Page 13 of Until Retribution Burns (Beauty in Lies 3)

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Isa

El Infiernorose out of the water like a mystical island, with nothing else in sight. It existed on its own, completely separate from the rest of the world in a way that shouldn't have been appealing. It was hard to imagine that such a beautiful place had been home to evil like Rafael’s father. That the very house that I’d started to accept as my haven had once been home to the man who ruined my life.

I wanted answers. Enough that I was willing to dig through the hazards of Rafael’s and my tenuous relationship to find them.

Rafael guided me to the lower level of the yacht and the McLaren on board. I sat in the passenger seat as he opened the door, watching one of his men open the hatch so that he could drive off the boat and onto the dock. As we went, I turned to stare back at the yacht, considering if the steps were similar to the ones Rafael had taken when I was unconscious when he'd first brought me to his home.

It seemed like a lifetime ago, but somehow wasn't even close.

Rafael was lost in his thoughts as he drove up the hill to the main house, eventually pulling into the driveway. The mid-morning sun shone down on us, making me want nothing more than to soak up the warmth of it and chase away the chill that seeing the photo of Rafe's father had left me with.

I didn't wait for him to open my door for me before I climbed out, staring into Regina's smiling face as she stepped out the front doors to greet us. She held out her arms, waiting for me to step into her embrace.

Those kind brown eyes stared down at me, sending a pang through me that I needed to call my family again. With everything spiraling around me, it was easy to forget that they weren't living the same whirlwind that I was. They sat at home, dealing with the return of one daughter while coping with the absence of the other.

One of the men grabbed our bags out of the tiny trunk as Rafe stepped around the car. "We're leaving for Chicago tomorrow. We need the bags packed with new clothing. Enough for a few days, and then I'll arrange for whatever we need to be purchased to remain at the house there."

"But you just got home," Regina said, pursing her lips and staring at him with the knowledge that she was missing some vital piece of information. I felt like I was too, because the news of going home to Chicago was a shock to me as well. I leveled him with a glare, considering stabbing him when he smirked back at me like I was amusing.

"Can you fill Regina in for me,mi reina?" he asked. "I have some business to attend to since we'll be off the island for the foreseeable future."

"When were you planning to inform me of our travel plans?" I asked, planting a hand on my hip and staring him down.

He twisted his lips into a smile, shaking his head as if I were ridiculous. "I just did." He kissed me briefly as he passed, leaving me floundering after him.

It wasn't until he'd disappeared into the building that I realized he'd left me to inform Regina that her dead, abusive husband had tried to kill me.

What a dick.

* * *

Regina moved through the bedroom and to the master closet, hauling a duffel bag and larger suitcase out from behind where my dresses hung. Her movements were urgent, despite the fact that we didn't need to leave until the next morning, as if she could feel Rafael's urgency as much as I could.

Given how young he'd been when his mother was murdered, I imagined she'd spent a great deal of time exposed to his moods and anticipating them. "If he manages to complete whatever tasks he deems necessary, the two of you will leave early. Patience has never been his strong suit, and whatever happened in Barcelona has him strung tighter than I've seen in years."

I sat on the edge of the bed slowly, staring at her as she perused my clothing and sorted outfits for me. I remembered how desperate I'd been to ensure I had everything I'd need for my trip to Ibiza. The sheer number of times I'd studied my packing list had left the paper worn and the edges torn.

The difference between that uncertain, unprepared girl and the version of me who didn’t even care to give input into my wardrobe was staggering. There was no need or desire to obsess over what I would bring on my trip home or even what I wore daily. Rafael took care of those decisions for me, and at some point it had become a comfort to not have to make them myself.

My life had spiraled out of my control, my choices left to a man who wouldn't allow me to make decisions he didn't agree with. Yet somehow, even forfeiting those decisions, I felt more in control of my life and the world around me than I ever had back home in Chicago.

"So, tell me what happened, since your coward of a husband left that to you," Regina teased, crossing her arms over her chest as she studied me sitting on the edge of the bed with my head in my hands.

"I'm worried that speaking of it will bring back terrible memories for you," I admitted, furrowing my brow. I couldn't imagine being married to a monster like Miguel Ibarra. Having to navigate the depths of the mood swings and paranoia that consumed him must have been impossible. Finally free from him, she deserved to never have to hear his name again.

As impractical as that may have been.

She squared her shoulders, drawing back a deep breath to confirm that she knew exactly what I meant. "Tell me," she said, her eyes shining with her need to persevere through the flash of pain that crossed her face.

"When I was a girl, a man threw my sister and me into the Chicago River. We both nearly died," I said, uncertain how much she might have known. She nodded as she sat down behind me, her brow furrowed in confusion. "In Barcelona, I saw a photo of Rafael's father for the first time."

She swallowed as her hand flew to her mouth, undoubtedly following the only path I could be leading her down. "No." She shook her head, her brown eyes wide with disbelief.

I nodded, twisting my lips. "It was him.”

"Butwhy?" she asked. "Miguel was unhinged. There is no doubt about that, but he didn't go out of his way to hurt people when it didn't benefit him. If he'd tried to sell you to traffickers,thatI could have believed, but to…." she trailed off as her hand shot up to grasp my chin suddenly.

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