Reina de la Muerte

chapter eight

♕

vanessa

I'm not given a moment to think about the words that come out of Gabriel's mouth. My mind is staticky when he's caging me between the table and his body, and it stays fuzzy when he grabs my wrists and pins them to the tabletop.

Gabriel has threatened me in ways like this since we first formally met—all of which I was able to give my own sassy remark and walk away the winner—but tonight feels different. There's tension in the thick air between us that can no longer go unnoticed and, judging from the urgency in Gabriel's movements, I'm not the only one who can sense it. The feeling makes my insides bubble with nerves in a way I haven't felt in years.

"You've been misbehaving since the second we met," Gabriel mutters, gripping my hair and forcing my head to crane back.

I scoff, attempting to gain control of my wrists again. "You abducted me and kissed me without my consent," I snap back, continuing to struggle for my hands back. It only makes him angle them so they are pressing into the small of my back. "Gabriel—"

"Did I say you could speak?" Gabriel snarls and forces me more into the table, making me wince at the twinge of pain. "All you've done is backtalk me the last two days despite my warnings, as if I'd let it fucking slide because of the title you have—I'm fucking sick of it."

I huff out in anger and glare at him through the corner of my eye. Who does this man think he is? He can't bend me over and force me into submission like a pet, and I sure as hell will not let that happen.

I struggle against Gabriel's grip, groaning with frustration when he grabs both wrists with one of his hands. It isn't until I hear the unbuckling of his belt that a chill races up my spine, settling in the pits of my stomach. I flinch when the sound of it slapping echoes off the walls again and my ears become fogged with memories—memories I wish would finally get the fuck out of my brain.

Stop it!
Let go of me!
MOMMY, HELP!

I don't want the thoughts to come back. I never wished for them to.

Why is it happening again?

Yes, I get on Gabriel's nerves even when he orders me to stop, but he would never hurt me... not like how I was so many years ago.

You thought the same about Mateo, though, the tiny voice in my head reminds me. Look what happened.

My throat starts to close until I can't get a single breath of air. Panic is building up. My vision is blackening.

"Wait," I plead, trying to keep my breathing pattern regular.

It's hard to get the words out loud enough when everything's tightening in me, though, and I know he didn't hear me from the tightening of the belt around my wrists. Tears spring in my eyes. It's impossible to try to remain calm because it's only making it more difficult to breathe. My chest heaves wildly, my lungs desperate to find even the tiniest bit of air and when I can't catch it, a choked sound leaves with my exhale.

I'm starting to get claustrophobic.

"Please stop!"

My hair was pulled until it was too painful to turn my head in the slightest. Hot breath fans across my shoulder and I squeeze my eyes shut, whimpering in a fear I've never felt before.

"Shut the fuck up," his rough voice snapped out; I can still hear it clear as day. The sound of his belt went off in the quiet room and I cried harder, sobbed louder, but it did nothing to sway his decision. "I said shut up—of I'll give you a fucking reason to open that mouth."