Valentina

The place was bustling with people. Moralez family does know how to throw a party. The ammunition and trafficking business they conduct in the garb of hotels and casinos did mint a lot of money. My new family was well respected and feared among every ally who flew in from far and wide to attend a wedding planned in a matter of weeks.

The Moralez clan wanted me to meet every one of them. Amongst all of us, only the youngest Moralez - Agustin seemed to be the only one to enjoy the charade of a reception. His hand always carried a drink and his steps remained completely uncoordinated. He stumbled on almost everyone, including me. Thankfully the loyal dog, Gabriel was present to help me up before I touched the ground.

Although it was not his hand that I expected, it was what I got. El Demonio never even bothered to look when a cry left my mouth before the fall. It was never been clearer, he was doing this for one reason alone; show of power and strength with a woman besides him.

After what Agustin told me about his deceased wife, the information shouldn't come as a surprise. Antonio was an emotionless wreck who wouldn't think twice before a kill. Only the cold-hearted rule the world was aptly said - probably keeping him in mind.

Maria walked me through throng of guests, all of whom ogled at me like an animal at zoo. Actually, more like a sacrificial animal.

I could feel the sear of their pity over my skin. I could see it in their wavered gazes. The fallen look on their faces, knowing my impending fate. What they don't know was the well preserved truth.

I wasn't the scapegoat but the butcher herself.

After an hour of meet and greet, my feet grew twice the size with the pain searing through the back of my calves. I hated heels. All I could care at that moment was to rest my ass and hurl those shoes a mile away.

Maria must have read my limping expressions to suggest the same. Her arms danced in the air, instructing our staff to get me inside the room - the one that faced the beach. 

With the reception running dead, it was the best time for me to escape. The staff was generous with affection, they didn't pity or pride. They treated me like a human. Scapegoat, yet human.

Inside the wedding suit, which looked like a mansion on its own, I pacing myself to the nearest seat and pulling off the straps of my sandals.

Whoever made heels shall rot in hell. 

My feet were sore and bruised with shoe bites and I limped around hoping to apply something cold. The bar was blessed with everything but ice.

"You'd be surprised with the services you receive at a five-star hotel, no matter who you are." A voice echoed behind me. 

I turned to see the man who held that angel voice.

Agustin leaned on the doorframe, shaking his hand which ruffled a bag of ice.

As a parched man in the desert finds an oasis, I walked with extended arms towards him, towards the bag of ice. He shook it again, the sound of ice shavings crushing together was music to my ears.

He walked in before I could reach the door. Placing himself over the couch, he tapped the seat beside. 

I sat still, take the seat and shoving my legs over his lap. 

Don't judge me. He asked for it.

His eyebrows hooked but lasted only for a second. It soon faded with his classic smirk. 

Agustin placed the pouch over my bruised feet, padding it at the sore spot. 

I closed my eyes and me head floated backwards. The cold spikes hit over my skin, rejuvenating life back into my body.

"What did those babies do to you?" Agustin must have seen the scattered heels laying around for the retort. My eyes snapped open, looking at him pointing towards the shoes. He chuckled, pressing the cold padding harder. "Tell me if they hurt you and you shall be avenged."

It was fun to have a man-toy. 

I did what any bored woman would do - play along.

Making puppy eyes and hooking an eyebrow while pouting my lower lip, I nodded at his 'big bully heels hurt lil princess's legs' comment. 

Agustin raised my feet towards his face. My heart work twice its capacity.

He bent lower, kissing my feet, one at a time. The sensation was dead with pain and cold. When he blew warm air over it, I knew what he intended. 

Having a little fun wasn't a crime. 

Agustin forgot one crucial thing - he was my pawn and I, his chess master.

Letting out soft moans, I chuckled small huffs of air. I donned the act of someone who'd never experienced the touch of a man. It seemed to have aroused Agustin, who trailed kisses from my feet, up.

Moving towards me, Agustin was on top. I underneath him. His eyes dazzled with a new spark. My breath hitched. The game was on.

