“You should see a doctor,” Saul says to me. “Your shoulder’s bleeding.”
“I don’t have time,” I reply. “I have to see Tallulah.”
I can practically feel him rolling his eyes, but I don’t give a shit. He might as well get used to the idea of my girl being around, because that’s one thing that won’t go away. Tallulah will be my wife soon, so Saul better get used to her taking up most of my time.
Once we arrive back home, Saul takes Julio away to clean him up before he can be dismissed. Despite my right-hand man insisting I should get my shoulder checked, I wrap it up clumsily to soak up the blood from the injury. My mind is elsewhere already. I need to see Tallulah. After all, it’s after midnight now, which means she’s officially eighteen.
The dogs don’t make a fuss as I enter my ward’s room, and she doesn’t stir from her sleep. Her light hair surrounds her like a halo, and she looks like a vision in white in her princess bed.
I take a seat in the armchair in her bed. I will not wake her up, even though the temptation to do so is strong. But I’m patient, because I know my angel’s defilement is hours away. For right now, I’m happy to just watch her sleep, filling my head with thoughts of what I’m going to do to her when she comes to.
Chapter 11
TALLULAH
When I wake up on the morning of my eighteenth birthday, I feel different.
My eyes instinctively go to the armchair by my bed, but it's empty. The dogs wag their tails excitedly as I yawn and stretch in bed. As much as I'm afraid of what's going to happen tonight, I'm also slightly disappointed not to find Xavier waiting for me. I thought he'd be ready at midnight... but there's no sign of him anywhere.
I get up and have breakfast in the dining room by myself. Knowing there's no point in interrogating the help, I don't bother to ask the burning questions on the tip of my tongue. Instead, I fill my rumbling tummy with some food before wandering off to the garden with my new guard on my trail. I haven't bothered to find out his name. He's big, bulky and tight-lipped. He doesn't look at me with desire, like Antonio did. That's probably for the best. I hope he stays as detached as possible, for his own safety.
Even though I spend hours doing mundane things like reading on the bench in the rose garden, my heartbeat won't slow down. I'm anticipating Xavier to come get me any second, but there's no sign of my guardian.
Perhaps I've upset him. Or maybe he's away on cartel business. Either way, it's hard to imagine he's not choosing to spend my special day with me. I haven't gotten any gifts, and no one's wished me a happy birthday. It makes me feel more alone than ever.
But I have more important things to worry about than feeling isolated. It's my birthday, which means sooner rather than later, Xavier will make his move to claim me as his property. I must strike before then.
I close my book and sit up on the bench. The heady scent of roses blooming above me transports me somewhere else. I allow myself to breathe in the sweet fragrance, knowing the tranquil moment won't last long.
When I look down at my hands folded in my lap, I notice them shaking. I'm scared.
I remember the birthday when my parents finally explained what Xavier made them do. How he forced them to give me up before I was even born. Up until then, I had been infatuated with my godfather to the point of obsession. But as Mom and Dad introduced me to the darker side of their story, I started to understand Xavier Gunn was nothing but a monster.
I get up and pluck a rose from the trellis above me. I hold it tightly in my palm, my back turned to the guard so he won't notice what I'm doing. The thorns dig into my palms, but I ignore the pain of the sting and focus on the rush of adrenaline it sends through my body.
After I found out the truth about Xavier, I wondered whether I'd still be able to act like an innocent little girl around him. My parents' confession shattered every illusion I had about my guardian. He was a monster. A villain who ruined my happy family life. But my parents had a plan. A plan that would ensure our safety and get rid of Xavier once and for all.
In the past few years, I grew up, even though Xavier doesn't have a clue about it. From the beginning, Dad told me a magician doesn't reveal his tricks. That's why my training had to remain a secret, not just from Xavier, but from my sister and our employees too. Couldn't risk anyone finding out the truth. The walls have ears in cartel houses, and none of us wanted Xavier privy to what was happening.