Page 202 of Embriagado

“Answer me!” I shouted, loud enough to make his brows rise.

“Mr. Rivas⁠—”

“Enough with this bullshit.” I closed the distance between us, my body basically throbbing with rage. “What the fuck did you do to her? You told me she was fine, but Gabe said she’s missing. You must know something about it.”

He looked around us, the muscle in his jaw twitching.

“You sure you want to do this here?” he asked, indicating the police station, just a few feet away.

Not caring, I shook my head, pleading with my eyes. “Please, Ari, just tell me the truth.” I grabbed both his arms. “I swear, I won’t get angry. I just… I can’t keep going like this. I need to know.”

At this stage, after getting this deep, I didn’t care about learning more of his dark sides. I knew it was fucked, but I was so dependent on his affection that, like some addict, I couldn’t cut him loose, not even over things like this. Yet, the fact that he could lie to me with a straight face gutted me. After everything I’d done for him, laying myself bare for his fucking sake day after day, he still couldn’t manage to tell the truth.

“Ari—”

He placed his hand on top of mine. “I already told you, she’s okay⁠—”

“Fuck!” I broke, shutting my eyes and stepping away from him.

“Santiago, I insist we go elsewhere⁠—”

“Fuck off. I’m not going anywhere with you right now.”

He once again touched my arm. “You’re getting worked up over nothing. So please, go home and rest. You have a fight tomorrow, and you must stay focused.”

Heat burned in my chest as I shook my head. “Nah.” I tsked, meeting his stare. “I’m not fighting for you.”

Only then did something remotely like fear cross his cold eyes.

“What?”

“You heard me. I’m fucking done.”

Why should I continue sacrificing myself when all he ever did was lie and lie and lie? I needed him like I needed my next breath, but right now, it also felt like I’d go mad if I stayed near him, so I began walking away. Only he followed me.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes,” I answered, not slowing down.

“Santiago, stop at once.”

I didn’t listen and instead reached the road. And after looking right and left, I crossed it. I guess he still chased after me, considering the few cars that honked.

“Mr. Rivas!”

Out of the road and far enough from the police station, I finally stopped to hear him out.

“What?”

He circled me. “What do you mean ‘what’?” His eyes narrowed, distress written on his face. “You can’t back out. Not now.”

“Why not?”

A slight tremble went through his bottom lip before he bit on it.

“Because you promised me.”

Holding his stare, I could feel my insides coil at the emotion he was finally showing. But knowing him, I bet it was just another act.