Finding Forgiveness

He then left the room leaving me to sigh and roll onto my back.

“Piss off, Luciano,” I said. “I want to get dressed.”

“Go ahead, I don’t mind,” he replied with a wink.

“You are sick,” I hissed. “Do you need reminding that we are cousins?”

“Second cousins,” he corrected.

“We share the same great grandparents who are both still alive might I add,” I replied.

“Ah yes. Good old Rosina and Alfredo. How are they holding?” he asked.

“Fine but they’d be slightly alarmed if they found out their great-grandson wants to watch their great-granddaughter get changed,” I snapped.

“Okay, okay,” he replied putting his hands up. “I’m leaving.”

When I finally had the room to myself I took a long shower. A lot of water and half a bottle of shampoo later, and I found myself staring at my reflection in the mirror.

Throughout my life, there have been times where it’s been intolerable. When my Dad ‘died’ was one of the worst alongside watching my brother actually die. My first few days with Leo weren’t exactly heaven either and then there was being held hostage with the mafia, nearly dying in a snowstorm up a Russian mountain and the miscarriage which weren’t much better. And now this.

The left side of my face was looking rough. A black bruise nearly consumed my eye and my lip was cut and swollen. I sighed and once again I found myself reaching for the nearly empty bottle of concealer in the cupboard above the sink.

But today was the last morning I would have like this. It was Andrea’s 20th birthday and I was formulating a plan. Tonight, there’d be loads of people here for the party and there’d probably also be loads of alcohol. He’d probably drink too much like he always does with his friends (a typical teenager really). That normally meant he’d just get really handsy and horny with me but it also meant he was clumsy and careless. I’d use his handicap to my advantage. I didn’t know exactly how yet. Maybe he’d be so distracted I could slip out into the jungle or so intoxicated he’d let his guard down and I could knock him out or better, end the bugger once and for all.

There was plenty of leeway for failure and it was a huge risk but it could be my only chance for years and I wasn’t going to let it slip away. That little voice inside my head, the bossy brave one, wasn’t going to let me either. I’d had the opportunity to kill Andrea or at least let him die before and I hadn’t taken it, but now he had pushed me past the point of anything as coherent as morals. I was losing my sanity and somehow, it was going to work in my favour. For the first time in weeks, I had hope and it felt pretty damn good.

I got to work cleaning and baking just like Andrea had asked. He went out in the late afternoon, probably to do something illegal, and I took the opportunity to have another shower and clean the sweat of a hard days work off and then get dressed. I didn’t like showering when he was home because he’d taken the lock off the door and there was a high chance he would come in and do something I really didn’t want.

I put on a navy dress, kind of short but not too short and not particularly tight either. I then put my hair up in a bun when it was dry.

Just as I was putting Lili’s clip in my hair, Andrea got home and came upstairs.

“You look hot. Give me a kiss,” he said once he was in the bedroom.

I turned around to see him and my eyes widened.

“Oh God, there’s blood,” I exclaimed turning back around after seeing a huge blotch of blood on his white shirt surrounded by splatters.

“Relax, Blanca,” he reassured. “It’s dry.”

That doesn’t make it any better.

He then came over to me and kissed my neck as I internally shuddered. I was certainly not relaxed.

He smelt my hair before reaching for something in it.

“Firstly, what have I told you about showering without me? And secondly, where did you get this?” he asked presenting Lili’s clip.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“It’s my daughter’s,” I replied truthfully. “It was in my hair when I got here.”

“How cute,” he deadpanned before thrusting it into my hand.

I slid it back in and sighed.

Thanks for cleaning the house, Ella. The food looks nice, Ella.

“People will be arriving in half an hour,” he said taking off his bloody shirt and throwing it in the trash can. “You remember the rules, yes?”

I nodded.

Andrea had three golden rules when we were in public or with other people:

1. Never disclose any of his private business affairs to anyone

2. Never give anyone even the slightest hint that we are not a normal happily married couple.

3. Always act like a ‘good wife’

Rule number three covered a lot.

“Good,” he said. “I’m glad you’re got over whatever happened to you in the jungle last week.”

I forced a smile, biting my tongue.

Just you wait, Andrea Martinez.

When the guests began to arrive, the house soon got noisy with chatter and Hispanic music. They seemed to be liking the food and I even got a few compliments… not from Andrea though. But he was enjoying himself dancing on the table having had multiple shots of tequila.

At some point, I found myself sat at the base of the chairs, sipping a glass of water watching the party. There must have been about a hundred people there because the house and garden were packed.

“Hey,” a woman said sitting beside me with a strong Hispanic accent. “You must be Andrea’s wife?”

I nodded before looking over to Andrea. He was dancing salsa on the table with a few of the other important men in his cartel. They were all so drunk and it was sort of funny but it was still Andrea.

“I’m Julia,” she said. “I only know him through my mate.”

“I’m Ella,” I said shaking her outstretched hand. She had a warm tone and just radiated friendliness as she smiled.

“Who is your mate?” I asked.

“You probably know him,” she began. “Chico. One of Andrea’s guards.”

“Oh, yes,” I said. “He’s kind to me.”

“He’s a good man but he’s on duty right now, as always, so I guess I’m just here alone,” she replied.

“Two loners unite,” I sighed.

She nodded and there was a silent pause.

“So… how did you meet him?” she asked.

Maybe she was just trying to make friendly conversation and it was the natural first question but it felt she was trying to probe something out. As if she was already suspicious.

“Andrea?” I questioned and she nodded.

I hesitated for a moment.