Halsey - Gasoline

Cristian Herrera was the recently the centre of attention. With a new girl on his arms and his association - rumoured - with the mafia and the escalating situation in the south, he was the talk of the country. He liked the attention, Rory recalled Sebastian mentioning. All publicity was good publicity for him.

Using the latest iPhone model Gideon graciously gifted her with a warning to always answer his call, she typed in Cristian Herrera's name into the search bar.

He was prominent on the gossip sites. Other than that, nothing told her why he was important; he was a simply golden playboy with a high net worth.

Rory zoomed on a recent photo of him and the girl she saw on TV, and shuddered. Curly blonde hair, pastel hoodies and cotton shorts with sneakers; that was all her. She couldn't help but pondered if this was a sick game he was playing with Gideon.

Sighing, she glanced at the time - 22:52pm - where was Gideon?

Rory carefully and quietly slide out of bed as to not wake sleeping Cielo. She hadn't asked about where Luci was since Gideon was pretty infuriated after their conversation. Though, it only drove her curiosity, making her ponder what happened.

She trudged towards Gideon's office where a stream of light beamed through the gape in the door. Hearing muffled voices, she tiptoed forward, pressing her back against the wall and listened tentatively.

"The fucker mixes rat poison in his drugs." Her husband's gruff voice spoke. "It's dangerous and people are going to end up dying."

"His only drug lab left is in the south." Sebastian's voice rang out warily. "My sources tell me he has it well guarded. He's been buying weapons from your rivals in the Middle East as well as smuggling soldiers in from Brazil."

Rory gulped, they were sure talking about Cristian Herrera - Cielo's father.

"We're going to destroy it." Gideon declared, "I will not have some fucker selling unauthentic drugs under my nose."

She heard a scraping of a chair against the floor and quiet footsteps. Then, the office doors flew opened and Gideon glared daggers her way.

"And, I won't have you sneaking around and listening to my meetings, Rory!" He snapped, curling his fingers around her forearm. How did he know she was there? Did he have sixth sense she didn't know about?

Busted, Gideon heaved her up with ease and steered her into the office where she was greeted by several men. Tall, muscular and intimidating. Their faces were familiar since she seen them around the property before.

"Since you're here, let me introduce you to your guards." He scoffed, taking her hand in his.

He turned to the men sat around on the vintage sofas sipping liquor from a crystal glass. One of them stood; a dark chocolate skinned men with dark, doe eyes underneath thick straight brows. He rivalled Gideon in height and was lean; his structure made to be fast and agile.

"This Luis," He introduced, "He's head of my security."

Luis nodded politely in greeting, lowering his eyes as he locked on her. Timidly, Rory gave him a small smile in return before stepping behind her husband, disliking all their eyes on her. She was in dressed in her usual pyjama, a stark contrast to their immaculate uniform and Gideon's suit and tie.

"He will be in charge of making your travel arrangements, if you want to go anywhere." He squeezed her hand as he said that. Letting her go was always going to be difficult for him. "This is Jairo." Gideon nodded to brown haired, lanky young man getting to his feet next to Luis.

Jairo flashed her a pearly smile and a small wave which earned him a scowl from both Gideon and Luis. His hazel eyes hastily lowered and baby like face falls into an unreadable expression. Being the wife of the leader meant she had to be treated with respect because she was their boss too.

"You will take Jairo wherever you go, Rory."

She turned to her husband and his expression told her he was dead serious. His brows were pinched forward, dark eyes void of any humour and lips settled in a firm line.

Rory bit the inside of her cheek. She felt how desperate he wanted to threaten her with some form of violence; probably something sexual but her own threats less than 48 hours ago rang in his ear. He didn't dare do anything.

"I understand." She mumbled. Her words putting him out of his misery.

A sudden yawn dared to slip from her and she blushed profusely. Rory, with redden cheeks, asked in low whisper; "When are you coming to bed?"

The question urged the corner of Gideon's lips tugged into a smile. He pecked her lips before motioning to his men to be dismissed. Out of politeness they all bid her goodnight; leaving her with her husband and Sebastian.

"How's Cielo?" He questioned warily.

"She's well. She's fast asleep in bed now." Rory glanced between the men and nervously swallowed, "What about Luci? Is she okay?"

