Page 28 of Fall
“That’s not an answer,” I challenge, folding my arms.
Dante jerks forward and stops short of touching me. He studies my cheek, reminding me of the healing cut I’d all but forgotten about. “I’ve made up my mind. The Oasis is for business only. It’s not safe for you.” His teeth grind together. “You got off lightly with just a scratch on your face.” His posture lengthens a fraction, giving him splendid regency. “Enough of the analyzing, Iris. I’ll arrange your departure for the next sunrise.”
“Analyzing?” I raise my tone. “That’s what I do,” I scorn, grabbing his arm when he turns away. “I look at the facts, document growth and record my findings. And guess what?” A strangled laugh bubbles in my windpipe. “I’ve come to the conclusion that you're pushing me away to stop yourself from facing up to the facts. To therealtruth. Or are you trying to be a cruel bastard, is that it? Perhaps you're corroded inside and too weak to fix it.”
Dante freezes. His mouth forms a firm line while his chest expands. Slowly stripping his hands free of concealment, he angles towards me and raises a forefinger in front of my face, noticeably vibrating. “Don’t you dare imply that I’m weak.” He swallows hard. “You have no idea how cruel I can really be.” A tight breath shudders from his lungs. Violence and power wrestle for supremacy as he struggles to balance the two. “He shot my sister dead with a single bullet meant for me. They shoved the gun into my hand, imprinting my fingerprints and capturing false evidence to incriminate me. And guess what I did?” He hisses, leaning in, almost tasting the saltiness from his skin. “I held my hands over the flames that burned our home to the foundation. I melted off my fingerprints to ensure I’d never be accused of killing her.” The deep-rooted pain in his eyes slices up my heart, and when he pounds his chest with a fist, my legs go fuzzy with sorrow. “And the irony of it all is that my actions killed her. I took too many risks. Put her in danger. Shook hands with the bad guys. She was the only person in the world that mattered to me. I didn’t give a fuck about the fancy new house I bought for us or the stacks of cash I earned. I made the biggest mistake of all by letting a deceitful, lying snake into her life, even when my gut told me he couldn’t be trusted. My love for her blinded my decisions because I would’ve done anything to make my sister happy. She was the only family I had. We had each other.” He swallows a snarl and snatches my throat. “I will not make another wrong decision. You’re leaving, and I’m cruel enough, powerful enough and relieved that I’m sending you away.”
My eyes gloss with tears. I refuse to let them fall when I witness the metamorphosis. When Dante slips from his pedestal and el Fantasma takes his place. I latch onto his wrist and yank his hand while straining my neck. My throat bobs against his palm, reminding me that one rash move and he could steal my last breath. A smoke screen of distance comes between us as he relives the past and suffocates under years of festering aggression.
Fingertips bite with residual burning fire. “I’m not scared of you, el Fantasma,” I choke out.
Those ruthless disfigured fingers snap apart, and he shakes out his hands like the touch scalded him deeper than flames from his memories. I scurry back, giving me a foot of safety, then stand upright and tighten the towel around my chest.
Anger hazed eyes narrow, and he pockets his hands. “Don’t call me that ever again,” he warns. “Do you understand me?”
I tip forward, conscious that it's only muggy air and emotions separating his volatile mood from my brazen streak. “That’s who you really are. Isn’t it? The side of you that thrives on punishment,” I hiss, rubbing my neck, certain it’s bruised. “You want to hurt me because you think I can’t be trusted. That I’ll hurt you too.”
He laughs, but it’s not out of amusement. “You think I’m worried aboutyouhurtingme?” His tone darkens to a spine-tingling growl.
“Why else would you demand control and obedience?” I can’t help myself from glaring at his rigid physique, spending too many seconds staring at his washboard stomach that ripples as the muscles move with hostility.
“You’re going home because I don’t want to babysit you anymore.” He’s wound up like a coiled spring ready to lunge at me from across the room. “You’ve outstayed your welcome.”
“Now you’re the liar!” My teeth jar with the force of my gritted outburst.
He flinches. “I don’t want this… inconvenience.” The words beat out a slow rhythm. “You’re delusional if you ever thought things between us would end well.”
“Oh really?” I goad. “I’m not blind. It’s clear we’ve planted a toxic seed together, and it’s growing into an intimidating species. A unique flower that’s poisoning the both of us and making us so sick that even thousands of miles apart won't cure it.”
Furious hands fly to the crown of his head like he’s searching for his barbed crown to fix it back in place. “Get dressed, Iris. I’m not the guy you’re looking for.” His growl is too real to ignore.
I don’t believe he’d ever truly hurt me. We’ve had moments of intensity and threats of a deadly war, but never the true sense of abuse. My legs feel shaky when I dare to close in on him and face whatever side of his personality that wins his attention. “You live in a world protected by electric currents with miles of boundaries and lookout towers.” I look up at him, watching my defiant whisper make him falter. “You rule the Oasis, Dante. I’m safe here, with you. I was only asking for more time to finish what I started.”
His eyes lock with mine, turning ebony with endless fury, and he dips into my face. With his mouth to my ear, he speaks calmly, “He’s coming here. The man who lied to Gabriela and killed her is coming to the Oasis. You will not be here when he arrives, beija flor.” His thick tone breaks. “Do you get it? Do you understand why you are leaving now? No more bullshit. You. Aren’t. Welcome. Here.”
I swallow the hard lump in my throat, recalling the conversation I overheard in the medical facility. Dante agreed with Jackson, the onsite surgeon, that he would bring a male to the Oasis for questioning. A man who could give him answers and would never leave this rainforest alive. Which means he will eliminate the threat eventually. Then what will he do?
“And you’ll kill him, won’t you?” I point out, angling my cheek closer to his scruff. “You’ll get revenge for what he did so you can move on.”
Dante widens his stance and pulls away. He rolls his shoulders and twists his neck to ease the tension. Exhaling through his nose, he looks directly at me with a caustic grimace. “After I get the answers I need, I’ll blow his brains out and personally toss his carcass to the wild animals. I’ll reap the justice he deserves. His time here is terminal. It won’t be quick and easy. I’ll make the fucker suffer for what he did to her––to me. And that is the only promise I will ever make you. That, and sending you home. So please, put on some clothes.” He backs up, expression serious, eyes emotionless.
“Dante…” I whimper, oddly sounding like I could cry. And I could, but I won’t.
“Would you prefer to be locked in your old cabin for the remainder of your stay? If not, then I suggest you cover up immediately and accept my decision as final.”
My hands tremble at his smooth transition to hard-hearted. “I understand.”
“I don’t think you do,” he suddenly snaps. “No one understands.”
“I get it. You have to finish it once and for all, whatever the cost.” I reach for the black shorts on the bed. “I’ll be ready in a minute.”
My heart compresses, making the blood slow to enter and leave it. The switch from brutal to caring is quickly eroding. His urge to kill and maim will ooze from his stony heart as time dwindles. Any loose threads of decency will eventually break under the grip of evil.
I tasted something I’ve never had before. Profound intimacy in a real life love affair. And now it's time to leave his torment behind.
Silently, I welcome the sentence he’s imposed. To return to my old life as a completely different person. As a woman who gave her heart and soul to the beautiful devil.
I rotate away and pull on the T-shirt. As I button up the shorts, I glance back to find an empty space where he once stood. The magnitude of his absence rushes through my body, feeding the sadness with a fatal injection of acceptance. It’s over.
