Rosanna has never looked more beautiful. As she walks slowly toward me with her arm causally interlaced with Pearson's, a radiant glow lights up her face and her lips curl to a little smile. I'm so lucky that she agreed to marry me. She is my world.

"Man, I still can't believe you made her off-limits," Felipe mutters next to me.

I shoot him a lethal look. "Don't even go there."

He smirks. "Why? Sharing is caring." When my eyes narrow, he chuckles under his breath. "Come on, mano. You know I was just kidding."

I let it slide, focusing on my beautiful bride instead. She has almost reached me. A light flowery scent floats my way; I'm not sure if it's her perfume or the wreath of flowers she skillfully wove into her long hair. Whatever it is, it adds to her incredible grace.

She and Pearson halt right in front of me.

"That's it." Pearson's face is rather grim. "I'm turning her over to you, so you'd better make her happy or I swear I'll fly out to New York and kick your ass. No teary phone calls, you hear."

I can't help but laugh. "You have my word." Before he can turn, I grab his arm. "Thank you. For everything. You know I'll always have your back, right?"

For a moment, our gazes lock. "Is that a promise, Tomás?"

"Yes. Yes, it is." Other than to Rosanna, I rarely make promises, but Pearson has given me a life I could've never gotten on my own. Because of him, I can stand proudly in front of a mirror. I like the man I have become.

I reach for Rosanna's hand and pull it to my lips. "I love you."

In return, she gives me one of her amazing smiles. My insides heat. I can't wait for her to become my wife. I briefly stroke over her ballooned stomach. Can the baby sense that his or her parents are about to join their souls?

The clearing of the priest's throat tears my attention from my beautiful bride.

"Can we begin?"

Rosanna smiles at the priest. "Yes, Father, of course."

He goes through the spiel of the sanctity of the wedding vows, how important it is to honor and respect each other. Rosanna and I stare into each other's eyes the entire time. No way I'm going to disappoint her. She is my life, the reason I get up in the morning. The sacrifices I'll make will be worth it in the end.

And then finally, the moment arrives that will mark our irrevocable commitment.

"Do you, Tomás Araya, take the here present, Rosanna Velasquez, for your wedded wife, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better or worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do you part?"

When I nod, her eyes fill with tears. "I do."

"And do you, Rosanna Velasquez, take the here present, Tomás Araya, for your wedded husband, to love him, respect him, honor and keep him for better or worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do you part?"

Her "I do" is accompanied by a fallen tear. So much happiness radiates from her face that I struggle to breathe.

Felipe nudges me in the side. "Here, the rings."

My smile is crooked. I almost forgot. Wiping my sweaty palms on my black jeans, I fumble with her ring. My hand shakes so hard that I pray I won't drop it.

Being the woman she is, sliding the ring on my finger isn't an effort. Her calmness is almost unhinging.

We turn back to the priest with our fingers intertwined.

He beams at us. "What God has joined together, let no man tear apart. You may kiss the bride."

I cup my hand around the back of her head and gently pull her closer. Her lips are soft with a slight tinge of cherry. Neither of us are fans of showing affection in public and I keep the kiss short. There is plenty of time for that later.

Felipe pulls me into a side hug. "Congrats, man. I'm thrilled for you." He bends forward to peck Rosanna on the cheek, fortunately keeping his hands where they belong.

My brother is next. "Congrats, Tomás."

"Thanks, Mateo."

The embrace is quick.

"Look, before you head out, I really need to talk to you."

My smile fades. "Not sure if I have time. We're gonna spend the night at Pool's Rock, and we leave for America on Friday. There is still so much to do." Tomorrow morning, we will pick up the visas at the embassy, and after that, it's packing and goodbyes. The forty-eight hours will fly by like nothing.

Mateo's gaze is on my bride. "I really believe you're making a mistake. This won't work. You love your home too much, but when you wake up and realize how miserable you are in America, it will be too late. You'll be left with nothing. Making this type of sacrifice for a woman is bound to fail."

For a moment, my focus strays to Rosanna. She's laughing out loud at something Pearson has said. Sparkles dance in her eyes—she's like a beacon of joy. She strokes her belly in constant circles; the baby must be kicking up a storm. Not once has she complained that she will be forced to take care of our child instead of fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse. Such devotion will last, no matter how many doom theories Mateo has. Going to America is the least I can do for her.

When my focus returns to Mateo, I'm surer than ever that this is the right choice for us. "I know you mean well, but I have to do this. My family deserves this."

The sadness in his eyes tears at the piece of my heart that is still desperately trying to hold onto the relationship we once had. His frown destroys the moment. We'll always be brothers, but the current rift between us will be hard to bridge.

"You have to do what you think is best, Tomás." This time, the embrace is much tighter than the first. "I'm likely not gonna be around to see you off. Good luck with everything."

He storms off, a whiff of anger left behind.

Rosanna walks over, her arm looping with mine. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine. Mateo is just upset to see me go."

