Page 13 of Defy

His smirk says I’m wrong. “You so do.”

“Whatever.” I know he’s right. I could feel it on my face as soon as he called me out. I don’t do it on purpose, but something about that dark, primal act brings out a sadistic side of me that I’d rather not examine too closely.

It was far easier to pull the trigger than I would have liked after all this time. It didn’t feel foreign or wrong and the guilt I should feel is absent. In its place are satisfaction and pride.

Jugo Garcia now has three dead henchmen and Luis is safely back inside our walls.

He’s getting his ass chewed out by our parents, but is otherwise safe.

The whole ordeal takes under an hour and my father is now on the phone dealing with Jugo, who by the sound of things is denying that those were his men, despite the flag flown on their car.

When Diego and I go in search of breakfast, we round the corner to the open kitchen attached to the living room and I pull up short.

Libby’s sitting at the table, dressed in a black knee-length dress. The cut shows off her toned arms and her neckline reveals her flawless skin. On her wrist is the bracelet I gave her in Aruba with the GPS tracker in it. I’m sure it’s dead by now but maybe I can find a charger while we’re here.

She’s with Camila and my mother. Diego lets out a low whistle. “Ladies,” he addresses the familiar faces, “care to introduce me to your guest?”

I answer for them, “No, they would not, Diego. I suggest you put your tongue back in your mouth.” The hard set of my jaw causes his lips to twitch up in a smile. My caveman behavior telling him all he needs to know.

I want nothing more than to march up to Libby and shove my tongue down her throat, claiming her in front of everyone here. I always craved sex after a kill. The ultimate power trip of ridding the world of the scum puts my libido in over-drive and I feel myself straining against my cargo pants. Since I can’t fuck, Diego better watch himself because fighting is the next best option. Even if I only have half a decent body to use.

My mother says nothing but studies me with a scrutiny that I need to be cautious of. When she looks away, I can finally, discreetly adjust myself before I ruin everything.

Camila speaks up freely, not bothering to hide the disdain in her narrowed eyes and sarcastic smile. “Good morning to you too, Dominic,” she says with too much venom. “Diego, this is Elizabeth Baker.”

“Oh,shit,” he says before quickly amending his answer. “I mean, it’s nice to meet you. Please forgive my rudeness, señorita. I don’t meet many new beautiful faces.” My mother has narrowed her eyes at Diego and I, too, feel like something is up. When Imelda and I share a glance, it briefly feels like we’re on the same page and I work hard to push the feeling aside. I don’t even want to be in the same book as her, let alone the same page. I’ll talk to Diego about it in private.

Libby eyes Diego and a shy smile spreads across her lips as she casts her eyes down. For once I can’t read her. Is she playing coy as part of her role or is she overwhelmed by Diego? Attracted to him, maybe? That thought makes me want to rip his throat out. Diego is a big guy. Even his muscles have muscles. I’ve never looked at him that closely but I’m certainly sizing him up now.

Feeling a little bolder after my clean kill this morning, rescuing Luis, and giving my father the performance that he asked for, I turn to face the women at the table.

“Libby, come here, please. I need to speak to you.” My mother eyes me warily but doesn’t stop me from having a moment with Libby out of her earshot. I’m assuming she’ll ask Libby what we spoke about anyway.

As soon as Libby reaches me, my hand goes to the small of her back to guide her outside. Her skin is warm under my touch and I feel the electricity pass between us as Camila begins to protest right away. “Imelda, are we sure that’s a good idea? Who knows what they could be discussing. Obviously, Dom can’t be trusted yet.” She purses her lips and cocks her head to the side, challenging my mother. What she doesn’t realize is that she’s making my job easier. If my mother thinks Camila is only looking out for the Hielos’ best interests, then when I make sure Camila plays the game the wayIwant it played, Imelda will have no reason to doubt her.

My mother pats Camila’s hand and gives her a condescending smile. “Camila, please do not think for one second that you make any of the decisions around here. You are here because your family has served us well and I know my boys hold a special place for you, but if you question me again, you’ll find yourself outside these walls.

Camila swallows and brushes loose strands of her chestnut ponytail out of her face, embarrassed at having been told off by my mother in front of us and Libby. “Yes, ma’am,” she responds acidly. She’s smarter than to try and justify her statement.

Out on the veranda, I fight every urge I have to touch Libby – and that’s a lot of urges. Although we’re out of sight of the kitchen table, I have no doubts that we’re being watched.

“I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Camila, butisthis a good idea, Dom?” she asks, her eyes searching my own before dropping to my lips and then down to my chest. I suppress a smile when her breathing falters.

“Probably not, but as soon as I saw you sitting there, I needed a moment alone with you. And I needed a second to make sure I didn’t choke Diego out.” Her eyes fly to mine to assess my sincerity. I shrug. “I didn’t like the way you looked at him,” I tell her honestly even though I know it makes me a caveman. “Are you okay?”

It takes her a second to process my words before she answers. “I’m fine. I haven’t found out much more information on why me being here is so important, but your mother seems to be planning to have me dance sometime next week. She talks to Camila like I’m not in the room. I’m trying to get on Camila’s good side and see if she’ll let anything slip, but I’m beginning to think she doesn’t actually have a good side.”

“It’s complicated,” I offer on Camila’s behalf as a piss-poor excuse for her jealous behavior.

“Yeah, well, it doesn’t seem terribly complicated when she’s recounting, invivid detail, I might add, all of your previous sexual encounters together. I’ve almost bitch-slapped her multiple times. Open palm and everything,” she says as she narrows her eyes at me.

This thing between us came on fast. Once we found ourselves in each other’s arms it became an unspoken understanding that this is where we belong.

Her words force a growl from my throat and I can’t stand the distance any more. “Lib, it’s all in the past.She’sin the past.” I wrap my left arm around her waist and pull her to me while my right hand slowly comes up to cup her cheek. I lean forward, pausing briefly to perform a quick scan of the porch around us before running my nose along her neck and nipping the skin below her ear. She mews quietly and her hands fly to my shirt, bunching it in her fists. I understand her desire and frustration well because it mirrors my own.

“Dominic. I need you. I need you to show me and chase away all the uncertainty,” she whispers.

“I’ll figure something out so we can be together soon,” I whisper back as she grinds herself against me. When I raise my eyes to look past her, I see my mother watching us from the doorway. She has a look in her eyes that could be sadness, disappointment, distrust, or more likely, some combination of all three.

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