Page 84 of Arturo's Temptation

“What do you mean?” she asked, edging herself closer to me.

“Fuck, I wish I didn’t have to tell you this… I don’t know who it is but somebody threatened you.”

“I don’t understand—” her forehead creased.

“They told me that unless I stayed away from you, they’d hurt you.” I leaned my elbows against my knees and sank my head into my hands. “I don’t know how they’re doing it but whenever I got close to you they just knew.”

“Wait, this all started the night I slept in your room?” Her voice was surprisingly calm. I nodded. She pulled my hands away from my head and cupped my face, drawing my gaze to hers.

“Arturo,” she laughed, “do you have any idea how many threats I get every day just being my father’s daughter?”

“You don’t understand,mi princesa.I’ve made some very dangerous enemies over the years and whoever it is, is watching our every move.” The guilt hung heavy in my heart. “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”

“And do you really think they’d succeed at taking my life, considering how many people I have protecting me? You included.” She said as I frowned at her.

“Isabella, this is serious,” I hissed. “You have no idea what some of these people are capable of. They wouldn’t just kill you, they’d torture you first just to get to me.”

“Then why didn’t you just tell me what was going on?” she pressed. “Why did you deal with this alone?” Fury erupted inside me.

“Porque era demasiado duro, porque no podía aceptar el hecho de que alguien quisiera lastimarte para castigarme.” I jumped from the bed, my mother tongue taking over.

“Arturo, stop!” She flung her legs off the bed as I paced the room back and forth, my arms gesturing back and forth between us.

“No puedo perderte, mi princesa, quieren destruirme y no les importa quién salga lastimado en el proceso.”

“Please, slow down.” I cursed and knelt down between her legs.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” I whispered, resting my hands on her thighs. “When I’m around you… sometimes I can’t help it.”

“I know,” she smiled, putting her hands on mine. I sighed and looked up at her.

“I didn’t tell you because I thought I was protecting you. But if I’m honest with myself… I was scared. Scared that when you found out someone wanted to hurt you because of the things I’d done, the people I’ve worked for, you’d never look at me the same way.”

“Arturo”, she cupped my chin, forcing me to look up at her. Shame filled my gut as my eyes pricked. “I don’t know what you’ve been through, and I won’t push you to tell me things you aren’t ready to, but I don’t care what you’ve done. Whatever it is, I’m sure the people I love most have done worse?—”

“Trust me, they haven’t. I’ve done things you couldn’t imagine.” She frowned but didn’t push me away. “It’s why I’ve stayed off the radar for so long. There are evil people out there just gunning for a chance to tear me limb from limb… And if that means killing you to get to me, they’ll do it.” My heart began to sink. Telling Bella about my past was the last thing I wanted to do, and I hoped that the shit I had done wouldn’t change her mind about me. But one day, she’d see the true depravity of my soul. “I’ve never been afraid of death. It’s what makes being me so easy. You know? When you’ve got nothin’, you’ve got nothin’ to lose.”

“That’s not true,” tears pricked her eyes, as she fought back the urge to let them fall.

“You don’t get it. Happiness and family were things I was never supposed to have.” I felt the usual flickers of pain send ice into my veins. “How do you miss somethin’ that was taken from you years ago?” As I glanced up, the pain in her eyes made me pull away. I didn’t want her pity. I didn’t deserve it.

“Don’t do that.” She dropped to her knees before me, invading my space. It was something I had always hated people doing, but for her I would fight the need to move. “Please don’t hide from me. I get that you’ve lost people but?—”

“You want to know why I kill people, Bella? Because I’m fucked up, that’s why.” My harsh words finally began to sink in. I allowed my anger to warp my face and smirked when I saw the horror beginning to leak into her expression. “I have demons, real dark ones that know someone like you could never accept me.”

For the first time since we sat down Bella was quiet. I sighed and stood walking over to the window, mainly to give myself something to do.

“You’re wrong, you know.” I frowned and glanced back.

“What?”

She hadn’t moved from where she sat on the floor. Her voice was calm as she continued. “You may think you’re fucked up, and hell, those demons may try to make you believe you don’t deserve happiness, but I’ll be damned if I’m told I’ll never accept you. I’mIsabella Ricciand no one tells me what I will or won’t feel.” I dragged deep lungfuls of air into my lungs before stalking back across the room and collapsing in front of her.

“Mi hermosa, you don’t?—”

“Shh,” she hushed me, pressing her finger to my lips. “Just kiss me.” Somewhere between a moan and sigh of relief, I pulled her onto my lap and kissed her. Nothing had ever felt so good orright. Each touch of her lips and fingertips sent light into me. It sounds all Shakespeare and shit but I could have sworn she was physically taking the pain away.

When she pulled back, rubbing her nose against mine, her fingers traced my tattoos. “Besides, I’ll let your demons meet mine, and hopefully they’ll fuck off and ride into the sunset together,” she smiled, her eyes softening. “How about that?”

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