Sinner's Paradise|| 18+

i own you.

Breaking the embrace, I looked at her with deep compassion and whispered, "I am so sorry about Tío Carlos and Mario. They deserved better."  She gently patted my hand, her expression calm yet heavy with the weight of unspoken grief. "No, thank you," she said softly. "Because of you, we can stay in Havana, and no one will bother us anymore." Her voice grew quieter, tinged with sadness as she continued, "Now, you just stay and try to be happy."

Confused, I searched her face. "Tía, what does that mean?" She sighed deeply, the sound heavy with secrets. "Mija, your uncle is alive. We lost Mario, yes, but Luciano's pact was blood for blood." Her eyes turned darker as she explained, "Since he killed my Mario, he avenged one of his parents. The last blood left to give is yours—and with that, he promised to leave us alone." She paused, her voice tight with pain. "These are the rules cartel leaders follow."

I let go of her hand, gasping as a wave of realization hit me. My other hand instinctively went to my stomach, as if trying to keep myself steady. "So, you knew all of this? And you didn't say anything?" My voice trembled as anger and betrayal coursed through me.

She nodded silently, her eyes filling with tears. "You have to understand, mija. I couldn't lose Maria or Carlos. I couldn't." Her voice broke with guilt, and then she added in a whisper, "It was your mother's fault. I couldn't pay for all of it."

Tears blurred my vision as my heart shattered. How could she have kept something so devastating from me? How could my mother's side of the family, who had always valued loyalty, drag me into this sick world of violence and vengeance?

I was still reeling from the shock when Luciano's voice sliced through my thoughts. "Gata, come. I need you to see my wedding gift." His hand grabbed mine firmly, and I followed behind him, numb and miserable.

Luciano led me forward and tapped a man on the back. When he turned around, my heart stopped. My eyes widened in disbelief.

It was Hunter. He looked just as shocked as I was. I was about to say something, but Hunter quickly composed himself, turning to Luciano. "Congratulations," he said, shaking Luciano's hand with forced politeness.

I couldn't speak. My mouth had gone dry, my mind racing. Then a blonde woman appeared at Hunter's side, smiling. "Congratulations," she said to me, her tone bright yet unfamiliar.

Confused, I asked, "Who are you?"

Luciano answered with a smirk, enjoying the spectacle. "Oh, this is Paige—Hunter's wife." He gestured behind them to a small child, then added with cruel delight, "They have two kids."

I felt utterly devastated, the ground slipping from beneath me. I wanted to escape, to run far from this unbearable moment. But before I could move, Luciano's voice pulled me back into the nightmare. "He used to work with your dad, Gata. How come you don't remember him?"

My eyes burned with anger and sadness, my chest tight with emotion. "I don't remember everyone my dad worked with, mi amor," I spat out bitterly before gathering the skirt of my dress and walking away, my heart breaking with every step.

My whole body felt heavy, as if the weight of everything was crushing me. My heart was shattered, and there was no one to turn to. As I walked through the crowd, people smiled and congratulated me, but I didn't stop. I didn't say a word. I just kept moving, skipping past them like a ghost. I was knackered, emotionally drained, and desperate. All I wanted was to disappear.

I heard someone calling my name, and I knew exactly who it was. I ignored it, kept walking, and grabbed a bottle from a passing tray. As I began to drink, tears welled up in my eyes, and before long, I was crying heavily. What the fuck was my life?

The liquor burned as I downed it, but I barely noticed. I was too lost in my thoughts, drowning in the chaos of my own emotions. My vision blurred as I stared off into the distance, feeling more alone than ever. Someone sat next to me, and when I turned, it was Hunter.

Before he could say anything, I spat out, "You were cheating on her with me."

He opened his mouth, but I kept going. "I should've known. Every time we were in public, you were nervous, looking over your shoulder."

His face hardened, and he fired back, "How can you say that when you've been with another man this whole time? Don't lie and say you went to Cuba to see your family." His voice was filled with bitterness. "You lied, saying you were in Cuba, but the whole time, you were here in Brazil, planning your wedding with a billionaire."

Anger surged through me, and I stood up, slapping him hard across the face. "How dare you accuse me after you lied about your whole damn life? Your whole family!" My voice trembled with rage. "Do you even know what I've been through since I left London?"

I was about to unload everything—every painful secret, every betrayal—but before I could, Luciano's voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"Gata, there you are," he said, his voice calm but filled with something dark. "Did you finally remember him?"

I grabbed my bottle, ready to walk away, but Luciano followed me. "Wait," he said, grabbing my arm.

I yanked it out of his grip and snapped, "Get the fuck off me, you bastard!"

His expression shifted, hardening into something dangerous. Without warning, he yanked me by the hair, his grip tight and painful. "Don't you get it, Gata? I own you now," he snarled. "So if I say sit, or roll over, you do it without question."

I scoffed, meeting his eyes with defiance. "Listen here, you lowlife. If you wanted to kill me, you would've done it a long time ago. But it seems to me that all you're good at is talking and making empty threats."

Luciano laughed, the sound cold and menacing. "Look at you go."

Within seconds, he yanked my hair again, harder this time, his face twisted with fury. "Maybe I'll break the rules and kill Isabelle," he said, his voice a low growl. "Just to show you I don't make empty threats."

He pulled out his gun and began dragging me with him. Panic surged through me, and I grabbed his arm, desperation in my voice. "Okay... okay, you've won. Please, just leave her alone."

Luciano smirked, enjoying his victory. "Good girl." He called over Celia, his maid, and ordered, "Take her to her room and make sure she stays there until she's calm."

With that, Celia led me back to the house, her grip gentle, but her presence suffocating. I followed in silence, my mind racing. All I wished for in that moment was to die—to end the misery and darkness that had become my life.