Page 18 of Ruthless Rival

Iso and the other bodyguards grabbed a table about ten feet away from me, so they could keep an eye on me and the area surrounding me.

I almost considered ordering another drink while I waited for Gabriela to arrive, but I held myself back. The tequila shot already helped take the edge off my nerves. I didn’t need another one to dull my senses too.

As I waited, my gaze shifted around the restaurant, glancing over groups of friends, families, and couples. Their laughter and chatter mingled with the lively music. Besides my family dinners, I couldn’t remember the last time I was in such a passionate environment.

“Let’s slow it down a little,” the young singer spoke into the microphone. He turned to the band and nodded before brushing his hand through his short, dark hair. Soft strumming filled the restaurant as the singer held the microphone and leaned close to start singing softly and slowly.

Couples filled the dance floor, caressing and holding each other as close as possible. They swayed to the music, smiling at each other and gazing into each other’s eyes. Some embraces were so intimate I thought I shouldn’t have been watching at all.

It had been years since I experienced something like this. I hadn’t held a woman intimately since Sienna, and I missed running my fingers through soft hair while feeling smooth skin under my lips and hands. Everything I touched felt so cold and hard now.

My neglected soul ached as I remained all by myself in the corner, wondering if I could feel the happiness I’d felt with Sienna again. With my children fleeing the nest and starting families of their own, I was gradually becoming more and more alone as the years went by.

I clenched my jaw as my chest ached, willing the pain away. I shouldn’t be spiraling into a crisis right now, but it was hard to look at what I didn’t have. So, I tore my eyes away from the swaying couples and looked back at the doorway just as a familiar, dark-haired angel strode into the restaurant.

My lungs locked up, refusing to take in or release air. Unable to move or breathe, I watched Gabriela pause near the front of the restaurant, her wavy, black hair bouncing with each turn of her head. She wore blue jeans that were tight against her hips, thighs, and ankles. A brown belt hugged her waist, while a loose, black, long sleeve top adorned her torso with the front tucked into her jeans. She finished off the look with black heels that added an extra inch to her height.

She looked different than she did when we first saw each other at Adriano’s wedding, but she was the same gorgeous woman now as she was then. One of her hands rested on her hip as she glanced around the restaurant for me.

One soul looked for another.

I wasn’t the only one staring at her, though. A few men at the bar looked over their shoulders to admire her. They started nudging each other and chuckling to themselves. I suspected that they were trying to work up the courage to approach her.

Not on my watch.

I managed to jump-start my mind enough to rise to my feet so she could see me better. However, when our eyes finally met, my legs didn’t feel as sturdy as they usually did.

Immediately, a bright smile crossed her face as she lifted her hand in a small wave. Not only did she look so much younger than me, but her mannerisms showed her age as well. She was riding high on the vibrancy of her early thirties and I enjoyed how she glowed.

I nodded to her, finally drawing a breath in. With each step she took toward me, my heartbeat thudded in my ears, dulling the sound of the music. Her voice was my music, her smile was my sun, and her eyes were my stars.

Because of her, the memories of tonight would linger in my mind for the rest of my life.

Chapter Nine:Sanity

Gabriela

By the time I returned home, the rage I had buried struck me full force as heat burned through my face and my head throbbed. I couldn’t believe I actually tried to be civil with my father. I should’ve spouted off every single angry thought in my mind. He deserved to hear how much I hated him.

However, I knew what I would be doing tonight would hurt my father far more than any terrible words I could ever say to him. Words were as powerful as a foam sword against him. What struck him deep was betrayal, and my night out with Alberto Mancini was my way of crossing the line.

My father made me out to be insignificant to the Castillos, but the Mancinis would soon consider me as an important ally. I would be significant to my father then. I would become his ultimate enemy, and he would never dare to speak another awful word to me again.

I approached the front door of my house. Before I placed my hand on the doorknob, I paused and sucked in a deep breath.

Breathe. And breathe again.

After all of the terrible things that happened to me in my later teenage years, I went to therapy, needing someone to help me heal my broken mind and soul. Therapy wasn’t a cure for me, but it showed me that even broken people could have a say in how their future played out. I had to set my intentions, craft a plan, and then execute it.

My therapist, Dr. Sarano helped guide me to the point where I didn’t break down in tears every time I thought about my lost children. It still hurt like hell to think about them, but I tried to imagine them living happily somewhere. Perhaps, my father had them taken to an orphanage, and some beautiful couple who couldn’t have kids of their own had adopted them.

As much as I loved and missed my twins, I would rather them be happy and alive with other parents than be dead. I was willing to give them up to someone else if that meant sparing their life. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a say in that decision and had no idea what my father ultimately decided.

I would’ve still been going to therapy now if my father hadn’t found out about Dr. Sarano and scared him off by sending cartel members to destroy his office and nearly beat him to death. My father couldn’t stand the thought of me healing in any way. He wanted me to remain broken.

However, Dr. Sarano taught me a few methods to use when my anger or sadness was so intense that I couldn’t breathe. I placed my hands on the front door and lowered my head, closing my eyes. Breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, I worked on slowing my heart rate down.

Think about something good. Positive. The first thing that comes to mind.

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