Page 45 of Reign

“Yeah.” He pauses, and I can tell he wants to say something else so I nod, encouraging to continue. “She used to do this in her sleep right after you left. I thought it had stopped but I could hear her through the wall.”

My stomach clenches and I fight the urge to dry heave. My guilt may eat me alive. I watch Camila for another minute wanting to crawl into her bed and replace Diego, smooth her hair and kiss her forehead while telling her I’m sorry and begging for her forgiveness. Ultimately, I know I need to keep my distance. Getting closer and giving her false hope will only destroy her faster.

I never would have guessed that it would bemeshe couldn’t stand to be around and not Libby.

“Meet me in the basement whenever you can get away.” My voice is thick with emotion but I don’t clear it because I don’t want to wake her. I hadn’t realized it was so bad.

Twenty minutes later, Diego finds me in the home gym. He’s dressed to fight in grappling shorts and a rash guard. I don’t know how he knew to pack them, but I’m glad he’s prepared.

We sit on the bench and begin to tape our hands. It’s four o’clock in the morning and I feel wired like I’ve had six cups of coffee.

Fighting always frees my mind and Diego is the best partner because I don’t have to worry about hurting him. Plus, he knows my fighting style and he won’t hold back.

“Let’s start at sixty to seventy percent and go from there,” I suggest, trying to give us each some time to warm up.

In response, Diego hauls back and sends a full-powered right hook to my jaw, knocking me several feet backwards. “What the fuck?” I growl, barely having time to right myself before he comes at me again. For a split second, I think he’s trying to kill and that he’s actually still working for Mateo until I see the grin on his face taunting me.

“Come on, Dom. You think Mateo’s going to wait for you to be ready? Get your head in the fucking game, Pollito.” He makes a sweep to take out my feet but as he drops his torso to do the move, I bring my knee up in his solar plexus. “Better,” he wheezes.

We dance around each other in the middle of the open room. I aim a roundhouse kick toward his side which he manages to dodge. I follow it up with a left jab which he blocks and then swings fast with a jab of his own.

I don’t get out of the way in time.

“Focus,” he snarls at me. I shake my head and try to zone in on his shoulders. I can tell what his feet are doing by the angle of his shoulders and it means I don’t have to drop my gaze. I see his next hit coming before it lands and dodge it easily before switching my stance to a southpaw style with my right foot and hand forward. I do two quick jabs to distract him and he never sees my shin coming toward his side. As soon as I connect, he brings both hands up to defend his face as he tightens his core preparing for more blows there.

We go at it hard like this for forty-five minutes. By the time we’re done, we’ve both drawn blood, and our arms and shins are peppered with bruises. I have a small cut above my left eye and Diego’s right cheek is turning purple.

But overall, it was a success. His words still sound in my ears and he was right: Mateo isn’t going to wait for me to be ready. He’ll strike hard and fast.

But we’ll strike first.

Clarity comes at me like a punch to the face.

Nineteen

Libby/Daniella/Isabel

“OH MY GOD! WHAT THE hell happened to you two?” Cas and Diego look like hell and it’s only seven in the morning. “Did you wrestle each other in your sleep?”

Diego tries to grin but it comes out as a wince when his bruised cheek moves. “Not in our sleep. We were both fully awake.”

I take my small bowl of cottage cheese out on the porch. The constant sound of the waterfalls from the pool features almost drowns out the sound of the waves down on the beach, but it’s still nice.

Diego and Cas are in matching outfits, looking ready for all out war. Black t-shirts cover their torsos – no doubt hiding a significant number of bruises – and camo patterned cargo pants, loaded with guns and knives both. I notice Cas’s bookbag is on the ground and I can see inside the opening. It looks like he has… “Are those grenades?” I shriek in disbelief.

“Of sorts,” Diego says while Cas reaches down to zip up the bag.

“So, when is this happening?” I ask, spooning a healthy bite of the small white curds into my mouth.

“As soon as it can. We need the element of surprise. We’re just waiting for Nikita to hear back from his contacts in the mafia to see if anyone’s seen Mateo’s jet. As soon as we know where he is, we’re going in, guns blazing,” Cas explains.

“Please tell me you have a better plan thanguns blazing?”

“We will once we know where he is. It’s hard to make a plan when you don’t know the location,” Diego says calmly.

I take another bite of my breakfast as Cas’s cell phone rings.

“Nikita,” he says shortly into the receiver, followed by, “Mm hmm. I agree.” Another pause and then, “Do you think he’d go for that?” Pause. “You’re right.” Pause. “Sounds good. See you then.”

---