Page 3 of Torched

The only relief I feel is the hate I have for Cristina. Part of me has always been fearful that she could convince me of her innocence the moment she stood before me. But now I know for certain Cristina Reyes will never convince me of anything, ever again, other than the amount of evil she possesses in her hateful, voluptuous body. She radiates a wickedness that only has a place inside the gates of Hell.

“Hey, Liam.” Cristina’s voice is sultry, smooth like honey, but annoyingly sticky, her lashes fluttering in a taunt like she doesn’t have a care in the world. It takes me right back to the time we first met, the entire memory now overshadowed by a cloud of thunder. I try to swallow the tightness in my throat away, fully aware of the tiny smirk that's cut on her red lips and what it means. They stand out against her olive skin and her black hair framed along her face with big waves. She still has a stunning appearance, but I can’t see past the ugly personality it comes with.

Not anymore.

Her arm is wrapped around Imogen’s neck, a gun pressed against my girl’s head, filling me with fear.

“Cristina.” I acknowledge her with my molars grinding before I lock my gaze with Imogen. The angst in her eyes holds my heart in a tight grip, and I try to shoot her a comforting look. But I know the anger radiating from my skin makes me fail miserably. Time seems to slow down, my senses registering every tiny change. The contrast of the happy feeling I had a minute ago, now replaced by heat and discomfort in a split second, is leaving me hanging on a very fragile thread. It’s taking everything I have to not react impulsively to get Gen from Cristina’s grasp without thinking about the safest way to do it.

“Are you insane?! Let her go, Cris!” Callie yelps.

She takes a step forward, but Kane holds her back with a rumble leaving his chest. Cristina only pushes the barrel harder against Imogen’s temple, making her squeeze her eyes shut. Clearly, Callie still likes to believe there is room for reason when it comes to Cristina Reyes, the girl she grew up with to believe was her cousin. But let’s be fucking honest. Cristina has as much reason for things as she has empathy. There is nothing other than mayhem and darkness within her.

“Really? That’s the welcome I get, Callie girl?” Cristina pouts, but the glint in her eyes is undeniable. “I thought you’d be happy to see me. I heard you’ve been looking for me,abejita.”

“Don’t call me that!” Callie snaps at hearing the nickname Frank Reyes had for her. “Youdon’t get to call me that,traitor.”

“Traitor? You’re the one who betrayed us for these two. You could’ve been on top of the Reyes clan.” Her chin nudges toward Kane and I, my brother holding the same rigid stance as me.

Callie takes another small step forward, her arms crossed in front of her chest, with a devilish grin that shows how she doesn’t let anyone intimidate her. Her energy seems to grow in situations like this; she never cowers. Reminding me of that first day we officially met, when she was standing in front of our entire team with a scowl that made her appear ten feet tall. “Why would I want to be on top of the Reyes clan when I’m already on top of the Carrillos?”

“Oh, that’s right. You’re fucking‘dumber’over there. Sorry, my bad.” Cristina dramatically rolls her eyes. “I really thought you were smart enough to fall for Liam, at least. But no, you went for caveman Carrillo. It’s a shame, Liam would take you to fine dining, court you a little, give you a foot massage after a long day.” There is a dreamy look on her face, almost as if she has regrets, before her expression hardens in a snap second. “What do you get from Kane? Takeout and the promise to be fucked whenever he pleases?” There is a clear disdain in her voice, the words almost spit into Kane’s face with her brown eyes laced with a dare. She wants to challenge him. For him to lose control, like I never allowed him to when we were together.

My brother has more self-control than that, though. He just stands there like a colossal statue, ready to step from his pedestal at the right time.

“Let her go, Cristina,” I command. My hands are balled into fists, the corner of my mouth lifted with a glare. Completely focused on Imogen, I notice her chest moving up and down in an exasperating pace, as if she’s mentally telling herself to keep breathing while Cristina keeps her front pressed against her back.

“What? No.” She snorts as she drags out the word, brushing my comment away. “Imogen is fine. Aren’t you, sweetheart?” Her hand glides into Gen’s hair before she twists her head to the side. A groan comes from Imogen’s throat, followed by her face scrunching in a pained expression, and Callie and I both take a step forward.

“Tsk-tsk. I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Cristina smiles, locking her arm tighter against Gen’s neck, making it harder for her to breathe. I can see it in the slight struggle Gen makes in order to get some more air into her lungs. The sight guts me in the worst way.

I want to kill her. I want to pull every hair from Cristina’s sadistic head until she’s crying like a fucking baby. But the past has taught me not to underestimate her. Not when she’s holding the only woman I care about in her manicured claws. “What are you smiling at, big guy?” She nods her head at Kane, and I spin my head to face him.

He lets out a chuckle, folding his arms over his chest. The way he’s looking at her is diabolical. It’s one of the rare moments I like the fact my brother has psychotic traits that can match the level of crazy we are facing right now.

“I’m just thinking about how much I’m going to enjoy torturing you. Skinning you, like I did with Fernando. Maybe pull out some organs while you’re still awake before I hang you on Plaza de España. You remember Fernando, don’t you,Crissy?”

The briefest flash of discomfort crosses her face, but it’s barely noticeable, followed by a vicious glare from calling herCrissybefore she returns her unimpressed stance.

“Meh, Fernando was a two-faced fool who followed Junior around like a puppy dog hoping for a bone. I’m glad you got rid of him.”

“What the fuck do you want, bitch?” I say, with force this time.

I’m done entertaining her. If there is anything I know, it’s that you don’t play games with a Reyes. You figure out what they want and go in for the kill. Don’t be tempted to give them mercy or even redemption, because it will not end in your favor.

“Bitch?Now that’s not very nice, is it, Liam?” She throws me a sad face, one I know is fake as hell. I failed to see it the first time, but I know now nothing is real when it comes to Cristina Reyes. It’s all one big game to get what she wants.

“What the fuck do you want,bitch?” I repeat, the corner of my lip lifting in a snarl.

“Really? We can’t even catch up for a minute? We have a past, after all.” Her lashes flutter.

“One I’d erase from my brain if I could.”

“Come on, baby. We also had good times.” Pursing her lips, it only makes me want to punch her face until her cheeks match the color of her red lipstick.

“Answer the damn question,Cristina,” Callie growls. Her voice still holds a little patience, unlike mine.

“Oh, Callie. Sweet Callie. Why so snappy? I’m still your cousin, aren’t I?” The sparkle in Cristina’s brown eyes shows a clear vision of the psychotic lunatic that she is.

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