Maria:
The moment Daniel had walked right into the store and his presence was noticed, I didn't count up to a second before El Salvador and his men pulled out different kinds of guns and weapons, pointing and ready to pounce on Daniel, who clearly had nothing on him.
There was a bit of awkward silence as I quivered, damn I was so freak out that I was about to pee on myself.
I was scared.
Scared that they were going to attack and open fire on Daniel. God, he was going to die because of me. My hands trembled as my teeth clenched tightly together. At this point, I was so shaken up that all I thought about was his safety instead of mine.
I have never been to a gunfight before, and I was never planning on ever being included in one. Not today.
Daniel stylishly walked right in front of us. He walked towards a table filled with a tray of drinks and poured himself one of the finest wines in the collection. "Please, if I may." He said sarcastically, acting like he needed any permission at all to do whatever he liked.
He raised the glass just like he wanted to make a toast, and he giggled. His perfectly white teeth revealed with a smile, but it looked quite devilish for an ordinary smile.
What was he up to? For someone who was about to probably get shot at, he looked pretty calm and composed.
In fact, what the hell was he doing here to start with? Is he stalking me?
Oh no, I'm in a big shit!
Everyone's gaze, including mine, fell on him; no one even tried to make a move, or shoot, and I wondered why.
Isn't he supposed to be some devil, like they called him to be? He walked in here with some sort of boldness without security, and one way or another, he is still able to inflict fear in them.
Who really is Daniel Thompson, the bastard child? Why does he have such an effect on them?
My eyes went from him to every single man at the store. They were frightened and lost. It was only their boss, El Salvador, who tried to keep his toughness at bay.
" Boss, I told you this was a trap. He used his wife as a distraction. Just say the words, and we will blow him and his little princess to shreds." The man from earlier at the counter spoke out, breaking the silence in the room.
This was twelve men against one.
Daniel didn't flinch or say a word.
He went on to pull out a chair and majestically sat on it like he owned the place. He crossed his legs while sipping the drink and playing with his beautiful, thick, long raven hair, which blends incredibly well with his blue shirt and lava eyes.
He is so hot that even I can feel the heat amidst the present predicament. I couldn't help but think, Was this a gorgeous creation, my husband? He sipped the wine again and looked into the glass, completely ignoring me and everyone. "This is really a catch." It tastes so divine. " Where is it from?" He spoke for the first time, asking nobody in particular.
" I wouldn't believe the devil's son like you can't identify a simple glass of wine, boy." El Salvador replied, and Daniel gasped dramatically, holding his chest.
" Simple? El Salvador…." He drawled and paused, tracing his fingers around the glass. " You speak so highly of me. I am sure you would find joy in knowing that I don't always have to know the answers to everything." Daniel continued.
El Salvador signaled to one of his boys to set a chair for him, and he sat down facing Daniel while we all stood behind him. "Pinot Noir, one of the Frenchman's country's finest wines," El Salvador replied, and Daniel wore a mischievous smile.
" Except this isn't Pinot Noir, but Pinot Grigio. Pinot Noir is brighter compared to Pinot Grigio, which has a pale yellow color with a slight greenish hue. " Ohhhh, El Salvador. "You haven't been taking your assignment, have you?" Daniel said mockingly.
I was so lost in my head, admiring Daniel's breathtaking aura and the tension in the store. His accent was so fluent and extremely sexy.
I didn't stop to think what they would do. Wait! Why did he come here? Why did he? How did he know I was here? It wasn't the first time Daniel had coincidentally crossed my path. I was starting to think he was stalking me.
"Enough of the wine talk, I have seen you've come to take what is yours, but believe me, Daniel, she came to us not the other way around," El Salvador explained.
Daniel, who wasn't looking at me, suddenly placed a piercing gaze on me. He looked into my soul, which made me shiver. "Ohh, she?" He asked rhetorically as he kept his eyes on me.
"Maria loves." He called out to me, beckoning me to his side.
No one has to tell me to get my little legs to him. Just his stare was able to send the message to my brain. His eyes had those "get the hell over here looks, and I wasn't even planning on refusing.
I ran over to him and stood behind him. Then we stood against them. "Boss, I told you, I told you it was a plan she was sent to spy," one of his boys said.
"Spy?" Daniel repeated with a frown. "How would I send my fragile and untrained wife to such a deadly part of society, Unprotected to spy, when I am the best at doing that myself? Daniel bragged, and the men fumed.
" El, keep your little minions in order. Speak straight to me and don't involve my wife. There won't be a next time." Daniel continued, twisting his face in disgust towards each of them.
El Salvador raised his hands, encouraging his boys to be quiet.
"She came here saying that she wanted to sell very expensive heels, a limited edition. " El Salvador narrated, keeping a straight face.
