Page 16 of The Veiling

Wrinkling my nose, I puckered my lips.

“Ah, ah,” he lifted a finger, “don’t even think about spitting on me.”

I glanced around the room for any sign of Marco.

“Oh?” Felipe snorted. “Are you looking for that piece of shit who keeps coming after me?”

My gaze snapped back to his.

“Yes, I was shocked he’s still alive after London. Threw a little curve ball into my plan. Your people have a way of doing that.” Bending over his desk, he took a rolled-up piece of paper and pressed the side of his nose. He inhaled a white powdery line and leaned back, shaking his head. “God, I love my high-quality shit.” He pivoted back to me, pointing at me with the paper pinned between his fingers like a cigarette. “He’s been taken somewhere special instead,” he leaned forward, “and don’t worry, you’ll have a front-row seat to his demise. I know how much you always loved horror movies. Now, you’ll get to watch one in the flesh.”

I felt sick. I needed to vomit. He was the cruelest person to walk the face of the earth. Visions of being a child, being forced to kiss my father’s dead body surfaced, and a single tear rolled down my cheek. I knew he was just trying to break me. I fought back the pain he had caused me, determined not to let him win.

“It will be a while before I killyou, though.” He grinned. “I’m going to let you watch me peel your fiancée’s—” Felipe paused, lifting his gaze behind me. “I’m in the middle of a little family reunion.” Narrowing his eyes, he smirked down at me and winked.

“The other thing we discussed, boss, is happening right now and you’re needed.”

My uncle cocked his head, staring over me as if he were perplexed.

“The d-r-u-g-s?” The voice muttered in a low volume.

“For fuck’s sake, she’s not four. She can spell.”

“Uh, well, they’re ready and it might require some of your time.”

Felipe gripped his hips, groaning at the ceiling. “Fine, Diego.” He threw his arms out, bringing his gaze to mine again. “Looks like we’ll have to continue this reunion later, my sweet girl.”My sweet girlwas the nickname he gave me as far back as I could remember. Every time I heard him utter those three words, it made me physically ill.

Someone else stepped up next to me, taking my elbow and pulling me off the chair. As they both hauled me to the door, the sound of my uncle clearing his throat caused them to stop. They both spun around.

“She’s clearly pregnant.” He darted his menacing glare at me before continuing, “Give her some water, at the very least. I can’t have her dying too soon.”

“And her friend?”

“Give him nothing.”

With a single nod, they dragged me through the house. Mentally, I was planning my escape, as I noted every turn we took. We came to a stop in front of a door. One of them took a key from his pocket and unlocked it. Without a word, he opened it and squeezed my elbow on the way to the bottom of the tight stairwell while the other waited at the top. The room was empty other than pillars throughout, and beautiful, dark hardwood flooring.

Movement caught my eye in the room's corner. Marco was sitting against the wall, hands behind his back. It appeared as if he had been hit, but the room was dimly lit, and it was hard to see his face clearly until I got closer. He never once looked up at me.

“Sit down,” the angry man commanded.

I followed direction, staring straight ahead as I bent my knees and sat on the floor, leaning back against a post. Felipe’s lacky pulled my arms back, securing them with fabric behind the column. “I suggest you not move. We can see everything down here.”

“Uh, water?” I rasped.

He snarled down at me. “I’m not giving you shit. I don’t give a fuck what your uncle said. You’re not being treated like anything but the scum you are while you’re here. This ain’t the Ritz-Carlton, bitch.”

Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back as he disappeared up the stairs. The moment I heard the door close, the dam holding my tears back broke, and they plummeted from my eyes like a waterfall. My head fell forward, bobbing lazily as I sobbed into my knees.

“It’s going to be okay.” Marco’s voice barely penetrated the sound of my cries.

Sniffling, I glanced over, still confused by how he was alive.

He held his hands up. “I’m not tied up.”

“What?”

He crawled over and slid behind the column, freeing me within seconds.

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