Page 122 of Arturo's Temptation

“Shit, hurry the fuck up, G!” Another voice shouted from the driver's seat. “Just get her into the damn car.”

The one who had me in his arms tossed me off his shoulder and into the back seat, before leaping in beside me. I squeezed my eyes shut for a second to hold off the panic, and as I opened them I zeroed in on the inner lock. With the last of my strength, I yanked it back and shoved at the door, throwing myself out onto the road. I ignored the jolt of pain as gravel stuck into my skin and focused on the figure running towards me.

“Arturo!” I tried to scream but my tongue was heavy and useless. My dress began to tear as I slithered along the tarmac, using my hands to haul my uncooperative body away from the car. But no sooner had I started crawling, did a hand grab hold of my ankle and yank me backwards, tearing the skin at my knees. As I turned my head and caught the gaze of a pair of furious green eyes—the only thing visible of the man who had threatened to behead me. A yell from the driver caused the masked man to look over my shoulder before a bullet sliced through the air, penetrating his shoulder. As he howled out in pain, his hold on my ankle loosened enough for me to slither backwards. I half expected them to file out of the car and fill the air with bullets, but they didn’t. In a cloud of dust and gravel, they sped off into the distance, leaving me on the side of the road.

“Bella!” I sighed and finally gave in to my exhaustion as Arturo fell to his knees beside me. With painful concentration I managed to open my eyes as he pulled me into his lap, his face a map of anger, panic and hurt.

“Thank god,” I sighed, letting my head rest on his chest.

“Fuck,hermosa. I thought I was too late. I thought?—”

“I know, but I remembered everything you taught me. I managed to slow down whatever they were doing, I was trying to buy time for you to find me,” I smiled, throwing my arms weakly around his neck.

“You did amazing,mi princesa, I’m so fuckin’ proud of you,” he kissed my head, inhaling the scent of my hair. He tightened his arms around me as he cradled me to his chest. “Are you okay?”

“A little bruised and scratched up, but other than that I’m good.” I knew he didn’t believe me. It was written all over his face and the strained anger in his eyes.

“I was so fuckin’ scared, Bella. The shit that went through my mind when I couldn’t find you,” tears pricked his eyes, as they searched my face for injuries.

“It’s okay. I’m right here, and I’m safe, thanks to you.”

“Did they say anything to you?” His eyebrows furrowed as I swallowed. I knew the second I told him, he’d freak.

“I-I’m not sure. It all happened so fast. One of them tried to knock me out with something?—”

“Chloroform. Motherfuckers. Is that why you couldn’t run?”

I nodded, only angering him more. I gave him a moment to calm down and inhale deeply. The smell of the ocean and Arturo’s cologne helped soothe the anxiety and stress of all that had happened.

“Bella…” I looked back up into his eyes as he pulled me upright. “Please, I have to know. What did they say to you?”

Sighing, I repeated everything I could remember. And when I was done, he was breathing heavily in and out, looking away at something over the top of my head.

“Fuck, I knew it. Those fuckers did this because of me. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” My heart broke as he let a tear fall. My unshakeable, afraid of nothing and no one man was breaking before my eyes. It took everything I had to fight back my own sob. “I didn’t listen. I was selfish.” Taking a breath, I hauled a leg around his waist and pulled myself up so I was straddling him. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and pulled his head down to rest against my shoulder.

“It wasn’t selfish, you hear me? You did everything you could to protect me and I chose to fight, remember? These men are doing this to hurt us both and we’re not going to let them win.”

“How are you always so fuckin’ calm?” The pain in his voice cut deeper than expected. Honestly, I wasn’t calm. On the inside I was an absolute wreck, but I couldn’t be that right now. Artruo needed me to be strong, and I could be that for him right now. I wanted to be the woman everyone expected me to be.

Pulling back, I kissed away the tears that he had allowed to fall, trying to take some of whatever he was harbouring away.

“I need to call your father. He trusted me with you and this is the second time you got hurt on my watch,” he sighed.

“No! Please, don’t!” I blurted out, practically begging.

“Bella, this isn’t a joke. He already lost his shit with me about the bike, fuck knows how he’s goin’ to handle this.”

“Arturo, please don’t tell him… Not yet…”

“I fucked up today, I took my eye off the ball and…” he buried his head into my neck, sighing. “It can’t happen again.”

“But I was the one who should’ve listened. I insisted I’d be fine, right? I practically ran off.” Wincing, I dragged myself from his lap and used my hands against my knees to push myself upright. Once standing, Arturo wrapped an arm around my waist and helped me walk back to the reception.

“Alright… I'll sleep on it. But I don’t know if we can fight this battle alone, especially when I don’t know who the fuck it is that’s stalking us.”

“Okay,” I whispered as we entered the party from the front doors.

“Wow, Bella… you look like shit.” I tensed as my favourite nasally, shrill voice grated against my ears.

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