His Forbidden Obsession

Chapter 3:The Snake Comes Knocking

The Snake Comes Knocking*

The new safehouse smelled like dust and old wood.

Malia sat on the floor with her back against the door. She hadn’t slept.

Across the hall, Lorenzo was still pacing. She could hear his boots.

_Thump. Thump. Thump._

Like a countdown.

A car engine cut through the quiet at 4:17am.

Lorenzo stopped pacing.

“Stay here,” his voice came through the door, low and hard. “Don’t open it. Not for anyone.”

Then silence.

Malia pressed her ear to the wood. She heard the front door open. Heard Lorenzo’s voice.

“Who is it?”

A woman’s voice. Soft. Sweet. Practiced.

“Lorenzo? It’s me. I’m here about Malia.”

*Monica.*

Malia’s blood went cold.

“I don’t talk to Scott’s dogs,” Lorenzo said.

“Oh come on,” Monica laughed. It sounded like glass breaking. “Can we talk? Just for a minute? Aiden’s worried sick. I brought her favorite tea.”

Malia closed her eyes. _Don’t let him believe her._

There was a pause. Then the sound of a gun clicking.

“Last warning. Leave.”

Monica’s voice dropped. The sweetness was gone.

“You’re making a mistake, Reyes. Aiden won’t let her go. And Don Cole? He’ll burn this whole city down to get her back.”

“I’d like to see him try,” Lorenzo said.

Tires squealed. Monica was gone.

Lorenzo knocked on Malia’s door 2 minutes later. “It’s clear.”

She opened it. He looked wrecked. Dark circles. Gun in hand.

“She’s here,” Malia whispered.

“I know,” Lorenzo said. “She won’t try again tonight. Not alone.”

He didn’t leave. He stepped inside and closed the door.

“Did you sleep?”

“No.”

“Me neither.”

They stood there, 3 feet apart, in a room that was too small.

His phone buzzed. Unknown number.

*Unknown:* `Malia. It’s Damian. I’m in Central. At Sun Market.

Meet me. Please. I can help you.

Don’t tell your brother.`

Malia stared at the text until the screen went black.

Lorenzo saw her face. “What?”

“Nothing,” she said, and shoved the phone in her pocket.

Lorenzo’s jaw ticked. “Liar.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re lying,” he said. He stepped closer. “Who texted you?”

Malia lifted her chin. “Not your business.”

Something flashed in his eyes. Hurt? Anger? He looked away.

“Right. Not my business.” He turned to leave. “Stay inside. Mateo will be back in 2 hours with Diana.”

The door shut.

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*12 HOURS LATER. SUN MARKET.*

Malia shouldn’t have gone.

But Elena had to go to the clinic, and the guard at the door fell asleep, and the text kept burning in her pocket.

`I can help you.`

So she went. Hoodie up. Head down.

Sun Market was loud. Cinnamon and sweat and music. Just like her childhood kitchen.

And there he was.

*Damian Reyes.* 28. Tall. Perfect suit. The man Don Cole chose for her.

He smiled when he saw her. Like nothing had happened.

“Malia,” he said. “You look... free.”

“Why are you here?” she asked.

“I heard about the wedding,” Damian said. “I came to stop it. I don’t want you forced either.”

He reached for her hand. “Come with me. I have a plane. We can leave the country. Tonight.”

For a second, she almost believed him.

Then she saw them.

Two of Marco’s men, standing by the fruit stand. Watching.

And behind them, *Monica*, in sunglasses, talking on the phone and smiling.

It was a trap.

Malia stepped back. “No.”

Damian’s smile dropped. “What?”

“I said no,” Malia said louder. “I’m not a pawn anymore.”

Damian grabbed her wrist. “You don’t get to choose—”

A hand clamped around Damian’s wrist and twisted it until he let go.

Lorenzo.

Eyes black. Jaw clenched. Gun under his jacket.

“Touch her again,” Lorenzo said quietly, “and I take your hand.”

Damian stared at him. “You’re the Reyes dog. Aiden will kill you for this.”

“Tell him to try,” Lorenzo said. He pulled Malia behind him. “Let’s go.”

They ran.

Behind them, Monica screamed. “AGENTS! IT’S HER!”

Gunshots. People screaming.

Lorenzo shoved Malia into an alley and covered her with his body as a bullet hit the wall above them.

“You followed me,” he said against her hair. He wasn’t mad. He sounded... tired.

“I’m sorry,” Malia whispered.

“Don’t be sorry. Be safe.”

He pulled back and looked at her. Really looked. There was blood on his temple. Not his.

“Why did you go?” he asked.

“Because I’m tired of people deciding for me,” Malia said. Tears were burning her eyes. “Damian. Aiden. You. My father.”

Lorenzo’s expression softened. Just for a second.

“Then choose,” he said. “Choose now.”

Sirens in the distance.

Footsteps.

Lorenzo pulled his gun and stepped in front of her again.

*At the mouth of the alley stood Aiden.*

12 men behind him.

And in the middle, *Monica*, holding a knife and smiling.

“Well,” Aiden said. His eyes went to Lorenzo, then to Malia.

“Hermanita. Last chance. Come home. Or I take you home.”

Lorenzo didn’t move. “She’s not going with you.”

Aiden raised his gun. “Then we do this the hard way.”

*TO BE CONTINUED...*

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