POV: Alejandro
I am riding Valeria, moving in and out, as far as possible into her.
But it is not Valeria I see — it is another, another I should not see, that I should not imagine like this.
I growl in frustration before revealing myself.
My eyes meet camilla's, stopped at the door. I freeze in place; barely have I blinked than she is no longer there, to the point that I believe I imagined her.
I step back, pull my trousers up and head to the door in a hurried stride. Valeria's moans are heard, but I pay them no more attention.
In the corridor, there is no sign of camilla. I turn to my secretary.
— camilla, was she there? I ask.
— Yes, sir, she answers.
— Fuck! I shout, striking the table violently, making her jump.
— Couldn't you have warned me? I pay you for that, damn it.
— I'm sorry, sir, she stammers. Miss camilla insisted, saying it was a surprise.
— Shit, I say, running my hand through my hair.
I return to my office and slam the door. Valeria is sitting, naked, without bothering to get dressed.
— Get out, I say in a harsh tone.
She startles at my intonation.
— Is something wrong, darling? she asks.
— Valeria, this is not the time. Take your fucking things and YOU GET OUT OF MY OFFICE NOW! I explode.
She hastily puts on her dress, grabs her heels and leaves.
I run a hand through my hair, furious and bewildered.
Why am I like this? I do nothing wrong, so why do I go crazy? I have to fix this, this can't go on.
During the rest of the day, I search for a solution — what to do, how to do it.
Finally, I return to the villa. Barely out of the car, I feel that something is wrong. I hurry toward the three men who stand guard.
— Is camilla inside?
— Yes, sure, one of them replies with a foreign accent.
Hardly has he finished than I tear the hidden weapon from beneath his shirt and shoot him square in the forehead.
The other two do not have time to react; they suffer the same fate.
I rush toward the house, fling the door open and head for the living room.
The room is plunged into darkness. I tiptoe; barely have I begun the stairs when the lights suddenly come on, blinding me for a few moments.
— Welcome, my brother, says a voice I would recognize a thousand times.
Rafael, my twin brother. I turn around and point my weapon at him.
Camilla is sitting on the couch, terrified; beside her stands Carto, Rafael's loyal guard, gun pointed at camilla's forehead.
I see red. I take a step toward them.
— Come now, my brother, don't be so… drastic, I only wanted to pay you my respects, he says as he finally rises from the couch.
His face is identical to mine, only marked by the wound that crosses his eye — a wound I inflicted on him myself.
— I give you three minutes to let her go, I say.
— It is only a security measure, we will not hurt her, he begins.
— Two, I say.
He exhales, then signals to Carto to let camilla go. She rushes into my arms sobbing; once in my embrace:
— It will be okay, I say, stroking her.
I feel her shoulders trembling with the sobs that shake her. The only thing that stops me from killing Carto here and now is camilla's presence.
I squeeze the gun tighter.
— Oh, you would almost be cute if I did not know the thoughts that move you, my brother, says Rafael.
— What are you doing in England and in my fucking HOUSE? I say, my voice hardening.
I struggle against the darkness that tries to take back control.
— Our father sent me, he replies. It would be better if you removed your dear little girl from here, before she hears things she should not hear. After all, family secrets stay in the family.
I stroke camilla's temple and look her in the eyes.
— Princess, can you wait for me in your room? I'll be right there.
She hesitates, her gaze wandering between the two men.
— Don't worry, everything will be fine, I say. I kiss her forehead; she hesitates one more moment, then climbs the stairs and disappears behind the walls.
— Oh, aren't they just too cute, isn't that right? Rafael says to his men.
— Women are truly fascinating. That is why I find them the most terrifying creatures the earth has borne: one tends to underestimate them, but they can be so formidable and surprising, he says anew.
— Otherwise, how to explain that my brother, the monster of the family, has become so tender as a lamb? he adds, laughing.
I step forward, my gaze dark. Carto raises his weapon to keep me from approaching, but I continue my march.
— You can lower your gun, Carto. My brother is clever enough to know that you don't touch the blood of the family, Rafael says.
When I reach him, he stands up. We face each other.
— I missed you so much, he says.
No sooner has he finished than I land a blow square on his nose; he collapses on the couch.
— That's for entering my house without my fucking permission.
I give him another blow that bends him in two.
— That's for scaring my princess.
Rafael bursts out laughing, then gets up, his nose bleeding.
— You have three seconds to tell me why you are here, I say, my jaw clenched.
— It is time to pay your debt, my brother, he says.