Chapter 73 Àlvaro's Pov.
I heard the voice of one of my most loyal men through the phone. He sounded worried and deadly serious. “They got to the other mansion sir.”
We both froze and I no longer felt the heat and her kisses on my body. My pulse quickened and for a moment, the room spun.
“Everyone who was at the mansion is dead sir. Everyone.”
My body went numb.
“What mansion?” I asked but deep down, I already knew where he was talking about.
“The one you kept the blonde girl in. Chloe? I think that's her name. Yeah…she's dead along with all our men guarding the premises.”
And then I felt Camilla dig her nails into my body so hard I was sure a tiny blood oozed out. So many emotions flashed through her eyes.
And just like that, she passed out in my arms.
Camilla’s Pov
I don't know how long I was unconcious for. All I knew was that when I opened my eyes, reality hit me once again in the most cruel and disgusting way.
I wasn't dreaming. I know I wasn't but I wished I was.
I was sitting on the bed with my back against the bedframe staring blankly into nothingness. My head was still dizzy and I felt like I was going to pass out again at any moment.
Santiago was walking around the room, mumbling something under his breath, clearly agitated. Àlvaro was leaning against the wall, with his arms crossed over his chest with the same blank stare as mine.
This was all his fault.
If he had just allowed Chloe to stay here, then she'd still be alive today.
I couldn't stop thinking about the man's words, just before I fainted. Right before everything went dark.
Chloe is dead.
The first friend I ever made in college here in Miami is gone forever.
I felt a tear roll down my cheeks slowly, burning my skin but my face was still so numb even though a hurricane was raging inside me.
I tried to think about the last thing we talked about. I thought about everything she said to me. I thought about how she hugged me the last time she came around.
I wanted to scream, I wanted to shout, I wanted to break something, destroy the fucking world. She deserved so much better than dying so young, like this.
I could feel tears falling from my eyes as I remembered every single moment I had ever shared with Chloe. The blood in my body was rushing hard, I was barely holding myself together.
How the fuck do I tell Angela and Lola about this?
“Camilla, you need to rest.” Àlvaro said from the doorway. “We're gonna leave you to sleep. We just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I want you to take me to the mansion. I want to see what that bastard did.” My voice was deep and full of anger. Santiago stopped in his tracks, giving me a disapproving look.
“No.” He snapped immediately, catching Àlvaro's eyes on him. “It's not safe for you there right now. Besides, I want that slimy motherfucker to myself.”
Although Chloe never admitted anything to me, the signs were all there and I knew something was going on between the both of them. He must be hurting too but I really wasn't in the mood to think about someone else.
“I'm not asking, Santiago!” I yelled. “I need to go there.”
No power in the world will stop me from going. Even if I have to stand against the almighty Àlvaro Castillo, I would. I don't fucking care.
If it wasn't for him, she would still be alive. She paid the price for a fucking family dispute that had nothing to do with her. That fucking house became her coffin and I swear that bastard Vincenzo will pay for this.
“Camilla, listen to me–” Santiago started to speak but I cut him off, looking at him through tear filled eyes.
“I don't want to fucking listen!” I felt my voice break. “Either you take me there or I'll find a way out of here and get there myself. The choice is yours.”
“Do you know what my uncle would do to you this time if he gets a hold of you again? I'm just trying to to protect you, Camilla.” Àlvaro, who had been quiet since the conversation between Santiago and I started, spoke.
“You kidnapped me into this life and you have the guts to say you're trying to protect me? The same way you protected Chloe?” I laughed through tears, feeling the pain in my chest. “Fuck you, man.”
“Camil—”
“Enough, Santiago.” Àlvaro's deep voice thundered in the room. “Leave her to rest.”
Santiago gave me one last look before he left the room, leaving me alone with Àlvaro.
“Get out of my room too, Àlvaro.” I mumbled, avoiding his gaze as I made myself comfortable on the bed. “I want to be left alone.”
I could feel his eyes locked on me even though I couldn't see it.
“You know he's hurting too right? For weird reason, he fancied her.” He spoke and I knew he was talking about Santiago and Chloe but I don't give a fuck about that right now.
