Page 5 of Temptation: Discreet

“Hermana, don’t lie to me. Look, I spoke to Ry. He gave me the information for Giordano Security, and you know what’s funny?” He chuckles, “It’s run by one of my childhood best friends. He left after high school, and didn't want any part of the violence that came with being associated with the Cartel. Instead, he went into the military, and still led a life of violence.” He shakes his head, looking up at the ceiling and letting out a sigh.

“I know why he did it. I should have been hurt when he left and abandoned our family. I shouldn’t even consider giving him a job, but I trust him.” His eyes meet mine, and they hold so much promise. If they are a friend of Julian, then what harm is there watching over me? Even if I’m not happy about it. “Anyway, I meet with him, so he can take charge of the new security while I do everything in my power to stop you from marrying Eduardo.” He pats on the bed and lifts himself off, walking slowly towards the door.

“Why?” I say softly, questioning why he would help me against father’s wishes.

“Because, you’re my best friend, Hermana. I may not be able to feel emotions the way you do. But I will protect you.” He nods slowly, and gives me a small smile before walking out of the room and shutting the door behind him.

I sit there in silence long after Julian walks out of the room. How could I possibly close my eyes again when all I can think about is the guilt I feel for having lived instead of our mother?

I think back to that night and the way the smell of cigars lingered in the air as Ricardo’s men held my mother down. My father was being held by his other men, as I was splayed out near her body. Worse could have happened if my father hadn’t gained the strength of a thousand men and tore them off, beating everyone within reach with his fists. His face and knuckles were covered in blood by the time he finally reached mother, their blood mixing together as he screamed in pain. His darkened eyes hardened as he met mine. After that, Ricardo and the rest of his men fled, leaving us in a pool of my mothers blood.

I shake thoughts of that night away, praying to a god I don’t even know exists to give me the strength to either disappear and continue my life on the run or at least give me a quick death before my wedding night. I gather up my blankets covering myself once more, hoping that the daylight will come soon as I mentally begin to countdown the minutes before I get to let out some aggression on the punching bags we use at the Serpents.

Jab, jab, lead kick, rear kick, and again. I continue hitting the punching bag, silently going through my techniques I learned here at the Serpents Boxing Club. Julian and his guards stand watch while I go through the motions alongside Sierra. My heart begins to hammer in my chest with how aggressive the workout is becoming. I let out all my anger with each punch and kick.

I pivot my back foot so I’m sideways of the punching bag, lifting my lead leg out and kicking sideways at my mark. Sierra holds the bag in place as still as she can, moving a few inches back when my foot makes contact with the target.

“Awesome job,” Coach yells. He claps his hands together like he always does at the end of our lessons. “We’ll see you next week.”

Sierra and I smile at one another, an understanding between us, a silent praise of a job well done. Our wrapped hands hold onto each other as we step off the mat and make our way back to the girls’ locker room. The one place we can speak freely without the eyes that watch me like a hawk.

“What’s with the added guards?” Sierra sighs while unwrapping the cloth from her hands.

“It’s complicated. Father found out about the night I snuck out.” I place my hand wrap in the locker I keep at the gym. Her face crinkles in distress, her eyes on me as I try to withdraw the lump in my throat that is dangerously close to exploding.

“It’s fine. Doesn’tmean I can’t find a way to sneak out for next time,” I grin.

She chuckles at that. The hope that my brother succeeds in getting me out of this marriage is the only thing that is keeping me going. Running away would be the last option I have, even though that’s not a life I want to have. Sierra was right when she said they would search the world for me. I’d never escape my family, but I also won’t sit here and be sold to our enemies willingly.

I make my way over to the private showers, quickly rinsing off the sweat off my body with the strawberry body wash I keep here. I’m thankful that I have my own shower here at the club. It’s one of the only times it pays off to be part of a family everyone is too afraid of. I also have my own locker with all the essentials I need to change after an intensive work out. I wash my hair off quickly, then stand under the hot running water for a little longer to just breathe; to stop thinking about the impending doom of the marriage my father wants.

“Catalina, let’s go!” Julian’s voice echoes in the locker room.

“Let her fucking shower in peace, asshole!” Sierra barks at him. I chuckle at her reaction. Those two can’t stand each other, which is a huge contradiction to how Julian looks at her.

“Fuck off, Muñeca!” He yells back at her.

Rolling my eyes, I turn the water off and dry my body as quickly as possible, then get dressed in my black laced panties, black ripped jeans, and a red crop top. Sierra is already dressed and sitting on the bench in front of our lockers. “Is there anything I can do?” Her brows pull together in a frown.

My heart aches at the concern that Sierra has for me. I want nothing more than to tell her the truth, to tell her that I’m being forced into a marriage, that I’ll have more security than damn Fort Knox, and that I feel like I’m drowning.

I want to, but I don’t.

I smile back at her. “I’ve got this, I promise.” I make sure to keep my tone light to fake it, because I know if there was even a slight tone change, she would see right through me. “Don’t worry about me, I'm a Dominguez.”

Cabrona or Death. One way or another, I’ll have my freedom.

Chapter 4

My fist is around my cock, my body splayed out on my bed, but my mind is on the dark-haired goddess that refuses to leave me alone. I imagine her next to me, her gentle touch on my skin. Her plump lips against the nape of my neck slowly moving her way down my bare chest, kissing and licking her way down my torso all the way down to my thickening cock.

I can practically picture her honey brown eyes looking up at me as she spreads her soft lips around the crown of my length. I let myself get lost in my own touch, imagining it’s her delicate hands on my shaft. My grip tightens a little more as my hand moves up and down my length. I swipe my thumb over the slit of my cock, spreading the pre-cum causing me to shiver. The hand on my cock moves faster and faster, while the other kneads my tightening balls. I can feel myself getting closer as I continue my fantasy of her sinfully red smeared lips down my cock, how tight her pussy would feel as she comes all over my lap. Or her face as she screams my name in ecstasy, with tears running down her eyes. That’s the image that does me in as my warm release hits my abdomen and chest.

Fuck. I’m not sure how I’ll survive her. I’m not sure I even want to. She’s wrapped herself around me and dug her fangs into my soul, and I don’t know how she found a way in.

I lay there a little longer recalling the way she looked like a goddamn snack with her black ripped jeans and red crop top, her nipples hardening whenever the wind blew slightly. She had walked out of that Boxing Club with the blonde bartender from the Butterfly, and stopped to admire the flowers outside the building. I’ve noticed how she always seems to stop at the same tree every time she leaves. I wonder if there is some type of significance to that specific one. Her brother and his guards were right behind her, and I almost bumped into her on purpose just so I could see that sparkle in her eyes up close. I couldn’t though, not with her brother there. So, I walked away and headed home before having to show up at the office.

When I get to the office, I find Kai waiting for me. He’s taken on most of the workload, along with the help of our other buddy, Rocco, even though I’m the majority holder of our business. It’s allowed me all the time in the world to watch over Catalina. Rocco is another friend from the special task force, another brother I trust with my life, which is a rarity. Our team is large, considering the fact that we’ve only been open a few months. Lucky for us, California is full of those that need protection and it’s allowed our business to grow significantly, turning our team of twenty to a little over a hundred.