Page 23 of Set Up By the Cartel

"You're not yourself today,"Mateo observed, reaching across the table to take my hand in his."Please talk to me, Kael. What's bothering you?"

I opened my mouth to offer some flimsy excuse, but no words came out. Instead, tears welled up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks in silent streams. All the pent-up emotions I'd been holding back threatened to overwhelm me.

Seeing my distress, Mateo rose from his seat and pulled me into his arms, cradling me close as sobs wracked my body."Shh, it's okay,"he whispered, stroking my hair."You can tell me anything, mi amor. You know you can trust me."

His tender reassurance only made me cry harder. I knew he would hate me after I told him what I had been feeling every day.

I tried to pull away, wiping at my tear-stained cheeks with trembling hands."I-I'm sorry,"I stammered, avoiding his gaze."It's nothing... just stress from work."

But even as the lie fell from my lips, I could see the skepticism etched onto Mateo's handsome features. He was one of the smartest men I knew. Lying to him could only work for so long. He wasn't buying it.

"Kael..."His deep baritone washed over me, sending shivers down my spine."Don't do this. Don't shut me out again when I can clearly see there's something wrong."

I swallowed hard past the lump forming in my throat. How could I possibly explain the chaos swirling inside me? The fear, the uncertainty, the guilt-ridden secrets weighing heavily upon my shoulders?

"I... I need some time alone."I mumbled, trying to extract myself from his grasp."Just give me a little while..."

Mateo studied me for several long moments, searching my face for any hint of deception or insincerity. A few seconds later, he released me with a heavy sigh.

"If that's truly what you want."He murmured."But please remember that you can always tell me everything."

With those parting words, he pressed one last lingering kiss against my forehead before releasing me completely. Then he turned on his heel and strode towards the door, pausing briefly to glance back at me over his shoulder.

"I love you, Kael Morales."He declared."Never forget that."

And then he was gone, leaving me alone amidst the opulent splendor of his dining room. I slumped into the nearest chair, burying my burning face in my hands as fresh waves of anguish crashed over me.

How did I get myself into such a mess? I hated myself so much.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of restless activity. Unable to sit still, I wandered without a clear destination through the sprawling mansion, lost in thought. Everywhere I looked, reminders of Mateo seemed to stare back — photographs capturing candid moments of our blossoming relationship, expensive gifts bestowed during intimate evenings spent tangled beneath silk sheets...

By late afternoon, exhaustion caught up with me. Dragging myself upstairs, I collapsed facedown atop the plush mattress, barely registering the softness of the Egyptian cotton duvet enveloping me like a cocoon.

Sleep claimed me in a matter of minutes, dragging me down into a realm of fitful dreams haunted by images of Mateo's smiling face morphing into a snarling wolf-like creature. Claws slashed at my flesh as I ran screaming through shadow-drenched forests, branches clawing at my skin like skeletal fingers reaching hungrily for my blood...

I jolted awake with a strangled gasp, heart pounding against my ribcage. Disoriented, it took several seconds to realize where I was. Blinking, I glanced around the darkened bedroom, taking stock of my surroundings.

Moonlight filtered through gauzy curtains, casting eerie shadows across the walls. A digital clock glowed red numbers on the bedside table: 2:47 AM.

Sighing, I rolled out of bed and padded quietly to the en-suite bathroom. After relieving myself, I splashed cold water on my flushed face, staring at my haggard reflection in the mirror above the sink.

Dark circles rimmed my eyes, making me look years older than my nineteen years. My hair stuck up in wild tufts, as though I'd just woken from a nightmare (which I had). And yet, despite the weariness etched into every line of my body, something elseshone through — a flicker of determination kindling deep within my chest.

No more running scared. It was time to face facts head-on.

Mind made up, I returned to the bedroom and rummaged through my overnight bag until I found what I sought — the pregnancy test kit purchased days earlier under cover of darkness at a seedy corner store miles from here.

Hands shaking, I tore open the packaging and followed the instructions printed on the box. Then I waited, watching anxiously as the tiny window slowly filled with color.

Two lines appeared almost at the same moment, confirming my worst fears. Pregnant. The word stared back, taunting me with its finality.

A choked sob escaped my throat as I crumpled to the floor, clutching the damning evidence to my chest. Tears streamed freely down my face, soaking into the plush carpet fibers below.

What would Mateo think once he learned the truth? Would he be angry? Betrayed? Or worse yet — would he try to take the baby from me somehow, using it as leverage to keep me tied forevermore to his dangerous world?

I couldn't let that happen. I refused to raise my child surrounded by violence and death, always looking over my shoulder in fear. They deserved better than that.

Decision made, I leaped forward and shoved the test kit into the bottom drawer of the dresser. Out of sight, out of mind. For now, anyway.

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