Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“If it is, we’re naming her Daisy.”
“Jesus Christ,” I whispered to myself, attempting to take everything in. The room felt as though it was caving in on me. I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the fury within me. Wanting nothing more than to take out the son of a bitch who got her pregnant and put a fucking bullet in his goddamn head.
“I can’t stay here anymore. There’s nothing left for me. I need to move on with my life, raise a family. Get a house where my babies will be safe. Where my family won’t live in fear,” she added.
“What about me? Huh?”
“You’ll always be my brother, Alejandro. If you want to be in our lives, you’re always welcome. But you’re going to have to accept Michael as part of mine. He’s the father of your niece or nephew. We’re all family now.”
I was over to Michael in three strides without giving it a second thought. Getting right up in his face. Grabbing the front of his shirt, jerking him up and toward me.
“Alejandro!” Amari tugged at my shoulder, trying to stop me, but I didn’t pay her any mind. Too focused on my task at hand.
“You take care of my sister and that baby. Do you understand me? This is the last time I will ever grant you another warning. You protect them with your life. You treat and respect her like she fucking deserves. All I need is a reason… Give me one reason, motherfucker. I don’t care who the fuck you are, or what you mean to Amari,” I gritted out through a clenched jaw. “I will lay you the fuck out, and not think twice about it.”
I shoved him off. He lost his balance, stammering to sit back on the bed to regain his composure. “They’re my life. I love your sister and that baby more than anything,” Michael declared his love and devotion. Complete and utter bullshit.
I shook my head, slowly stepping away, needing to get the fuck out of the room before I did something I would regret. Sophia trailed closely behind as I furiously made my way back into my room. Shutting the door behind her, I paced around the room with my feet moving on their own accord. Fueled by uncontrollable rage, burning a hole in the floor beneath me. Each stride only added to the tension I felt in my core, throbbing through my veins, producing a piercing sting in my mind.
“Alejan—”
I put my hand out, silencing her as I continued to pace around the room. “Don’t.”
“Let me just—”
“I’m fucking warning you, Sophia. Not. Right. Now.”
“You’re warning me? What, am I next?”
I stopped dead in my tracks, glaring at her. Cocking my head to the side, I scoffed out, “Let’s just say I wouldn’t take my warning lightly. I want nothing more than to take my goddamn anger out on your sweet little ass right now. But contrary to what you seem to think about me now, I’m not a fucking monster.”
She jerked back, hurt.
I didn’t falter. “Is that all it takes for you to turn on me? Because I’ll tell you right now, Michael is a dime a dozen, sweetheart. There will be a Michael around, lurking in the corner, trying to make you turn against me. Especially after you carry my name.”
She grimaced.
I raised an eyebrow, stepping toward her, causing her to back away until she hit the wall with a thud. I caged her in with my arms, eyeing her up and down.
“Since when do you want me to fight your battles?” she asked not backing down.
“You didn’t say one word in there, Sophia. Not one fucking word. I don’t need you to fight my battles. I need you to fight for our love.”
I saw doubt in her eyes for the first time. She didn’t even try to hide it. And that look alone almost brought me to my knees. I pushed off the wall, slowly backing away from her. My father’s words from not so long ago coming back to haunt me.
“Do you think she’s strong enough to handle our lifestyle? Your future.”
I shook my head, ridding myself of doubts and memories as she reached for me, immediately realizing her mistake.
I shoved away her embrace, roughly grabbing her chin instead and spoke with conviction, “Actions will always speak louder than words, cariño, and yours just spoke fucking volumes.” I let go of her and walked away, leaving her to wallow in the doubt that I knew was now implanted in her head.
I went up to the attic of the only home I’d ever known, feeling more alone than I’d ever felt before. Contemplating if this was the life that I was destined to lead.
No family.
No love.
No God.
Only darkness.
I sat there for what felt like hours, lost in the depths of my mind. A menacing place I didn’t like to frequent very often.