Page 9 of Sworn to Revenge
“No, but Cora talks about her a lot. Pedro does know her, though; he stayed at Cora’s parents’ house in Vegas for a year when he was younger. They were close.”
A strange feeling stirs in my chest. “Were they…?” I can’t bring myself to finish the question.
She shakes her head. “Not that I know of.”
So much for not wanting to talk about Pedro. Alin, as if reading my mind, adds, “I don’t love the idea of you two together, but there’s no reason to be jealous.” She places a warm hand on my thigh. Jealous? Is that what this is?
“Bay! Alin! Look!” Cora returns, showing us a picture of a tall, muscular, blond man in nothing but boxers. “He’s damn hot!” I gasp, swallowing as I take in the photo.
“Right? It’s Rina’s boyfriend. He’s a famous celebrity in Milan,” she shares, putting the phone back to her ear. “The girls here are practically drooling, sis—keep him close,” Cora teases, and I laugh.
“Who’s hot?” Mariano enters, knowing exactly where to find his wife, and pulls her close. “Eyes only on this face,” he jokes, pointing at himself as she chuckles. Pedro follows him in, and I avoid his eyes, a nervous flutter rising in me even though he’s made his stance clear.
“That was Bay’s call,” Cora blames, and I shoot her a glare before laughing.
“Heispretty hot,” I say, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think Pedro was about to explode. Is he… upset?
No, I tell myself.No more Pedro.
“We’re heading out for a few hours. Stay here with Graham; Abert’s coming with us,” Mariano announces, his gaze locked on Cora like she’s the only person in the room.It must be so nice to be loved like that…
Bay
I’ve been lying here, wide awake, the weight of another wasted day pressing down on me. I slept through the sunlight, yet now when I actually need rest, it evades me. The silence of the empty house creeps in, thick and suffocating, settling like a hollow ache in my chest.
Why do the people I need the most always leave? Or worse—betray me?
A tear slips unbidden down my cheek, burning hot as Pedro’s words echo in my mind.“You’re family.”The syllables slice through me, raw and jagged. My mind scrambles for excuses.Maybe he’s just dealing with Luca. Maybe it’s not me.
My breath hitches as the world shifts, reality bleeding into memory. A bone-chilling roar vibrates through my skull, visceral and relentless. My stomach clenches in response, nausea rising.No. I’m on land. I’m safe. I’m far from that place.
I clutch the sheets, knuckles whitening, as his voice growls from the shadows of my mind.“My huntress…”The words slither through me, sharp as a blade. My chest tightens until I can barely breathe.
I squeeze my eyes shut, the darkness behind my lids safer than the ghosts lurking in the corners of my mind. A deep breath. Then another. Slowly, the silence returns, but it’s fragile, like glass stretched too thin.
When I open my eyes, the dark room feels solid again, real. My knees draw up to my chest, arms wrapping around them tightly as if I can hold myself together through sheer force.
He saved me, but never Elyr.
The thought burns, unraveling the fragile threads of composure I’ve been clinging to. My forehead presses against my knees, and I grip tighter, as if I can keep the memories at bay through sheer will.
A creak in the hallway snaps me from the spiral. My breath catches, and I freeze, every nerve on edge. It’s 1 a.m.; Pedro must be back.
The faint shadow of footsteps pools under my door, the sound stopping just outside. My heart thunders in my chest, loud enough that I wonder if he can hear it too. For one aching, desperate moment, hope swells, filling the void in my chest. Maybe he’s come to his senses.
Maybe this time, he won’t leave.
But then he turns and walks to his room. I exhale, crushed.
Maybe just for tonight…Would it be so wrong? I just need to feel someone close to me. I don’t want to be alone right now. Ignoring the voice inmy head telling me to stay put, I get out of bed and, before I can stop myself, knock gently at his door.
When I peek in, his eyes widen, surprised.
“What are you doing awake?” he asks, his voice low, and I look away, trying to hide my nerves.
“I was having another nightmare,” I lie, managing a small smile. “Can I sleep here? Just for tonight?”
He looks conflicted, glancing to the side and then back at me, releasing a heavy sigh. “Just for tonight,” he says firmly.
