Antonio

Gabriel kept a steady pace on our way home against my wish to rush back. He even cracked a joke on how desperate I was to see Val. Had it been the beginning of our marriage, I wouldn't have hesitated to boil him in my anger.

Since Spain, things seemed to have shifted in perspective. Val wasn't just a womb for me anymore. Her vulnerability pierced through my armor the other night. In her weakest, she sought for me. I was glad to be available for her, elated that she didn't hesitate to seek comfort in my hold.

There was something about her, staying strong even during her lowest which crawled its way through all the shields I held up. Like a bullet, it crashed through all of it. It hit the deepest part of my heart, rounded up my soul. I wanted to hold onto her, never wanting to leave that girl who cried over my lap.

As the roof of the house danced at my eye level, I patted Gabriel's side. He accelerated, winking at me through the mirror. Val's text danced in front of my closed eyelids. Since yesterday, I read it over and over. Hearing her voice in every word, her breath in every pause. It kept me warm at night when she couldn't.

The long driveway felt like a never ending road. We cruised through it but my eyes remained glued at the open entrance doors. The mansion had never been so inviting. One person's presence made this house a home again. I knew, there was a million things we needed to talk about, issues we needed to sort, most important among them beginning with my apology for treating her wrong.

Maria was right. She used to nag about the day when I would have an epiphany about Valentina's role in my life. I used to ignore her words.

Like the sunlight finding its way into creek and crevices, finding its way, that day too arrived. I knew what Val meant to me and wasn't scared. Her vulnerability gave me the will to take the next step. I was consciously taking the first step to a peaceful living. I was willing to move on from the darkness of my past. I was finally burying Elena in my memory. She was the love of my life, she would always be. But she was also a memory which held me back from any feeling. I was carrying the weight of her imaginary dead body over my shoulders and it was time for her to be laid to rest.

I shrill scream shattered my thoughts. Gabriel speed the last lap as I pulled out my gun. From my place I could see our men rushing inside the mansion. Halfway there, he pumped the breaks. We tossed off the car, finishing the last few meters of feet before sliding into the hallway.

Darting to the kitchen, the crown of men dispersed, making way for us.

A woman was wailing in the corner as my eyes trailed the crimson drops on floor to its source. Our guard dog was bleed to death. Maria was holding onto Valentina, who watched all this in horror.

I walked over to the help who straightened and wiped her tears as I approached.

"You saw who it was?" I asked. She darted her head for a no before peeling her hand from behind. A blood smeared card with letters in bold laughed back at me.

Take one of mine, I kill all of yours.

Santos

This wasn't a mere threat from him. It was an act of war. Valentina moved like a jungle cat, unheard. Only when she stood beside, did I notice her presence. In her silken robe, she wasn't oozing charm, she was dictating commands. Looking over, she pulled me aside after taking the note off the help's hand.

"There is a mole here," she said, scanning the people present in the kitchen in a matter of seconds. "I am sure the security cameras would be cut too. Whoever did this, would want to stay hidden."

"I will get Gabriel and Mateo to look." I said, taking a step ahead when I heard a gasp from the crowd.

Sofia trembled at the sight of the dead animal. She looked everywhere as tears streamed down her face. When her eyes fell on Valentina, Sofia's mouth opened slightly as she breathed in air. Her hand travelled to her chest, nestling her fragile heart and her eyebrows bridging together. When Val nodded to her silent question, she heaved dryly.

Sofia's knees buckled up and she fell on the floor, near the trail of blood. Maria was swift in her instructions and the kitchen staff left within seconds, following her. The only ones that remaining in the presence of our beloved dog, Hugo, was us three. 

"I am sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen." Sofia, leaned over, apologizing to Hugo. I was aware of how Santos has protected his sister from everything bad that he was. She was an angle who grew up with the devil but remained pure. Even dad and Maria had once tried seeking her as an alliance for me. Glad that it never worked out.

Alejandro was the next to rush to the room. He kneeled before Hugo, patting his head before his men carried him away. Val too, touched the dead animal once before her eyes darted to me. "Find him," she mouthed.

"I will." I replied.

Al walked over to me, asking for details when Sofia's violent sobs turned him on his feet.

"Shut this nonsense. I know you killed him." He leapt at her like a mad carnivore, ready to devour the prey. She slid back into Valentina's embrace.

