DARKEST DESIRES

13

♤DARREN♧

I'm not going to waste my time sitting here, listening to them discuss something that doesn't align with my interests. "If we're done here, I'll take my leave," I say, rising from my seat. I turn to exit the room, leaving behind a chorus of disapproving murmurs. My aunt calls out my name, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and apology, as she tries to smooth over the situation with the others. I ignore her pleas and continue out the door, uninterested in their affairs.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

"Luciano!" He's aunt called but he ignored, "I'm sorry about that, I'll talk to him." She logged out if the run trying to keep up with his pace. "Luciano?! You better stop right now." She commanded but he continued anyway. He got to the lounge where Monet was and his aunt got in immediately after him. "What is wrong with you?" She asked with a slap to his face. Wow. She respected Darren, but she did not fear him even though she knew just how evil he could get, but she was his parent after all, she needed to fix him when necessary.

Luciano's aunt calls out his name, but he ignores her, striding away with purpose. "I'm sorry about that, I'll talk to him," she apologizes to the others, hurrying to catch up with him. "Luciano, you better stop right now!" she commands, her voice firm, but he continues anyway.

He bursts into the lounge where Monet is sitting, his aunt hot on his heels. "What is wrong with you?" she demands, her hand flashing out to deliver a stinging slap to his face. Monet's eyes widen in shock as Luciano's head snaps to the side, his nose bleeding from the force of the blow.

"Que carajo?" Luciano growls, his eyes blazing with anger as he turns to face his aunt. He is seething, his fury barely contained, but he restrains himself from lashing out at her, only because she is family. "Don't ever do that again," he warns, his voice low and menacing. The tension in the room is palpable, and Monet watches with bated breath, unsure what is happening but sensing the darkness beneath the surface.

Luciano's aunt stands firm, her eyes locked on his, but her hand reaches up to touch her own cheek, as if she can feel the sting of her own slap.

Luciano's aunt stands firm, her eyes locked on his, and says, "I'm your aunt, and I will do it a dozen times if that's what it takes for you to come back to your senses. Now, sit." Surprisingly, Luciano obeys, his anger and resentment still simmering beneath the surface. Monet wonders if she should leave the room or stay, but Darren gestures for her to sit.

Luciano's aunt turns her attention to Monet, asking, "¿Quién es la bonita?" Monet doesn't understand the question, but she can tell the woman is inquiring about her. Luciano responds, "She's just a friend," but his aunt seems unconvinced.

A.N. Luciano is Darren's other name by the way.

""Tía, no me obligues a hacer esto," Luciano pleads with his aunt, his eyes begging for understanding. Monet wishes she could comprehend the conversation, but she's lost in the midst of their family dynamics.

"It's the only way, don't you want to be grande?" his aunt asks calmly, her expression unyielding. Luciano's response is laced with frustration, "A la mierda ser el mas grande." He glances at Monet, who quickly pretends to focus on her phone, avoiding eye contact.

His aunt notices the way he looks at Monet and suspects that she might be the reason for his reluctance. Maybe he doesn't want to hurt her. "Hijo, no puedes dejar que tus sentimientos sequen lo mejor de ti," she says, her voice firm but laced with a hint of concern. Darren frowns but doesn't argue, knowing it's true - he has allowed Monet to get to his head. "Ella no es el problema," he says, his voice low and resigned.

"Entonces la convierta en una... tienes que ser fiel al juego." Darren was tired of hearing that statement from everyone that wanted or felt like using it against him. "A la mierda el juego, jugaré con mis propias reglas." The irritation was coming back. Monet was the only one that needed a translator. His aunt sighed.