Valentina

It only took Antonio a few days to stay away from me for the heavy realization to jog my senses. Every part of me craved for him. He had become the addiction I had refrained from enjoying. He knew all the right words and deeds to play me on, driving me onto the edge.

Gosh, what have I done to myself? I had fallen for my doom.

Sitting in Maria's room, my mind wandered to all things I wanted to do to Antonio when he returned. I has shun myself from those thoughts before, telling me that only one thing needed focus- Elena. But every passing day had me think more of my husband, the man whom every cell in my existence craved for.

The task I assigned to Nico about Elena returned empty handed. All he did in his cabin was drink and sleep. As a last resort, I sought Mateo's help in getting her information. If Antonio trusted him, then so could I. Gabriel's trainee, Mateo was helping me seek how she managed to place the box on my bed, in open daylight.

"What do you think, Val?" Maria twirled Sofia with a blue ribbon tied around her waist. I watched in amusement, how Sofia showed no signs of desperation. Her last attempt to escape was spoiled, yet here she was, smiling away at Maria's marriage preparations.

I didn't have the guts to tell Maria about our plan. If Santos caved into us strong arming him, Sofia would be returned unscathed. She wouldn't have to marry Alejandro and Agustin would be saved a heartbreak.

When Sofia cleared her throat, I focused on them.

"He will be back soon," Maria fastened the lace over Sofia's dress. They both stifled a giggle. "I can see your rising impatience, Val."

Falling beside, Maria gestured her index finger into a round. Like a mechanical doll, Sofia twirled again, looking at us. "Is this better, Val?" she asked, eying her satin gown.

"Why I am here, Ma?" ignoring her words, I whispered to Maria. She patted my clubbed hands and revealed a half smile.

"I know you are angry at her but she was justified in escaping." Maria whispered back, eying her doll. I was scorned at Sofia but by siding with her, Maria was willing to partake a piece of my dissent. "She was doing what was good for her."

I knew, Sofia was justified by all means. It was the nag of betrayal, that had me act sour. I had taken Sofia to the church to escaping the maddening silence of the house. She choose that place for her escape. It felt like a kick she delivered in my abdomen when all I ever did was to support her. I was repaid with betrayal.

"If there isn't anything else, I would want to leave." I stood up, awaiting Maria's permission.

I wasn't bound to adhere to her instructions but it was something that I found myself doing willingly. When I moved outside, Sofia's call and thrumming footsteps followed me. She held my hand and turned me. I saw her panting, stooping lowed and resting her hands over her knees.

"Val, I know you are mad at me but I am not sorry." I was expecting an apology, one which Sofia didn't make. "It took me nights to figure out why you were angry but I know you are not mad at me for leaving, you are mad at yourself for trusting me. Although I failed in my attempt, I wanted to tell you that nowhere did I wanted to betray your trust."

I turned to walk away when she rounded her arm into mine, pulling me to a halt. "I am not finished," her eyebrows raised, as did her voice. "I said I am sorry for making you feel bad for your trust, it wasn't my intention. But I'm not sorry for escaping. You would have done that too."

She spoke her peace with a heaving chest. Stepping back, she disappeared into Maria's room. All I could feel was the warmth of my smile creeping up on my face, replaying the words of a little rebel in making. A weakling turning up strong.

A formation of jet black vehicles roared through the driveway. I rushed to see them disappearing into parking. My heart thumped and shook from its place as the voices emerged. Antonio met most of the security members downstairs before arriving up.

Anticipation crashed in my chest likes waves to the shore. I was driven mad, wild, watching the ajar door. It was then, I derived the understanding why all chaotic hurricanes are names after humans. Antonio was mine. He crashed in my life and turned it upside down. In the aftermath, all I could do was wait for him to hit me back, drench me again and undo me, just to piece me back together.

My door flung open. He rushed in, a wide smile donning his face as he pulled me off the bed and locked me into his embrace. All chaotic thoughts and lingering doubts inside me faded into a state of calm. Snaking his hand into my hair, Antonio kissed me with a longing that I had never felt before. He dropped me on the bed, pulling me off my clothing.

I pulled him up, watching his darkened eyes. "What's the rush?" I asked.

He dipped his head over my chest, unhooking my lingerie. Sucking my taut skin, I writhe under his touch. He blew air over his tongue work, setting a trail of fire in its wake.

"I missed you," he whispered, pulling his face up to look at me. Watching me come undone. "Isn't that enough?"

Sitting up, I tossed his clothes off. Holding onto his warm member, I dipped my head and rolled my tongue over it.

"Me estas haciendo perder el control," he hissed words between his teeth, coiling his hands into the base of my neck and snaking his fingers into my hair, a coiled bunch for him to control.

My lips turned up. With every flick of my tongue and deep throating, he cussed, words that arouse me. With my fastened pace, he grabbed my face and took control. Tears formed at the corner of my eyes, my throat scratched with his entry but his moans made me ready for him with every passing second.

Pushing me on the bed, Antonio crucified me beneath him. Upon his entry in, I gasped. I was complete when he stroked me, slowly before picking up my body to sway with his. In that moment, I knew what I wanted with him. Apart from respect and trust, I wanted him to love me back. Just as I did.

