Chapter 151 Betrothed to a fucking monster
CHAPTER 151
Betrothed to a fucking monster.
ROSALINA – POINT OF VIEW
His words hit me square in the chest and force the air out of my lungs.
Am I worthy? Worthy enough to make everyone die for me? My parents, his father, Luca and Adeline’s father. Adeline and Celeste almost died yesterday because of me. What is it about me that the people I love turn up dead? Now, I’m supposed to smile and let everyone here put themselves on the line for me?
“Let’s take a breather, everyone. Let’s … let’s just … you need some air, Scar, let me walk you out.” Adeline sighs, stepping between us.
“Yeah, we can walk to the garden.” Eve agrees, smiling warmly.
I close my eyes for a moment, inhale slowly and push through the pain racking my ribs.
Am I worthy of all these?
“I am sorry, Scarlett, but you have to understand,” Elena whispers admonishingly. “You are from a different world, not one we are used to, and you have been lying to us for months, almost a year now. I know why you lied, why you had to pretend and hide, but that doesn’t change the fact that you did. You lied to us. You put everything at risk. You put us at risk, you dragged danger into our home, so you must forgive us for needing a moment to understand this.”
I laugh dryly before her words sink in.
“You need a moment? Am I from a different world? Look around! You have the Don of the La Cosa Nostra in the room. You knew who Luca was, and you looked the other way because it benefited you, but suddenly I’m the problem?” I shake my head, disgusted.
“The La Cosa Nostra are not vicious monsters, are they? The Cartels are inhumane. You know that more than anyone.” Roman scoffs as if it is common knowledge.
The knot in my throat grows unbearable. My hands are trembling. Pain is radiating all over my body, blooming and throbbing.
“You want all hands on deck? You want me to lay my cards on the table? Alright.” I smile, pushing through the pain.
“My name is Rosalina Diaz. I am the only child of Rafael and Sofia Diaz. The Diazes were notorious monsters. My grandfather set Mexico on fire to get what he wanted. He allowed violence. My father had to fill his shoes naturally, but he didn’t. He got new ones. He wanted to be different, and he knew being different would cost him, but he was willing to try. Do not get me wrong, my father was not a good person. He was a Diaz, and no matter how many times passed, he was born a Diaz and died one.” I enunciate my words carefully, ignoring the goosebumps that break over my body.
“My mother was the daughter of a fabric seller. Her parents sold their lives to give her a good life. She studied at Oxford, came home, and met my father. The rest is history. Nothing could pull them apart, no one, no tradition, no culture, no warnings. She knew that choosing him meant choosing death, and she did it anyway. She … she was a good woman. She was the best,” my voice cracks and tears fill my eyes.
“She was perfect. She grew up without money and never splurged. She did her duties well and raised her beautiful mijo. She taught me a lot of things, how to braid hair, how to cook, the different kinds of poisons, and how to drive.” I square my shoulder, holding back the tears for as long as I can.
“Dad taught me how to shoot, how to fight, how to kill, and I have killed so many people, not because I wanted to, but because I had to. Being a Diaz means you inherit enemies, who will do everything to end me. I did not hide because I wanted to. I hid because I needed to stay alive, and now, I am on a fucking clock. Every single person who hated my father will come looking for me, and they will do everything to kill me. I will die, at my will, after I have avenged my parents.” I avow my voice trembling.
“Let’s not get sidelined. Where was I? Oh, yes. Papa taught me how to kill. I can speak seventeen different languages. I can dance ballet. I can adapt to any situation in a given hour. I was made to live against all odds. Dad wanted me to have a different life. He wanted to break the circle of abuse and violence, which is why I have taken so many names. I have been Rosalina Diaz, Elena Rossi, Felicity Larue, Belle Dunphy, and of course, Scarlett Brooks. I did not wear all these faces because I wanted to; I did it because I had no fucking choice. All my life, my choice has been taken away, I have been shoved into dresses, shoes and identities I didn’t want.” I sniff and wipe my tears away.
“My parents found me worthy enough to love and die for.” I look at Roman.
Guilt fills his face, and he whispers, “Scarlett.”
I ignore him, “I met Emiliano when I was nine, and until I left home at seventeen, we didn’t speak. It was always salutations as I poured them wine. I always kept my head low. I never looked them in the eyes. I never even entered my father’s office. My parents didn’t want me entangled in the life they had, but they made me strong enough.”
“I went to Budapest at sixteen, which is where I met Adeline. Budapest is a phase all children of certain families have to pass, think of it as an Academy, a training academy. We had to learn how to fight better and use any weapon,” I smile at Elena, “I am skilled with anything. I once killed a man by shoving his eyeballs down his throat. Why? Because he tried to assault me at the academy, but that’s just an excuse, right?”
“All these are excuses. I should have died then. I should have died in the fire. I shouldn’t have run when Dad woke me, shoved money in my hands and pushed me through the vent. I should have stayed, watched as parents died, and let Emiliano breed me for as long as he could. I should have died with my parents, and just … fade into oblivion.” I cannot hold back the tears anymore.
I inhale shakily, feeling warm all over.
“So, that’s it, my cards laid on the table. The runaway daughter of a Cartel Boss. The supposed betrothed to a fucking monster.” I look at Roman, my vision blurry with tears.
“I never asked them to die for me. I never asked anyone to die for me. I don’t need your help. I can and will do this on my own. I don’t need to be worthy in your eyes.” I rasp, knees weakening as I crash to the ground hard.