Sins & Paradise (Royal Bastards MC: Ponce, PR #3)

Chapter 6

Six

Angela

The small bakery is filled with the scents of the sweet breads that Magda has been baking all day. It's a busy day, and I don't have much time to sit and think about what happened last night. I'm a little ashamed that I ran through the factory, even though I knew it was dangerous. Lobo must think I'm a complete nutjob.

"Angela, dame el café."

I nod my head. I know this phrase, and a small part of me gets giddy. Even if it's something as small as "give me the coffee," I'm learning. I wish I had someone who would be able to teach me a little Spanish, especially if I'm going to be here for any extended period of time.

Of course, in order for me to do that, I'll have to get some friends. The only person I'd really consider even close to a friend right now is Lobo. Maybe he'd be willing to give me a few lessons.

I rush off to the back to get another pot of coffee to bring to the front.

The sun is setting quickly, and I know it's almost time for us to close.

My heart flutters in my chest at the thought of seeing Lobo again. I know I shouldn't be having these feelings for him, but it's nice to know there's someone looking out for me.

It's just friendship. Someone to talk to. I didn't realize how lonely I'd feel being out here on my own. Still, I'd take my loneliness over being stuck with Miguel any day.

A few minutes before we are set to close for the night, I hear the bell on the front door open, and this time, instead of rushing off to the back, I make my way to the front.

It's the wrong move.

My breath is caught in my throat as I watch three men I've never seen before crowded around the front counter of the bakery, the one in the middle holding a long machete.

" Do?a, no lo compliques. Dame el chavo. " He gestures with the machete to the cash register, and I watch as Magda's body goes tense.

"Mira ahí!"

My head turns in the direction of the sound, and I realize one of the men standing with the group is looking straight at me.

Everything in my body is telling me to turn around and run away, but with one look in Magda's direction and the clear fear painted on her face, I know I can't do that. How many times had I wished that someone would come in and help me when Miguel would beat on me? How many times did I pray for someone to care? If I turn my back on Magda now, I'd be no better than everyone who ignored me.

I can't do that.

Steeling my spine, I take a step forward. “Leave her alone,” I order, my voice strong and without a tremor.

The three men laugh, looking at each other before they turn back to me.

"Go away, we don't want any trouble," I say again. This time, I take a step back. I'm trying to put some space between them and me, but in the small bakery, there aren't many places for me to go.

"? Qué dices ?" One of the men turns to the other and asks.

" No sé, y no me importa. Ella habla inglés. " The man speaking tilts his head while he continues to move closer to me. " Ella no es de aquí. "

" Ah, qué rico ." The other smiles brighter, and their movements in my direction come faster.

Magda stares at me, her back pressed against the wall. If I was looking for her to help me, she wasn't showing any inclination that she would. So much for thinking we would have each other's backs.

" Ven, mami, te voy a tratar bien ." The man speaking juts his hand out to grab me, but I slap it away. The smile on his face is fake, and the moment I don't do what he asks, it falls off and is replaced with a snarl.

Everything happens so fast after that. One second, the three of them are just standing near me, and the next, they are grabbing for me and trying to get me to the floor.

I can hear them grunting and talking to each other in Spanish, but I don't know what they are saying. In fact, I can barely hear what they are saying. My mind is shutting off. I know what's coming next. I may have only had it happen to me once, but I know what comes after this. I feel myself starting to retreat into my own mind, but before I'm too far gone, I shake off the intense need to check out.

I did the same thing last time. I can't give up so easily this time. I have to fight. Even if it means I'll be hurt worse, at least I'll give it all I've got.

"Get off me!" I yell, and pulling all the strength I have from deep inside of me, I kick the one in front of me in the dick.

He groans and falls to the ground, and the other two work harder to get me under control. I fling my body from side to side, trying to get away from them. I scream and yell for them to stop, but no matter what I do, it seems like they have the upper hand.

I look over to Magda, and my heart drops in my stomach when I realize she's no longer there. She's left me to fight these monsters on my own.

A tear streams down my face, and I beg again for them to leave me alone. All the fight I've had a few moments ago floated out on the wind, along with the idea that Magda would help me.

"Please. Just stop. Please."

This time when I beg, instead of the three men arguing or saying anything, they simply laugh and start pulling off their clothes.

I close my eyes as they finally get me down on the floor and let my body go limp. I fought as hard as I could. This time when it's over, I hope I don't wake up.

It's a sin to wish death upon myself, but I'm not sure I can go through this again and still keep my faith and my sanity. I'll be destroyed even more than I am right now.

"Eso fue un gran error."

I can hear the voice, but I don't know whose it is. Did they really have a fourth person getting ready to come in here and hurt me? How much was I expected to take?

I feel their bodies tensing around me, and instead of continuing to disrobe me, they stand. I open my eyes, and right in the doorway, I see Magda, and in front of her is Lobo. His eyes are locked on the three men in front of me—deadly, focused, primal.

I've never been so happy to see a man in my life.

Magda puts out her hand and gestures for me to come to her. I try to crawl in her direction, but the movement must've caused the man in front of me to realize I was getting away. Instead of focusing on Lobo, who is the bigger threat, he pulls his foot back and kicks me right in the stomach.

All the air is knocked out of my body, and I roll to the side. I don't have time to just lay there because Lobo throws himself at them—literally tackling two of the men onto the ground just inches away from me. It's a full-on brawl, and I'm smack dab in the middle of it.