Instead, his words made me collapse again and I could no longer hold back my tears. I let them fall down my cheeks like a waterfall. My whole body was shaking and all I could think about was Chloe.
“She was so young.” I whimpered, burying my face in my hands. “She didn't deserve to die like this.”
“I know.”
I looked up at him in anger. “How would you know? When you wanted to shoot her dead the first chance you got. You and your bloody family put her in this situation that took her life.”
“I know.”
This time, I could hear the regret in his voice and for the first time, I could see guilt written all over his face.
“Why? What did you do to your uncle that he hates you so much? What did you do that so many innocent people have to fucking lose their lives?”
Àlvaro opened his mouth several times, trying to say something but no words came out. His gaze tightened, measured as he shook his head, searching for the right words.
“Would you believe me if I said I did nothing? He's just a greedy and jealous son of a bitch.” He breathed, running a hand through his hair.
“I don't believe that for a second.” I said, taking all my anger out on him and he just nodded, lips pursed together.
“We live in a ruthless and unfair world Camilla. The sooner you understand that, the better for you. Honestly, I'm surprised you haven't gotten that part yet.” His voice was even, keeping his composure as he stared at me.
I knew it. I just didn't want to admit it. Admiting it is also admitting that I was one of them, that I'm a murderer. That was the truth but I would never admit it.
“I want revenge.” I said through gritted teeth and tears in my eyes. “You owe me this.”
“That has always being the plan, chica. I'll do that even if it's the last thing I do. I promise you.”
His hand found its way to mine and his large cold fingers intertwined with mine as his eyes assured me.
And I just knew he would keep his promise.
Àlvaro's Pov
Two days later.
My mind was a fucking mess. I was a fucking mess.
I never believed that something could ever make me feel remorseful or guilty for something I did in my past but looking at Camilla crying uncontrollably in front of Chloe's grave broke me into a thousand fucking pieces.
I regretted my decision to place her in a separate mansion away from Camilla just because I didn't like the blonde bitch. Fuck!
Now she was dead.
In a way, I think Santiago blames me too but he of all people understands how unpredictable the business works. That doesn't mean the plan to take down Vincenzo wasn't underway.
Camilla sobbed so hard that her small body shook as she knelt before Chloe's grave. I know nothing I do would be enough to take her pain away and that thought broke me even more.
I've taken hundreds of lives, so many to even count and I don't think I've ever regretted any even for a second because I knew I had to do it to survive in this world. I knew I was callous. Most people refer to me as a monster and I had gladly resigned myself to going to hell for it.
But watching Camilla cry helplessly over the grave of her friend, whose death was my fault, made my heart sink in regret for the first time.
I hated myself, more than usual.
\~~~
When we got back to the house, she retired to her bedroom without a word.
After a few hours, I decided to go check on her.
I looked at her little body laying peacefully on the bed. She looked like she was watching a movie but her mind wasn't even there. She was staring at nothing, not even paying attention to the movie.
She was wearing a long white shirt and her hair was tied in a loose ponytail. She could wear a fucking sack and still looked absolutely beautiful and I hated myself that at the most inappropriate time, I felt my cock getting hard just by looking at her.
“Aren't you tired? Why do you keep checking on me?” I heard her quiet exhausted voice and her eyes looked puffy from so much crying as her blood red and tired eyes landed on me.
“No, Camilla. You're the one who needs the rest.” I said as I loosened the tie around my neck a bit. “You've had enough shits happened to you in the past few months.”
“And you're just going to stand there and watch me?” She asked, raising her eyebrows and I nodded. “But I can't sleep.”
“Why?”
“Nightmares. Everytime I close my eyes, I see Chloe and I just can't sleep.”
My heart sant again as I heard the pain in her voice, wanting to just take it away.
“If there's anything I can help you with, anything at all. Just let me know.”
“Actually, there is.” She said almost immediately, surprising me. “Fuck me, Àlvaro.” Her voice was full of pain and anger and my whole body tensed up. “Fuck me until I forget about all of this.”
I remained speechless as my mouth hung open, not believing that this innocent woman whom I disvirgined just said those words to me.
But damn me if I don't grant her wishes.