Page 43 of Guarded

“Preston Cuevas’s family signed a deal with us this morning, Ariella. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I didn’t think Abuelo’s birthday party was the right place.”

She keeps talking, but the sound fades. All I can hear is the loudness of my heart. The racing beat and the sound of my sealing fate. Darkness falls on me. The familiar room in the corner of my mind. It’s a mix of the liquor and the harsh reality that shoved me back in there.

I was getting married.

Axel had come through with his threats to marry me off.

I can hear Thalia calling my name, and I block it out. I can feel her shaking me, but I don’t budge. Where do I even go from here? There is no safe path for me, and my freedom has been short-lived.

I wouldn’t have a chance to prove to Axel that I could wait. He already made the decision for me. Voices all around me call out my name, but I crawl further into the dark room. I register nothing until large, familiar hands pick me up. I wrap my arms around him, and everything fades away as I look into the comfort of his pitch-black eyes.

Chapter 13

Nero

My first mistake tonight was choosing to work valet instead of working security at Vicente Consuelo’s birthday party. A decision made partially because I knew I didn’t have the emotional capacity to watch as men fawned over Ariella. The need to own her was becoming increasingly hard to suppress.

I wanted her, and yet I had no reason to explain why. I just did. Jasper was becoming aware of it, too. After he saw me lose it on Chunks, he was convinced I was in love with her, which is why he sent me the video of her and Efren dancing together.

This is my second mistake was opening the video. Awakening the Ariella-possessed demon inside me. The video did nothing for the already conflicting jealousy rising within. I watched the video several times just to make sure I was seeing it correctly. Watching her long blonde hair sway from side to side as she laughs in another man’s presence.

I was parking a car when I turned around and drove back to the hotel. I had every intention of finding Ariella and taking her straight upstairs, but when I get inside, I realize Axel has beat me to it. Walking toward me, I can see his face is flushed and his nose is bleeding.

“What the hell am I paying you for?” he chastises me. “Get my sister now and get her the hell out of here before she makes a scene!”

He nods his head toward the lobby, and I walk into the hotel. She’s sitting on a bench with a blank expression.

“Don’t fucking touch her,” Thalia says, turning on me, but Silas grabs her arm.

“Nero can help her, “ he says, calming her. She moves to the side but keeps her eyes locked on me.

“Ariella,” I say, softening my tone.

Her sweet name rolls off my lips like a silent prayer. Her eyes are still lost in sadness when she looks up at me. I don’t care about anyone else at this moment. I’m just desperate to get the blank stare off of her face. Even in her saddened expression, she looks like a doll. A broken and fragile doll whose empty soul calls to the emptiness inside of me.

I bend down, place my hands underneath her legs, and pick her up. She wraps her arms around me, and I carry her bridal style into the elevator. Thalia moves to follow, but Silas holds her back.

“Nero,” Ari says, looking up at me.

“I got you, Manikà.”

She lays her head on my chest, and I wait for the elevators to close before I kiss the top of her head. She cries into my chest the entire ride up to the penthouse. I take her into her room and set her on her bed.

“What happened down there?” I ask.

“Axel found me a husband. He already signed the papers,” she cries.

“And you’re upset because you’re in love with Efren?” I say, swallowing the uncomfortable feeling in my throat.

Her face scrunches up when she looks at me.

“What? What are you talking about?” She shakes her head.“God. No. First, Alma, and now you. I asked him for a recipe, and he invited me to dance. Why would you ask that, Nero?”

Her sadness has morphed into defensiveness, and her green eyes glare up at me.

“I read your list, Ari! Who are you in love with?” I bluntly question her. It takes a second for her to process my question.

“You read my list?” she whispers.

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