The look they exchanged increases her pulse by tenfold. It was clear Luci was not up for discuss especially right now. But, she was worried about a friend who needed comforting. Just as Luci done for her, she needed to do the same.

"She looked really upset."

"Don't worry about her, she's just throwing another tantrum because can't get what she wants."

She pursed her lips, not liking his dismissive and cold tone.

"Is it something to do with Cristian Herrera? Is that why you're not willing to talk about it?"

Her thoughts flickered to the photo she found in Gideon's boxes - the three of the were friends, or at least comrades since they were together in the Army.

"I thought you were tired." Gideon pointed accusingly. "I ended my meeting so I can take you to bed but you don't look tired now."

Her bottom stuck out into a pout. She was drowsy and lately, she felt rather sluggish with aches and pains in her body. It was probably from her built up stressed caused by none other than her lovely husband.

Rory was simply worried about Luci, who was so sweet, kind and peace loving. She didn't want to see her so upset. It was out of her character especially leaving her daughter behind and disappearing to god knows where.

"I'm just worried." She mumbled, letting Gideon take her hand and leading towards the door. Rory continued rambling, words leaving her mouth before she could process them. "And I know Cristian is a touchy subject for you because he's your enemy and all but Cielo told me he was her father. I thought perhaps that's why Luci is upset-"

"What did you just say?" Both men asked in unison.

Sebastian was on his feet, striding to her with her unpleasant expression; a state of shock and surprise.

"Huh?"

"What did you say about Cielo?"

"She told me Cristian was her father." She stammered.

"Rory, Cielo doesn't know who her father is." Gideon explained in confusion, "Luci sworn us to secrecy. She never wanted her to know."

Running a hand through his disheveled hair, Sebastian agitatedly chewed on his bottom lip. They exchanged another look that made her nauseous. Sebastian muttered a curse under this breath and stormed out the office.

Something was wrong, she felt in the tense atmosphere and they way it radiated off these men. Cristian was more than an enemy; there was history there that they must've been trying to bury for so long. She felt like an idiot for bringing it.

Before she could even asked, Gideon scooped her in his arms and carried her back to bed. He tucked her in beside Cielo who still slept soundly not knowing the chaos her little secret may have just caused.

"I'm sorry." She whispered in the dark, prompting her husband to pause. "I didn't mean to be so nosy."

"No." He kissed her head lovingly. "I'm glad you told us what Cielo said. It helps use know who to keep a watch on." Planting more kisses on her face, Gideon pleaded, "Let's keep this between us, okay?"

"Okay."

~*~

"Bebé." His voice chimed through the phone, making butterflies somersault in her stomach. After all those years, he still had that effect on her. Their distance had not yet corrupted their love. "Why are you acting so cold?"

"You know why!" Luci seethed, her irritation rising rapidly.

While he paraded a curly haired whore around Colombia, she was working her ass off trying to formulate a plan and rewriting it when things didn't go their way. Holding hands and locking lips to going on dates with a woman who wasn't her but the cheap replicate of her brother's wife.

It was his plan to get under her brother's skin, to keep him distracted while she did most of the heavy lifting. Like, releasing Mandy Whitmore from her care facility, arranging flights and plotting escape routes to Italy - which in the end failed, and hiring Emir Yilmaz and Fionn Doherty.

"Luciana, bebé, you know she means nothing to me." He cooed, emphasising her full name in his deep, husky voice. She felt her thighs clenched together and the pulse between her legs beating unsteadily out of control. "It's just a show, I'll get rid of her soon."

"It still hurts."

It hurt like a fucking bitch. When she saw Rory that day, Luci wanted to gurgled out her eyes with her nails and cut up that pretty face of hers.

Although he said it was nothing, Cristian loved beautiful woman particularly woman that belonged to her brother. All of Gideon's ex girlfriend at some pointed ended up on his arms like fine jewellery. Eventually when he got his eyes on the real thing he'll want Rory.

And, she'll have to her rid of her.

Luci liked Rory not because they were sister in laws. They were similar, particularly living each other's experiences.

