Page 6 of Fall
I actually have feelings for her, and she betrayed me. She spun a web, drew me in, and then tore me apart. And what kills me the most—I wanted to believe this woman was different. Perhaps I hoped she was a unique breed, unlike any other. Within the remoteness of my mind, I manufactured an idea of what she could mean to me. She’s enchanting like an uncommon flower in a ruthless terrain. Salty teardrops drowned her beautiful brown eyes when she stared up at me with defiance and panic. It was a singular fear for her life, not of her underhanded actions. Not for what she chose to do to me.
But that motherfucking kiss. What the hell was I thinking? Her mouth felt like home. The taste of ownership weaved a symphony within my soul, and then I did what I had to do.
I locked down my defenses, retreated behind frustration and barricaded my desires.
What’s done can’t be undone.
She proved herself to be an untrustworthy traitor willing to stab me in the back. Yet, I still lost my head in the cabin when I saw that scumbag mauling my hummingbird––my beautiful liar.
The woman who traded trust for a letter.
I would shoot any fucker dead if they tried to hurt my beija flor.
Hypocritical bastard.
Memories of our last moments play out without warning. Sparkly droplets of regret coated her lashes like priceless jewels. Berry bruised lips glistened with taunting aphrodisia. But it was our unspoken, bittersweet goodbye that stole my breath. Those terrified tears of hers ignited the fuse to my thumping heart. Her hopeful plea doused the sparks with gasoline. And finally, her quivering lip engulfed my heart in flames—all because I didn’t know how to let her go. I couldn’t understand why the decision to do that very deed was ripping me apart organ by organ.
I’m not in love.
I’m simply an unfortunate soul jinxed by an urge and cursed with an obsession. Getting rid of her was the right choice,now that I know she was a stunning distraction waiting to ruin me.
Sweat glides between my shoulder blades. It takes a blurry second to control my breathing in the torrent of heat. I barely inhale and struggle to exhale. Deep in thought, my knuckles crack as I ball my hands. A sickly wave of acid forces me to cough when it pushes up from my gut to my throat. Beneath my tattered composure, the niggle of grief threatens to drive me mad. My conscience is flogged with painful flashes of the past few hours. I’ve no regrets for the man’s life I rightfully terminated. But Iris––that act has me one step closer to neurosis. Glaring into the hostile rainforest, knowing she’ll never be by my side again, makes my blood hiss. Her obvious absence burns with an intensity far more excruciating than the flames that melted my skin.
I’m trapped within memories. Reliving seconds I’d rather erase from my brain. Gabriela’s murder. And now beija flor’s deceit only a few hours ago. The impact of her betrayal knocks me off course and headfirst into a crash of anger. Seething blood chills to subzero on its quest to make me see reason. I dared think a man like me could have purity in his life.
“Where is she?” Sal marches towards me, eyes darting. “What did that guy do to her? Is she okay?”
My insides recoil at the worry he projects. “Luiz,” I bark out, staring through Sal. “Remove the guest from cabin thirteen.” I smooth the cap on top of my head, with no other reason than focusing on something that isn’t pure rage. “Salvador. Organize a team to clean the cabin.”
He frowns. “Sir?”
“What the fuck was she doing in a guest’s cabin during the day?”
Sal flinches, sensing something is terribly wrong. “I gave her the order. The guy wanted morphine. It was a drop off.” He scrubs his jaw. “She was going that way. I thought he’d be out of it from the earlier dose.”
“Didn’t I make myself crystal clear? I told you she wasn’t allowed near any of those fuckers,” I snarl into his face.
I’m losing my shit. Beija flor rolled the dice and lost. She chose her own fate with this unfortunate outcome. Her deception slashed the connection I thought was real.
Night after night, I studied her like a pathetic mortal who reveres a goddess. Desire infiltrated the armor I’d forged from misery. The toxic obsession penetrated my bulletproof shield, worn to block out traitors. And what’s worse, I peeled off my disguise and gave her permission to meet the man I used to be.
Dante Valez resurfaced from the ashes of war-torn grief. Weakness bled into my bones, and Iris became the one true thing that scares me the most––important. The treacherous woman meant something to me. It didn’t matter how hard I fought against it. I wanted more, even if she didn’t realize it.
This is all my fault.
I trapped her.
I fell for her.
I ripped open my privacy.
I banished her to the wild.
The hat on my head feels tighter, making my scalp itch with heat. I refuse to remove it and expose myself. Blowing out a harsh breath, I clench my fist rather than smack Sal in the teeth. “She asked him to send a letter outside of the Oasis.”
Sal sucks in a ragged breath. “What did you do to her?” The heartbeat pounding against my ribcage changes velocity. “Sir.” Sal dares to come closer, vibrating with his own temper. “Where is she?”
“Out there.” The tone of my voice slips to black behind the consequences of betrayal. My blood crystallizes and freezes my veins. A chill rattles my skeleton when I own up to the hard-hearted deed.
