Chapter 12

They chuckled softly at the needy cat-like sound that escaped my lips while I felt my face burn with embarrassment. I could sense a few peculiar glances around us, some women in the fifth row quickly turning their faces forward as soon as I looked at them.

Dios, mierda, what was I doing? I should be focused on all these lectures, I should be preparing to present my thesis to the university board. I already had everything ready, but I didn’t want anything to go wrong. The women whispered into each other’s ears, letting out quiet laughs. I felt my hand growing damp and cold, making it clear that my heart was beating three times faster than normal. Was this a panic attack or something similar? A situation like this could stain my career before it had even properly begun. Rumors spread like wildfire—what would happen to me after they returned to their lives?

It was just one night, but then there was the morning too; and now, the two of them were acting like this. For the first two days since we had arrived in Las Vegas, they had barely looked at me or simply kept me behind them, taking notes and collecting contacts from everyone who could be useful. I was confused, unsure of how this could be good for me, so I tried to make my breathing appear natural.

My body moved quickly as I stood up, trying to draw as little attention as possible. I felt the firm grip on my leg the moment I rose, but I still needed to get out of there. I was already murmuring apologies as I made my way out of the hotel’s auditorium.

My arms pushed the doors open as I hurried along with my short legs.

"Zelda!" Bruce’s deep voice came first before I felt Tauro’s hands on my arm, stopping me as I turned to him.

"What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?" Tauro’s large, rough hand stroked my forehead as he looked at me with concern. Bruce, ever silent, paused, assessing me while rubbing my arms. I could feel the growing stares as all the other businessmen paid more attention to the small scene unfolding in the hallway.

Mierda, I was just an intern… just the intern. I knew this level of closeness was unusual—I was throwing my entire future in the trash.

I felt my eyes burn. I couldn’t even remember the last time I had wanted to cry… or maybe I could. I cried when I was a little girl over losing my father—when he was gone forever. That was the last time I had allowed myself to feel lonely and abandoned. I had to be strong for myself and for my mother, who had lost her great love and fallen into a deep depression. So, I never fell apart again. I was always my mother’s fortress.

What was happening to me? I wanted to scream, run, or just throw myself between these two tall men in front of me and beg them to protect me from something I couldn’t even name.

I had never been weak again in my life, and I had never felt so desperate to be with someone stronger, to receive affection.

The two men looked at me with concern, but what could I say to them? "I’m a fool who just realized the trap I fell into." How could I say that? They would return to Chicago, and soon, they wouldn’t even look at me again.

They had warned me—they couldn’t offer me anything more. And how could they?

Nothing but being my bosses’ whore. That was what I would always be, and my life and career had just gone down the drain.

"Talk to us, cariño," Bruce’s soft voice, as he stroked my cheek, nearly made me scream. I was dying a little more each time he said that word with such tenderness.

"What is it, sweetheart? Are you hurt? Were we too rough? Is that it?" Tauro seemed to want to devour my soul as he analyzed my every expression. He already knew I was having a panic attack.

"No… I’m fine, I just need to go back to my room. I need to pack my suitcase. I have to confirm our flights for this afternoon."

My eyes focused on the people watching us, now even more curious. I saw the large men turn their faces, staring them down; and soon, everyone pretended they were looking elsewhere. I took advantage of that second when they were distracted, moving my legs as quickly as possible toward the elevator.

I even tried to breathe normally when I stepped in, but then I saw Tauro’s large hands holding the door open, making it slide back and allowing their broad bodies to enter along with the other passengers.

All I could do was press myself into the corner, on the opposite side of the elevator, before they caged me in between them again. The people talking on their phones, oblivious to what was happening between the three of us, served as my shield. I clenched my fingers into my arms, growing even more nervous.

"Which floor?" A young man standing by the buttons looked at me.

"Twentieth," Bruce’s commanding voice answered first, his stern gaze snapping back to me.

"Please, sixteenth," I whispered to the man, turning my face away from them. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tauro move, trying to reach me.

I stepped forward, keeping my distance from him, closer to the door, placing two elderly women between us. He arched his brow, staring at me, his expression darkening as his jaw clenched.

"Alonso!" His deep, low voice was a warning—I knew that—but I shook my head in refusal, feeling my eyes sting.

I had to stay away, just that. Lock myself in my room until our flight, and that was it! I would go back home, and life would move on.

"Lo siento…" I apologized to the man in front of me as I quickly passed by him the moment the doors opened, clutching my purse under my arm, fumbling for the damn keycard to unlock my room.

I truly believed I would manage to open that door. But you know those "Deadly Predators" documentaries on Animal Planet? Yeah, that was exactly what I saw before me. And no, in no way was I the predator here.

I was more like the helpless little antelope, cornered, as I watched the two Serengeti lions emerge from the tall golden grass, charging toward me with their fangs bared, nearly growling.

"Mierda!"

In a desperate attempt, I turned my eyes to the door, swiping the card in the wrong direction out of frustration.

"Don’t even try it, sweetheart."

Before I could drop my purse and card to the floor and make a run for it, Tauro had already lifted me off my feet as I kicked and struggled, angrily beating my fists against his chest.

"Señor, let me go…" My damn braid came undone from the bun, cascading down my back all at once.

"Bring our little treat, Tauro!"

"I am not your treat, you damn imbéciles!"

"I’m going to love fucking that filthy mouth, baby."

Bruce was already taking my things from my hands as he headed back to the elevator. The two of them walked quickly, their steps firm. Tauro’s breathing was heavy, and he ground his teeth as he held me tight.

I saw a small door open, revealing an elegant elderly lady holding a tiny dog in her fingers, watching us cautiously.

"¡Ayúdame! These two lunatics are kidnapping me!"

I yelled in frustration, looking at her. The loud smack Tauro delivered to my ass made my body burn, as if already preparing for what would come after the pain—and I hated myself for realizing that.

"I’m sorry," Bruce said gently to the lady, stroking the dog, making her smile and swoon over him. "The poor girl suffers from a mental disorder, she didn’t take enough of her medication today."

"She looks so young, poor thing!" The old woman gazed at me with pity before stepping back into her room.

"Hijo de puta!"

Bruce stopped in front of the elevator, waiting for the door to open. His dark eyes turned to me as Tauro held me tightly in his arms. I could feel his furious gaze burning into me.

"Let me go back to my room, Tauro!" I pleaded for his reason, knowing that between the two, he was the calmer one.

"Why did you run?" He frowned, arching his brow.

"I need to arrange our departure, I told you!"

"She lies," Bruce grumbled, annoyed, stepping into the elevator. I watched him press the damn button for the twentieth floor. There wasn’t a single soul inside.

"I am not a liar!"

His eyes snapped back to me, filled with rage. I could feel his fury, and my body instinctively shrank back as I clung tighter to Tauro’s chest, seeking refuge.

"Don’t hit me again, señor."

My voice came out small as I pressed myself closer to Tauro. He tightened his arms around me, making me feel like a niña.

"I won’t hit you, Zel…" I watched Bruce run a hand through his hair as he turned his gaze forward.

"Unless you tell us why you ran."