"Get out of here!" he yells at me as he grabs hold of one of the men and slams his fist into his face. Another one of the other men gets behind Lobo and wraps his arms around his neck, choking him and pulling him off his friend. Lobo grunts as he's pulled back, and I force myself to get to my feet.

He's fighting all three of these people for me. He's helping me; the least I can do is help him.

" Angela, ven, ?ahora!" Magda hisses at me, her hands still out, waiting for me to join her.

Instead of running in her direction, I quickly scan the room to try and find something to help Lobo. There's a large rolling pin Magda uses to make some of her breads. It's about the size of my full arm and looks as if it's made from solid wood. I grab hold of it and swing with all my might against the back of the head of the man that has Lobo by the neck.

The man grunts and falls backward. His eyes are closed, and there's a small trickle of blood coming out from the back of his head.

Lobo doesn't even register the fact that the man who was behind him is now unconscious on the ground. I do, though.

Did I kill him?

My mortal soul is at risk. I'm no killer. That's one sin I know I won't be able to come back from.

Lobo focuses on the two other men who are still in the bakery. He grabs the arm of one of the men, turns it the opposite way, and then rams his shin straight through the elbow. The intruder screams loudly as his arm bends the wrong way. His elbow is now folded inward instead of outward.

I cringe and back away as Lobo focuses on the last man. Magda finally reaches me and pulls me closer to her.

I didn't even realize I was shaking until she starts to rub her tired, weathered hands up and down my arms.

" Está bien. Yo prometo, está bien ," she says over and over.

She's comforting me, but I can't take my eyes off the scene in front of me.

Lobo fights these men as if he does this for a living. He punches the last man over and over in the face and midsection until blood is nearly spewing out of the man's mouth. The violence makes me queasy. This is wrong. It has to be.

"Stop! Don't kill him. Please stop," I cry. The words aren't as loud as I want them to be, but Lobo turns to look at me.

He growls at me—literally growls at me like a wolf—before he turns back to the man who is barely breathing. Lobo grabs for the machete that the intruder was carrying and puts it up to the man's throat. " Si alguna vez te veo a ti o a tus amiguitos bastardos por aquí otra vez, te voy a matar."

I'm not sure what Lobo said to the man, but the way the other guys shrank away from him, it's clear that it was a threat.

A second later, a group of three other men rush in, and I nearly trip over Magda to get away from them. It's not until I see they are all wearing vests like Lobo's that I understand they aren't here to hurt me.

They are here to help. A little too late, if I can say so myself.

"Lobo, you good?" A man with light blond hair and the word "dig" tattooed on the side of his neck asks Lobo.

"Yeah. It’s handled. Make sure these assholes get out of here and stay out. Digger, help Magda get this place cleaned up and tell Vado, whenever he gets back, that I'll be at the hotel for the day."

He doesn't wait for either of them to acknowledge his orders; instead, he walks by me, grabbing my hand on the way and pulling me out the door with him.

The second we get outside, he pulls me so I'm standing in front of him. His hands go up as if he wants to cradle my face, but he stops just before he touches me, almost as if he thinks better of it.

He's right. As it stands, I'd rather no one ever touch me again.

"Are you okay?" Lobo questions. His words come out terse, and his gaze is steady on mine.

"I'm fine. It's not a big deal."

He growls again before he squeezes his eyes shut and takes a step back.

"Don't do that."

I'm confused as to what he thinks I've done in the few seconds that he's been talking to me.

"Don't do what?"

"Trivialize this shit. You were just attacked by three grown men at your place of work. It's absolutely normal for you to be scared or angry. This is anything but not a big deal."

I want to fight him, but I don't have the energy. Now the adrenaline that must have been coursing through my veins earlier is already on the way out. I can barely stand on my own.

I wobble in front of Lobo, and that's all he needs to see before he moves in.

"No!" I squeak just as he hooks his arm behind my thighs and the other behind my back. He lifts me off the ground and starts walking in the direction of the hotel.

"You know you don't have to do this, right?" I question after a few seconds of walking.

"I've never met anyone as selfless as you, Angela. I don't know where you’re from or what caused you to come over here, but I'm starting to think I'm going to need more information before I just let you walk off on your own.

We're going back to the hotel so you can relax and get yourself together after what you've just gone through. And once you're feeling a little better, you and I are going to sit down, and you're going to tell me exactly what it is you're fighting against." He stares down at me.

I can see what looks like determination and honesty in his eyes. I want to believe that he's truly here to help me, but I've been fooled before. What happens if I tell him everything that's going on and he winds up wanting to help Miguel instead of me? What happens if he tips Miguel off? If I tell him what happened, I could be setting myself up to be shipped right back to Florida.

"How do I know I can trust you?" I whisper, and Lobo just stares down at me.

There's a war going on inside his eyes.

"Don't trust me. I'm no good for you," he answers, and I believe him.

He's warning me, but now I have to wonder if his brand of evil is exactly what I need in order to finally put Miguel and all my nightmares behind me once and for all.

As much as I'm against violence, I'm not naive enough to think that it doesn't happen in the world. I saw how easily Lobo was able to get rid of those men in the bakery.

I see how calm he is now when I feel like I'm about to pass out.

Back in Florida, I knew there was no way I'd be able to fight Miguel and win.

But maybe with Lobo, I stand a chance.