Vengeance Is Beautiful

Chapter Nine

San Juan, Puerto Rico

I push Mac away from me and he stumbles back, looking bewildered. I apologetically turn to Lino and he follows my gaze.

His face immediately dropping at the shaking beast behind him.

"Listen man, I don't know what you-"

Before he can finish Lino grabs him by the shirt and slam him into the wall. "Don't ever fucking come back! Go back to your white boy country and stay THE FUCK over there!"

Mac nervously turns to me, "Cat what's he saying?"

"Lino...let him go"

Lino snaps his head to me, "What? You want him, reina?"

"No! But-"

"What? You want him, cat?"

I stutter looking at both of them. I run my hand through my hair and pull them both inside. That's enough drama for the neighbors.

They sit on either side of the couch looking at me while I stand in front of them. "I know this is ...awkward for all of us-"

"No, just let me kill the idiot and we can go back to where we left off"

"Hey! No Spanish!" Mac shouts, clearly uncomfortable.

"Shut up the both of you!" I yell over them. I sigh and sit on the arm of the chair looking at both of them.

It's obvious who has my heart.

"Mac...", I notice Lino look up at me with wide eyes, "Mac you and I have history-"

"I know you before him!" Lino yells standing up. I put my hand up and he blows out a sigh before dropping back on the couch, looking out the window.

"No more interruptions or you both leave? Got it"

...They both answer at the same time.

"Yeah"
"Whatever"

I regain my composure and start again. "Mac we got history...together, as a couple. But I wasn't in love with you. I was in love with the idea of you. And don't get me wrong, I care about you I just - we're not - we don't fit. We're not compatible. "

I see his eyes going watery and he picks up his coat and walks to the door. I follow him and Lino grabs my arm.

"Lino, please", I gently pull back my arm and head out, catching Mac in the hallway.

"Mac!"

He turns around and glares at me. "Just so you know, I actually did love you."

I gulp and tears begin to well up in my eyes, "I'm sorry...it wouldn't have worked out anyway", I shrug. He scoffs and walks to the elevator.

I turn and head in closing the door behind me. Lino is standing by the window, looking at me.

"Chula, there's something I want you to understand about me", he says quietly. I lean against the door, looking at him.

His eyes focused on me and his stance still, against the window.

"I don't do love. I used to consider it a sin, because it made you weak. I don't hold onto things that don't belong to me. I don't show mercy and I am not nice".

He stalks up to me until he's right in my face. "However, with you, I've managed to do all those things in the last three days. If you want me, tell me now. I don't want to be wasting my time".