We fell on the bed, panting. Antonio pulled me to his chest, kissing the back of my neck. His growing erection was a sign of another turn, round two, I called it. We went back for another play, this time I took command, riding my stallion. Underneath me, he gave up control, only to take back at the last moment.

Sleep came naturally, even in the bright hot afternoon. Only when the cooler evening pricked our naked skin did we wake in each other's hold. Antonio watched me, smiling. I placed a hand over my face, annoyed.

"Stop it." I said, covering my face with a sleeve of his shirt lying beside.

"Why?"

"Because," I hopped off the bed, returning my clothes onto my body. He laid in the bed, under the sheet, a Michelangelo's model. "I am feeling..."

There were no words to describe what I felt when he stared at me, baring my soul. I could only melt under his sight. Pulling me, Antonio placed me on his lap. "Did I tell you, you could dress?"

"Do I need permission for that?"

He nodded, unzipping my dress till my hip. With a finger trailing down, he bit onto the soft skin over my neck. "Woman tend to remove their clothes for me," he whispered, blowing air over my broken skin. "You are the only one who wants to be covered around me."

"Who was it?" I turned, escaping his hold. I knew that the meeting was yet another place for men to have fun. I wasn't aware that Antonio was one to fall. My hand held his jaw, tight. "Who?" I barked.

"You."

I watched him as my eyebrows connected, removing my hand from his face and shoving it inside the sheet where his erection was ready for a third. Without a clear answer, my violent streak reared its head.

"Who did you sleep with?" I pressed his member, harder than he expected. He flinched for a second before tossing me back on the bed, straddling me under him. Every struggle of mine was a waste. His overpowering strength held me in place, sprawled over the bed.

"Do you have a problem if I sleep with someone, Val?" his mocking tone was clear. Mine spit back on his face.

"Yes I do." My inhibitions paved way for my vulnerability. Unable to resist the rising fire that emerged from my gut, I struggled but to no avail. He wasn't willing to move or let me go. I was seething underneath him.

We promised, nobody else. Was that merely a one night saying?

Dipping his head, Antonio bit the crook of my neck. Pleasure and anger rose in me, I looked away as a rogue tear escaped my eye. I wanted more, I wanted it all. My mind kept telling me but I was a fool to believe Antonio's thoughts were aligned with mine.

"Damiela went rogue, trying to seduce me," he teased me at my entrance, saying those words.

I looked back, biting my lips to control the urge. I wanted him but not as a man who was willing to sleep with anyone. With a smile that vanished, Antonio's eyes darkened with desire. With another stroke that enticed my entrance, he looked back.

"I told her off. I swear. My wife wouldn't want that, would she?" With a jolt, he entered me. "Tell me, would she mind?" he panted, his words taunted.

I rose off the bed as the pleasure needles pricked me to let go. "Can't you see for yourself? She would mind it terribly."

Antonio needed my words, I needed his loyalty. We both got what we wanted, playing each other's body to submission. Only at night, with stomachs that rumbled us out of reverie, did we move down for food. The family had eaten already, it was only us.

At the table, Antonio told all about Damiela's approach and how afterwards Dante made good on his promise on the supply. Before Antonio arrived, I had received news about more Italians coming for help. The biggest shipment of ours was all lit with green signals now.

I was beaming with a sense of pride, my husband was a badass not only at home but outside too. A fucking loyal badass man.

"And the Brazilians are looking for a match for their daughter," he said with a full mouth. With my surprised expression, Antonio continued. "For Agustin."

"You think he is ready?"

"He will be. Or he will eventually become ready, like I did." With a fork that pointed at him, Antonio slyly hinted his acceptance of our marriage. There were no clichéd love words that floated between us. We were two different people with different backgrounds, who cared each other in their own way. The unconventional way.

My phone buzzed away the silence on the table. The letter E flashed across my screen. I picked it up, walking away. On the other end, I could heard Elena's ragged breath.

"How is it going?" she enquired. My blood boiled at her voice but also, the pricking pang of someone overhearing us gripped me. I looked around, eying the walls and the entrances.

I knew that telling Antonio would be the easy approach but a part of me restrained me from doing it. She was his first love. What were the chances of him not going back for her? My heart may have been portrayed as an epitome of strength for the family, it was only I, who knew the truth. Deep down, I was a scared girl, hoping that the man I fell in love with, loved me back.

"The shipment with the Italians would be next month. It's the biggest one." My voice was barely aired onto the speaker. The weight of betrayal hung over it.

"Good," she sighed, tapping her nails over something hard. The rat-tat-tat was annoying. It only meant she was planning things in her head. So was I. "Tell me if there is something else that comes up. I want to know."

Upon my whispered reply, she exhaled heavily over the speakers. "Oh Val, your father would be so proud of you," she cackled said before ending the call.

I watched my screen disappear into dark with her name. The biggest shipment for the Moralez was my biggest gamble. I was willing to take down the whole family for the truth that hid behind the veil. Elena's truth.

~

And there we go again.. Round and round in the circle..