Before Val or I could say anything, the hungry wolf pounced, grabbing her wrist and pulling her off her safety. Sofia pleaded for mercy but Al was blinded by anger and grief. Hugo was his favorite. Santos knew how to hurt the one thing Al cared dearly about. It was his payback.

Val held Sofia's hand, pulling Al to a standstill. "There is no need to act like a deranged man, Al. She didn't do it. She was with me." Val pulled back Sofia.

But instead of leaving her hand, Al twisted it. Sofia fell towards the flood, nursing her hand and whimpering in pain, biting onto her lips.

"What is wrong with you, Al." Sofia pushed him away from Sofia, shouting. "Are you so mad to see this is what Salazar wants?" She held the weeping girl onto her chest like a mother would do to her child.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do. I only listen to Antonio and he doesn't care what you think." Alejandro raged onto Valentina.

Sofia flinched, expecting another hurt which never came. I placed a hand on my brother's chest, halting his attack.

"There is no need for that. You will listen to Valentina, just as you listen to me. Do not disrespect her, ever. Or our guest." I said in a cold tone for him to register. He moved a step back, gazing me with furrowed brows. I was sure a part of him imagined I was replaced with a body double.

Once Al walked out, Sofia managed to stand back on her trembling feet.

I couldn't take my eyes off her bruised, purple lined wrist. "I am sorry on behalf of my brother. He is-"

"Loco." Val murmured to herself.

"Yah. What she said." I patted Sofia's head, walking out of the place. There was not much I could tell her. My brother was angry, even I was. But it wasn't Sofia's fault. She was as victim as were we.

It was Val who walked behind me, calling me out. Panting, she halted her steps, nearing me.

"How was your.." she sighed, "meeting?" She ran her hands into her hair, pulling it in a bunch. "God, how will we find out who did this to Hugo?"

Her concern touched me. I wanted to hold her in my embrace, trying my best to pacify her. Knowing how we never even had a proper conversation without trying to bite each other's head off, I decided to start there.

"We will find whoever did this. Hugo's death wouldn't go in vain. I promise you that."

I placed my hand onto her shoulder. Reeling in, she coiled her arms around me, drawing me into her embrace. A rush of calm and serenity filled up my chest as she placed her head over my chest. My hands remained suspended in the air as my mind tried understanding how to coil it around her. I wasn't a hugger, never was. Scared to be holding her the wrong way, I coiled it, inches after inches as she tightened her grip.

An urge to remain in this state took over as I tightened my grip over her. A sigh of relief, washing off all tiredness and tension released off me, drop by drop. Tickling down my fingertips, I felt blissful. The sea of turmoil in me, lashing its waves on the bodily beach of mine, calmed. Froze.

As was true with all good things, Val moved away, tugging strands of hair behind her ears as she chanted an apology for her behavior.

My heart fell into a bottomless pit as our distance increased. She was vulnerable and this was its doing. It wasn't her need to hold me but her unfortified moments of self that led us here. How her simple embrace made me feel such rock hard emotions, I couldn't justify. I didn't want to either.

"How was the meeting?" She straightened her robe and looked away towards the kitchen.

"It was good. The Italians would arrive soon. We will see how to deal with Salazar while looking into other allies for the time being."

Val's throat bobbled. She inhaled a long deep breath, searing her vision onto the maroon carpet. "Can you not tell anyone about Ramon till.."

With loss of words, I tiled my head. Although I wanted to hurt the man for the pain he caused her, everything rested on his survival. He was instigating our allies. Ramon's breaths needed to remain in his body till we found how deep his connections ran and till where.

I walked back to my room. Val took Sofia to hers to patch her up. At the doors, she tuned back at me, smiling. Her eyes sparkled before the doors closed.

I stood watching her go, slipping like sand from my hand. Don't be vulnerable. My mind whispered me and I accepted.

One woman almost destroyed me. After Elena's demise, I was like a place ruined by fire. Nothing could grow, nothing could be built. I was being the same with Val and I knew I needed to stop before she took over the place in my heart that held the power to destroy me.

Val may have replaced Elena but that part of me which wanted to feel vulnerable again, expose it all for love, died with her. Val was my wife and she nudged her way into my heart. But I was scared to let her see me as how I saw her yesterday.

Vulnerable. Broken.

I closed the doors in my room as I did with my heart.

~

Babies..

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