Page 57 of Pain and Pleasure

"Get back here now!" he yells after me.

I stop and sigh, staring up at the ceiling as my hands grip the sheet tighter to my body. I turn around slowly, meeting his dark eyes as I speak.

"What's done is done, Dante. You got what you wanted and like always, I have no choice but to comply. Now please, give me some space while I shower. I'm not really in the mood for a honeymoon." The words bite, but I don't care.

I walk into the bathroom and slam the door behind me. Dropping the sheet to the floor, I take off my lingerie and turn on the shower. As soon as I step in, I let the tears that I was holding back finally flow free, mixing with the water, my sobs leaving my body to go down the drain.

* * *

The rest of our trip was tense. I ignored him for the next two days, shying away from his touch and barely responding to anything he said. At first, he rebuttled. But after several failed attempts to get at me, he gave into my silence.

We're on the plane ride home and all I can focus on is the constant tapping of his Italian leather shoe against the floor. I'm annoyed by it. Quite frankly, I'm annoyed at everything he does now. Which is a shame, because I'm still madly in love with him.

And now we're married. Now, there's no escaping him. Love’s a fickle little bitch, isn't she?

We touch down and I immediately get up from my seat, but Dante stops me as I stand to walk away.

"Emmie, wait." His voice is low, dark and gravelly. "Nobody but Oscar knows of our arrangements. Please don't mention anything until the timing is right."

I smirk at him, but it holds nothing but venom.

"And here I thought we were going to have a reception." I take one last look at him and step off the plane.

As soon as I walk down the steps and onto Dante's front yard, I feel something hard and metallic press into the skin of my back.

"Hi, mija. Did you miss me?"

My father.

I turn around slowly and come face to face with Juan Carlos. Behind us, two men have guns pointed at both Dante and Benjamin’s heads. I swallow audibly, dread creeping into my stomach at a rapid pace.

"Don't move, baby," Dante growls, and the man holding him presses his gun harder to Dante's head.

Tears slip from my eyes.

No, not like this. It wasn't supposed to happen like this.

"That's a nice wedding ring you have there, Esmeralda. It's a shame that I wasn't invited to the ceremony. Though I'll admit, I wouldn't have been too keen to give you away to this blood sucking bastard of a man. James would've been a much better pick."

His shoulder lifts in the direction of the man that's holding Dante. I get a better look at him. He's around Dante's age, and I can tell that he's American. His eyes are a pristine shade of blue and his dirty blonde hair falls around his face. He's ruggedly handsome, like a cowboy. But right now, he's holding a gun to my husband's head and I want nothing more than to rip his fingers from his hand, plucking them one by one.

"I know what you're thinking, " Juan Carlos says next to my ear. "How did we get here, where's the security, blah blah blah."

He lights a cigarette with his free hand, blowing the thick cloud of smoke into my face.

"James, my man, is extremely talented with technology. It took him all of twenty minutes to crash every single server that your lover has. Most of your men, Dante, are still on their way here and the others are busy trying to fix the mess we just made for you. You'd think you could spare at least one guard to stand outside while you return home. But then again, I can tell you don't think much at all."

"Now, my sweet daughter. It is time for you to come home with me. I'll make it easy on your lover. James is a great shot and it'll be quick and painless. Say your goodbyes and we'll be out of here in no time. Your new life awaits you." He drops his gun from my head and pushes me towards Dante.

I stare into his wild, amber eyes. I'm so sad that the last two days we've had with one another have been spent in anger. I love this man with every fiber of my being, and it kills me to see us like this now. I rest my hand on his chest, staring up into his eyes, showing him every ounce of love that I feel for him. He stares back, his eyes heavy and sad. I press a chaste kiss to his lips, leaning back on my heels as I stare at him one last time.

"Over my dead body," I say quietly, though everyone heard it. Especially Dante, whose eyes are wide with terror.

"Emmie, no!" he yells out as I swing around, elbowing Juan Carlos hard on his nose. I feel it crack against my skin before he rumbles to the ground, howling out in pain.

I hear a gunshot ring out and I look behind as blood pools on Dante's chest. I am about to cry out, but then I notice the blood is not his. It's pouring from James’s hand, who is now screaming in pain, clutching his bloody and wounded palm as Dante grabs the gun and shoots the guy holding Benjamin in the hand. I look over my shoulder to see Sergio standing at the front door, gun in hand and pointed in our direction.

"Go, Emmie! Now!" Dante shouts and I run from the men, their guns pointed at my father.

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