Page 101 of Heart of a Villain

“Lorenzo,” she said.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “What did Lorenzo do?”

“Adrían…”

“Sayeda,” this time, she heard when he swallowed, “just tell me. What did Lorenzo do?”

She grabbed the bathroom handle, her chin firm despite her insides turning to jelly.

“He raped me.”

Overcome with shame, she stepped inside the bathroom, shut the door, locked it, and leaned against the cold surface. Adrían wouldn’t understand that making love to him wasn’t triggering for her, but if she’d told him before, he would have denied her the pleasure. The unhealed thing inside her wasn’t what was causing the block, causing the strain on her ability to feel confident in herself and her abilities. It was that, no matter how hard she tried or how much she wanted to, she couldn’t move on knowing Lorenzo was alive and free somewhere.

After making love to Adrían, Lorenzo remained free. After falling asleep in Adrían’s arms, Lorenzo remained free. After meeting her sister and her family, Lorenzo remained free and alive.

It wasn’t fair.

He’d killed something inside her.

The only solution she could see was for him to be killed in return.

“Sayeda,” Adrían softly called from the other side of the door. “I’m not here to tell you I’m sorry because I know that won’t do anything for you. Well…scratch that. I am sorry. I’m sorry because I know how much you want to kill him. I know how much you want to be the one, but baby, I can’t give that to you. I can’t grant you this. I’m going to end that motherfucker’s life.”

She sucked in a breath and released it long and slow.

“Querida?”

“Can I at least watch?” she asked.

“Of course.”

“So I can watch, but you don’t want me to kill?”

“Yes. Give me your pain. I will bear it for you. I will feel your fears. I will shoulder your anger, and I will withstand your rage. Sayeda, give me your demons. I will keep them for you. From now until forever, I will keep them for you.”

She didn’t know what to say in response.

Even if she’d had a response ready, her throat was so thick with tears, she wouldn’t have been able to say anything anyhow. So, she leaned up off the door, grabbed a washcloth, and cleaned up as best as she could. Once she was done, she opened the door, and Adrían was standing in front of it with fresh clothes.

“Dress,” he said.

She obeyed.

Afterward, he took her hand and walked her to the suite’s living area, where Ayesha sat on the sofa. They hadn’t had much time to talk since the revelation on account of the siege. Yet, she wasn’t surprised to see her.

“I’m sorry I came by so late,” Ayesha said. “I don’t know…I just felt like you needed me.”

She slinked onto the sofa and set her head in Ayesha’s lap. Adrían draped them both with a blanket before leaving the suite.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SIX

Sayeda flipped onto her back.

Ayesha looked straight ahead at the closed balcony doors, where the curtains were wide open. Only the moon, stars, and the lighted structure on the other side of the bay were visible from where they were seated.

“Eesh? I need help.”

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