Page 60 of Ravaged Hearts
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I scoffed.
“Why are you really here, Elena?”
“I told you. I decided it wasn’t worth sticking around for your men to kill me. Where else would I go?” I narrowed my eyes. “Are you doubting my loyalty?”
He slammed his fist on the table, rattling the crockery and making Gabi and me jump. “That’s exactly what I’m doing!”
The awkward silence that followed was broken by Carlos—somehow undisturbed by Jorge’s outburst—slurping soup from his spoon.
Slowly, I placed my palms either side of my bowl. “What do you want from me, Jorge? What can I say to prove myself? Because you’re starting to sound as paranoid as Papi used to.”
“There’s nothing you could say to make me trust you. Loyalty isn’t demonstrated with words; it’s demonstrated with actions.” He pulled a pistol from his waistband and placed it on the table. “Kill her.” He jerked his chin toward Gabi.
A sharp breath escaped me, then my gaze darted between Jorge and his terrified wife. “What?”
“You heard me. Prove your loyalty to this family by killing the woman who stands in the way of you taking your rightful position.”
“You’re out of your?—”
Snatching the gun from the table, Jorge stood quickly and charged for me. He yanked me out of my seat and dragged meto where Gabi sat shaking. Jorge manhandled me so my back was flush with his chest and forced the pistol between my palms. His hands stayed wrapped around mine, fixing the weapon in place. Then he pushed me forward until the muzzle met Gabi’s temple.
She cried out and squeezed her lids shut.
Jorge’s hot breath assaulted my ear. “The safety is off, and it’s loaded. All you need to do is squeeze the trigger.”
“Jorge, please,” I begged. My legs turned to jelly. If it weren’t for Jorge’s painful grip on my hands, I’d fall.
“You want to prove your loyalty?” His tone took on a menacing edge. “Then do it. Murder this woman in cold blood like the narco queen you were always meant to be.”
Something inside my skull roared like a freight train. Or maybe it was just blood rushing through my veins. My hands shook violently. Cold sweat moistened my brow.
“What do you say, Gabriela? Do you choose death by this pistol ormy waylater?”
“It’s okay, Elena.” Gabi nodded. Her throat shifted as she swallowed with difficulty. “I forgive you. Just get it over with, please.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and my chest threatened to splinter.
“You should listen to my wife. Show her mercy. You know I won’t.”
I tried to back away, but Jorge held me in place. “You said you’d let her live until after the baby is born.”
“I lied. Just like you’ve been lying to me from the moment I picked you up. Now, put your finger on the trigger.”
“No,” I snarled through gritted teeth. “Killing Gabi proves nothing.”
Jorge’s hands tightened around mine with bone-crushing force. “Come on. I know you can do it. If this pistol were pointed at my head, you’d blow my brains out in a heartbeat.”
I wished I’d snatched up the gun when Jorge had firstoffered it to me, because he was right. I’d have turned it on him and fired without hesitation. But was it even loaded? Maybe it was empty and this was some fucked-up loyalty test I needed to pass. Pull the trigger, wait for the click of an empty chamber and Jorge’s laughter at the unspeakable horror he’d just inflicted upon us all for his own sick satisfaction.
But I wasn’t about to test my theory.
“You won’t do it?” Jorge wrenched the gun away and shoved me face-first onto the table. Glasses tipped over. My flailing hands knocked a bottle of wine to the floor, and it shattered. “Maybe there’s another way you can prove how committed you are to this family.” Then Jorge was on top of me, his body hot and heavy, holding me pinned beneath him. He kicked my feet wide. His erection dug into my rear.Disgusting.
“Get off me!” I fought to free myself, but it was no use. He was too strong.
One of Jorge’s hands clamped around my nape, ramming my cheek against the tablecloth. The other reached beneath my dress and yanked at my panties until they tore.
“Stop!” I yelled, but it was all I could get out. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t speak.
No, no, no. I didn’t want this.