Chapter 56 Chapter 56

The next week was hellish. Andrea remained furious for days and of

course, didn't hesitate to take it out on me. But no matter how much he

hurt me, it didn't make me regret what I did. I'd endure anything for

Leo.

Luciano still lurked around too, making snide comments at every

opportunity and throwing all of his nasty tactics and resources into

provoking me. I had to try my best not to retaliate because Andrea

would always take his side but when he mentioned how sexy’ my four-

year-old daughter, Lili, would be when she grew up, I couldn't resist any

more and much to his amusement, I completely lost it.

After throwing a glass tequila bottle at him and inflicting a minor cut on

his forehead, Andrea intervened and beat me so hard I passed out until

the next morning when I woke up with a thudding headache and

Luciano sat on the armchair opposite the bed grinning from ear to ear.

"You are relentless,” I groaned, "Please, can you just leave me alone?"

"It's good to spend time with family," he said.

"What did I ever do to you?" I asked. "I got you kicked out the

pack...twice, fair enough. But you hated me long before that.”

"I hate pretty much everyone,” he replied with a shrug. "Don't take it

personally.”

"Seriously, Luciano,” I said slowly sitting up. "What did I do?"

He paused for a few seconds furrowing his dark eyebrows as if he was

having to try hard to remember.

"Your confidence annoys me," he said finally. "And it's entertaining to

wind you up because you give a good reaction. Perfectly demonstrated

last night.”

"So basically you're just a sadist?" I clarified.

"We established that years ago," he replied in a bored tone. "Sadist,

psychopath, sociopath, maniac..whatever. I'm not going to deny it."

Just then the bedroom door opened and Andrea marched in with a

scowl on his face.

"She's awake," he stated.

"Indeed she is," Luciano replied a glint in his eye.

"Blanca, get up,” Andrea grunted clapping his hands, "It's my birthday

today.”

"No wonder you're so happy," I remarked under my breath.

"It's my 20th so I'm having a party here tonight. I want the entire house

swept and cleaned and you need to cook some food.”

I didn't reply and instead just buried myself in the duvet.

"Ay!" he shouted. "Guests arrive at 6 pm. If it's not done by then, there'll

be consequences. And do something about that black eye while you're

at it."

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.

"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.