante stands and grabs my hand, pulling me from the dining hall and walking towards the direction of his bedroom. Something is not right, and I can feel it. I feel it in the slightly tighter grip that he has on my wrist. I feel it in the air that’s now thick with unease. We get to his room and he shuts the door behind us, walking to his bedside to remove his watch and cufflinks so he can set them on the table.

“There’s something more and I know it. My real question is, will you actually tell me this time or leave me blindsided?” I ask him, a bite in my tone that’s unmistakable.

He sighs and sits on his bed, patting the spot next to him for me to sit down. I cross my arms over my chest and stand in my spot, not moving until he fucking spills. I thought we were past this? I thought we moved on from being elusive, but I guess not.

“Your father has a plan drawn out for your capture. He’s ready to put it in motion this weekend. Oscar hacked into his server and found everything. I have to get you out of here until we have more security and a solid plan in motion. We leave by jet tomorrow morning.” He rests his forearms on his knees, his head hanging.

I know he just told me the truth because I feel it like I feel our chemical pull, but something else is troubling him. I walk over and my hands wander to his hanging head, my fingers running through his soft hair. He groans and captures one of my hands swiftly, meeting my eyes as he does. His eyes are dark, near black with anger and worry.

“The things he has planned for you, Emmie...the things that I read. I want to rip his intestines out and feed them to him by hand.” His voice shakes and I sit on his lap, looking into his dark and anxious eyes.

“Tell me,” I command, and he closes his eyes, shutting me out. I touch his chin to look at me, but he keeps his eyes shut.

“I can’t relive it all or I’ll start breaking things. I don’t want you to see me like that. You’ve seen enough.” His voice is dark, and it makes chills run up the length of my spine.

“Please, Dante, anything. I have to know something.” I beg and he sighs, opening his eyes to look at me. They are filled with rage.

“He was planning to keep you locked away in his compound, force you to marry one of his assistants and then force you to carry that man's child. I saw the marriage certificate. I saw everything in fine detail.” His voice drops even lower, but I’m not drowning him out.

The room feels like it’s suddenly closing in on me. My chest feels heavy, and the lead is back in my stomach. My own father, the elite sex trafficker, is plotting for me to be his next victim. I feel like I’m going to be sick, but Dante sees everything written on my face and wraps one of his strong arms around me, pulling me tightly to him. His other hand grabs my chin and forces me to look at him.

“He will never touch you, mi ciela, you hear me? Over my dead body.” I shiver in his grasp, willing the tears back.

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