Chapter 14

The room burned with the intensity of one thousand suns as he stared at her wearing next to nothing and her hair disheveled, “Quien estas aqui contigo?” he questioned her angrily. He had been gone for several days and decided to come home early to find her dressed sexy and looking flushed.

“No one,” she replied angrily, “How dare you take the words of that nosey bitch over mine. Maybe, you’re the one that’s fucking her.”

“Don’t put this on me, Katherine. I have proof that you’re a cheater. And with a man that used to work for me. How low.” He tossed the photos that he had of her and Fernando meeting at various spots when he was away.

She trembled in her spot as she saw the evidence of her infidelity, “Fuck you. Just fuck you Adan, how could you not trust me?”

He shook his head in disbelief, “Trust? I have put up with way too much. I know our relationship wasn’t what you wanted but I always strived to be a good husband to you but you, you’re still obsessed with what never was.”

She sniffled, and wiped her tears, “He could have loved me. We could have had a life. I know you and those people had something to do with making him change his mind. How could I love or trust any of you after that?”

“You’re delusional. Look at yourself. Still pining over a man that has long forgotten you even existed.”

“That’s not true, not true, lies, all lies!” she repeated in Spanish with a tormented soul.

Sweat beaded on her forehead leaving the perimeter of her hair wet, she shook and cried out, “Lies, lies, lies.” She left the bed quickly and went to the kitchen. It was late but she found Donatello standing by the counter texting, “You’re back,” she said as she retrieved a glass of water.

He looked at her, “Are you okay?”

She nodded rapidly. “How is Bianca?”

“She said she had to pack.”

“Good. Our flight leaves early tomorrow but we will be back in a few weeks for your party.”

“Can I ask a question?”

“Sure,” she replied hesitantly.

“I know Abuelo died in the accident with my dad but why don’t you ever go to check on abuela?”

She sighed, “I send her money as often as I can.”

He sighed, “That’s not the same. And you two hardly spoke at Tio Saul’s funeral.”

She touched his face, “Abuela and I are both very strong-minded. And when that happens it’s best to love each other from afar. Rest well.”

He watched as she made haste out of the kitchen. He let out a deep sigh. There was much he didn’t understand and lately, he questioned a lot. Like why in a lot of pictures she wasn’t present until her pre-teenage years. He always attributed it to her not liking pictures.

The room was dark and only the light from her phone glowed. After several text messages with Jake, she learned that he found the apartment where Gio lived. He spray-painted “Fuck You!” on the hood and slit all four of his tires.

She was not pleased to hear he had done such a thing but glad that he had finally taken out the last of his frustrations. “And now it’s over I hope,” she said sweetly as she left her room and headed to the living room.

“I guess, fuck, I wasn’t trying to hurt the dude. I’m over it now. My plane leaves tomorrow afternoon.”

Her bare feet carried her to the living room where she stood in front of Nyla’s painting, “Well, amor, I’m glad it’s over.” She bumped into the small table where the envelope rested, it slid off and some of the contents spilled onto the floor. She stooped down to pick them up and her eyes were not prepared for what she witnessed.

There were pictures of her grandparents with Juan and Saul. There was an article about a man named David Martinez Solis that was accused of abusing his daughter. He was found stabbed to death in his bed. The mother went to jail for the murder and the daughter went to live with relatives.

As she looked through and read, Jake questioned, “B? Bianca, you good, babe?”

“I’m just. What do you do for my mother?”

He was almost embarrassed to admit it but he finally confessed, “I sleep with women for money and she has me managing a group of men for her. Before that, well, you know she had me stealing merch from Manzini Motors.”

She saw more articles, pictures, and other documents about Vincenzo Manzini, “I’m just looking at some stuff. I don’t know what to make of it. I have to call you back in a few.” She ended the call and hurried to put the stuff in the envelope. When she stood, her mother was there, “Mama.”

“What are you doing up? I thought you’d be sleeping.”

“I was just a little restless. I’m headed to bed now.”

“What do you have there?” she asked as she pointed.

“Just some stuff I was checking out about maybe buying a villa in Cancun.”

Her mother smiled, “Cancun. It’s beautiful there. Get some rest hija. We leave early.”

“Si, mama.” She hurried to her room.

Katherine looked at the picture of Nyla. She sighed before walking away.

She held a paper in hand and read it, “As a child, you always asked me about your mother. The truth is she did die at giving birth but not physically. Your mother was young when she became pregnant. My parents sent her away to have the baby. She was supposed to give the child away but she had this crazy idea to take the child to its biological father.

Before that could happen, my father and I intercepted her and I begged my father to let me raise you as my son. He agreed. Your mother thought it was our fault that she didn’t have the life she wanted but how could we let her go to this man that already had a wife and child on the way? It would have only brought embarrassment to her and ruin her chances of marrying the man that was waiting for her.

Everything I’ve done has always been to protect you and your mother.”

She found an article that brought back a terrible memory, Boating Accident, Two Dead, Two Injured, One Missing. Her grandfather and uncle Juan died, her grandmother and uncle Saul were injured and a friend of Juan’s was never found.

That day, she remembered her mother insisted that her father go with everyone on the boat ride. But Bianca had a serious tantrum and refused to stay on the beach without her father, her mother decided that none of them would go. She said she wasn’t feeling well and had Adan take her and Bianca home.

Tears rolled down her cheeks. She hated that her mind conceived the worst of her mother but all things added up to her mother being a murderer.

In the wee hours of the morning, Nyla found herself looking into Gio’s eyes. He felt the life growing inside her as her hips rotated and rocked, she hummed sweetly. As she moved freely, her head tilted back with her eyes closed.

There was a loud knock at the door. Erick who had lay watching and waiting his turn left the bed, “Who the hell is that?” he mumbled as he stomped away.

She continued to enjoy the length of Gio, “Ahhh,” she gasped in delight. He grunted and held her hips and thrust rapidly until he filled her center.

“Gio!” he heard Erick shout.

“Just a second,” he replied as he left the bed and went into the bathroom quickly to freshen up. Nyla followed him and looked at him suspiciously. He shrugged, “I have no idea.”

They met Erick in the living room. Their eyes rested on a beautiful young woman of Spanish descent. Nyla rolled her eyes at Gio, He shrugged out of confusion, “How can I help you?”

Nervously she replied, “I’m sorry to come here –”

“How did you get my address?”

“We have a mutual acquaintance. I found it in his map history in his car. I had to come and warn you that there is a dangerous woman out to harm you and your father. She’s fixated on your family.”