Page 224 of Embriagado

A chill prickled along my spine, and I crossed my hands behind my back, my nails digging into my flesh.

“Good investments on the market, sir.”

His brows rose, his chapped lips forming a thick smile.

“You, trading stocks?” He huffed. “Why am I not surprised?”

“I know, right?” A nervous laugh escaped me. “Turns out, the US economy came in handy for a change.”

“The economy?” Eduardo’s eyes glinted with amusement, and he burst out laughing, his voice filling the room.

I shifted in my place, trying to hide my growing discomfort until he calmed down.

“You mean to tell me all this money is from good investments?”

“Yes.”

“And here I thought it had something to do with your wagers in that French fucker’s clubs.”

In seconds, the laughter died, replaced with the heavy silence of being caught. If until now, I held on to some sort of hope it would all be over soon, it was all gone now. My mouth dried, and I quickly swallowed down my fears to speak.

“Sir, I⁠—”

“What? You’re going to deny it now?”

Knowing better, I stayed silent when he fully turned to face me, both his hands clenching the walking cane’s handle.

“I always thought you were a smart one, Ariyan. Turns out, you were the dumbest of them all.” He was no longer smiling. “Making bets on enemy territory? Seriously… Did you think we wouldn’t find out?”

I buried my stare at the floor.

“I-I just wanted to pay my debt.”

“Then you should have done it properly, without betraying the hands that feed you.”

I tensed on the spot, rage filling my guts to the point it was hard to breathe.

“I tried,” I hissed in spite. “For almost ten years now, that’s all I’ve been doing.”

Trying and trying and trying until it turned me into their empty vessel.

“Should I feel sorry for you?”

Gritting my jaw, I shook my head, holding this wretch of a man’s stare. No words could ever sufficiently express the depth of my hatred for him, nor could any amount of holy water save him from the fate I wished upon him.

“No.”

“That’s right, Ariyan. Because deep down, you know, the only one you should blame for dragging you this low is yourself. Only this time, you didn’t do it alone, did you?”

My eyes widened with fear, and scared of the words to come out of his mouth next, I held my breath.

“Santiago Rivas. He seems like a good man.” He tsked, shaking his head. “What a shame.”

A sense of fear I’d yet to experience in my life before gripped me from within, dread so strong it left me paralyzed at the mere thought of this vile man doing anything to Santiago.

“W-what did you do?”

“Nothing… yet.” He checked his watch. “But in a few minutes, the police will raid that French bastard’s club with everyone in it, including him, as well as your sweet boxer.”