Page 18 of Kiss of Ruin (Brutal Empire)

“Are you hungry?”

“Not yet,” I respond. “Miguel made a great suggestion to order food and have it delivered to the beach.”

“That’s one of my favorite things about that beach, especially when you don’t want to leave. Well, Camila is making something that smells absolutely delicious for dinner.” Her eyes close as she describes how wonderful Camila’s cooking smells.

“Glad I didn’t eat too much at lunch then.” I take a couple of steps toward the hall. “I’m going to get cleaned up before dinner.”

“Take your time. She said it would be a bit before it’s ready. Which is good, since Pedro had to handle something for the business.”

I nod. This is the life I’m used to even if I’ve been living in a version of paradise since regaining the ability to be on my own two feet.

When I enter my room, I lean back against the door. I never imagined this place could feel like home. As I look around the space and see my jewelry on the dresser and my make up in the bathroom, I can see myself living there. Being a part of the Acosta household.

The room is bright and welcoming. A complete contrast to the guest room I lived in in New York. It wasn’t small or decorated and designed as if no one cared who would stay in there, but everything was dark. Dark woods, beige walls. The house in New York has about 1 window per room. Some rooms don’t have a single window. Not here. There seems to be more windows than walls.

Now, with the motorized chair gone, the room seems bigger and brighter than it had before. The chair reminded me of why I’m here. Without it, I can imagine myself on vacation. Enjoying the sights and sounds of the beach. Even with the voice in the back of my head reminding me that Elena needs to be dealt with sooner, rather than later.

I set my bag down next to the table and head for the bathroom. The beach is beautiful, I just don’t want it on me anymore. The water starts to heat immediately after I turn it on. I peel out of my bathing suit and cover up, dropping them into the hamper. As I turn to the closet to get a towel, I catch a quick glimpse of the scar on my back. Another reminder of how I came to Miami in the first place. Another reminder of what I need to do.

Steam fills the room and I climb into the shower. There’s still time before dinner. Enough that I can get some more research done on Elena. The next time I face her, I will be completely prepared. I learned my lesson. The last two months was hard. I’m never going in blind again.

I rinse all the salt and sand from my skin, suds swirling around the drain. I glance at my skin and am thankful that I remembered the sunscreen. My poor Irish skin would be fried by the sun here. When I finish, I step out of the shower and pick up the towel I’d set on the counter. After drying my body, I pull on my robe and use the towel to dry my long, red tresses.

It’s still falling over my shoulder, slightly wet when I walk back into the main room and grab my laptop. I take up my favorite seat next to the windows and prop my feet up onto the ottoman, resting my computer in my lap.

I open it up and it immediately powers up to the last sites I had open digging into Elena. If there’s anything I learned over the years, it’s to follow the money. And money is what I specialize in.

I dig through account after account, most I shouldn’t have access to. It seems that the DeLuca’s arrogance about our computer people will be their downfall. I’m easily able to get information on her many real estate holdings, as well as other financial information. All this will help me take her down.

I’m not sure exactly how to do it. How to get her alone. But maybe that’s the key. Stop trying to find a way to get her alone because she never will be.

My thoughts are interrupted by the vibrating of my phone. I glance down at it and see a text message from Sofia asking if I’m coming to dinner. I look at the time and I’m shocked so much time has passed. I’d been so invested in the information I’d found I hadn’t realized how long I’d been at it.

I close the lid on my laptop, thoughts swirling in my head. There will be more time for that later. I jump up and go right to the closet. Now, that I’m on my own two feet, I prefer my normal dresses for dinners instead of whatever I could physically get on when I couldn’t stand.

A thigh length green dress catches my eye. It’s sleeveless and light, which is perfect for the Miami heat. The V-neck isn’t too revealing for Isabel and Pedro. I tug the dress on before heading to the bathroom to do my hair and makeup.

Dressed and ready, I head down to dinner feeling more like myself than I have in months.

ChapterNine

Scarlett

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” I apologize the minute I walk into the dining room.

Pedro smiles up at me. “Not late at all.” He stands up and pulls out my chair for me. I take a seat and put the napkin in my lap.

“Thank you.” Nico’s parents truly are wonderful. They hospitality they’ve shown to us is more than I expected,

Every few days I’ve opened my eyes to see flowers on my nightstand.

Sunflowers.

My mom loved sunflowers.

They would grow wild in the fields by our house and she’d always pick them in season, putting a fresh vase on the kitchen table.

The smell and bright yellow petals always brought me back to a simpler time.

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