A Dangerous love

CHAPTER 4: Prove my innocence

“Un médico está aquí, él lo examinará. Si me mientes lo mataré y si dices la verdad lo soltaré, ( A doctor is here, he will examine you. If you lie to me I will kill him and if you tell the truth I will release him,)” he explains, a malicious smile on his face.

“Stop… Yesenia… don’t… humiliate yourself. Don’t do this,” Miguel replies between coughing fits.

I ignore Miguel’s words and head toward the hall to join this so-called doctor.I was so angry, but I had to provide proof if I want Miguel to stay alive.

I felt soiled. The tears wouldn’t rise. Only my hatred for these men was growing. I promised myself that the day I find my parents, I’ll burn them all. One by one, I’ll burn them alive.

The doctor finishes examining me. He hands me a piece of paper. The proof of my virginity. It’s so humiliating to have to prove to men what I’ve done. To justify myself, I hate it, Fernando always knows how to reach me. How to destroy me mentally just a little more. I get dressed and head downstairs to join my tormentor in the hall. Surrounded by these men. These dogs.

I hand him the paper, then rush to the basement to find Miguel. These men start laughing behind me. To them, a woman is just a s****l object. A woman must be submissive. And out of love for Miguel, I’ve just given them the right to humiliate me. But let them dare. I will kill every man who disrespects me.

I find myself facing Miguel. Alone in this room where he’s been beaten—I don’t know for how long. I untie him. A scream of pain escapes from his gut. He was suffering.

He sits on the floor, his face covered in blood. They had beaten him until his face was entirely bruised. The body of his assailant still lies on the ground. My gaze falls on Miguel, who’s looking at the corpse. A tear falls from his eye, mixing with the blood from his wounds.

“Lamento Yesenia que hayas tenido que pasar por esto. Lo siento, voy a matarlos a todos. (I’m sorry, Yesenia, that you had to go through this. I’m sorry, damn it, I’m going to kill them all.)”

“Stop, Miguel, you didn’t do anything. What happened today is because of Will. And Fernando knows I love you. Te amo Miguel. (I love you, Miguel.)”

One look. A silence.

“Gemma mea in hoc mundo rudis es (You are my jewel in this brutal world),” he whispers softly into the curve of my neck.

A shiver runs through me.

His gaze lingers on my lips. Yes, I love him. I love Miguel. A faint smile spreads across his face. I take his face in my hands and gently place my lips on his. In a kiss as painful as it is sweet, I feel him shiver against me. I hold him tightly in my arms, and I realize in that moment how afraid I had been of losing him. Miguel is my lifeline in this brutal world. My light in this dark hallway I walk every day.

Fernando appears in the doorway.

“Tal vez Will no estaba mintiendo después de todo. (Maybe Will wasn’t lying after all.)” he says, that malicious gleam in his eyes.

“What do you want? Don’t you have other issues to settle with all these traitors running around the city?”

“Exactly, my Yesenia. I have a new mission for you, and if you complete it properly, I’ll give you information about your parents. There’s new development in the case,” he says, a smile on his lips.

The smile of someone who’s won a victory.

But as long as I’m on this earth, he won’t win the war.

I stand up and step toward him.

“I’m listening. Tell me what I need to do.”

“No, no aquí (not here), let’s discuss this in my office.” He glances at Miguel before turning his attention back to me. “Now,” he demands.

“Espérame en mi habitación, estaré unos minutos. (Wait for me in my room, I’ll be there in a few minutes.)” I say to Miguel

He nods, and I join Fernando.

Arriving in his office, he’s already seated at his desk, a file in his hands.

“What do you want from me?”

“OH mija (my daughter),” he starts, but I cut him off.

“Don’t ever call me ‘mija’ I’m not your daughter. Tell me what I have to do, this office is driving me crazy.”

“I’ve really made a monster out of you, Yesenia, a heartless one. Well, I have a new mission for you. I want you to find out who’s acting behind my back on my territory. Once you figure out who it is, I’ll tell you what to do next.”

“And the information about my parents, when will I get it?”

“Destroy that bastard who’s messing with me on my own turf, and I’ll tell you what you want, Yesenia.”

Leaving the room, I had no idea that this new mission would change my life forever.

I leave the office and hurry to my room to find Miguel. I find him sitting on my bed, deep in thought.

“What are you thinking about, Miguel?”

“I love you, Yesenia, you know that, but how are we going to live this love in such a dark place?”

I watch him, and my chest tightens as I understand what’s coming next.

“We have to distance ourselves, mi amor (my love).”