Devotion (3) ✔

12 - Mariana & Santiago

Mariana

We watched the hotel security cameras on the massive screen that was divided into 9 parts, showing 9 different areas of the hotel. He didn't usually bother me with how he did his work but this was important to him, emotionally. He needed me even if he didn't voice it.

As a woman, we are in more control of our emotions in a healthy manner where as men, don't really know what to do when they feel certain things. Sometimes those emotions come out violently towards other, sometimes they can self-destruct, sometimes it can even be promiscuous. That's what Santiago did before.

Now, he actually talks.

He told me about his fears of finding her and her not accepting him. He was afraid that she'd been abused by people. He couldn't handle that bit. He couldn't accept that his little sister was alive and in pain and he didn't know. Remembering his eyes water in the dim yellow light of the city made my chest ache all over again. He wasn't an emotional person and seeing him that manner, knocked the breath out of me.

I rapped my hands around his bicep, leaning into him. To people, the gesture looked as if I were holding onto him for support where in reality, I was trying to calm him down by rubbing my palm down his arm. There was sizzling energy that was vibrating through his body, ready to burst.

Javier pressed a button on the remote and it pulled up the feed from the main lobby and the other little boxes of video scattered across the edge of the big middle screen. Santiago stepped forward, right in front of the T.V. over the fireplace that was in this penthouse suit. He owned this hotel.

"Zoom in on the girl." He pointed. The camera panned, zoning in on the petite girl who stood behind a man who looked as menacing as Javier but slightly slimmer. He didn't look like a body builder but his make wasn't like Santiago's or Xavier's. They looked expensive. Santiago's body was pure muscle from work out not manual labour. Unlike the guy who was protecting Santiago's possible little sister.

The girl on the other hand looked strong but small. I was 5'8 and she probably only came up to my shoulders. The camera zoomed in again. She looked up and a jolt surged up from my stomach to my throat.

Her upturned big brown eyes sucked the energy out of my body, forcing me to grab on to the back rest of the sofa behind me for support. It couldn't be. I was mortified.

My eyes went to Santiago's back.

He'd paused the image on her pretty little face.

It was suddenly so cold in the room. I couldn't stop the little shiver that racked up my body. My gaze returned to the screen. I'd seen those big eyes that were too big for her face. That was the image that greeted me every time I went to our living. I'd seen those eyes on the 5 year old girl who was sitting on Tiago's arm wearing a tiara.

The only difference I saw between the girl on the screen, in front of me and the girl who's image was a shrine at our house, was age. Other than that, their eyes, pouted lips that resembled Tiago as well were exactly the same.

Both of their hair was ink black and even though Tiago's eyes were that big but the colour and up turned look was exactly the same.

"Fuck." He cursed. Everyone in the room could feel his agony. "Don't let them leave." He barked at Javier. Everyone quickly erupted into action. People were talking on the coms, radios and Javier was furious tapping the screen on his tablet.

"Tiago." I tried to catch up with him when he rushed out of the main door to get to the Elevator. "You need to calm down." I chased after him but it was difficult in a fucking dress and high heels.