Page 35 of Seeds of Sorrow

Hadina pressed a soft kiss to the top of Peyton’s head. “Get some sleep,tentadora.”

Peyton yawned, snuggling further into Hadina’s warm body. She could feel sleep starting to pull her under again. “Don’t leave,” she whispered.

Hadina rubbed soft circles along the small of her back. “I’m not going anywhere, Peyton.”

Peyton knew that was a lie. Maybe not now, but Hadina would leave at some point and Peyton would be left heartbroken, alone, and angry at herself for ever falling for her in the first place.

She pressed her eyes shut tighter to stop her tears from falling at the thought. She didn’t know how or when she had stopped fearing for herself around Hadina, instead fearing a world without this woman in it.

As her breathing slowed and sleep called to her, she heard Hadina speak to her softly. “Are you asleep yet?”

Peyton wasn’t sure what it was about Hadina’s tone—perhaps the unusual tenderness and slight apprehension behind her question—but Peyton felt the need to stay deathly quiet.

A moment passed before Hadina sighed. “I shouldn’t have come here tonight. Or to the gallery, actually.” She shifted under Peyton, adjusting herself so she was staring at the ceiling with Peyton in her arms.

“I was supposed to be working. But then Kaira had to go and tell me how fucking incredible you looked in your dress… My jealousy got the better of me.”

“You know, I saw you with Zellie and all I wanted to do was put a bullet in my own sister for even glancing in your direction, never mind threatening you. You looked so beautiful and a cruel part of me thought the fear on your face made you even more stunning. I came to the gallery to see you, protect you, but I couldn’t help myself from wanting to taste you.”

Peyton breathed steadily, but her heart beat ferociously in her chest. She didn’t know if she could handle Hadina like this—gentle and honest. It was breaking her damn heart.

“I know I’m not a good person. And that means I don’t get to have a good person like you. But,dios mío, you have me all twisted up inside and I wish I was a good person so that I could keep you.”

Hadina let out a shuddering breath, and Peyton suddenly wished that she wasn’t pretending to be asleep so that she could console her. She tightened her arms around her, hoping that it would provide Hadina with a modicum of comfort. Continuing to draw circles on her back, Hadina’s touch was delicate as she occasionally let her fingertips drift across other parts of her skin. Peyton had to resist the urge to shiver under the soft caresses.

“Slipping into bed with you tonight was the only way I could think of prolonging this little fantasy of mine for a bit longer. But the time is up,cariño,and I can’t keep pretending. Pretending that I can be good, that you can be mine.” Her fingers stilled on Peyton’s back, like she was getting ready to leave and say goodbye. “I need to go now. The business has and always will come first in my life. So, I’m going to leave your bed and go do what I do best. And when you wake up, you’ll realize that I lied to you and it’ll kill the part of you that has feelings for me. Then, when you lash out at me, I’ll tell you that you can leave. No repercussions. It’ll be the only good thing I can offer you. We’ll go back to our lives the way they were before we met, and I’ll shut down my heart once more.”

It physically pained Peyton not to open her eyes as Hadina slowly pulled out from under her, pressing a soft, light kiss to her lips.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I know that you’ll never know any of this, but I had to say the words. I hope you find someone one day, someone who’s good like you. You deserve that, Peyton. You deserve to live and be happy.”

* * *

The door clickedbehind Peyton as she tiptoed inside the building, following the path Hadina had taken. She knew she was walking a very fine line between danger and sheer stupidity, but there was no turning back. She had to find out what secrets her employer was keeping.

Holding onto the dagger she had stolen from Hadina’s office back at the house, she slowly crept forward into the empty hallway. The old abandoned warehouse groaned, the sound of falling debris making her jump every so often when she was caught off guard. She didn’t know why Hadina was here. Fear ran through her veins like ice, a shiver running down her spine.

Following the sound of Hadina’s muffled voice arguing with someone, Peyton tried to hurry as she made her way through the creepy building. The voices grew louder until Peyton could hear them speak clearly as she stopped outside an old, rusting door.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? I gave you what you wanted so back the hell off and leave me alone.”

Hadina’s answering chuckle brought a smile to Peyton’s lips. “You’re a foolishpinche putoif you think you can order me about.”

Peyton looked through the glass windowpane on the door. The man was standing with his back to her, though she could see that he was muscled, his coat tight across his shoulders and biceps. He should have been intimidating with his large, towering frame, but Hadina stood her ground and glared up at him like he was nothing more than a nuisance.

The man shook his head, clenching his fists at his sides. “I gave you the details. I could have been killed if she found out. I’m done.”

Hadina growled and took a step forward, invading his space. Peyton watched on with rapt attention, fear and intrigue making her heart beat faster in her chest.

“You don’t get to decide that. I need more information from you. I know that you’re nothing but a fucking coward and don’t get to make any decisions, but you can still feed me what I need. Rumor has it that your boss is expecting another shipment soon, and I need to know where I can find it.”

“Fuck you!” the man screamed, grabbing Hadina by the hair. He yanked her head back forcefully and Peyton gasped, debating whether she should run in and try to intervene. “I’m not going to risk my life for you. She’llkillme if she finds out! Helping you isn’t worth it.”

Grinning with all her teeth on full display, Hadina was a terrifying beauty. She let out a cold laugh. “That’s a pity for you then. Helping me was the only thing keeping you alive.”

Peyton hadn’t seen Hadina move, but suddenly the woman had a gun in her hand and a loudcrackfilled the air as Hadina pulled the trigger. Peyton felt like everything happened in slow motion after that. First, her ears echoed from the volume of the shot. Next, blood. So much blood. The proximity of Hadina to her target meant that crimson sprayed everywhere, red splatters coating the window separating Peyton from the crime scene in front of her. The man’s body dropped to the floor, part of his face now missing.

Now in full view of Peyton, Hadina stood like a poised queen, looking at the dead body with disgust. Blood coated her face and neck, her white blouse now a muddied shade of red. It was wrong, so wrong, of Peyton to be staring at Hadina in awe, but she was. This absolutely terrifying woman had justkilleda man for putting his hands on her. There was something so innately powerful about it and Peyton felt herself get heated at the thought. She was scared, but her intrigue and hunger overpowered it.

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