Caged Temptress | 18+

| 14 |

appalled (adjective)- having strong feelings of shock or disapproval.

EVA PETROV

"Come help me get dessert, Eva" Arden shoots me a pleading look to which I instantly stand up and scurry out of the room behind her.

"Thank god!" She sighs in relief when we're back in the kitchen after what seemed like an impossibly long dinner. "I almost died in there."

"The food was delicious, but I feel like I'm going to be sick" I groan and stick an ice cube in my mouth. "I think I threw up in my mouth a few times in there," Arden exclaims dramatically making me scrunch my noise in disgust.

"Ew, TMI." I point at her and sit on a barstool as she gets the dessert out. "Why was it so awkward?"

I hope she'll give me the tea and as soon as I ask the question, the floodgates open in rushed whispers.

"Well, all of Isa's siblings really don't get along. There are seven of them, but Nicholás is the black sheep. Middle child. His father had an affair with another woman and he was the result of that. He was raised with the rest of them too. Isa said his mother ran away and didn't really want him. No one really talks about it though because well... Nicholás is the boss. The don. The Godfather of the Spanish mob." Arden pours a shot for herself and me, which I gladly take. The alcohol burns down my throat as she keeps divulging family secrets I wish I never heard.

Nick is Isa's brother.

They both shared a small resemblance, but its not enough that anyone could tell they were half-siblings. 

"I shouldn't be telling you this because you work at the club, but he got it all after their father died about five years ago. Isa's father left the entire business to Nicholás and according to Isa it's because he was his living clone. He left the rest of his kids with absolutely nothing. Every business, every house, and every penny to Nicholás. Their half brother. But the worst part is that all of the siblings, including Isa do all the work in the businesses and then he gets to spend it all and micromanage them. He always lies about the finances to keep any of them from being able to be independent without his help. Unbelievable, right?"

I nod my head, processing all the new information. After hearing about their family drama, no wonder the atmosphere was so awkward and cold.

It's still too much to take in and my stomach feels like it's rolling in circles.

What happened to his declaration this weekend?

I hate liars.

Those words made me feel incredibly guilty. Like a sinking pit was forming in my gut.

That fucking hypocrite.

He may not have directly lied to me. But it was a lie by omission.

"Are you alright, moça?" Arden feels my forehead with the back of her hand. "You look pale."

"I'm fine. It's just a lot to process."

"Yeah, I'm sorry he just showed up tonight. He usually never comes by here or eats with us." Arden hands me two small saucers. "If you want, we can just call it an early night and skip the after dinner drinks?"

I nod my head slowly and absentmindedly follow Arden back to the dining room.

With him watching me like that the entire night, I haven't felt like I could breathe.

I don't think anyone could.

Like every time I've encountered his dark, calculating eyes, I can't tell what he's thinking. My eyes meet his as soon as I step into his line of sight.