Twisted Tides (Forged Hearts #2)

Prologue

E mma sits tied to a chair. Her hands are restrained while Julian presides above her. A maniacal look in his eye shows the depravity residing in his soul, ready to unleash his fury at any further attempt to take his prized possession from him.

Emma thinks her time has run out, but I’ve been watching from afar, waiting and biding my time. My heart twisted, grieving at seeing her alone and at his mercy, unable to intervene all this time.

My sister thinks I died in that fire, but it was necessary to save her life. I was so close to her that night as I watched our life as we once knew it go up in flames. Julian had carried her away and placed her unconscious body into an SUV. Now, all of our family secrets and twisted lies will come to light.

Despite Emma hiding from Julian with the protection of our Uncle Andrés, Cousin Adrian, and Eduardo, Julian has managed to locate her. No amount of skillful planning could have prepared her for this exact situation.

Eduardo has been the best at keeping her safe until now, but it was always going to come to this. I hope that he doesn’t blame himself, but it’s obvious by the anguish on his face that he’s waging an internal war, which excites Julian, who wears a sadistic smile. Eduardo’s need to keep her safe, concurrent with feeling helpless and having no weapon to use against Julian, could be a recipe for disaster, but it was unavoidable, and now they all think it’s over.

This moment is the pivotal point in our family’s story. The defining moment when everything you hold dear is tested, and you can only hope to walk away with no more casualties—your body, mind, and soul intact.

I can sense her emotions. I have always been able to, and now, in this moment, it’s increased exponentially. Emma feels if she is gone, she won’t be a burden to anyone any longer. Eduardo might be sad for a while, but eventually, he will move on and have the chance to be happy.

She’d rather die than see him hurt, but doesn’t she realize that there will be no getting over her? She is the light in our crazy darkness—our beacon of hope in a storm that wages destruction on our family.

We would do anything for her.

Who knew that it would be Cherry, that crazy bitch, to hand her over to Julian, thinking that once Emma was gone, they could be together. Julian has found her, and now it’s over. She sits, restrained to a chair, entirely at his mercy, and Cherry lies dead on the cold cement floor.

Unfortunately, Julian has no merciful tendencies.

Emma spares a glance at Cherry. Her vacant stare is fixed on something she no longer sees. Blood speckles Cherry’s face from her final breath. Now, her lifeless body, slowly growing cold, is lying in a pool of her own blood, showing how quickly we can be taken from this world.

A shudder runs through Emma as she tries to control her emotions and refrain from showing Julian weakness. I bet she wonders if she will have the same fate.

“I think this has gone on long enough, Emma, don’t you? Why don’t you tell Eduardo who you really love!” Julian bellows triumphantly, his voice echoing in the ample, empty space of the warehouse. He’s delusional.

Eduardo makes a final attempt to get to Emma, but Julian already has his weapon pointed at my sister. He tsks as he kicks their firearms from their reach. Eduardo pales, shaking as he restrains himself from lunging toward Emma.

No, she is strong. I can’t help but smile as she rolls her shoulders back, preparing to face her death head-on. She accepts her fate. She closes her eyes, and that’s when I know this has gone on long enough.

This moment changes everything. I can’t control much, but I can manage this.

I nod, willing this exchange to be over. Mateo catches on. His weapon is ready to fire at the right moment.

Mateo is by my side, as he has always been these days. I can’t say that I don’t have regrets in my life. Seeing her this way almost breaks the protective barriers around my heart, which have been carefully crafted into place throughout the years. I can never make amends for all the lives lost at our expense. I can see the same thoughts reflect on her face. However, I can try to punish those who hurt us and continue to be a threat to us.

Julian waits for her reply, getting angrier by the second at her continued silence. I narrow my eyes at his demand. She opens her jade-green eyes that match my own and stares at him sans emotion.

Emma juts her chin out at him in a last attempt at defiance. I smile, knowing she is still brave, despite the circumstances. Emma will make him wait a long time if he seriously thinks she will ever say those words to him.

She refocuses her gaze at Eduardo one last time. I bear witness to what she believes are her final words to him as she mouths, ‘ I love you always.’

My smile widens. Yes, that’s my girl . I internally fist pump the air. I can’t help but be proud. A final ‘FU’ to the man who made her life miserable for months.

Julian’s face contorts in rage as he lifts his gun and points it right at her. She can no longer look at Eduardo and see his sadness looking back at her with tears in his eyes. She finally closes her eyes one last time.

I see her smile and imagine she is thinking of all the time spent with our family in Mexico. All the times she spent with Eduardo under the stars. The time he gave her the necklace. When he proposed and worshiped her body.

And it’s the exact moment she accepts her death.

“Good-bye, Emma,” I hear Julian say.

Eduardo screams, “No!”

I hear the gun fire, and then…