Salvador

Chapter 13

Mona

I'm confused and relieved. I've always had to prepare myself for the absolute worst. And I've always had to face the worst. But this? This is the best. I don't know how to feel. I don't know how to act.

"Are you okay?" Salvador asks me deeply and sternly, offering me an expression of sympathy. He's driving us and Thiago to the beach and I just want to kiss him. I nod my head softly and his face softens into a gorgeous, sparkling smile. He reaches his hand over to my thigh and squeezes gently. Thiago notices from the back and scoffs, but a swift, deadly glare from his older brother silences him.

"I knew you would love this woman." He mutters, his accent swirls. A chuckle escapes my mouth and I hold my hand over it when Salvador looks at me in surprised anger. He says something to Thiago in Portuguese, so fast that I can't make it out. But Thiago looks at us in admiration after he says it. I glance at Salvador sceptically. What did he say?

***

We pull into a large, cosy house that looks over a breath-taking, private, sandy beach. I sigh at the sight, I feel safer right now than I have for years. But i feels stupid for feeling this way. When I get out of the car, the underlying fear that these men could kill me in an instant, overwhelms me. I try to breathe, this would be a stupid time to have a panic attack.

Before we drove here, Salvador told me to go home and pack a bag full of stuff for the next week or so. I packed clothes, bikinis and more. I know that after he disobeyed his father like that, he needs to get away for a little while. It was weird, we didn't discuss the fact that we were running away, it's like we just knew telepathically. It's like we looked at each other and we just knew what we had to do. My mafioso. I like him a lot.

Thiago carries my hefty bag to the entrance, despite all my attempts to deny his help. And all of Salvador's jealous looks. "Sorry Belle," he says as Salvador unlocks the front door for us "I guess you're not used to gentlemen." He laughs and runs inside, dropping my bag carefully on the floor and jumping onto the large, plush, cream couch. I smile and roll my eyes when I see Thiago stick his tongue out provocatively at Salvador.

Thiago smiles at his phone when he gets a notification. Must be the boyfriend. I smile at the thought and Salvador notices my expression. "Happy?" He whispers, wrapping a hand around my waist and pulling me in softly and gently. I nod, still smiling and looking into his magical, dangerous, dreamy eyes. "That's good Bonita." He places a quick kiss on my cheek. He picks up our bags and walks to 'our room' that he mentioned earlier in the car. I trail behind his dominant figure.

"Coloque suas coisas no seu quarto! [Put your things in your room!]" he shouts to Thiago. His strong voice echoes in the whole house and a familiar, sensual nervousness fluctuates throughout me. "Certo lover boy!" Thiago shouts back jokingly. I hear Salvador kiss his teeth in annoyance as he puts our bags down on the large, comfortable bed.

The bedroom is amazing. It overlooks the ocean. I can hear the crashing waves and smell the saltwater. I let out a heart aching sigh. I haven't felt this way in so long. I haven't felt this happy in so fucking long. I close my eyes and this room and that view are really the last straw. I cry of relief and happiness and sadness all at once. My face falls into my hands and two large, concerned arms wrap around me. I sniffle against Salvador's masculine smelling chest.

He places his warm hand under my jaw firmly and lifts my face up to look at him. He's so tall, so assertive. "What's wrong?" He asks, sounding and looking genuinely worried. Tears drift down my face aimlessly "Thank-you." I say, my voice cracks, I hide my face in his chest again and he holds me tighter and rests his chin on my head. His large, tattooed back arching over me, protecting me.