Page 45 of Keeping My Captive

Cristóbal stands behind all of them, a look of displeasure on his face. I’ve shot someone in his home during a party that he was hosting. Even more so than that, I destroyed his beautiful library, something he takes a lot of pride in. He’s definitely going to be upset with me, maybe even want me dead after all is said and done, but I would do it all over again. I would do anything to protect Aria.

Stripping off my suit jacket, I wrap Aria tightly inside of it. I don’t want anyone to witness her in a vulnerable state. “Take her to the car,” I tell Ignacio.

He goes to protest, probably wanting to stay with me in case shit goes down with Cristóbal, but I give him a look that lets him know I’m fucking serious and it’s not open for discussion.

Aria’s fingers grasp my shirt tightly, not wanting to let me go. And, fuck me, in that moment, I don’t want her to let me go. But I have shit to take care of right now, and I want to know that she’s safe while I’m conducting business.

I give Ignacio a nod, and he grabs an unwilling Aria and pries her hands from my shirt. She looks hurt and scared as she’s led away from me, but it’s for the best.

I watch until she disappears around the corner, and then Cristóbal steps forward and says, “Let’s go have a little chat, Mateo.”

I follow him past the group of people, who stare at me with curious and frightened looks. Once they leave this party, word will spread fast that Aria is my one and true weakness. That she is mine. That I would kill and have killed to protect her. And even though I haven’t taken her virginity yet, everything will change after tonight, whether we want it to or not.

CHAPTER33

Aria

I’M STILL IN shock as I sit in the back of the car, my hands trembling uncontrollably as I stare down at the blood soaking into my Oscar de la Renta dress. Mateo shot the man who hurt me. He saved me.

Damion was going to rape me.

My first time would have been with a man I didn’t know and by force. Just the thought of it has fresh tears building up in my eyes, and I can’t even stop them from spilling down over my cheeks.

And now Mateo is dealing with the consequences of his actions. They could be in there torturing him…or killing him. And if Mateo dies, then what happens to me?

A violent shiver of fear runs through my entire body, and I can’t stop shaking. The adrenaline is wearing off, and now I’m just left with the overwhelming sense of fear of what could have happened. I wrap Mateo’s jacket tighter around me, inhaling his familiar scent of expensive cologne and tobacco, and it seems to ground me somehow.

Just then, the car door opens and Mateo climbs into the backseat beside me. He barely acknowledges my presence as he tells the driver to go. I watch carefully as he pulls the coin out of his pocket and rolls it over his knuckles in restrained agitation. Once we’re about a mile down the road, Mateo finally turns his attention to me. “Are you alright?” he asks, his voice a guttural whisper.

I open my mouth to answer, but nothing but a high-pitched, mournful cry comes out. I fling myself into his lap, and to my surprise, he holds me. His arms envelop me in the warmest, most tender hug I think I’ve ever had in my life. I bury my face into his chest, wanting to be impossibly closer, wanting to literally crawl inside of him. His hand soothingly rubs circles on my back as he shushes me.

“It’s okay, Aria. You’re safe now,” he assures me.

I feel so small, so vulnerable in his arms. He allows me to cry, soaking his shirt in the process while he holds me. I seek comfort in his embrace, in his touch, in his soothing voice even though I know I shouldn’t. I watched him kill two men in front of me now. Two men that laid their hands on me, and Mateo protected me from both.He will always protect you, a voice in the back of my mind reminds me.

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned while being with Mateo, it’s that there are worse monsters out there than him.

“Why were you in the library, Aria?” he asks, his voice measured and controlled even though I can feel his muscles tensing.

“I…I was looking for a phone.”

“You were trying to run away,” he says accusingly, pulling back to search my eyes for any deceit.

“No!” I say quickly before adding, “I don’t know. Maybe.” Sniffling, I tell him the truth. “I wanted to call my family. Let them know that I’m okay.”

He huffs in disapproval but doesn’t say a word.

“I made a mistake,” I cry. “And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left your side.”

He stares at me, his dark eyes assessing me and making me feel completely exposed. “My life is dangerous, Aria, and now you’re a part of it. After tonight, people will see you as my weakness, and they will try to expose that to get to me. Do you understand?”

I nod slowly.

“You can’t ever run away from me again.”

“I-I won’t,” I stammer, struggling to promise what I know is ultimately wrong. I should want to keep fighting, keep running away, keep trying to escape. But after today, I think my burning desire to leave Mexico, leave Mateo is going to be extinguished. It’s safer for me to stay with him. For now.

“Cristóbal told me the man who attacked you was Damion Tuffin. Did you know him?” he questions.

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