Page 88 of Death

“Dr. Alvarado said it’s okay for me to be angry because…” another breath hits my neck, “because no one looked for me.”

I looked for her, just in all the wrong fucking places.

“She’s right,” I say.

Ciara left all her belongings behind. No one bothered to check if she even packed a bag.

When I spoke with her uncle yesterday, he said he just had the house cleared out. Everything Ciara owned was either sold or discarded.

We won’t know the state of her bank account until she logs in to it. That’s if she even remembers her login information.

“It’s no one's fault that he took me. I’m the one who left the house with him.”

I glance down at her. “Can I ask why?”

“He had a gun, and he said he’d kill Grace and me.” She’s quiet for a moment, then adds, “I didn’t want him to hurt Grace. She’s always protected me and was busy fighting Dominik and my father in the office. The next day, she was forced to marry Dominik and Dad was killed.” She shakes her head. “There’s only one person to be angry at. Nolan.”

“If it’s any consolation, he’s in a fuck-ton of pain right now,” I grumble as I carry her into the villa.

I head straight for the veranda and take a seat on my favorite chair with Ciara on my lap.

She moves her hands to my shoulders, and sitting upright, her ass brushes against my cock. She’s wearing cotton pants, her style similar to mine, as if she’s trying to match me. With the thin fabric between us, she has to feel how hard I’m getting beneath her.

Not wanting to upset her, I nudge at her lower back. “You should move,mi sol. That’s something I have zero control over with your sexy ass on my lap.”

Instead of standing up, she surprises me by straddling me, her shins tucked in on either side of me. She lowers her ass to my thighs, then bites her bottom lip, her eyes darting to mine.

I lift my hand and brush my fingers along the curve of her jaw. “Talk to me. Tell me what you want.”

Ciara takes a deep breath, then she scoots closer and wraps her arms around my neck again. Her eyes lower to my mouth as she whispers, “I want to kiss you.”

“I’m all yours,mi vida,” I chuckle. “You can do whatever you want to me whenever you want.”

Her lips curve up in a beautiful smile before she gives me a tender kiss that has my heart constricting.

Chapter 26

CIARA

I keep pressing soft kisses to Santiago’s mouth, wanting to show him what he means to me.

He anchors me and keeps my trauma at bay. He sees the real me, beneath the layers of scars, making me feel like I’m the only thing that matters to him.

I bring my hands to his jaw, and tilting my head, I trail my tongue over his bottom lip with the same tenderness he’s shown since the day I woke up in the hospital room.

Santiago lowers his hands to my hips, and gripping me tightly, he takes over the kiss. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, drawing a soft moan from me because he tastes downright addictive.

A cool breeze plays with my hair while Santiago’s lips nip at mine. I’m so focused on him, taking in his woodsy scent, the feel of his hard body, and the intensity that comes from him. His mere presence is so magnetic, you can’t help but gravitate to him.

I want to stay in his orbit.

I want to be the center of his attention.

I want to be the one he loves more than anything else.

The kiss grows wild, but when my body reacts to his and I grind down on him, he instantly pulls away and tightens his grip on my hips so I can’t move again.

His face is tense as if he’s angry, and my heart sinks.

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