“I’ll call youBrujaall I want because you are a little witch. My little bruja.” His voice is rough as he slides his hand down to my throat. “I didn’t choose for this to happen to you, but I can’t say I regret it happening.”
I shove at him but he’s like a brick wall, pressing his body flush to mine. “Get off me.Now, Alvaro.”
He chuckles, his green eyes darkening. “Es así?”
I swallow, not liking the sudden cold look in his eyes. Still, I hold my ground. “Yes, it’s like that.”
He moves away from me, taking all his warmth with him. A stone sets in my stomach as he adjusts his suit. The look he first gave to me in the restaurant is back in full force, only now it’s more menacing than exciting.
“Whether you like it or not, you’re stuck here. I can make it easier for you, but until you realize that I am not your enemy, I’m going to make it unbearable.”
“What does that mean, huh?” I ask as my back goes ramrod straight.
“It means,Bruja, that I won’tforceyou to want me—you’ll come to me of your own choosing, and you will beg me.”
“You fucking wish.”
He smirks as he turns and shoves the curtain out of the way, whistling to one of the guards who rushes over. He speaks in rapid Spanish, his words coming out hard and cold as he tells him to have all my purchases shipped to the mansion. I follow him out, keeping a safe distance between us until he stops and cocks a brow at me.
“Walk beside me,Bruja. There’s a lot of people around here.”
I keep my face neutral but do as he tells me, keeping three feet between us as he leads us toward another store. I’m about to tell him that I just want to leave already, but when I see the store he’s taking me to, I slam my mouth shut.
We walk into the electronic store where he approaches the clerk who seems to know him. He pulls the man to the side while I stand back and watch him speak. I can’t hear what he’s saying, but he gestures with his hands a lot. The guy nods, saying something back before shaking Alvaro’s hand.
We leave as quickly as we entered, but I stop him outside, placing a tentative hand on his arm.
“I miss my brother.” I swallow past the lump in my throat and will the burning in my eyes ease up. “Is it possible that I can have a phone? I left mine at home the night we went riding together so my father couldn’t track us, but I really wish I hadn’t.” I scrub at my eyes before clearing my throat. “I would greatly appreciate a moment to hear Vicente’s voice. Please, Alvaro.”
He looks over my head at the guards coming closer to us before bringing his eyes back to mine.
“Okay, but in the car.” Then he puts his hand on the small of my back and guides me toward the exit. Joy floods my veins as I quicken my pace; I’m going to hear my brother’s voice and let him know I’m okay. I wish I could tell him everything, but I doubt I’ll be able to. I wonder what my father said to explain my kidnapping.
A few seconds after the valet runs off, I hear the beautiful roar of Alvaro’s R8 as it’s started somewhere in the multi-level parking garage, but the sound suddenly drowns out when three jaw-dropping motorcycles slowly drive past us.
The one in the lead is riding a matte black Suzuki Hayabusa. He wears a helmet so I can't see his face, but I watch in odd fascination as he lifts a hand and points a finger gun at us. Alvaro pulls me behind him roughly, his hand going straight to his gun. The riders rev their engines before taking off, leaving tire marks on the ground as they peel off.
As soon as the Audi pulls up, Alvaro quickly opens the door for me and practically shoves me in before slamming the door shut and rushing around to the front, his phone to his ear.
Fuck, he moves fast.
“What’s happening?” I ask him when he finishes barking orders at our guards.
“That was someone who is not allowed in our territory. We need to get out of the area fast.”
He drops the phone in the compartment between us and guns the motor, the force of the horsepower pushing me into my seat. The speed rushes through me, dopamine flooding my system, and I feel a sigh escape me. I don’t know who those guys were and I don't care. All I feel is the delicious adrenaline pumping through me.
“How fast have you taken her?” I ask a focused Alvaro.
He smiles as he glances at me. “It's brand new, so we’re about to find out how hard we canrideher.”
I grin with him, doing my best to ignore the innuendo of his words and focus back on the road. He weaves in and out of traffic, his wide smile never leaving, especially when I scream in delight as we hit turns at dangerous speeds. When we reach a long stretch of road, the beach to our left, I lean over him to see the speedometer.
“Ninety-seven?” I scoff, giving him a wink when he glances down at me. “ElGallocan’t do better than that?”
I call him a nickname that means a man who isn’t afraid of anything, who will fight anyone without giving two fucks about the odds.
“El Gallo, huh?” He chuckles and looks in his rearview mirror, seeing the guards quite a ways back but still with us. “Let’s see how fast we can lose them.”