Loving Vicente

VII

VICENTE’S POV:

I throw punch after punch at my bag. Anger boils my blood as the events from my date with Daniella replayed in my mind. Her startled look as I turned to face her, the cold silence she's been giving me the last day. All of my frustration comes out on the bag, I beat it till my hands ache. After finishing my workout in my home gym, I take a long hot shower.

My hands were bruised and scraped from the beating. At first, I hadn't paid much attention to the drunken idiots. The last few weeks had me stressed out, all my anger being shoved aside. When I saw an exchange pass hands, I flew off my handle. Jeopardizing my relationship in the midst of it.

With that coming to mind, I decided to call up a few of my guys. I needed to blow off some steam, I didn't know where we stood and I couldn't take it. It took everything in me not to race over to her house and demand why she hasn't answered my texts. I know I had frightened her, but for my own selfish reasons, I wanted her to understand.

After hearing back from a few friends, we decide to meet up at a local bar and play some poker. Getting dressed, I check my phone one last time. No new messages, it read. Clenching my jaw, I toss the phone across my room angrily. Isa must've heard the commotion because she comes strutting in.

"You lost your s**t in front of Daniella? What is wrong with you?" She yells. Shooting her a glare, I grab my keys. "I don't need to hear this s**t, Isabella. Leave it." I say in a dangerous tone. She knows I'm serious because instead of being her pushy self she backs down.

Gently moving her out of my doorway, I head to my car. "I thought she was different, Vicente," Isa says gently. Stopping in front of the door, I almost decided not to go. Her words played in my mind. Instead of sulking here, I exit the house. Speeding off towards the bar, rap fills my car. I spark up a cigarette letting my guilt ease. I can't help my temper, it's who I am and if she can't handle it, I don't know what to tell her.

Pulling into the bar's parking lot, I spot a few of my guys waiting by their cars. They all greet me, shaking each other up. As much as I say these guys are my friends, we all know I'm their boss. And if I call, they came running. I always feel like an outsider looking in on them. But I desperately needed to get out of the house and away from my thoughts of her. Walking into the bar, I head straight into a back room.

No one asks questions, they all knew who I was and what kind of weight my name carried. In the backroom, it contained a sleek poker table with chairs spread evenly around. A deck of cards and chips sat in the middle of the table. Taking a seat we all start placing our bets in. A worker walks in with a tray full of beers. Grabbing one, I down my sorrows. While this was a welcoming distraction, I can't help but think if I had kept my cool, we would be together right now.

Instead, I'm alone sitting at a table full of jackasses. I try to keep my composure and focus back on my cards, but the more beers I drank the more prominent she became in my mind. Without thinking, I dial Daniella's number. My heart aches in my chest as I listen to the sound of the line dialing out.

DANIELLA’S POV

I wake to the sound of my phone ringing. Worry strikes me as I glance at the time, it was well past midnight. Thinking it's an emergency, I answer the phone without checking the caller ID. "Hello?" My voice is full of worry. I hear some shuffling and heavy breathing on the other line before a voice comes into reach.

"Daniella.." I hear Vicente groan. "I'm drunk and I miss you. Why haven't you called me?" He huffs out. A small smile spreads across my lips, giddy at the thought he was sad over me. "Where are you, Vicente?" I ask in a quiet voice. He lets a small hum, a hiccup leaving his lips. "I'm at some bar by the coffee shop. The one where I saw you in that.. beautiful sundress." He mumbles. A blush paints my face. "Stay where you are, I'm coming to get you." Ending the call, I make my way to Anna's room.

Luckily my uncle wasn't due to return until tomorrow evening. Shaking her awake, I let her know what was going on. She drives me over to the bar he mentioned and helps me lay him down in the backseat. He was mumbling incoherent drunk thoughts as we make our way back. It made me laugh. Putting one of his arms around my shoulder and Anna grabbing hold of the other, we drag him to my room.

Laying him down on my bed, Anna says goodnight. I sigh as I think about what to do with this giant man. His legs stuck out of the frame, he was too tall for my small bed. Taking off his shoes, I turn off my lights and crawl in next to him. Only having a small space to curl into, I could feel his body heat radiating off him and onto my back. It was comforting. Surprisingly, it didn't take long for me to fall asleep.

Come morning, I try to stretch my arms but quickly realize they were pinned to my sides. Feeling a solid chest against my breasts, I squirm harder. I had never been in a compromising position such as this. Hearing Vicente groans from my sudden movements, his eyes fly open. Meeting my own, he releases me. Sitting up, he holds onto his head. "What happened last night?" He asks in his rough morning voice.

