A Beautiful Nightmare • Andy Barber

16 • Enemy Territory 🦈

🖤 Chapter 16🖤

I'm BAAAAAACK! With our mafia Andy 😍🦈🖤💌✨ sit back, relax, find the time to just unwind as we dive back into Baby Doll's & Andy's wild Hawaii trip ☺️

🖤Warnings: cursing, brief mentions of gun shots, popping sounds. Suspense and angst.

🌴Summary: Matilda tells you more about how she got onto the island, Andy finally comes to your rescue. But...something feels off. And he will do anything to protect you.

"Thank you so much," smiling at Matilda your hand trembles a bit as you take the glass from her.

But as you go to take a sip you remember Andy's voice in your head.

"Always check if the water is bubbling, really anything you're going to drink that's not given to you by the guys, me or Emeril."

One of the first things Andy told you when you first began living with him, and although you didn't quite care at that time.

That piece of advice is coming in handy now.

Looking to see if the water was crystal clear, and if it smelled right, Matilda shakes her head. She's read plenty of books on poison.

"It is regular spring water, imported from the States. I would never poison you."

Smiling softly at her again, you open your mouth to speak, "it's just I'm still a bit shaken up is all...you see I'm not used to this kind of life."

"Me neither," Sighing Matilda tidies up a few books on her shelf, "I used to go to school as a kid. It wasn't the best school. The principal was crazy. But still, it was a smidge of normalcy. Now I've been on this island for 12 years."

"12 years?!" You choke on the water in your mouth as she rushes to pat your back. And if needed perform CPR if you were not breathing properly.

Something else that she read in a book.

"Don't worry! You're shaking. Here, sit." Matilda helps you sit on the edge of her bed. She takes a seat beside you, "my father was a con artist, he sold faulty cars and well with FBI finally got to him. At the same time Ethan and his family were relocating to Hawaii. Ignus wanted to go with them. I wanted to stay with my big brother..."

"Where did your parents go?"

"I think they were going to Spain. I don't remember too much because I was so young. All I know is that I wouldn't want to live with them. I've been on my own since I was a baby really."

"Why did you choose to stay with your brother? If he wasn't going to advocate for you."

"Ethan's mom took us in, but when she passed I was around 16 years old. So, Ignus made me the maid of the house and I do as he says."

"Why?"

Matilda chuckles, "you love your questions."

You shrug, "I was going to be a teacher, so, I like to investigate."

"I suppose I've always thought that was how to do it. The right way of doing things. I've read in thousands of books that sibling love is the strongest love there is."

"You've...read...how many books?"

Matilda chuckles again with your deer in headlights expression, and surprise surprise yet another question. "I'm not sure the exact count. But I've read ever since I was 4. It was my only source of entertainment. What my parents watched on the TV didn't interest me."