Page 64 of Love Bites
Katheryn brought her knees up to her chest and buried her face in them to hide her shame, to hide her tears. But the shame remained like a heavy sign, burning brightly above her head. Her tears flowed freely as she cried out Ignacio’s name, over and over, in sad desperation.
He was dead.
Her Soul Mate was dead, and it was all her fault.
If only she would have pressured him more to get out of town, to leave Washington before Hunter had the chance to find them. If only she would have fought harder to save him.
The pain was unbearable. Katheryn clutched at her naked chest, whether it was to feel if her heart still beat or to feel if it didn’t, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was she felt as though a part of her was missing. It felt as though she had a giant hole in her heart.
“I’m so sorry, Ignacio!” she cried into her knees.
She knew apologies were pointless. Ignacio couldn’t hear her pleas or see her remorse. Ignacio was dead. The reality of her lost Soul Mate sank deep into her brain, into her heart. She couldn’t imagine a world without him. Hell, she had just begun to imagine a worldwithhim, with them together, and now, he was gone.
And what would his poor mother do? Would she even find out her son was dead?
Oh, God. What had they done with his body? Had they wrapped him up in a tarp and thrown him where he wouldn’t be found? Or had they burned his body? The thought made her head spin, and she sobbed harder.
Ignacio, with his perfectly chiseled body and skin the color of light brown sugar. She remembered his honey golden eyes, his strong build, and those long delicate fingers. She saw his smile, his pointed incisors, the red flare when his eyes filled with desire. But more than that, she heard his laugh, heard the melodies he played on the piano for her, the music drifted through her mind like an old, familiar song.
Katheryn lay against the pillows, wracked with sobs, letting the pain flow. Image of her Soul Mate filled her mind as she drifted, once again, into unconsciousness.
* * *
Katheryn wentto closet to find something to wear as she refused to walk around the unknown apartment naked. Hunter had stocked it with plenty of fancy dresses and silky pajamas for her to wear. Not too practical, she thought, but they were the sort of clothes he’d prefer her to wear, leaving her nipples half exposed beneath the flimsy fabric. Luckily, several pairs of expensive-looking fashion jeans and an assortment of designer T-shirts were tucked in the dresser drawers, along with some lacy undergarments.
After pulling on jeans and a shirt, she slid her feet into a pair of white flats, she decided to take a look around the place. It wouldn’t help her to just sit around and cry all day, though it was what she really wanted to do. What she needed was to get off her ass and find a way out. If she was lucky, she’d be able to trick the new bodyguards—although she assumed Hunter had warned the new ones about her. Still, she could look around and plan, despite her pain.
This bedroom had its own bathroom as well as the walk-in closet she’d already explored. The closet hadn’t yielded anything useful. Not even a pair of stiletto heels to use as a weapon, just flats and low pumps in an assortment of colors. None of the clothes had pins or other fashion attachment that she could have used either.
A quick search of the bathroom told her Hunter had Katheryn-proofed it, too. No scissors, no files and definitely no pills. The counter held a hairbrush, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, a sponge and that was about it.
Disgusted, she left the room and made her way to the living room, which was decorated with tasteful Moroccan furnishings. A Persian rug covered the floor. A beautifully carved coffee table held a graceful beaded lamp and remotes for the flat screen TV and VCR. She crossed to room to a small kitchen that had been stripped bare. No dishes, glassware or silverware. There wasn’t even any food in the cupboards or fridge.
Finally, Katheryn went to the front door and tested the doorknob, only to find it locked. She took a hasty step back from it when she heard the lock click. The door opened, revealing one of the bodyguards, Who eyed Katheryn.
“Is there something you needed?” he asked with brusque politeness.
Yes, to get away.Instead of saying that, she made up an excuse. “Yeah. I’m hungry.”
She crossed her arms, almost daring him to question her words. Her eyes darted behind him, checking to see if anyone else was in the hallway with him. If not, perhaps she could push past him and make her escape.
Seeming to recognize the purpose of her gaze, he chuckled and moved aside his suit jacket to reveal the gun holstered underneath.
“Don’t even try it,” he warned. “We were given specific orders to shoot you in the leg if you attempted an escape.”
Katheryn snorted. “Good to know.”
“So what would you like to eat?” he asked.
“Surprise me,” she said then stepped forward and slammed the door. The click of the lock told her he’d locked her in again. Heaving a sigh, Katheryn wandered back through the rooms, hoping she’d overlooked something on her first walk through. Maybe, there was a window she could climb through if she made a long rope from her bedsheets or clothes. Feeling determined, she went to search.
The house was absolutely escape proof.
They’d left no way for her to get out, she discovered. She didn’t want to spend the rest of the day huddled miserably in bed, thinking what life would be like without Ignacio. Not that it mattered, anyway.
Whatever happened from here on would be her karma. If Hunter raped her, beat her, or did whatever he wanted with her, she’d deal with it. She deserved whatever he dished out, because she’d killed Ignacio. She hadn’t pulled the trigger, but he was dead because of her ex. She’d brought the ugly into his life.
Trying not to cry, Katheryn plopped onto the couch and reached for the TV remote. While she awaited her fate, she’d watch some television. It would distract her from thinking about Ignacio—at least, she hoped it would.