Daniel looked at me and went on to look at El Salvador. "How interesting. She told me about that, but I didn't know she was planning on selling that particular one. " I had wanted to come by myself, but you know I am one busy man," Daniel lied with a smile.
El Salvador became quite relieved and at ease hearing that. "I was thinking we were about to have a problem. " But maybe it is not as soon as I had thought," El Salvador said.
Daniel stood up from where he sat and moved to where El Salvador sat. "Hold on to that thought, it might come sooner than you expected, Amigo," he said, and handed the glass of wine to El Salvador. "Thanks for the drink." He chipped in.
"Wifey, shall we?" Daniel said to me, extending his hands to me.
Without a second thought, I took his arms and we exited the store. Daniel's car was just far ahead. We got into the car, and Daniel started the engine of the car, and we drove off. As he drove, I knew he had something to say.
His face said it all.
"Why are you always around danger, Maria?" he started.
" You act tough and all, but you're not capable of protecting yourself." He finally asked with one of his hands on the wheel.
I gripped my knees.
My hands were so sweaty.
"I didn't know it wasn't just a black market store. How was I to know that you have a beef with them? " I replied with my eyes down on my fingernail.
Daniel was quiet for a while. "They were almost going to do something stupid to you. You know what, I don't want to prolong this conversation. From now on, you will report to me anywhere you are going to, and anywhere you are coming back from," he instructed, and I chipped in immediately.
"I can take care of myself. I don't need you in my life to monitor me. I am a grown woman, not a kid. " I replied harshly.
" Then act like an adult." He spat, and I shook, and stared hard at him.
Daniel immediately turned the wheels, stopped the car at a spot, and faced me. " We said no preying on each other's affairs, Mr Thompson," I whispered.
Daniel's face straightened. His facial expression became unreadable. " Can you hear yourself speak? You are the only person preying on my affairs, Maria, anytime I want to make one move or the other, you eventually show up like a housefly I can't get rid of because to the world, I'm married to you." he sounded in a cold tone.
"I married a wife, not a liability. "Stay far away from me, stay away from my territory." He added calmly, but his voice tinged with disgust.
"You're so funny, look who is saying that I am preying on his affairs. Why do you suddenly show up wherever I am? " Hmmm, let me think because you're a hardcore stalker!" I replied.
Daniel chuckled. " Oh no, no, I can't do this with you. So in your thick skull, you think I'm stalking you? Is that how highly you think of yourself?" Daniel asked, and I retorted.
"Yes, I have been fine, taking care of myself alone, but since your family name came into my life, I can't just walk in the street without people staring at me to death. You know most of these things are your fault." I continued.
" I get into trouble for something I know nothing about, with bad people that you associate yourself with for no reason. Now I see why no one seems to be a part of your life, because you just carry with you harm, trouble, come on, name it. " I fired at him.
Daniel's eyes turned daggers as he stared at me. "If it is too hard for you to swallow, Miss Maria Falcone, you can go ahead and terminate the marriage. "But make sure you have the one million dollars in two weeks that I gave your father, Mathew Falcone, as an agreement," he declared.
My body became cold as my blood ran chilled. I was always one with a temper, but hearing this from him quenched my burning rage.
"Wait, what?! "A million? "A freaking million dollars," I yelled. Did I hear right, or are my ears failing me?
"You don't know? I own you, Maria. I paid in full. " Your father needed the money, and according to him, the family business was almost a wreck."
I couldn't believe my ears. It definitely sounded like something my dad would do, but I never thought it would be at the expense of my mother's life, the woman he once loved.
I just needed fifty thousand dollars. I needed just fifty thousand dollars, and my dad had one million in his possession because of how much he had sold me out to this man.
The world seemed to be closing right on me, my breath seemed to seize. I was panting heavily, gosh! Panic attack. I placed my two hands on my head and screamed. Tears were uncontrollably dropping from my eyes. "No, no, no, it can't be! " I can't take this anymore, I can't believe it." I cried. "I can't take this any freaking more," I shouted as I hit the car hard with my fist.
Daniel dragged me and held me close to his chest as I continued crying. "It's too much, it's too much, I don't think I can keep on," I said.
Daniel started pleading with me. "Maria, please calm down. I'm sorry, alright I won't monitor you again. Please stop this."
He didn't expect this reaction. For me, it wasn't only about the money, but it was also knowing my father would rather let my mother die than help. He never visited her since she was admitted and diagnosed. He is not my father.
"Maria! Please," He begged.
I wasn't expecting the next thing that came right after. Daniel bent over and raised my head to his face. He looked straight into my teary eyes, and I looked into his mesmerizing eyes.
He took his lips into mine and we kissed passionately. Every movement calling out to him, needing so much more of him. We totally forgot everything around us.
It was just us and the world.
Silent.
He took his hand all over me, and I couldn't get enough of him. As I held his hand, he flinched for the first time and pulled away from me like I was some sort of disease.
" I am sorry."