"Mateo is always upset." She rests her head against my shoulder. "Come on, don't turn grouchy on me now because of Mateo. I want your full attention today."

I stroke her belly. "You both will get my full attention today. How are you feeling?"

"My ankles are a little swollen."

I peck the tip of her nose. "I have just the right medicine for that."

When I open my hand, Felipe produces a set of keys. "I brought everything down to Pool's Rock this morning," he whispers in my ear. "You're all set for an epic wedding night, even if there won't be any sex."

Chuckling, I shake my head. Man, I'm going to miss him. Losing my best friend will hurt almost as much as leaving my home behind.

"Where are we going?" Rosanna asks as I whisk her away.

Though I'm sure she can figure it out, I pretend to keep a little suspense. My laugh is boisterous. "You'll see."

~~~~

Hundreds of stars sparkle in the sky like blinking lights on a Christmas tree, the sharp outline of the three-quarter moon now at its full height. It must be approaching midnight. I tuck the blanket closer around Rosanna and she snuggles against me. With a sigh, my gaze returns to the sky. In a city like New York, seeing any stars will be a rare treat. Another thing I'll miss dearly.

Trying not to spoil the mood, I trace a finger along a set of stars. "That's the Milky Way."

She shifts, her head nestling against my shoulder. "Truthfully, I'd prefer the candy type right now."

I turn on my side to spoon her so she doesn't lie on her back for too long. It could be bad for the baby. "Soon, you'll be able to buy any candy bar you like at a corner shop. No more bribing Miguel to get us one from the foreign section." I stroke through her hair that is curled around her shoulders and brush a kiss on her exposed skin. Everything about her is soft, especially her heart. It holds only goodness.

"Do you think Isandro will like growing up in America?"

I chuckle. "Still set on that name, huh? And what if it's a girl?"

"No, I'm sure it's a boy. It's the way he kicks. Rowdy—like you."

"I'm not rowdy." I pretend to pout.

She laughs. "You have to be rowdy. You're a man." She turns around to look me in the eyes. "Plus I like that about you. Makes me feel protected."

"I'll always—" When my ears pick up a scraping sound a few feet away, the rest of my sentence is swallowed down. "Did you hear that?"

There it is again. I free myself from Rosanna's embrace and sit up. I search around in the dark for my gun. The blinding beam of a flashlight breaks through the night. I squint; several dark figures have surrounded us.

"Keep your hands where I can see them, Araya, or I'll shoot your little ho."

The cold voice resonates deep within my skull and I shift my body in front of Rosanna. Protecting her and the baby are the only things on my mind.

"On your feet. Both of you," the voice orders.

I slowly rise, ensuring that my body is constantly shielding my wife. The bright light is still stinging my eyes and I can't make out his face. The voice is unknown to me, but I have no doubt that this ambush is part of the rebel movement. He's way out of his territory and knows my name, so this can only be a targeted attack.

He finally lowers the flashlight and his gaze roams over me from top to bottom. Out of the corner of my eye, I count at least ten other men. He raises his rifle and for a second, I fear he will shoot me in the chest, but the barrel hits my shoulder instead.

"Step aside. I want to take a look at your bitch."

I don't move, my glare locking with his. His eyes are pitch black, a direct reflection of his soul. A low glint is the only emotion—those are eyes that indulge in other people's suffering.

One of his men tears me away from Rosanna. A low sob escapes her as his nasty eyes give her a good once-over.

He chuckles. "I've always wanted to fuck a pregnant girl."

When he takes a step forward, the words sink in. Ignoring the barrels pointed at me, I lunge at him. Several arms tear me back. My elbow rams into the nose of one attacker; he briefly loosens his grip. That's enough time for me. With a growl, I punch my closest assailant and my fist connects with the soft center of his groin. A howl echoes off the mountain walls.

The sound is drowned out by Rosanna's cry. I make the mistake of diverting my attention from my opponents for the blink of an eye. The nasty guy is right on top of her with his pants down. When he thrusts himself inside her, every fiber in my body freezes. My muscles flex, but before I can catapult forward, something hard collides with the back of my head. The darkness around me explodes in a sea of stars. My knees go dead and I fall forward.

The kicks find their mark as I lay helplessly on the ground, but the pain that soars through every part of my body is nothing in comparison to the agony I see in my wife's eyes. Tears roll down her cheeks as she sobs in silence. Her lips form my name, begging for my help, but I'm powerless. After a kick to the side of my head, the black spots that dance around me almost suck me in. An atrocious groan of pleasure clears my foggy mind.

"That's enough!" the guy shouts. He rises back on his feet. "I want him to see this."

The kicks stop and I try to push my chest off the ground, but my arms are like jelly. Every breath is pure torture, the only other sensation is the coppery taste in my mouth. Trying to get up again, I choke. Blood drops off my chin.

The blade of a knife briefly glints in the moonlight.

"Nooo!" My desperate shout rolls through the night the same second that Rosanna's blood spills from her neck. Her body goes limp and her head falls back. With the life going out in her eyes, my soul shatters into a thousand pieces.

The rage, flooding through my veins, finally gets me back to my feet. I punch at my wife's killer, but it's to no avail. My fists only hit the air in front of me as several hands restrain me. It takes four men to hold me back.

The guy's laugh is that of a madman. He fists my hair, forcing me to look at him. "I felt the baby kicking. It was epic."

I wrestle against my captors, but my body is too weak to break free. Every part of me is engulfed in agonizing pain. When I don't still, one of my arms is pulled back so harshly that the bone in my shoulder is pulled out of its socket. The world turns black and I'm unable to suppress a groan. I blink a few times to get rid of the blurriness, but when the world is sharp again, my heart comes to a standstill.

A baby's cry breaks the still night air; I meet my son's gaze and my soul rears up one more time. His eyes are just like his mother's—soft and full of tears. I try to reach for him, but the blade of the knife cuts off his cry. In that moment, everything inside me dies. I will never see my son grow up. I will never witness his first steps. He will never smile at me. The first breath he took was also his last.

With a wide smirk, the man turns around to face me. "Get rid of him. He is of no use to us."

My feet drag over the ground. The sharp edges of the rocks tear off the bare skin, but my mind is oblivious to pain. In utter disbelief, I stare at my dead son and wife, their blood uniting as it seeps into the cracks between the rocks. Incredible sorrow and loss crush my heart.

The ravine is getting closer, tempting me with death. Nothing in this world is left that makes life worth living. Only at the edge of the chasm do I snap out of my trance and my natural survival instinct kicks in. My heels dig into the ground. The abyss is like a big dark sea that will swallow me up. One more time, my muscles flex to fight my opponents. My arm tears loose; with a growl, I claw my fingernails into the skin of the attacker to my right, ripping open part of his cheek. He yelps. A blow to my knees immobilizes me again.

With one shove, they drop me into the canyon. Falling, I kick my legs, my arms flapping up and down like the wings of a bird. It's silly, of course. I can't fly. I brace myself for the impact, ready to die. Life without Rosanna is too gruesome to imagine. Might as well go the whole way.

Wind rushes through my ears as the ground rises toward me like the mouth of a giant beast. With a bone-shattering jerk, my fall stops. A groan explodes from my lips. Bark scrapes my cheek and I slide through leaves until I hit the ground. Every breath hurts; waves of pain stab into my chest. I raise my head toward the stars blurred by blood and tears. No way I hit the bottom. I'm not getting the easy way out.