She had been where Rory was; in the hands of a terrifying man that only wanted to ravish them. She thought she needed saving from the man of her dreams, the love of her life and the father of her child, she was wrong. The influences of people around her made her believe Cristian was a bad man - he wasn't, he loved her and to prove it gave her a child.

Her sweet Cielo. Her little girl who grew up without a father's love. She won't let Cielo end up like her nor will she let anyone take away her father; like Gideon had done to her.

"You are the only one for me."

"Te quiero."

"Te quiero."

Ending the call, Luci shoved the phone into her back pocket. She tugged the black cap on her head lower and pushed off the convertible she rented. Marching along the soil and towards the shadows of workers picking fruit from the trees, she spotted the person she was looking for.

Luci helped him escape and gave him enough money to survive for a whole year. He was a good boy for not solely relying the money she had given him. Instead, he looked for a job.

Lanky and tanned. Dressed in his usual overalls and white shirt with a cap over his head, she recognised Alvaro immediately. He looked well, chatting with his co workers.

"Giulio."

It took a moment for Alvaro to peer up. It was barely a month since he had received that new name, he needed time to get use to it.

His muscles flared in tension at the sight of Luci. Excusing himself, he hesitantly strolled to her. Alvaro couldn't comprehend why he was so anxious to see her, Luci was the one who saved him. She had betrayed her brother - he could trust her.

Pushing away the doubts, he paused in front of Luci trying to gather the words in his head.

"You look well." She noted before he could speak. "How are you adjusting to the life here?"

"I'm doing well." He glanced back at the orchards. Life was simple and he liked it. "It has quickly become my new home."

"That's good to hear."

"Señorita Torres, I'd like to thank you for all that you have done for me. I don't know how I can repay you."

Luci smiled, tilting her head to the side; "Actually, I'm here because I need a last favour."

He listened clearly, willing to do anything to return her kindness.

"I'm afraid you're the only who can save Rory."

"Why?" He inhaled sharply. Was Rory in trouble? He felt so bad for leaving her and her mother behind in Madrid. He should've saved them instead, he hid like a coward. "What happened to her?"

Glancing behind him, she looked up with teary eyes, "Can we go somewhere private?"

Nodding, Alvaro led her to a secluded shed where it was used as a break room. It was small and a little devastated but that's what made it oddly comfortable. He locked the double doors before offering Luci a glass of water.

She was stood in the furtherest corner inspecting the different size knives they kept to cut fruit.

"So, Rory?" He began.

"She's too far gone." Luci frowned. "I think she's fallen in love with Gideon."

"Is it really that bad? They're married."

"My brother is evil, he can't love." She told him with narrowed brows. "He'll only end up hurting her. So we need to save her."

He wasn't her Cristian. He was cold and distant; he'll never give Rory the love and affection like Cristian gave her.

"I don't understand how we can do that?" Alvaro leaned his head against the door.

The way he saw it was to leave them both alone and let them destroy each other. They weren't doing anyone else any harm.

"Rory loves you." Luci boldly stated, nails grazing the edges of the knives. "You were her best friend."

And he left her to save himself. Some friend he was. Ever since that day, the guilt and regret had been eating him up. It hit worst when he caught himself enjoying his life and remembered what he subjected Rory to when left her.

Luci whirled to face Alvaro, one hand behind her back, gripping the steel handle of a small knife. His eyes were closed as he pondered.

"What can I do?" He sounded so defeated.

He didn't need to do anything. She had it all planned out as long as he agreed to help. It was enough for her. Luci approached in slow and calculated stepped. Her eyes feigning tears and lips trembling in worry.

"Do you trust me?" She asked quietly.

Slowly, he nodded. He trusted her before and she saved him. Alvaro would trust her again because he believed she knew how to beat Gideon; to bring him tumbling down and saving Rory.

"Okay."

In a blink, she slashed his throat with the knife hiding behind her back. A clean cut that poured splotches of red then bursting into a fountain; spray blood where it could. Alvaro tighten his hands around his neck, applying pressure to the wound.

That won't save him.

Wide eyed and afraid, he collapsed to the ground, at her feet as he squirmed like a little worm - choking from the blood pulsing in his mouth.

Luci knelt beside him, holding his hands as she watched the life leave his eyes; his death will benefit her greatly.

🤗🫂