Page 4 of The Devil's Pawn

Her footsteps trudge over the carpet, getting closer. My anxiety clutches its furious grip around my throat, squeezing as I gently pull the door open and close it behind me.

Then I run like hell.

CHAPTERTWO

RAQUEL

There’sa bar I go to, miles from home. It’s my secret hideaway. No one knows about it, and I’m especially grateful for that right now.

I can’t believe I got away. I heard the door open as I kept running. I heard my mother screaming for me to come back, but I only ran faster. Once I was a safe distance away, I called for a car.

I don’t even know why I ran. I know I’ll be coming back soon with my tail between my legs. But there was no way I could’ve plastered a smile on my face as she told me the wonderful news of my wedding.

Carlito knows quite well how much I despise him, and it only makes him want to marry me more. He enjoys torturing me. I know he would have enjoyed it if I’d cried when they told me about the push of the wedding date.

I sip on a Cherry Coke, foregoing the alcohol since I already had some at the wedding. My cell has been ringing nonstop with my mother’s name flashing on the screen.

“Ugh!” I snap, smacking the phone facedown on top of the bar.

But she doesn’t stop calling. She never will. With a loud, exaggerated grumble, I decide to answer.

“What do you want?” I practically bark.

“Where the hell are you! What do you think you’re doing, young lady?!” she shrieks.

I can picture her blonde highlights swaying haphazardly as she walks around the house like she always does when she’s upset.

“Carlito is out searching for you! Do you know that? This is humiliating! Do you evenknowhow your behavior is reflecting on this family? Don’t you get how this makes me look? How could you humiliate me like this?!”

“Humiliating?” I whisper-shout, bitterness crawling from my tone. “You’rehumiliated? What about me?! I can’t even choose the man I want to marry! You and Dad chose that horrible piece of shit for me. Someone who treats me like crap, manhandles me like I’m his possession, and cheats on me around town. That’s all you think I’m worth?”

“Carlito is a perfect match.” Her agitation comes clearly through the line. “He comes from a great family with—”

“With money?” My pulse spikes in my neck. “That’s all it’ll ever be with you.” Angry tears streak down my face. “I don’t even matter, do I?”

“Why do you think we’re doing this? Foryou!” Venom drips from every syllable. “He can provide you a good life and a proper family. You foolish, ungrateful child! What else could you want, huh?!”

“What about love?” I scream a little too loud, causing a few older men around the bar to glance at me.

“Love?” She laughs. “Oh, God. You really are a fool. Love is for losers, darling. People who think they can fall in love and have it all are only lying to themselves. Life isn’t a fairy tale, Raquel. Time to grow up.” She exhales sharply. “I have given youeverythingyou could ever want, and all I ask in return is your obedience. I willnottolerate this behavior. Your fatherwillbe hearing about this, and he’ll be just as disappointed.”

Something clatters in the background, like she’s knocked into something.

“Youwillstop your immature nonsense and come home right now!”

“I’ll come back when I damn well please!”

“Raquel, I swea—”

I end the call, my breath lashing out of me and my heart squeezing in my rib cage. My hands tremble as the phone falls out of my grasp and rattles beside my glass.

I’ve never spoken to my mother that way. Not once. But the rage inside me is too great to contain. I can’t take it anymore. I can’t stand them thinking they can control my every move.

Covering my face with my palms, I take deep breaths. I hate this. I’ll never find a way out of this soon-to-be marriage. Not unless I forge my own road. One that ends with my demise.

“Sounds like you need arealdrink,” says a deep, seductive voice.

I let my hands gradually drift from my face, simultaneously wiping the tears away.

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