fourteen (2nd draft)

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Adriana

My whole life I had been completely sheltered. Nothing bad ever happened to me; my parents made sure of it. I couldn't even go anywhere by myself. Hell, I wasn't even allowed to have a phone. That didn't bother me as much. I could live without a phone. However, a part of me hated being so sheltered. I wanted to go out by myself or God forbid, have friends my own age. I could only talk to immediate family, the guards and maids. And don't even get me started on my brothers, they were so overprotective. Just like my father. Once, I went to the mall with Santiago, a guy tried to talk to me and Santiago threatened to knock him out cold. That was the last time he went out with me. Nevertheless, a part of me did love it. Nothing bad ever happened to me. I was protected from all the bad stuff. I had self defense training as well. But nothing could ever prepare me for loving someone that I knew I had to leave. I didn't even want to think about leaving Xavier. It hurt too much.

But I didn't want to love him.

*

I hadn't even remembered falling asleep. I woke up with my body pressed up against Xavier's. He was already awake, twirling my hair. I snuggled my face closer to his chest, even though I couldn't get any closer.

"Hey, how was your nap?" he said in a soft voice.

I chuckled and rubbed my eyes. "Good." I still had my eyes closed, inhaling his scent. I didn't know how to explain it, his scent. He just... smelled really good. "How long have I've been asleep?" I asked as my eyes fluttered open.

"Three hours." His fingers rubbed my scalp and it felt so nice. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to just fall asleep.

"Xavier!" One of the guards from downstairs yelled.

"Jesus Christ," he mumbled under his breath. "I'll be right back." He slipped out of my grip and headed downstairs. A few minutes later, he opened my door with a phone in his hand. "It's for you."

I jumped up and grabbed the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hola, mami." It was my mom. "Are you okay? What happened? Are you safe? Are you hurt? He didn't hurt you right? How are you?" It wouldn't be my mom if she didn't ask me a hundred questions.

"Mamá, I'm okay. I'm safe."

"Ah, thank God. We've been worried sick about you. Gabriel didn't hurt you, right?"

"No, he didn't. I'm fine, Ama," I insisted. "How is everyone?"

"Mateo is fine, he got released from the hospital a couple of days ago. Santiago and I are managing..." Her voice sounded so sad and I wanted to cry. I would've gave anything to be with them right now.

"How about Dad? How is he?" All I wanted to do was relieve her stress but when I heard her sigh, I knew I was doing the exact opposite.

She took a deep breath. "Not good. He's being going crazy just trying to find Gabriel. Not sleeping, not eating, nothing. Then, when he heard about what happened in that diner... It's been hard."

My heart ached. I missed my family so much. I wanted to be there with them.

"Hi, my love." Ah, it was Mateo. His voice was like music to my ears. He sounded sullen and exhausted but it was pure music.

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"Mateo.. I miss you so much." I gripped the phone tighter and grinned.

"I miss you too, Ana. How are you holding up?"

"I'm doing okay. How are you guys?" I felt like my mom wasn't telling me the whole truth and I was hoping Mateo would.

"Mom's a mess, Santiago and I are doing the best that we can and Dad is going back to New York."

"What? Why?"

"His exact words were, 'I want to plot my revenge against that motherfucker.' So, there's that. Santiago and I are going back with him. We can't let him go alone."

"What about Mom?"

"He hasn't told her yet. She'll probably end up staying in Boston."

"This is all my fault --"

"Adri, how? It's unfortunate, but you were born into a family that has a lot of enemies. But, there's a reason why we've remained unscathed for such a long time."

"Yeah? And what's the reason?"

"Dad is one scary motherfucker."

I laughed but it was true. My dad was intimidating, scary, and ruthless when it came to his job; he did what needed to be done. He didn't care who he hurt in the process. But, when it came to his family, he was warm-hearted and gentle. That's what I loved about him. "Okay, yeah that's true."

"No one, and I mean no one, fucks with the Valentín's and gets out alive. Chances are, Dad is going to find Gabriel and skin him alive." The thought alone made me cringe. "Anyways, how are the Rojo's treating my favorite sister?"

I gazed over at Xavier, who was leaning against my door frame. I brought my hand up to his face and softly caressed his cheek. "They're treating me very well. I feel safe here." Xavier smiled and winked at me. "The guy here is kind of annoying, though," I teased and he frowned.

In the distance, I heard my dad and he did not sound happy. My heart throbbed and before I could ask anything, Mateo spoke: "That's good to hear. Listen, I have to go right now. Be safe. I love you, bye."

"Wait, Mat-" I rushed, but he hung up the phone.

Are you fucking kidding me?

"Is everything alright?" he asked.

No, everything was not alright. My father was going ballistic trying to find Gabriel. Especially after what happened to Mateo. Then, that note in the diner. For all we know, that wasn't even Gabriel. It could've been one of his men. Gabriel could still be in New York, waiting for my father and my brothers. Christ, just thinking about Gabriel and his men waiting for them in New York made my chest hurt. This was all my fault. Gabriel wanted me. Why did he want me? I held no value to him. I knew absolutely nothing when it came to my father's work. What could he have possibly wanted with me? I just wanted my dad. He would know what to do and what to say to me. He always knew what to say. I had to stop thinking like this. Everything was going to be alright. Everyone would be alright. I would be back in my family's arms in no time. Oh god, but Xavier. I never wanted to leave him. It was inevitable, though. Why did I have to do this?

"Adriana?" Xavier cautiously asked. I felt like I was going to pass out. My breathing got heavier and heavier. I heard Xavier speak, but it sounded like he was a mile away. I realized that I had started crying, my head was killing me. I winced at the pain.

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