Page 83 of Guarded

“Thank you for this.” He moves behind the desk and places the note in the top drawer.

“Am I good to go?” I ask nervously.

“Yes, of course. Sorry if I scared you. That was not my intention, but one could never be too careful. Enjoy your night.” He says, and I walk to the door.

“Oh, but Miss Reyes. Before you go, be careful with the company you keep. That councilman of yours has some very nasty habits.”

Chapter 24

Nero

Inever owned anything for long growing up. Looking back, there were brief moments of joy when my father would return from his travels with gifts for Tala and me. We had a short time to love the items he brought because Evangeline would find ways to destroy them when he was gone.

One summer, Tatay brought me back a Batang-X action figure. I watched the Filipino Sci-fi movie a dozen times with him. By then, I knew Evangeline’s patterns well, so I played with the toy as much as possible while my father was around. I spent every night cuddled up to the action figure, desperately praying that our time wouldn’t be cut so short.

After all those years, history was repeating itself with the woman sitting inches in front of me.

This fucking place makes me uncomfortable. The high ceilings, people dressed in designer clothes, a pianist, servers with trays waiting hand and foot on everyone.

I could see the glamour in this lifestyle. I could see Ari in this world. She was drawn to the finer things in life, even if she had to live within her means at the moment. This was her future. Pretty boy Preston Cuevas was her future.

Their little show for the paparazzi seemed to please the crowds. Coos and aww fell from bystanders’ lips when they kissed. Something about that kiss has led to the impulsive and murderous thoughts replaying in my head.

Even if this whole thing was staged, the thought remained that one day this motherfucker would be her husband.

To have and to hold for as long as they both shall fucking live.

I thought taking her virginity would be enough to satiate me, but now I wanted to be her only. The realization of what I’m feeling sucker punches me in the stomach.

Obsession.

I was obsessed with Ariella Reyes.

She was a foot away at a table with her future husband and family while I was obsessing over her. Mentally tracing the blueprint of her body. The small freckles on her back. The birthmark on her right calf. Every place on her body that surrenders to my touch.

There was nothing special about Ariella Reyes, right?Wrong.

Special didn’t even begin to describe her.

My dick pledged its allegiance to her pussy. No other pussy would do.

It wasn’t just my dick at this point. She consumed my very possessive thoughts. Wrestling with reason was pointless when it came to her. Nothing about the way I felt made sense. Not when Happily Ever Afters don’t exist in my mind.

And yet, the idea of losing her bedevils me. It was a dangerous game we were playing. Just like those toys from my childhood, I couldn’t keep her.

She would only be mine for a short while before I would watch her walk down the aisle to be with Preston Cuevas. That asshole would be the one to fill her with his babies, watch her grow old, and he would have her forever.

This obsession is nothing more than a weakness. Weak men can’t succeed in my world, and just like her, I had an oath to protect my own family. To find and protect Tala.

“You see Benji?” I ask lowly to Jasper, taking advantage of the loud music.

“Far left, front table.” He replies

I look to find the informant sitting comfortably with his wife and several other couples. There was a blend of powerful families here tonight, but one of them was our enemy. I’m on a mission to figure out who ordered and executed that hit on Leatherface. I keep my eyes on Benji and his table, watching as one of the men stands and walks to the stage.

“Whose that fucker?” Jasper asks, and I shrug.

I stay attentive as the man takes the mic and begins his speech.

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