Page 21 of Velvet Deception

“The candles are in a box high up in the closet in my mama’s room. I can’t reach it, and she told me to never stand on her hamper to try to get to the things she stores up there. I fell one time. Do you think you could reach up there and get the box down? I don’t want to miss out on Noche de las Velitas. If I have the candles and lanterns ready, she can light them when she gets home.”

“I can do that.” My height was something I could rely on.

He led me toward the back, and I tried not to feel like I was trespassing. Itsmelledlike her, sweet and citrusy.

“It’swayup there,” Ramon said, opening her closet door. He jumped up to tug on the low-hanging string. A single light bulb flickered on, showing shelves anchored up high with many boxes or bags sitting out of reach for the boy. I skimmed the labels, looking for the right description of candles or Christmas things when I heard the door open.

Ramon jerked at the sound, stepping closer and clutching my shirt.

That wasn’t Sofia.

I didn’t know who it was, but it wasn’t Sofia. She wouldn’t crash the door open so hard that it banged on the wall, then slam it shut just as loud. I didn’t know everything about her, but I was confident in knowing how she preferred to keep her home. She lived withoutanyvisitors, very private and secluded.

Ramon didn’t step away from me, instantly on edge. I lowered my hand to rest it on his back, keeping him close. Standing at the closet door, I would block him if these intruders came into this room.

“Where the fuck are they?” a man demanded.

“I don’t know, man,” another answered.

Crashes sounded as things were knocked over. I felt the vibration of their harsh footsteps as they hurried through the living room.

“Fuck. Where the hell is she hiding him?”

I froze, letting my blood boil hotter at his words.

Where was Sofia hiding someone?Him?

He had to be talking aboutme.

As much as I was excited for answers, I was scared for the terrified boy trembling behind me.

I had no clue who these men were. Their voices weren’t familiar.

But my instincts warned me with an intrinsic sixth sense that whoever the hell had dared to enter my rescuer’s—my angel’s—home wouldn’t be good.

My muscles tensed as they trashed the living room, and without hesitation, I prepared to defend Ramon.

9

SOFIA

Ican’t believe it.

It was only a half hour after the official end of my shift and I was already home. Things never just happened like this. The stars and moons and planets and whatever else in the orbit never aligned just so for me to actually leave work close to my expected quitting time.

Smiling as I parked my car, I got out and noticed the neighbors further up the street setting out their candles. Families came out to arrange the lights and I sighed in anticipation that Ramon and I would join in doing that too.

Did Diego ever set out candles?

Does he know what this night means?

Will he?—

I opened the door and was pulled back against a man’s chest. Caught off-guard upon my entry to my home, I panicked. A scream built and stayed trapped in my throat. Flinging out myarms as my heart hammered fast, I reacted with a potent spike of adrenaline.

Fight or flight.

I tried to do both, in danger with this nasty, stinking man holding me roughly against his chest, one arm locked over both of mine as I bucked and kicked and let out muffled screams. His free hand clamped over my mouth, forcing me close to gagging at the odor of his body too close to mine. In a flash, I was forced back to the trauma I didn’t want to relive anymore. With his harsh hold on me, I was taken to the memories of the last time a man had captured me.

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