Page 43 of Scarred Souls

God, how long had it been since I’d told this story? I thought time might’ve made it easier, but it hadn’t. I still blamed myself for Natalie’s death. If I hadn’t tried to trade myself for her, she might still be alive.

“I’m okay. Daphne and I don’t talk about it much anymore, and you’re the only other person I’ve told.” After drawing in a deep lungful of air, I continued. “I could see it in Alvarez’s eyes that I was next. He was in a rage and didn’t care about the consequences of infuriating my father. He only wanted revenge. So I decided to fight for my life. Before Alvarez could turn the pistol on me, I charged him. It startled him, and the shot went wide. We struggled.” I dipped lower in the water as I hesitated over how much detail to give Vaughn, but I wouldn’t chicken out now. Alvarez was dead, and I’d survived. He didn’t get to intimidate me from the grave. “Alvarez overpowered me, dragged me to the hot grill, and pressed my face against it.”

Vaughn tensed, and a look of sheer malice crossed his features. “He did what?”

Why did this anger him so much? He hardly knew me. Heck, a short while ago, he’d considered me as monstrous as Carlos and Jorge.

I pointed to the scars on my face. “This wasn’t caused by a bad case of sunburn, Grim.”

“I know that. It’s just…what he did was barbaric.”

“What can I say? Alvarez is a real charmer. If it makes you feel any better, I stabbed him in the thigh with a big-ass barbecue fork to get free.” Judging by the tightness of Vaughn’s jaw, that detail hadn’t remotely improved his mood. Well, thinking about that fork sinking into Alvarez’s flesh made me feel better. “After that, I made it to the side of the yacht, and right before I launched myself over, some bastard shot me in the back.” I pointed to the spot just above my hip bone where my swimsuit covered yet another ugly scar. Despite the bullet missing all major organs, there were still fragments of it inside me.

“Jesus.” Vaughn scrubbed a hand over his face.

I swirled my arms through the water, letting its buoyancy center me. “Anyway, I guess they thought they’d done enough to kill me, especially since I was miles from shore. I only remember bits and pieces from when I landed in the water until I woke up days later in Daphne’s house. But she told me that Bruno, a local fisherman, heard gunshots and saw me go overboard. When the yacht kept sailing, he pulled me onto his boat and brought me straight to Dee.”

“Are you sure Bruno can keep a secret?”

“I mean, he died just over a year ago, so I don’t think we need to worry anymore. And if he’d told anyone before his death, it would’ve spread through the village like wildfire. Besides, he never knew the truth about who I was. He probably figured I was a prostitute or a party girl since I was on that yacht.”

Vaughn’s eyes narrowed. “And the doc didn’t take you to the hospital?”

I shook my head. “Dee’s not stupid. Someone had tried to murder me, so she knew that if I wound up in the hospital, there was a chance they’d find me and finish what they’d started. Plus, the nearest ER is so far away she didn’t think I’d survive the journey. Once I’d stabilized, there was no reason to move me.”

“She saved your life and protected you,” Vaughn said.

“And she’s been there for me every day since. Now do you understand why I won’t abandon her?”

He nodded.

“When I regained consciousness, Dee reassured me I could live with her for as long as I wanted. At first, I declined. There was no way I wanted to put anyone in danger for harboring me. But I was too injured to leave right away, and over time, she convinced me to reconsider. And when I found out how badly her MS flare-ups affected her, I really wanted to stay and help. It was then I told her who I really was. I figured she’d send me on my way, but learning I was Carlos Espinoza’s daughter didn’t change her mind. I realized I’d been handed a gift. The opportunity to start a new life and sever ties with my father and the cartel.”

A lump formed in my throat, and a swell of emotion threatened to overwhelm me. I had so much love for that woman. I hardly remembered my mother, but Daphne had more than filled that void. She’d saved me both physically and mentally. I owed her everything, but she never expected a thing in return for her generosity.

Pain gripped my calf when the muscle tensed sharply. “Ow, ow, ow!” I clutched my leg.

Every time I kicked, the cramp intensified. Dammit, it felt like the muscle was trying to tear itself from the bone. I’d never had a cramp this bad before.

I went under and came up gasping for air. My arms flailed. I tried to keep my head above water, but it was no use. The next time I plunged below the surface, I swallowed a mouthful of brine. My throat burned as I coughed it back up.

Then a strong arm curled around my waist and held me afloat.

“What’s wrong?” Vaughn asked with alarm in his tone.

“Cramp.” I winced and coughed some more. “My calf.”

“I’ve got you.” His voice at my ear was steady and reassuring. With my back pressed against his hard chest, Vaughn towed me to shallower water. “Grab your toes and stretch out the muscle.”

I tried, but the cramp persisted. Before I could relay that information, Vaughn’s large hand began massaging my calf in slow but firm movements.

“That hurts.” I sucked in a sharp breath and leaned the back of my head against his shoulder.

“I know, but it’ll help. This should be nothing for a tough woman like you.”

His teasing might’ve bothered me if I weren’t in agony. Instead, I breathed through the pain, soaking up the warmth of Vaughn’s body and the security of his hold. As his callused hand kneaded my calf, the muscle eased. I really should tell him that the cramp was under control, but what was the harm in staying like this a little longer?

“How does that feel?” he asked. His thick band of an arm gave my waist a gentle squeeze.

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