"Such a wasted beauty," he whispered, warm breath hitting the crook of my neck. My eyes stayed glued onto his green, mossy ocean as he lessened the distance between our lips. "Don't feel sad, dove."

Before Agustin could kiss me, my hand coiled behind his head, sliding into his hair. He must have assumed this to be an invitation; a smirk decorated his face. His mind took a few seconds to register my next move.

Anchored in his hair, I pulled him back, elevating his head away from mine. My free hand fetched the army knife strapped on my thigh. At a lightening pace, I made my move. The silver sheen of the metal scrapped over his bobbling apple. 

Agustin didn't realize till a sliver of pain over his broken skin widened his eyes.

"Next time you think I'd kiss you, think twice, Agustin," I said, patting his sweat induced cheek. 

His breath hitched. He stared in horror, the smile vanishing from his face like a summer's day cloud.

Loosening my grip from his smooth locks, I removed the knife off his throat.

He rubbed his palms over his face, pushing his body off the couch and trotting towards the balcony. His face had turned crimson but he never spoke a word.

I expected Agustin to lose control. To turn into a chauvinistic pig who'd hurt me for challenging him. For dissing him. I had known men like those. One who hated being subjugated by anyone, less a woman. 

But Agustin was no ordinary man. He was a Moralez.

"You are one feisty woman, Cariño." When he spoke, his expressions were calm. He even smiled.

In that moment, all I could do was hail Maria for raising her favorite boy well.

"Fiesty is my middle name," I said.

"And I underestimated your middle name," smiling, Agustin took my feet back upon his lap. The lust in him was replaced with concern. "But I've learnt my lesson now."

I remembered closing my eyes, the weight over my eyelids grew heavier with every passing second. "And what lesson would that be."

Laying on my back, I drifted off to Agustin's soft tone. "I'll tell you when you are rested. For now, sleep, Val."

I must have slept for an hour or so, remaining suspended in a dreamless state of sleep.

A heavy voice bought me back to reality. My eyes fluttered open to the disturbance. 

The demon was in the room, his heavy footsteps creaking the wooden floor. His voice - heavy - showed a lack of concern over my sleep. 

"I told you to do one job. Just one," Antonio said, walking away from Agustin. 

With half-opened eyes, I couldn't see much but the sound of liquid poured into a glass confirmed Antonio's presence near the bar.

I remained silent and calm, displaying no signs of being awake. 

Agustin walked back to his brother. "Let's talk in the balcony, brother. She's asleep."

"I don't care." Came the raspy, hissing tone. "I care about what I assigned you to do."

"I tried, brother. I swear I did but she almost slit my throat."

Ahh...

Agustin was sent to seduce me. Idiota. If Antonio wanted me to spread my legs, he should have sent Gabriel.

I stirred in my pretense sleep, silencing their talks. Silence surrounded the room. The floors creaked as the men walked towards the balcony. 

"You really think she is the one for you?" Antonio's tone still remained the same as he stood next to his brother, who held the metal railings. 

I peeked, cringing my eyes for a view. The bright lights in the room blinded my vision.

"Yes..." a long deep sigh later, Agustin continued in a lower tone. "But now you are married to her."

A streak of rumbled laughter followed as Antonio moved back inside.

"You can have her," gulping down his drink, he hissed. Then, like a man who cared about nothing, he picked his jacked from the chair and tossed it over his shoulder. "Knock her up or do whatever you want with her. I'll give the child my name."

"You know..." Agustin held his elbow, breaking his walk. "You can do the same."

"It's like you still don't know me. Or my heart."

"I do."

"Then do as I say. I can't have Maria asking me for a grandchild forever."

Those words hit me harder. At one point I imagined my ears to be bleeding. 

Antonio was a madman; a ruthless killer. 

What I didn't know was that he was also a pimp. I was his namesake wife, a woman who held no importance in his life. 

Heartbeats echoed in my ears, replaying his last words. 

My husband had given his brother the blessing to take my body and make me with child.

For the world, I was Antonio's wife. But inside the four walls of the Moralez mansion, I was only a womb.

~

Babies

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