DECEPTION - A Family Affair (24 page)

“You keep blaming yourself but let me remind you, you too were the victim right along with her.  You are no villain; you lost just as much as she has.”  Getting all worked up Angelo slammed his beer mug down trying to get his fury in check.  Lifting himself off his stool he lightly shook Marco’s shoulders and stated; “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Chapter Seventeen

To kill time and keep her mind off everything Marisol decided to sketch some of her ideas for the restoration of the barns.  Her designs included cubbies for the saddles and riding helmets; built in shelving with draws for various tools and riding gadgets; storage bins for the feed and snacks; a station for watering down the horses with built in water spouts to alleviate water hoses being dragged around.  Once she started she kept coming up with great ideas that she would like if it were her barn.  It would be a barn she could be proud of.  She even sketched in a bulletin board to post announcements and trophy cases where the kids can display their ribbons, medals and trophies.  The ranch should be a place to feel welcomed and be a part of something meaningful. 

So engrossed in her designs she jumped when she heard the loud banging on her door, Mace already sprung into action first barking at the door then began to whine realizing who was on the other side of the door. "Marisol open up its me."

Hearing Marco’s voice made her heart beat into a fast gallop.  Opening up the door wondering what the heck is going on only to see a slumped Marco leaning against the rail of the porch and Angelo standing next to him with an apologetic expression on his face.  "Marco, Angelo?  What’s going on?

Angelo answered before his brother could gather his thoughts.  "Marisol I’m so sorry, this one here is drunk. I was taking home but he demanded to come here. I was afraid if I didn’t he would of drove himself."

Without giving any thought to the matter she responded. "It’s okay Angelo, why don’t you get home to Layla? I got it from here." Looking over from Angelo to Marco who just stared at her in silence with no expression almost as if he was lost she wasn’t sure what she just got herself into.

"Are you sure? If anything you can always call me."

"I’ll be fine but I can’t say the same for him." She said giving Angelo a sympathetic smile.

"All righty then, I’m going and again sorry for the delivery." he said with a smile and headed out. 

Feeling awkward, she met Marco’s stare again. "Are we going to stay out here all night or are you capable of walking inside so we can talk?” She asked but received no response. "Okay then, well I guess I will make the executive decision and guide you inside and pray I don’t fall on my ass." Sauntering over to him she took his arm and put it over her shoulders while she wrapped her arm around his waist to guide him inside. Mace already trailing inside excited for the company.  “Come on big boy put one foot in front of the other.  Don’t make me regret this.”  She told him as she treaded slowly towards the door, once inside he put his head into her neck to take in her scent as if it was his personal drug. 

“Oh, God you smell so good.”  He then guided his hands to hold her face and saw the vulnerability in her eyes as he leaned down to take her lips savagely.  His body was too heavy for her as he used his body to push her to the closed door as his hands began to maul her body not being able to get enough of her.  She was so intoxicated by her emotions for him she grabbed his hair and was moaning from the wild sensations he was creating.  She needed his touch to feel alive again.  Before she knew it he took her shorts off along with her panties and picked her up as her legs wrapped around his waist.  “Oh babe, I have to have you.  I need to be inside you now or I’ll suffocate.”  He said hoarsely as he entered her core with no gentleness as he grinded her against the door.  She felt so hot as if her body were on flames overwhelming her to extreme craze that her climax came fast and hard leaving her trembling.  Feeling her tightening around him, he quickly met her there as he poured his seed into her uniting them as one.  Coming down from their high of sexual ecstasy they both fell to the ground still twisted in each other’s arms.  Marisol wasn’t sure how long they laid there before she was able to breathe normal again.  Then all the bells in her head rang, it was the first time they didn’t use protection and he was out cold as his snoring vibrated in her ears.  “Wholly shit Marco what have we done?”  Knowing he couldn’t hear her she just looked at him shaking her head then squeezing her eyes shut before untwining her legs and arms from him so she can escape to the bathroom to wash up. 

