I didn’t want to touch him. I was still sick to my stomach, had been sick since Damien had told me what he did. I despised myself for being so stupid, and my usual self-confidence had vanished into a well. I’d lost a piece of myself—a piece he took. I used to think I was a smart, independent woman. Now I knew the truth—I was just a stupid girl.
His hands moved to my elbows and gently tugged them down, nudging me to open up.
I sighed and dropped my arms, wanting to swat him away.
His large arm circled the small of my back, and he gently pulled me in, directed me against his hard chest.
I felt my tits press against him the way they used to.
His other arm wrapped around me, acting like the thick bar of a cage. Both arms held me tightly as he rested his chin on the top of my head. Once we were still, he released a deep breath, his chest pressing into mine as his lungs pulled in oxygen.
I was still, my hands at my sides.
“Catalina.” His deep voice commanded me, gave a wordless instruction.
I obeyed. My arms moved around his waist.
Then he squeezed me harder and held me still, his breathing so gentle, like he was about to fall asleep. He didn’t move, didn’t seem to care about the men who were about to take him away, as if having this quiet moment seemed to be worth whatever came next.
My face was against the top of his chest, smelling the scent that took weeks to get out of my apartment. The sheets were washed twice, the counters disinfected with bleach, his extra closed tossed down the trash chute. I’d sterilized the place so it was like he’d never been there. The flowers he left on the doorstep were shoved down the garbage disposal because I was so angry he’d ruined something so beautiful, something my father and I shared. Now I never wanted to look at a sunflower again.
When the minute passed, he whispered to me, “I love you.” He released me, dropped his embrace like he’d been counting down the seconds in his head. Then he turned to my brother and the men waiting to take him away, somber in his expression. He held himself with a strong posture, but he was also docile at the same time, his arms by his sides.
Damien studied him for a few seconds, as if he expected a fight. He pulled out his gun and aimed it at him.
Heath didn’t flinch, stared down the barrel of the gun as if it didn’t affect him at all.
Damien nodded to the door. “After you.”
Heath turned around and walked out the door. He didn’t turn around to look at me once more. With his head bowed, he walked down the hallway, his arms swaying by his sides.
I crossed my arms over my chest and watched him go.
Damien moved out with his two men, his gun still raised. He didn’t say goodbye before he shut the door behind himself.
And then it was over.
I’d interfered with destiny when I should have kept my mouth shut. Now everything was turning out the way it was supposed to, the way it should have months ago. My heart would have been spared, so would all the humiliation.
But now it had happened…and that was all that mattered.
Fifteen
Heath
I left my ring at the house, along with a note for Balto.
Give this to the right man.
P.S. You’re still an asshole.
-Heath
He and I weren’t ones for exchanging lots of words, for explaining our feelings down to the bone. He would read between the lines and know what I’d done, and by the time he read the note, I’d already be dead.
And he wouldn’t retaliate…because he would understand that Catalina was still important to me.
And by extension, her brother.
I promised her I would never hurt him, and I would keep that promise.
I stepped through the double door entryway and entered his luxury home, seeing the older lady who halted when she saw me standing there, her eyes wide.
She looked terrified.
I winked. “Name’s Heath.”
Damien pushed me forward, shoving his palm right between my shoulder blades. “Move.”
I stumbled forward, my hands tied behind my back. “Where? This place is three floors.”
He stuffed his gun into the back of his jeans and grabbed me by the arm so he could escort me forward.
I didn’t say it, but I could get out of this if I wanted to. His men didn’t tie the rope tight enough. I could slip out of the restraints and bash his head into the wall.
But I didn’t.
For once in my life…I gave up.
He took me down the hallway until we reached a large wooden door. He opened it, revealing stairs that traveled deep underground. The lights were on, so I watched my step as I moved farther underground. When I reached the bottom, I took in the sight of the large basement, which was made of concrete and had stored belongings piled in the corner. There was a large cage against the opposite wall.
I turned to him, a grin on my face. “This is starting to look like a porno, Damien.”
He punched me in the face.
I staggered back, keeping my balance despite my wrists being restrained.
He opened the door and stared at me.
Now I understood he would torture me until he got tired of me. Only then would he kill me. It was disappointing because I’d hoped to have a clean death. But I still lived on the wild side, remained sarcastic, because I had nothing left to lose anymore. “It’s definitely not the Marriott…”
“You put my sister in a cage.” He shoved me inside and shut the door. “So, I’m