~~~~

Drifting in and out of consciousness, I lie on my back, unable to move. Eventually, the darkness of the night gives way to early morning light, the sun and scattered clouds replacing the moon and the stars. As the sun rises in the sky, my heart and soul feel as broken as my bones. I allow a few stray tears to roll down my cheeks. I want to hold Rosanna just one more time and tell her about our son.

When the afternoon heat beats down on me, I talk to myself to keep my sanity. "You can do this, Tomás. Sooner or later, Felipe or Mateo will find you. Your bones will heal."

With a grin on my face, I picture all the things I will do to the guy who killed my family. I will hunt him down and skin him alive, and then feed him to a mountain jaguar. His pain will be tenfold of what I feel now. I will take my revenge.

By the time the canyon walls color red from the setting sun, no tears are left in my broken body. And with that, self-loathing settles in. I'm the one to blame. I did this to myself. I allowed Rosanna to steal my heart. All this agony could've been avoided. Sure, I would've been saddened by her death, but my soul wouldn't be weeping. I wouldn't be utterly destroyed the way I am now.

As clouds move across the moon, anger burns in my chest. Giving Rosanna my heart was reckless. My love for her made me weak. It made me want to turn my back on my country. Instead of being thankful for all the things I had, I only cherished her.

Closing my eyes, I let go of her with a pained breath.

I'll get through this.

Tears well in my eyes. They are no longer tears of sorrow but of hate. No one will ever get close to me again. Love is something for an enemy to exploit. It causes pain and agony. And it destroys.

Gritting my teeth, I claw my fingers into the graveled ground. From here on out, I will deliver pain and fear with every step I take until nothing is left inside me. People will suffer the way I suffer. The world will feel my hate, just as I feel the hate of the world.

These thoughts pull me through in the end. When Felipe finally lowers himself down to me by a rope, an impenetrable shield surrounds my soul. Love will never make me weak again. I'd rather kill than give my heart to another woman.

So this is the end of War Orphan, but only the beginning for Tomás and Stacy's story. I know the chapter was very sad and those of you who know War Bride also know now why Tomás is so damaged.

Thanks for reading War Orphan. Next up in the series will be War Widow with the first chapter publishing tomorrow, so keep your eyes out for an update. I hope to see you soon in the comments.

~~~~~

© Sal Mason 2018

This work is protected by copyright and should not be copied, downloaded, translated or used in any way without my expressed consent. Please don't steal it. Thank you!