Crimson fears and Comforting arms

Chapter 3

I was furious and didn't give a damn about any business right now. My only focus was finding Esmeray and bringing her back safely. The doctor had told me to take precautions because I'd broken a bone—somewhere, I couldn't recall—but I didn't care about a broken bone. Resting wasn't an option. The men with me in the room, including my brother, knew I wasn't playing around; I was more serious than ever before. No one dared to question me when I got home.

My mother, as always, was worried when something went wrong with her kids. She embraced us tightly, thanking God that her baby didn't die. I've told her many times before, while I was in medics after an incident, that I would be fine and nothing would ever happen to me. "I'm a strong man, Ma. Nothing will ever happen to me," I had once reassured her. So, I hugged her back, reassuring her that I was okay and that everything would be okay.

I demanded a meeting with all the men, giving them a piece of my mind about what happened last night. I threatened that if I found out someone here had been sending messages to Daniel, they'd be dead in an instant with no explanation needed. I dismissed everyone except my two trustees, my brother, and Fernando. We discussed our next move—whether to go in and get her or negotiate with Daniel to ensure Esmeray's safe return.

I was devastated by my inability to act. The thought that she could be dead or taken somewhere with no trace broke me. I knew I shouldn't have let her go. I should have stopped her, been the bad guy, and driven her back to the mansion, even if she had been upset. But I didn't, and I failed to protect her.

My mother came in, insisting I calm down because Bella had something to share with me. Seeing my anger and frustration over Daniel's unexpected plans, Bella's words shocked me profoundly.

"Emiliano, I need to explain something to you," Bella said gently, "and I need you to stay calm while I'm talking."

"It wasn't my place to tell you this, but since Daniel is back in the picture, I need to share everything that happened at the beginning," Bella began, her voice steady but emotional. "When Esmeray was 18, she met this guy at a bar. From the way she described him, it seemed like she was already in love just from their first meeting. She was obsessed with him and wanted to see him again, which they did. They started dating quickly, and I thought it was moving too fast, especially since her previous boyfriend had died in a car accident. I didn't like him from the start; something about him didn't sit right with me. When your gut tells you something's wrong, you should trust it, and I did. I warned Esmeray several times to be cautious with him and shared my concerns. She took my advice and decided to take a break from him, which he was okay with at first. But then he demanded to see her again, and that's when things went downhill. Not only did he physically abuse her, but he also mistreated her mentally and emotionally.

I had moved to California before this all started, and Esmeray reassured me that she'd be okay and that I should focus on my career. But I always worried about her. Four months into their relationship, I lost contact with her. I called and texted her repeatedly, but there was no response. It stayed that way for about two years. I was devastated, thinking something had happened to my best friend and that she might be dead. I even considered flying out to find her, but I was afraid of what he might do if he saw me. Even after she was found, I blamed myself for not rescuing her myself, and I still do. If I had acted sooner, we wouldn't be in this situation now." Bella's tears streamed down her face, her voice breaking with emotion as she recounted the past. Jay held her tightly, offering comfort and support as she continued to explain the rest.

"A few weeks after Jay and I arranged for Esmeray to fly out here for her safety, she finally sat down with me and explained everything that had happened. Hearing her story broke me; she had lost so much weight and struggled to eat. Daniel, who is involved in some shady business for Danny—business I can't go into right now—had been terrorizing her. One day, Esmeray received a call from an unknown number with a chilling message: 'You can't hide forever, Esmeray Reign. You know I will find you.' It was Daniel. She went into a full panic, terrified that he would find her. Daniel is notorious for his tracking skills, so her fear was justified.