Page 54 of Defy

I’m begging.

I’m desperate and I’m begging and I absolutely loathe the position I’m in but I will eat the gravel in this man’s driveway if it gets her out of here.

Mateo takes his sweet time walking over to me, eyeing my quizzically.

“Perhaps we have some things to catch up on. Why don’t you come inside?”

“Mateo, with all due respect, my time here is very limited unless you want my parents arriving with the cavalry. I just need to speak to Libby and then I promise I’ll do whatever you want.”

He’s at my side in the blink of an eye, his decrepit appearance incredibly deceiving, and places a hand at my elbow, sliding his pistol to my side.

It’s impossible to mistake the feel of the barrel against my ribcage.

“I think you should stay a while.” His tone is acid. “You, too, Diego.”

This is when it hits me.

Mateo used Diego to set me up. I’m sure Diego has updated him of our friendship as well as my activities since I arrived. He has no intention of letting me see Libby. This is his revenge against me for killing Adriana and him killing me will be his revenge against my parents.

So be it. But what happens to Libby?

Diego must realize it at the same time because I hear his low voice next to me as we walk inside. “Señor Santos, he only wants to confirm your daughter is safe.”

“Someone beat him to it, Diego, and now we must sort out the truth,” Mateo says cryptically. Mateo leads me into the foyer of his home. I’ve never been inside and I’m shocked at how modern and refined it is. The walls are white, the furniture is white. Glass and mirrors are everywhere and gorgeous modern art adorns the walls in yellows and oranges.

It’s not what I would expect but then again, I don’t really know this man, so I’m not surewhatto expect.

Walking through the living room and into the kitchen, he points to two high-backed chairs with the pistol and commands Diego and I to sit. The guards follow and although I’m distracted, it isn’t lost on me that no one is manhandling, threatening, or abusing us which I’m thankful for.

“Mateo,” I plead again, though it’s most certainly fruitless. “I’ll give you anything you want. Please just tell me Libby’s safe. Please let me see her one more time.”

“A desperate man is a disgrace, Dominic. Even my Adriana didn’t utter a sound when she knew her time was up.”

At his words, I dry-heave violently. If there had been anything in my stomach it would now be on the floor at my feet. The memory of that day being called into sharp relief with no warning is enough to trigger even the most repressed memories.

The way her body slumped forward as her blood pooled around her.

The man holding her up, letting her hit the floor like discarded trash.

The moment they took the bag off of her head to reveal her true identity after I pulled the trigger.

I remember watching Mateo and Catalina crumple to the ground and I followed immediately after.

“I no longer care about honor or pride, Mateo. I want answers. My parents are going to end up here one way or another. If we don’t prepare and get Libby protected, then you’re going to lose her forever.”

“I’m not so sure it’s your parents I’d be worried about if I were you,” he says with the mystery still in his response. My confusion over his responses must be evident on my face because he chuckles almost pityingly.

“Mateo,” I plead, folding my hands in front of me for emphasis, “Please. You have to help me. Help me for Daniella’s sake,” I switch to the name she was given at birth, hoping to strike a chord, “andthenshoot me or drown me, hell, I don’t care how you do itas long as she’s safe.”

“I must admit,” a voice says coming from behind me, “it does feel good to see you grovel…even if it is for the girl,” Luis says.

I whip my head around, my brain struggling to catch up. Luis and Mateo working together? How is it possible that Mateo would trust my slimy brother foranythinglet alone the most precious thing in the world.

“Luis, I will break yourfuckingsoul if you hurt her,” I growl, meaning every word that slips past my lips.

As of right now, I’m not bound. That was their first mistake because they won’t get close enough to tie me down now but I don’t make a move just yet. I want to know how this happened.

Luis walks over to me, forcing me to look up from the chair Mateo has deposited me in. I keep my hands still so he doesn’t realize I’m capable of using them. His sneer is so pronounced they can see it in Argentina.

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