Page 26 of Sacrifice

Mossimo opens the door of the Mercedes G Class for me and I get in. A sigh leaves me as I look at him. "I'm sure she feels betrayed not only by me but by her brother as well. The bastardgave her to me like she was nothing more than money to be handed from one person to another."

He cocks an eyebrow at me. "And yet, you love her." The fucker closes the door on me so I can't refute him. He walks behind the car to get in on the driver's side.

"No, I don't." What a fucking crock of shit. I adore her and want nothing more than for her to love me as well.

"Stop bullshitting yourself. You love her." He starts the car and the garage door opens. "I saw you pull every picture, written word, and social media interaction on Carlos and Aribella. Hell, you spent hours watching her at the college campus."

He's right. To admit it would make him smug.

"You love her and made sure to set up the trap so Carlos wouldn't have a fucking way out of it. His only choice was to give you Aribella."

"I did it to save her life," I mumble as I watch the camera in the library.

Mossimo laughs but says nothing more.

"You're right." Admitting he's right is a damn bullet to my pride. But he is. I've been in love with her since last Christmas and it only gets stronger by the second.

"Of course, I am. Now stop moping and let's go see what the hell the families want so you can get back to your girl."

I look out the window, feeling like a whiny little bitch.Yeah, this isn't my style.Aribella will see reason. Or I can always make her see it. With that thought, I smooth my hands down my thighs and formulate a plan.

Mi reinais on the window seat reading a book when I enter the library hours later. I didn't get to her immediately after I arrived home. There were too many plans I needed to finish after my meeting. Besides, my damn anxiety about fighting with Aribella forced me to calm down first. Otherwise, I would have thrown her to the floor, forcing her to see things my way.

"Aribella."

She jumps, and the book falls from her hands. "Oh!"

Looking away from me, she curls into herself. A growl leaves me at how skittish she's being. The tiny devil in my ear cackles. Espresso looks at me and meows. I shake my head and pick up the book. "You should be aware of who enters your space," I reprimand her.

"I was busy reading. Seriously, you expected me to hear you?" That sassy retort makes me smile. Yeah, it looks like her spirit is back. Good.

Taking a calming breath, I hand her the book and sit down next to her. "Have you decided on whether or not you are staying here?"

I let her think she was in here to conclude her next move. In reality, I was letting her stew with the finality of her predicament. Aribella doesn't say anything and keeps her head down. Damn it. My anger at her not fighting back boils deep within me. Yet, I control it. I'm not trying to be the beast she thinks I am.

"Ah, so your silence must mean you've decided to be a good girl and stay here." Like she ever fucking had a choice. I smirk at her, but she refuses to look at me.

"Where else would I go? The farm was the only place I had." She glares at me as I slide my hand along her calf. I rather like it when she's glaring at me. Her tears and sadness make the guilt rise to the surface. If she's being sassy, bratty, and feisty, I don't feel it so much.

Now would be the most opportune time to have the finest of homes built for her, but I can't. Not until she's willingly mine. "This is true. It's been demolished." Another lie slips past my lips. What the fuck am I doing? I want her begging me. Not the other way around. Fuck that. She will beg to stay with me.

Aribella closes her eyes and turns her head away from me. I want to demand she look at me, but I don't. Instead, I grab her hair and force her to face me.

"Then I guess I have to stay. I can't be homeless and fight off the crazy cartel families."

Mi reinalooks so defeated and it eats at me. "I'm sure you hate me and you have every right to do so. But know you'll be safe here." I should promise I'd rather die a thousand times over than her not be happy.

No promises leave my lips, though. "But you're here now and you're choosing to stay, so I expect you to behave."

Fuck me. It seems I can't be gentle with her, even when she needs it the most. Aribella looks at me and I squeeze her hair and move my other hand that was on her calf to her cheek. Wiping the tear away, I chastise myself.You damn idiot.

"The problem is, I don't hate you." She tries to get loose from my hold, but my hand is firm. "I can't trust you. You killed my brother. That's the problem."

Her eyes plead with me to let her finish. I nod and she continues. "I'm furious with my brother for trading me. It doesn't make any sense to me. All this betrayal and the lies. They keep adding up to one thing, and it's me getting played on both ends."

Massaging her hair, I don't know what to say. Damn it. How do I make this better? My mind mocks me, urging me to force her, but I shut it down. I might as well be honest with her.

"This is true as well. You'll have to figure out on your own how to trust me. Or not. It's totally up to you on how your life here goes."

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