A Dream

-Jamie-

The small figure in my arms turned aside and I rolled on my back. The room was so quiet and peaceful as I slept.

The ear bursting scream from downstairs made me jerk awake. It was so familiar and I got to my feet. Racing downstairs to where the scream came from. The light from under the dining room door caught my attention. Bursting through the door, I saw all of the men who never left and Alvaro holding Belinda in his grasp.

"Belinda!" I started panicked and made my way over to her. My grandfather clicked his fingers and Lorenzo stepped in my way. His facial expression was cold and lifeless. This was not the Lorenzo I came to know. He took my arms in his hands and I rested my hands on his chest. "Lorenzo. What are you doing?" I asked confused and look into his eyes. He stayed silent. Looking at my father with the same question but he just looked away with a sad expression.

"Pappi? What's going on?" I asked, pulling my arms from Lorenzo just to get gripped tighter. "Lorenzo! Let me go!" My voice switching from confusion to anger. It bothered me that he acted like this. When he didn't let go of me, I whipped my arms up and sold down on his arms where they bent. That action made him release me and push him away from me violently. Stepping closer to my grandfather who placed his hand on my cheek. "Pappi? What's going on?" I asked again.

He sighed before looking at Alvaro who held Belinda. Then he turned her so she had her back against his chest. Pulling her hair hard to make her look up at me. "She listened to things that were not supposed to be heard Pumpkin" my grandfather's voice half lifeless. He nodded to Alvaro who pulled out a knife from his back and press it against her throat. When I tried to get over to her, two pairs of hands grabbed my arms and held me back.

"Pappi please! No!" I begged and Belinda begged as well to not get hurt. "I'm sorry pumpkin but this is for the best" the old man stated before looking at me. Anger filled me once more and this time it gave me adrenaline to kill someone. With a hard kick coming out of the blue, I kicked Lorenzo in his wind to barely breathe. Throwing a punch at my father that got blocked by him. "Stop fighting us, Jamie!" He growled. "No!" I yelled and kick him also on his wind, making my old man fold in half.

"Pappi, stop this. Belinda has done nothing wrong! If she heard something why not just tell her to keep it secret? She barely talks anyway" I stated seriously. The more I tried to calm myself the more Alvaro smirked at me. Then the laughter came from Belinda and Alvaro dropped the knife. This was not happening.

My face turned cold and pure bitter. "Is this some kind of sick joke to you Bel?!" My voice loud but the way it remained so calm scared the living shit out of her. And I could feel how my father looked at me as if he doesn't know me. Her laughter died instantly before she looked down at her feet. My grandfather stood up and placed his hands on my shoulders. "Pumpkin, you have to calm down. We were testing you. Alvaro would never kill your friends, I would never have let him" he said calmly. "Testing me?! What kind of sick test does threatening my friend test me for?!" His came out more brutal than it should've.

"Your trust for people and skills" he stated calmly, massaging my shoulders slightly. Turning around abruptly and push his hands away from me. "Are you going to use all my friends to pull such sick stunts?" The words just came flowing out my mouth. My grandfather gave me a look that told me that was low of me to think. "No, your friend here was actually at the wrong place at the wrong time. She did hear some things that she wasn't supposed to, therefore Alvaro just whispered something that he'd do to her if she didn't do as he said" he explained to me.

All of this was sick to me, but I didn't blame Belinda for doing what she did. If Alvaro whispered to her what he'd do to her if she disobeyed his orders, I would blame myself forever. Shaking my head and let go of the shaking breathes inside of me. "Belinda come here," I said, not looking pissed at her, although I was more than pissed at this moment. She listened to me and stopped in front of me. Placing my hand on her cheek and pull her head against mine.

"I'm so sorry Jamie. I didn't know this would happen, I just... I was scared" she whispered, her body shaking softly. "It's okay, it's okay. Just calm down for me. Tell me what Alvaro said to you" my voice soft and caring. She leaned to my ear, knowing that if she didn't do as I asked, she'd be punished. "He said he was going to fuck me until I can't walk and make me suck him so much that I won't be able to talk" then I snapped. Stepping away from Belinda and walk over to Alvaro before shoving him, didn't do much on him but I was only getting started.

"Don't do this Duquesa," he said taking a step back to me. "Oh, I shouldn't do this?" My voice mocking. Before he could do anything to me, I hit him in the wind before grabbing his forearm, spin him around and kick his knees from behind so he fell on his knees. Then I drew the knife he threatened Belinda with and press it against his neck hard. "Let's get one thing straight Alvaro" my mouth in his ear. "I'm not the type of girl that gets told what to do. I'm the type of girl that will rip you apart if you threaten or touch what belongs to me. And don't ever underestimate me. I'm far more flexible than I give forward!" I growled and grab his hair when I let his hand go. "Do I make myself clear?" The way I talked to him made it sound like my grandfather was talking to him.

"Yes, Duquesa" he spit out before I let him go and drop the knife in front of him. Stepping away from him and walk over to Belinda. Wrapping my one arm around her. "Jamie, I think it's time we talk business," my grandfather said as I turned slightly to look at him. "When my friends are gone home, we'll talk business. Also, just so you know. Belinda is expecting, so don't try anything funny again" I stated and look at my dad, he looked half terrified of what he just saw me doing. "Dad, I wanted to ask... Is it possible that Belinda can move in?" I asked more softly. "Pumpkin let's discuss everything in the morning," the old man said with a pleasing smile.

I gave a nod, halfway catching a glimpse of Lorenzo. He still had that cold look on his face. Turning away with Belinda in my arm before taking her to the room she was given.

"Jamie, I'm really sorry for what I did" she whispered when we sat on her bed. Shaking my head at her to say it was okay "Bel, it's really okay. Get some rest now" I said before kissing the top of her head. She laid down and let sleep overtake her.

Making sure that the rest of the girls are asleep and comfortable before heading up to my room. The little figure on my bed was still silently asleep. I lay down on my back. Taking deep breathes as I close my eyes. Then movement was made next to me and Max came to lay down on top of me. "Where were you Princesa?" His sleepy voice asked. "I took care of something my Prince" I whispered, placing my hands on his body.

"What did you do?" He asked nuzzling his face into my neck. "Don't worry about it love. Just get some sleep" whispering softly and play with his hair. He fell asleep again.

I stared up at my roof, keeping Maximus asleep and warm in my arms. How early in the morning it was when I fell asleep was unknown, but when the sun came up, I wished the night hours were longer.