Waking up way earlier than expected, she gazed at Marco who was still sleeping.  She didn’t know how she managed to not only get him into bed but was able to remove his clothes so he could sleep comfortably.  She decided to get ready and face her day instead of just lying there waiting for her fate until he wakes up.  She was so confused on where their relationship stood or if they even had a relationship. 

****♥****

Feeling a pounding sensation across his forehead, Marco woke up not knowing at first where he was at.  Looking around and taking in her scent brought him back to earth, trying to remember what the hell happened last night as he laid in her bed stark naked.  Then it all came back to him in dribs and drabs and concern kicked in wondering if he hurt her.  Feeling ashamed for how he behaved if his memory served him correctly he roughly banged her against her freaking front door. 
Oh, God what did I do now? Why is it when I’m around her all sense is gone.  I keep causing her more chaos she doesn’t deserve.  I need to get far away from her as possible like drive back to Texas as soon as I am able to.
  Gathering his clothes he began to dress dreading to face her.  His phone kept buzzing and he checked his texts one from Charley chewing him out about standing her up they were suppose to meet up after her dinner with Nate to go over the final contracts.  Now that he finally got her to agree to the development project he wishes she said no because now it would mean spending a lot of time in North Carolina to manage the development of their project.  They were going to develop and build a whole new strip mall and condos on top and around it.  Like a mini town within a town.  Then the other text was from Angelo asking if he needed to be picked up and the coward that he was texted him back to come pick him up now. 

After washing his face and brushing his teeth with the toothbrush he previously left there he felt a tingle in his heart just seeing the toothbrush standing in the cup next to hers as if it was meant to be that way.  Stepping out he walked into her kitchen only to find it empty and he then noticed the sheets of paper on the table with sketched designs for what appeared to be for his barns.  Looking them over they were great ideas things he would never have thought of.  He felt proud of her work and that she really cared about his ranch.  He then noticed the laptop that he set up for the surveillance it was turned off and had the cords all winded up neatly on top of it which actually made him mad that she didn’t care about her safety.  Hearing Mace bark it out front he went to the porch and found her there on her Mom’s rocker drinking coffee playing with Mace.  Stepping outside his adrenaline all out of whack, “Why did you turn off the laptop knowing that I had set up the surveillance for your safety?” he said more harshly then he intended. 

Taken back by his abruptness she decided to feed into it.  She refused to let him use excuses to avoid what really needs to be said.  “Well Mr. Grumpy, I set it up so you can take it back.  Since the culprits who have harassed me are already identified I shouldn’t be having any more trouble.  So I’m good and thank you for helping me, if you weren’t around I don’t know how I would have gotten through it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?  Who were they?”  He asked looking uneasy.

“I tried to tell you yesterday but everything worked out.  Unfortunately, it was who I suspected and it’s all out in the open.  It is basically in the hands of the school right now.”

“When did you try to tell me?  The only time I heard from you was when you text me about Alex.”  Then something clicked and before he could respond, Angelo walked up the porch.

“Good morning.  Marisol I was hoping you were still here.  Layla told me about your talk with her yesterday.  I don’t know how to say I’m so sorry for Alex’s actions.  We had a heart to heart talk with him.  If it means anything to you, he is full of remorse.  I am so disappointed right now I don’t even know where to put my face.”

Hearing him speak with such sincerity tugged her heart strings and her eyes teared up.  “Angelo, please don’t apologize you did nothing wrong.  I love Alex, and I know the torment those boys put him through.  I know in my heart he would never have harmed me otherwise.  He chose the wrong decision in a distressed situation, I am sure he will learn from it.  I didn’t want it to come to this with the school’s involvement and all but in the end we all have to pay the consequences for decisions we make and learn from them.”

“You are too good and too damn forgiving.  You are one special lady Marisol and those kids don’t know how lucky they are to have you.  The whole choking game had me sick.  He said he only did it once because he feared those punks.  Those boys are bullies and it angers the hell out of me.”

