Delicate Beauty (Mateo love story)

Chapter Fifteen *Edited*

Angelica sobbed quietly in the safety of her apartment, she was angry and hurt. Her heart was hurting more and more as each thought of Mateo ran through her mind. She wanted to believe that he didn't love his wife, that he was trying to do what was best for his children and his own safety. She knew he must have been young when he had agreed to marry Daria, yet her pain and heartbreak over ruled any rational thoughts that tried to enter her head.

She felt betrayed and embarrassed, she had been warned about Mateo and his reputation with women, yet she had been stupid enough to put her trust and faith in him and his false loyalty to her. She could see he was feeling guilty, she knew deep down that he cared for her deeply but that didn't matter to her right now. Her thoughts were constantly filled with his children and wife, how could he do that to his children? Why cheat instead of separating and being good parents? This couldn't be good for anyone, his mother in law couldn't be good for anyone if she was sending threats to Mateo.

"Angel?" Angelica's Jaw clenches as she hears her father's voice, he steps in with a frown. Her eyes harden as her father sits beside her on the sofa, she could see that he was thinking deeply.

"Just spit it out" her voice is colder than she had intended which caught both of them off guard, Les sighs as he turns his attention to his daughter completely.

"I'm not here to defend him, hell I want to kick his ass right now. But I know a decent man when I see one, he is trying to fix his mistakes Angelica, and he is doing it for you" he takes a hold of her hand, "he wanted to tell you in his own time, to be honest with you but he was afraid of, well, this. He doesn't want to lose you, Mateo has never had to commit to anything in his entire life, even his marriage is falling apart because he couldn't do just that."

Angelica lifts her head to look at her father "he is trying to commit to you, he has gone to end his marriage once and for all. He wants a new life, a new beginning, with you" Les smiles as his daughter sighs, her heart ached for her to believe the words her father spoke but her pain clouded that.

"I need some air" her voice is hoarse as she stands, her hand ripping itself out of Les's grasp "a decent man would never choose a woman over his children. You taught me that" her voice is emotionless as she looks to her father, she was numb, completely and utterly numb.

Her feet carry her quickly to the entrance of the Solana, her eyes were sore from all the crying she had endured. "Hola" a man steps out from behind one of the walls with a cocky smirk causing Angelica to frown, "Mateo sent for Angelica" his eyes scan her body.

"Tell him I'm not interested."

She glares at the man as he steps closer, "what a tragic waste" his smile darkens as his accent draws strong, Angelica feels her heart beat increase as he covers her mouth and grips her tightly, dragging her to a nearby car, all the while she struggled.

*****

The car pulls to a stop outside the small residence, Angelica could barely contain the fear she felt, she feared for her life as the man dragged her forcefully towards the door. "Please! You don't have to do this!" the man ignores Angelica's pleas as he opens the front door and throws her into the home where a woman stood with a gun pointed at Mateo.

Mateo growls as he reaches forward towards Angelica who lay on the floor in fear, "bastardo!" his words were directed to Juan, his brother in law who simply ignores Mateo.

"Mamá, la escoria británica" Angelica glances to Mateo, discreetly checking him over for injuries, she didn't want him to get hurt, even if he had broken her heart.

"Bien, ahora vete!" the woman speaks aggressively to the man, telling him to leave. Clearly, she wanted to take pleasure in have full control over the two lovers. Her shotgun remains pointed at Mateo.

"La elegiste sobre mi daria?!" the woman screams aggressively towards Mateo as he glances once more to Angelica. The two argue back and forth about her, Angelica herself found it hard to keep up with the conversation as the two spat various insults.

"Please You don't have to do this, you don't have to hurt him" Angelica pleads with Delores, her eyes fixed on the gun aimed at Mateo. She wasn't even sure that the woman could understand her, but in this moment, she was willing to try everything. Her courage surfaces as she runs towards the door, risking being shot was worth it to get some help.

A shot rings out causing Angelica to freeze, her heart drops as she turns slowly. Mateo stood with the gun to his head, he was still alive and breathing allowing Angelica to sigh in relief.

"Inside" Delores barely makes sense with her thick accent but Angelica understood.

"Please, don't hurt him" her eyes meet Mateo's as she allows a tear to fall.

The two were afraid, both could see that. Dolores had full control in this moment, she could kill them and make it look like an accident. Angelica could see the fire in the woman's eyes, she was beyond crazy, clearly willing to kill all that threatened the peace and love in her family. She was beyond intimidating, her movements were calculated as she led the two into a dark empty room, where two chairs were set up. She had been planning this for a while, that much was clear. Her gun met the back of Angelica back as she urged her to sit. The two complied in fear, there was no fighting their way out of this with a gun aimed at the person they cared for most.

*****

It had been an hour since the two had been locked in the room and tied to separate chairs. They sat opposite one another, neither speaking a word. Mateo couldn't think of what to say in this moment, no words could describe how truly sorry he felt.

"If I die then I want you to know I forgive you" her voice is soft as she meets his gaze, "I don't want to die being mad at you." she confesses bleakly.

Mateo frowns at her words "you will no die today. My promise is still good, you will live another day Angelica" his eyes widen in realisation before glancing down to his pant pocket.

"Your phone!"