Sunlight soaked through the glass window. The sky looked a gorgeous blue with sparkly wisps of white. The dawn choir rang on. A bird fluttered on the window, chirped, then moved in a different direction.

Everything looked so peaceful. Everything but me.

I didn't hear Montse walk up behind me. I only felt her arms wrap around my torso and her lips press against my neck.

“Beautiful house, beautiful day, beautiful man. It's like I won a million-dollar lottery.”

An irresistible smile stretched my lips. Rotating in her arms, I faced her. She was as naked as I was.

“Gorgeous woman, beautiful sense of humour, gorgeous body, a sweet as fuck pussy. Where did I get this ticket to Paradise?”

We both chuckled as her arms settled around my neck. I rested my hands on her ass and pulled her closer for a deep kiss. It felt like I had no problems in the world.

Montse rested her cheek against my chest. “You feel so good. So nice.”

She sighed. My dick was at attention, and I would've taken her right there against the window if not for how wistfully she'd sighed. Nudging her back, I looked at her face.

“What's wrong?”

She averted her eyes. “Nothing.”

“You're a terrible liar, princess.”

It took her seconds to speak up. “I got a call from the principal of St Patricio yesterday. He wanted to know if the danger was gone and if I could return. It made me realize how much I'd missed my job.”

She looked into my eyes, and blue panic flashed through hers. “Don't. . . get me wrong. I love this. I love us. I love being with you. But it's just. . . it's just. . .”

“Hey... Hey.” I cupped her face and brushed a strand of her silky hair off her face. “Teaching has always been a passion to you. It's something you can never let go of. Something I'll never let you let go of.”

She studied my face. “You're not upset?”

“How about we return to town tomorrow so you can go back to what you love doing. I'll be right there with you.”

“Thank you! Thank you!” She launched a hug that showed me just how excited and relieved she was.

If only she knew that this wasn't just about her. If only she knew that last night's dream had left me afraid that leaving my parents murder unavenged would lead to consequences I wouldn't like to see.

If only she knew that my revenge on The Godfather was back on track.

I slid my arms down her back to squeeze her supple bottom. “How about we make good use of the free time we have now?”

She bit her bottom lip seductively. “That sounds like an excellent idea.”

*****

I drove the car steadily through the woods. Its tyres crunched through dried leaves and withered twigs. Bringing the car to a stop, I glanced at Montse to find her gazing at her cabin with a look of nostalgia.

Earlier, when I'd implied that I wanted us to go to my house, the only thing I'd gotten from her was a dimness of her smile.

I could understand why she didn't want to go back. It was the place where she'd witnessed Helena's murder. It had to be a horrendous memory.

When we got out, I went for our stuff in the backseat and met Montse on the porch. She was swinging in her net hammock, her eyes closed in bliss. God, she really was gorgeous.

Her eyes fluttered open when she sensed my presence, and she smiled that smile of hers that could send any man to his knees. I leaned down and kissed her before settling into the net beside her.

Her smile suddenly disappeared when her eyes fell on a particular tree. I realized that was the tree behind which we'd ducked the day we'd been attacked here.

“Hey. It's okay.” I pressed my nose to her cheek. “You're safe. The danger is gone. I'll never let anyone hurt you.”

She nodded, her smile returning. “I know. I trust you.”

We stayed like that for minutes. No talking. Just gazing at the sky and the trees and the birds and listening to the birds sing as the hammock swung us back and forth

Now I understood why Montse had stayed here for so long. This place was peaceful.

“Oh God, Mateo.” Montse said all of a sudden, sitting up straight.

“What about him?” I narrowed my eyes, scanning the trees around.

“The day I was kidnapped, we were supposed to meet.”

“You were going out to meet him?”

She glanced at me. ”He called and said we needed to discuss some important things. Since you told me not to go out, I gave him your address instead. God, he must be so worried about me.”

Yeah, so worried that he's probably celebrating our death.

“Before that day, had you ever spoken to him over the phone?” I asked, wanting to confirm the suspicions now weighing down on my chest.

“Yes. He called a week before, and I explained what was happening to him. Why?”

“Nothing.” I replied cooly.

I clenched my fist as anger bunched in my arms. Things were making so much sense now. After the fiasco with Montserrat's abduction, I'd been too caught up in her safety to analyze some crucial things.

How had those men known where to find us?

I was trained enough to detect whenever I was being followed so that was out of the question. Which left only one option; Mateo had been in cahoots with those men.

He was the reason my Montse's life was put in danger. He was the reason why the only woman I could've ever dared to call a friend was dead.

And he was going to pay.

*****

The same nightmare startled me awake: the one where my father pulled the trigger on Montse. Luckily, I didn't wake her

I lied down quietly, trying to even my breathing. Trying to stop my heart from beating so heavily. Trying to come to terms with the fact that it was time.

I shifted slowly and eased Montse off my body, hoping she wouldn't wake up. She didn't. I got out of bed and looked back at her. She was as nude as I was, and my morning wood wasn't helping things.

I looked away. I couldn't afford to be horny now.

Moving quickly and yet as quietly as possible, I grabbed a pair of black trousers, a T-shirt, and a black leather jacket from my suitcase. I was dressed within two minutes.

I'd spent half the night after Montse had fallen asleep after we'd made love wondering whether I was doing the right thing by going after The Godfather.

But if I didn't, would the nightmares ever stop? What if something actually happened to Montse if I decided to leave my revenge incomplete?

After what felt like forever, I'd finally come to a decision. I was going after The Godfather.

I had no better choice. Even if the nightmares would eventually go away, a part of me would always know that I'd failed my parents. I didn't need that kind of regret coming between us in the future.

I picked a book lying on a table in Monte's room and tore a page. Picking a pen, I scribbled;

I promise to be back, princess. But I have to go for now. For us. For our future.

I placed the note on my side of the bed. Montse was still sleeping, looking like an angel while doing so. My throat tightened as I surveyed her beautiful body.

I wasn't going to deceive myself into believing this was going to be easy. The Godfather was a dangerous man. If things went wrong, he could easily feed me my own balls and have me killed.

This could be the last time I was seeing Montse. This could be my last chance to kiss. Leaning down, I did just that, pressing my lips lightly against hers. She stirred but didn't wake up.

I left the cabin, wondering whether I was doing the right thing. Wondering if I was going to regret not telling Montserrat that I loved her.

________________

We only have a few chapters to go people. Yep this wasn't meant to be long so hang on.
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