“Well, now that it’s all out in the open he won’t need to fear them any longer.  They are in a heap of a mess.”

“Well I gotta get to the shop so I’ll see you around and I really mean what I said about you.  Marco, I’ll be in the truck waiting.”  He turned and went back to the truck to wait.  Marco listened to their conversation and let it all sink in.

“You knew Alex was involved from the beginning didn’t you?’  He asked accusingly.

“Yes.”  She whispered and he shook his head.

“That day in the barn when we argued; why did you allow me to believe Alex was the victim? I basically accused you of verbally abusing him.”

“I didn’t have the heart to bring your family anymore stress with your father being sick and Layla being pregnant.  I just didn’t want to be the cause of anymore grief.”  She said looking down at her coffee cup.

“I hate that you feel that way.  I wish you could have trusted me enough.”  He took a deep breath and released it slowly.  “Did I physically hurt you last night?”  He said looking straight at her with eyes full of misery.

Catching her off guard she looked up at him with surprise.  “Why would you think you hurt me?”

“I remember mostly everything and last night should not have happened.  I was way out of line and to think how rough I was with you has me feeling sick.”  He said with despair.

“Well I’m sorry you have regrets but if I’m going to be honest I found it amazing what we shared.” She said feeling brave all of a sudden.  It saddens her to think he had regrets the only regret she has was not thinking about protection.

Ignoring what she said he replied, “I have to go Angelo is there waiting patiently for me.  But I do want to express how truly sorry I am for all the pain me and my family caused you.  I will never be able to make up for all the damage done to you.  I will always carry those regrets with me forever.”  He said and walked away from her.  She felt like this was his way of ending whatever it was they had together.  She felt immobilized and her chest tightened and anger set in.  Can’t he see how much she loved him and how passionate they were when their bodies met as one?

****♥****

The next couple of days breezed by and she still hadn’t heard from Marco.  She also had to decide what to wear for the banquet tomorrow.  This afternoon was karaoke at the nursing home and she thought it would be fun to attend with her father of course depending on what mood he was in when she arrived.  She joined him in his room and he was actually smiling when she entered.  “Hello Dad.”

“Hello Marisol.  Do you have homework to do?”  He replied. 

Oh it’s going to be one of those days.  “No Dad, remember I work now I’m all done with school?” 

“Don’t talk back it took a lot of work to convince the school to get you those tutors so don’t give me a hard time.”

“Dad, why did Marco leave town?” there she finally asked and held her breath waiting for his response.

“That piece of trash sold you out like a whore.  He screwed you and got you knocked up.  He took my $1,000 I offered him so he can leave you and he took it without a second thought.  That’s all you were worth to him a lousy $1,000.”

Oh my God he bribed him?  “You mean to tell me you offered him money to leave me and he agreed just like that?”  Infuriated to know her father was capable to do this and it killed her to think that Marco accepted it.  There has to be more to this she had faith in Marco.

“Yes I offered him money and a one way plane ticket to Texas.  I was tired of his family making a fool of me.  They used your mom like whore and then did the same to you.”

“I am not a whore Dad.  What else did you tell him that made him accept the money?  I know there is more to this.”

“You are a whore and you call me dad but I don’t even know if I am your father.  Your mom was no virgin she was screwing around when she got pregnant and refused to do a paternity test.  So I raised you knowing that some other bastard could be your father probably Freddie for all I know.  That’s probably why your baby died because that would make Marco your brother wouldn’t it?”

“Are you crazy?  Are you?  You just want me to hate you but I’m not like you.  No matter what sick things you say to me today or tomorrow I will still love you and you ARE my father no matter what you say to me.  Do you understand me?  I love you no matter what horrible things you say and I will continue to come here because I am your daughter.  You feel like no one has ever loved you, I get it but I will say this again to you, I will love you always.”  He just looked at her not sure if he comprehended what she was saying but she said it and meant it even with all the hateful things he just threw at her.  He is evil and she will not let evil win in her heart.  She can’t let it happen and she won’t.