Page 87 of Guarded

Ariella

What in the Christian Nodal was going on with my life?

¡Que pinche escándalo!

Today, of all days, Preston Cuevas thought it was a good idea to get a blowy behind a dumpster. I don’t want to think about him or the Temu version of me who took him down her throat.

Did public image mean nothing to him? I wasn’t sad or jealous. To be honest, the show slightly turned me on, but now that my post orgasm fog was fading, questions were popping up.

Would this be my future? My anxiety was bad enough, but now I would walk into social events and wonder who my husband would be fucking in the shadows.

When Cesidio Biondini led me to a hidden door to the alley, I wasn’t sure what I would find. Was my husband’s kinks known amongst all the Houston socialites? Would I become a mockery?

I feel emotions swirling inside me as I imagine the future. I have to give up being Nero’s good girl and become Preston’s good wife.

Good Wife.

Perfect daughter.

Mrs. Ariella Cuevas.

Ugh, the cringe.

I look up at the man who just carried me down steep steps. His muscular body fills the dark grey suit. His brows furrow as he talks into his phone.

“Meet me in the back alley.” He says, hanging up and walking back towards me.

His knuckle runs over my face before he kisses my forehead. It was increasingly painful not to fall head over heels in love with this man.

“Are you okay, Princess?” he asks, looking over me with concerned eyes.

I give him a convincing smile. All these emotions continue to swirl inside me. Confusion. Rage. Sadness.

His gentle touch calms the storm brewing up inside me. Making sense of anything in my life right now was useless.

Headlights shine, interrupting our ogling. Nero pushes me behind him and stays guarded until we recognize the Calavera logo on the side of the Limo. I find Louie behind the wheel when the window rolls down on the passenger seat.

“Come on, Barbie! Let’s go party!” he jokes.

“Hey, Louie!” I wave before Nero practically throws me into the limo.

He begins cleaning me up using the paper towels from the Limo bar. His rough hands feel gentle even when he wets one of the towels and cleans my face. He pulls me back in his lap. The limo stops at the corner where Jasper stands there shaking his head.

“What the hell was that about?” Jasper’s pointed look is on Nero.

Nero lifts his middle finger towards him while his other hand holds me tight against him.

“Where to Boss?” Louie asks.

“Home-”

“Whata-” Nero and I say at the same time.

“Um, can you please take me to Whataburger? I’m starving.” I plead my eyes on Nero.

He looks at me before nodding at our enthusiastic driver.

“Hell Yeah!” Louie cheers, causing Jasper to sigh loudly.

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