BOOK 2
Trapped within the iron grip of the notorious Morroto family, Veronica Garcia's fate hangs precariously in the balance. Days bleed into nights in the suffocating darkness of her prison, where despair threatens to consume her spirit. Each pass...
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I HUFF AND glare at the rippling water below me. I pick up a small pebble from the grass where I'm seated, feeling it's cool, rough texture against my fingers.
The chill of the night air sends shivers across my shoulders, making the goosebumps stand out.
The bridge arches gracefully above, its reflection dancing on the dark, flowing river beneath. I toss the pebble into the water, watching as it skips and creates concentric ripples that momentarily distort the calm surface.
I thought I knew what I was doing, but now I'm not so sure. I'm overwhelmed with anger, frustration bubbling up inside me. I'm furious with everyone and everything—my past, my choices, the life that's been dictated for me. I haven't truly lived; I've merely existed, surviving day by day.
I've never experienced what it means to live a normal life, to embrace the simple joys and freedoms that others seem to take for granted. Instead, I'm trapped in a cycle of survival, and I'm starting to question if this is truly living.
Is this really all there is? Am I destined to keep fighting just to get by, or is there something more out there that I've been missing all along?
I reach for another pebble, feeling its cold, rough surface between my fingers. I hurl it into the river.
I watch as it skips across the water's surface, making a series of small, graceful hops before eventually sinking and drifting away. The ripple it creates spreads out, distorting the reflection of the moonlight on the water, and then gradually fades.
As I watch the pebble disappear, I can't help but wonder if I'm like that pebble—skipping along, making small impacts but ultimately being carried away by the current. The thought lingers, mingling with my confusion and frustration. What if I could change my course, find a new path, and make a different kind of splash?
I sit quietly, the chill of the night seeping into my bones, feeling the weight of the choices that hang over me. The river below seems to mirror my dilemma—its waters constantly moving, never settling, just like the turmoil inside me.
On one side, there's Luis, with his promises of power and revenge. The allure of seizing control, of making those who wronged me pay, is strong. It's a path that could reshape the world according to my vision, a world where I wield authority and exact justice for the wrongs done to me. It's intoxicating, the idea of having the world bow before me, the thrill of unbridled power.
On the other side, there's my family, Roman. The warmth of those who love me, the chance for a different kind of life—a life filled with love, loyalty, and a semblance of normalcy. Roman's eyes, filled with tenderness and a hint of mischief, the simple moments of joy we've shared. This path promises connection, a life where I'm not just surviving but truly living.
I sit by the river, feeling overwhelmed. No matter which choice I make, I'll end up betraying someone. On one hand, I could join Luis, seek revenge, and gain power, but that means turning my back on Roman and my family.
