Cyclone of Chaos by E.C. Land (best non fiction books of all time TXT) 📗

After hanging up with Stone, I toss my phone onto the mattress and get off the bed. I didn’t have any clothes with me when I left so I’d stopped at one of the beach stores and grabbed a bikini set, shorts, and a tank top. I figured this would work until I got back to my suitcase with all my clothes in it. Picking up the shopping bag I toss it on the bed and head to the bathroom to take a shower.

Turning the water on, I strip out of the clothes I’d been wearing since I got on the plane to come here. God knows I need this shower. I feel so grimy from a day of traveling, then on top of that confronting Samuel only to find he’d moved on.

What did you expect? You allowed him to think you were dead this entire time.

Looking at myself in the mirror is something I’ve tried not to do for years. I stare at the scars that cover my body. The stretch marks I’d gladly wear with pride because it’s proof of me carrying Stone. The ones from being shot are horrendous and I can’t stand to see them.

If you’d have told someone about what was going on this wouldn’t have happened.

Don’t I know it and it’s the biggest regret of my life. If I’d opened my mouth, I could have saved myself a lot of heartache and Stone would have had his father this entire time.

Why did I allow my dad to keep us apart for so long? I should have fought harder for my husband. Then again, the threat wasn’t just against me.

The guy who shot me had been stalking me for a while, however, I hadn’t said anything to Samuel. I didn’t want him to worry about it. He was starting to learn to work with my father and was supposed to become his right-hand man so that my uncle could move and handle things on the West Coast.

Felipe, the man who was stalking me, is also the nephew of Javier, leader to the Alcazar Cartel. I didn’t want any trouble starting over something I thought would blow over once he got bored. We’d met the Alcazar family on several occasions and Javier even tried to negotiate a marriage alliance between our families. Thankfully, my father turned it down immediately.

A week before the day my life changed, I’d received a box that had a dozen red roses in it. I know it sounds so cliché. You see it in so many stalker films that I had rolled my eyes at the card that came with it. ‘Leave him and be mine or see his life slip before your eyes. You are mine and I won’t share you. His life is in your hands. ~ Felipe.’ I hadn’t been the target that day, but I don’t want Samuel to ever find that out.

Shaking my head clear of all the negative thoughts swirling in my head, I step in and pull the shower curtain closed. Lifting my head, I let the heat of the water soothe the soreness in my body.

By the time I get out of the shower the water is starting to grow cold. Wrapping the small ass towel around my body, I use another one to towel dry my hair the best I could. Maybe I should have grabbed a beach towel from the store as well. Then again, it’s not like anyone is around me to see anything anyway. There never is.

Satisfied with my hair being only damp, I head into the room to get dressed. Glancing up I stop instantly. Sitting on the edge of my bed facing me is none other than my husband. His gaze roams over my body for a moment before his features morph and his eyes narrow. Samuel is pissed.

Wait let me rephrase that, Scorch. I can see nothing but hatred in his gaze as he stares daggers at me.

When he stands up to his full height, I take a step back.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Angel. Seems you have a hard time doing what you're told,” he growls.

“What are you doing here, Samuel?” I ask, apprehensively.

“I’m here because your ass isn’t where it’s supposed to be.” Taking a hand full of steps and he’s standing in front of me.

“I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to. Nor do I have to listen to you,” I snap, clutching the towel tighter as I meet his gaze.

“That’s where you're wrong baby. See, your father asked me to keep you safe and for that there’s a price and you just raised the price higher. One that I think I’ll start collecting now,” he says right before pulling me flush against his chest and slamming his mouth to mine.

Chapter Nine

Scorch

What the fuck am I doing? Wait, I know what I’m doing, but it’s more why the hell did I think it was a good idea to fuckin’ kiss this woman.

She’s not just any woman, Emery is your wife dickhead.

No, she’s not. If she were, she’d have been here this entire time. She wouldn’t have left me alone for ten fuckin’ years. Shit I was going to fuckin’ end my own god damn life because I thought she was dead.

Ripping my mouth away from hers, I release her as I try to regain control. I will not let her get in my head.

“Wh–What are you talking about price?” she asks moments later, still clutching the small as fuck towel that barely covers her body. Shit, her entire side is exposed and my hands are itching to touch her skin.

Clearing my throat, I turn toward the bed and grab the clothes I’d seen there. Picking them up, I toss them in her direction. When she goes to catch the clothes, the towel drops and fuck if that’s not the most beautiful sight. Especially when she tries to use the clothes to try