It sends heat waves through my body, making me yearn for his warmth again. "Uh. You called me drunk. I brought you here because I didn't want you drinking and driving." I explain. His eyes search my face. He reaches his hand over, brushing a few curls from my cheek. "I'm so sorry, Hermosa. Please forgive me."

My heart beats wildly in my chest as I weigh his words. Deciding to forgive him and talk about it later, I lay my head on his shoulder. Stroking my hair with his large hand, we lay together enjoying the peace. I adjust my head and position my ear, listening to his steady heartbeat.

Eventually, his phone lets out a ring, breaking our serenity. He lets out a deep sigh, answering it in a short tone. He talks for a minute. I lay there, soaking in the last few seconds I had with him. After he ends the call, I knew exactly what was coming. "I have to go Hermosa." He says softly. I feel a pang in my chest as I hear the disappointment in his voice. Looking up at him, we gaze into each other. Bringing his lips to mine, we embrace in a sweet kiss.

Like he was pouring his apology in this kiss, showing me how gentle he can be. I lose myself in the moment, emotions flooding through me. When we pull away, he gets ready in silence. I watch him with a sorrowful look. Kissing the top of my head, he tells me goodbye. I see a car pulling in at the end of the driveway.

Walking him out, he turns and kisses me one last time. "I'll call you, si?" He says. I shake my head, yes, looking down. I felt a bit sad, I was enjoying the quiet lay-in. "We'll have to cuddle together more often." I hear Vicente say before he leaves the house and handles whatever he needed to handle. I won't lie. I was worried.

Later that evening, we prepared dinner for my uncle's return. I hadn't heard from Vicente all day and I was super nervous. Taking a seat at the table, my uncle fills us in on his work trip. We listen intently. Guilt crept up my stomach as we talked. I had brought a man into my uncle's house.

I felt improper but at the same time, it felt liberating. I was becoming a woman, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. After we ate, I offered to clean the kitchen on my own. Sending both him and Anna to bed. Feeling a bit stressed, I ended up cleaning the house spotless.

Walking into my room, I pull out my bag and grab lavender salts and candles for a bath. My bones ached from scrubbing, plus I needed to relax. Grabbing a book to take along with me, I make my way into the bathroom. Filling the tub, I light the candles and play soft music on my phone. As I step into the hot water, I feel instant relief. Opening my book, I enjoy the warmth. Hearing a notification on my phone, I pick it up.

"What are you doing beautiful?" Read his message. Having a surge of confidence, I decide to snap a photo of myself. My finger hovered over the send button, nerves coursing through me. Closing my eyes, I press send. Anxiously awaiting his response, I resume my reading. It doesn't take long for him to get back to me.

Suddenly, a video call vibrates on my phone. Laughing, I answer the call. "Hi Vicente, whatever is your reason for calling?" I say in a sweet innocent voice. He lets out a deep laugh, making me blush. "Just wanted to give you some company."

Answers his smooth response. Seeing him laying in his bed, I bring more of myself on screen. I hear him let out a groan, his face disappearing from the camera. I let out a quiet giggle, excitement filling me. "You're so beautiful, I wish I was there with you." Glancing down at the bubbles in the water, I tell him the same.

We talk back and forth for a while, and he explained to me that he has had a bad temper problem from a young age and apologized that I had to see him like that, I listen patiently. My water grows colder with time. Setting my phone on the counter, Vicente waits. I wash my hair and body, draining the tub and wrapping the towel around me.

Walking back into my room, I pull out my silky pajamas and my brush. Vicente tells me about his day, how he had to make a few drug runs with his father and a few meetings with associates of his. Listening intently, I separate my hair down the middle, placing them in two quick braids.

Laying back in my bed with my book in hand, we continue talking. When our conversation reaches a stop, I hear Vicente clear his throat. "Uhm... This is embarrassing but when I was younger and I couldn't sleep, my mom would read me poetry.

When you read to me the other night, it made me feel that all over. Can you read to me again?" Giving him a soft smile, I pull out my book and read gentle poems to him. He adds his thoughts now and again, as we discuss what we took away from the stanzas.

It felt nice bonding with somebody over something I was so passionate about. Continuing reading for the next few hours, I hear an abrupt snore. Letting out a small laugh, I place my phone onto my charger and lay it next to my head.

As I lie there, I think about how much he's changed things for me. I could see myself falling in love with this man. Thoughts of me returning home cross my mind, I wonder if they ever crossed his. My heart ached at the thought of us not keeping in contact. I think about how I'd explain to my parents that I was in love with a cartel leader's son. Drifting asleep, I push all thoughts aside and dream of him.