Page 93 of Santiago's Conquest (Four Dark Horsemen 1)

Are you asleep?

Why are there cops at your house?

OMG! Briseis, where are you? This is madness. Everyone is dead.

Briseis! They didn’t find you inside and your phone is not working. Where the hell are you?

My grandpa is fine, in case you wondered. He travelled to visit my aunt earlier today, so he doesn't even know about the tragedy.

I’ve been calling and messaging for hours, but you just ignore it. I hope you’re alive, because my hands itch to strangle you!

You got fucking married without me? It’s official. Run for your life when we see each other next time. I’m gonna kill you.

By the way… you looked really pretty, and I love this picture. You should have told me the guy you’ve been secretly crushing on proposed to you. Call me tomorrow or I’m gonna raise hell on earth to see you.

I smile, warmth filling my chest at her words, because there is at least one person in this world who cares about me and cheers me up, even though she must be super pissed right now. Somehow, knowing that my best friend would have never given up on me until she found me and I wouldn’t be forgotten gives me strength. I pour energy from reminding myself that all the abuse I’ve faced before wasn’t because of my wrongdoing.

So if Santiago’s parents decide to verbally hurt me, I will protect myself.

I’m a survivor, and we always find a way to move forward, no matter what obstacles stand in our way.

“You have a good friend,” he comments, his deep voice bringing me back to the present, and I nod, dropping the phone in my lap.

“The best.”

“You can call her now if you want.”

Gritting my teeth to not snap at him—or rather at his casual order—as if I need his permission to call my best friend, I shake my head. “We’ll be at your parents’ soon. This might be a long conversation.” Besides, I so don’t want her to shout into my phone about my so-called crush and the possibility of Santiago hearing it. The guy already has a big head; his ego would fly through the roof, and it’s not like I pined away for him anyway.

I still write her a message though, so she can stop worrying about me.

I’m so sorry. I’ll call you later tonight?

Her response comes instantly.

You better. Love ya!

Santiago fishes inside the envelope again, and this time I see a small leather wallet in his hand, which once again he gives to me. “Inside you’ll find several credit cards and cash in case you might need it. There’re also pass cards to the Cortez buildings; all my employees already know to follow your orders if there are any. I want you to be able to access anything of ours at any time.”

I’m speechless, too shocked by his gifts, not knowing how to react while just staring numbly at the wallet and phone.

More what they represent, really.

Power and resources.

Essentially, he has placed power in my hands, granted one he can always snatch back, but still. Would a true monster have done that to his victim?

Even my grandmother never gave me access codes or allowed me to boss around her people, reminding me I was nothing as I lived on her charity.

So the man sitting beside me…

Has good qualities in him? I wasn’t wrong after all?

Clearing my throat, I finally find my voice and ask, “Why are you doing this?”

His brows furrow. “Doing what?”

“This.” I lift his gifts, their heaviness burning my skin.

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