Fifty-two

My toes sink into the scorching black sand, and I groan with the slight pain that's left in its wake with each dreadful step I take.

The air smells of saltwater, seagulls fly above me squawking and the drumming of merciless waves breaking against the shoreline fills my ears.

It's a perfect scenery for a summers day.

Only it's not summer, nor is it anything close to a perfect day.

Guilt bites at the edges of my heart.

If I had simply kept my mouth shut, the Russian families princess would still be alive, and I would not be the one dragging her lifeless body along the hot sand that burns my bare feet and soul at the same time.

"I suggest you put your back into it and hurry up if you still expect Sandro to be alive by the time we return to the bach," Castello mutters, flicking his zip lighter open and shut as he casts his gaze out towards the ruthless ocean.

I stop pulling on the princesses feet wiping the beading sweat across my forehead and I glare at him with eyes that are full of bitterness.

There is so much I want to say to him, but, I know better than to stand here and challenge the Italian bastard at this very moment.

I'm already walking on thin ice.

"I just need a breather," I say, bending over as I try to catch my breath. "Besides, I heard you warn Trent not to harm a hair on Sandro's head." I stand upright. "You know, I really thought you were on my side before I started working under Aydem."

He grunts, putting his lighter into the pocket of his pants. "That's one of your deadliest traits, tesoro." [Treasure.] He exhales loudly with frustration. "You are naive, easily manipulated and careless." He points at my hand.

I look at my engagement ring that has sentimental value to the Ozturk and Burak family.

It is an honour for me to wear such a gem.

I scold myself within; I should have removed the ring the moment Jacob grabbed me.

Raising my hand mid-air, putting the ring on full display in front of him. "How is me being engaged to the father of my son, make me naive?" I enquire, bemused and irritated by his judgemental attitude towards me.

He scoffs, shaking his head. "You had a family that you swore your allegiance with, a family that you never had." He says in a scolding manner.

I run my trembling hands through my hair, "You can not say that to me, Castello. Getting with Ace was the biggest mistake of my life." My voice trembles with animosity. "I have been raped, beaten, degraded, used and tossed away like I am trash. You don't treat your family members the way I have been treated." My brows pinch together as I try to decipher the shit that's going through his head. "Would you stand by and let those bastards do to your sister what they've done to me?" A single tear glides down my heated cheek.

I watch as his jaw ticks, he is tight-lipped as he briefly casts a glance out towards the ocean and meets my gaze once again.

"I do not approve of the way they have treated you and I am sorry for not stepping in and putting a stop to it. But, Trent is the top dog and I can not always interfere in his business. I can only try to help guide him." His words are spoken with sincerity, honesty and shame. "But you can see yourself that Trent is out of control, beyond my control."

I frown, pinching myself.

Is this conversation between us really happening?

One moment he is hot then the next he is stone cold. A little like mother nature on her most hormonal days and it's infuriating.

The longer I stare at him the more I start to realise he is full of shit.

He has to be.

Either that or he's an absolute bitch beneath his manly demeanour.

I rub the sand off my hands, "I can promise you this, Castello. Aydem will find us, he will make you both pay for the sins of your forefathers and the kidnapping of his son." I sigh deeply, grabbing the young princesses feet and begin dragging her, creating a trail that leads to our whereabouts.

Castello picks a random tree that already has a shovel next to it. "Start digging her grave." He says in a clipped tone.

I gently place the princesses feet on the ground, pick up the shovel and I get to work. It takes me a while before I find my rhythm.

As stupid and unrealistic as this might sound. I've never used a shovel before.

But I do remember sitting on the front porch step as I grew up, watching my father carve out potential garden stations in our yard.

He would thrust the shovelhead into the ground with force, send it deeper into the dirt with his foot, and then utilise his upper body strength to extract chunks of earth from the ground to form a hollow hole.

I climb out of the grave after two hours with blistering hands and collapse to my knees in exhaustion. I utilised my memories of witnessing my father dig a grave for the Russian family's princess.

Castello stands in front of me, looking at the hollow section underneath the tree. "Impressive," He mutters. "But the job isn't done until she is in the ground, covered with dirt."

I shake my head, "No." I say, trying to catch my breath. "I won't do that. I can't do it."

I don't need to invite any more demons to lurk in my shadows. I have more than enough as it is.

A low fierce, rumbling growl exits his mouth. He sinks his hand into my mane of black hair and drags me to my feet. I scream out in pain, clawing at his hand, wrist and whatever else my nails can sink into.

I hear him let out a gusty breath, "You brought this upon yourself. When I tell you to do something I expect you to-"

The tremendous sound of a rifle being fired reverberates through the air, and a large section of the tree we are standing beside soars between us.

Castello releases me swiftly, ducking to the ground with his hands above his head.

I dive behind the tree, my body trembling in panic as another booming gunshot ricochets through the air.

And I pray that my saviour has come to rescue us.

"Aydem......?" I whisper.