PURPLE HEART - Soliders Of Fortune [BOOK TWO]

Chapter TWELVE

⚠️TW!
Strong Sexual Assault and Violence themes. Reader discretion advised.

Sunday Santos

"Estúpida Sunday!" (Stupid Sunday) I mutter angrily beneath my breath as I yank a paper towel from the dispenser to dry my hands.. I crumple the wadded up tissue and toss it in the bin, before reluctantly facing my own reflection in the mirror.. My appearance shadowy beneath the dim red light of the Casino bathroom.. But even in the din I can make out the bruised purple splotch that stains my cheek and I am torn in half by uncertainty..

It's not that I miss Javier that feeds my internal conflict.. It's that I don't.. Not even a little..

And it's not that I actually find myself growing fonder of Max.. It's that I shouldn't..

The immense guilt that grows within me finally reaches capacity and I can't help but feel frustrated with all of the mixed up emotions that flicker on and off like strobes of sorrow, fear... And the most confusing feeling of all, desire.. Sucking several calming breaths, I grip the edge of the granite countertop to ground myself in an attempt at finding reason in what feels like a madhouse.. It seems I am a prisoner, not only to my circumstances, but to my own mind and body..

"Para ya, chica estúpida! You can't actually like him, he's a monster!" (Stop it, stupid girl) Talking to myself like a lunatic, I argue the flaws in my irrational logic..

Just because I want to trust Max, doesn't mean that I can..
Just because he acts like a half decent guy, doesn't mean he is one...

Of course he isn't!

No.. I know what he is, even beneath all his stoic charm and superficial manners.. Even behind that endearing stammer, roughish smile and those lonely blue eyes..

Maksimillian is a crime boss.. And a dangerous one at that.. No amount of throwing caution to my sanity could be worth the risk of believing in a man like that.. I had already made that mistake before.. More than once..

After all, I'd been sold long before Javier found me..

I'm sure that when Max is done with me in twelve months time, it's inevitable that the same pattern of misery would be set to repeat and another would take his place..

That is the curse of my existence..

Pinching at my cheeks and fixing the smoky smudges of mascara beneath my eyes, I am lost in the distraction of my thoughts when the creak of the door echoes off the tile in the ladies bathroom..

Paying little attention to the comings and goings of the other women, I don't even notice when the last one leaves and somebody new enters.. It is only when I hear the click of the door locking that a sinister presence makes himself known..
"Did your miss me, Cariña?" The familiar coaxing whisper causes my shocked system to reel in panic..