Marisol shivered heavily as she curled herself up in a corner while laying on the cold floor. She didn't know how long she's been there, it was always dark with no windows or no signs of the outside. All she knew that she was still stuck in this hell hole.
All she kept thinking about was the town and her kids, Sapphire especially. She prayed that she was still safe with Catalina and no one getting to her. As for Violet, she started to regret so much for even letting Moo go with her. She now felt like that she wasn't safe at all being around him. Cutting off a man's head was already a red flag right there.
The boy had anger issues that was for sure.
Some of them would even involve having someone's limb broken. But no matter what Marisol still keeps him around. She just wished that he was still the same sweet, caring, innocent boy she knew back then.
She saw a light slowly coming from the door. Marisol sighed thinking it was only Miguel again wanting to talk to her or something. But the silhouette was more of a feminine figure holding a plate. She walked downstairs her head turned to her direction turning on her flashlight.
"Mary?" the voice called, "I brought you lunch."
When turned on the flashlight Marisol glared at the sight of Nicóle walking up to her bringing her food. She turned her head away not even wanting to look at her.
"Where's Miguel?" she asked harshly, "he brings my shit, not you."
Nicóle sighed, "I know you're still mad at me and Ivy, but trying to avoid me isn't gonna be an easy thing for you to do when you're stuck here."
She put the plate of a large piece of chicken breast and some broccoli in front her while she just pushed it away.
"I want someone else to bring my food, make sure to tell him that next time."
"I can't tell him anything, he'll just get mad at me and tell me to shut the fuck up and do my job."
Marisol snorted, "Well now, he doesn't seem like the nicest person to you now does he?"
Nicóle rolled her eyes, "Look if you're just gonna sit there and taunt me all day I'm not in the mood for it. So just be quiet eat your food and we can go out with our lives."
"My life was taken away from me when I was brought here, dumbass!" she snarled, "after everything I've done for you and Ivy and this is how I'm repaid? By fucking betraying me?!"
"I had no other choice!" Nicóle shot back, "people already treated me like I was a traitor already because of Miguel. What was I supposed to do? Stay there and endure that life?"
"People were the least of your problems, I treated you like everyone else, I never treated you like an outsider."
She turned her head away, "The damage's done anyway. I'm not happy here, I wasn't happy there. I'm not happy anywhere."
"You forgot you're not welcome there either."
"I don't deserve to be back there anyway. I hurt my brothers, my mamá, and even myself. Ivy doesn't give a damn though, she's treated like a princesa here, she doesn't care about our family at all."
She got up heading back upstairs before looking back at Marisol with a sorrowful expression with Marisol's face softening.
"I overheard Miguel talking about why you're doing this. I thank you for it even though he doesn't deserve it."
She frowned, "He's still part of the town, and I wouldn't want to break Victoria's heart. She lost him once, I didn't want her to lose him again."
"I know," she sighed, "but remember this, what you're harboring is a beast that can't control himself. I would hate for him to live here with Miguel and ruin him more. He's smart but he can be pretty naïve, even when he was little. I'm not saying turn him in but you have to do what is best for the town, yourself, and mamá before anyone else gets hurt."
After that Nicóle closed the door with the little message stuck in Marisol's head. Was she really doing the right thing here? If she really thought about all of this was basically his fault in the first place. And giving him up would cause much less bloodshed.
But that's not the kind of leader I am, she kept telling herself, he's always been loyal to the town and Victoria loves him to death. I would be a fool to give him up.
But Nicóle was right about one thing: he was a beast. And she had to do a better job to contain him so he wouldn't hurt anyone else.
Especially for Violet's sake. . .
It was almost three days since Cobra ditched Coyote to go with his mother. He made a few stops here and there because he needed to rest his legs; or leg. He felt so bad for leaving Coyote like that but she wasn't the one facing a tyrannic leader. He just hoped that she'll still keep her mouth shut.
His ears shot up when he heard a cart from the distance along the same direction he was going. He started walking faster that turned into running as it got louder. When he got close enough he squinted his eyes and couldn't believe who he found.
He saw his mother continuing driving not noticing her son trying to follow her. He came this far, it was now or never. Luckily she wasn't going very fast so he ran from the back of it calling her to get her attention.
"¡Mamá parada!" he cried making her stomp on the brakes.
She whipped her head around to face him with relief and anger, "Cobra! What are you doing here, you're supposed to be with Coyote!"
"I know, but I couldn't bare to watch you walk away like this," he reasoned, "I don't wanna see you walk into your own grave!"
"Then don't!" she growled, "go back with your sister and leave me be."
He started to get impatient, "You don't understand! He's not gonna give up Mary if you're trying to take his place, he'll just use you as the bait."
Victoria looked down to the steering wheel and sighed, "I can at least try, mijo. If I don't, that little girl might grow up without a mamá."
Cobra looked away frowning, "I don't ever want Sapphire to go through that, but I don't want anything bad happening to you or Matéo."
"I swear to you, Cobra, nothing bad is going to happen to me. We may have had our differences in the past but I believe I think I can get through to him."
But the last time you done that you got raped. . . .
"Either way, I'm coming with you whether you like it or not," Cobra kept arguing, "I hate disobeying you but I think I have no other choice but to."
Victoria pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration knowing that Cobra was too stubborn to get the message.
It looked like she had no other choice either.
"Get in."
Cobra's eyes lit up, "Wait, really?"
She nodded hesitantly patting the space beside her, "Sí, get in."
He quickly got in hugging and kissing Victoria. Before she started to crank the cart up she turned to him with a serious expression looking him straight into his eyes.
"If he touches you in any kind of way, I'll kill him myself," she hissed with a deadly blunt of rage in her eyes.
She then finally cracked up the cart and they were off.
Nothing but sadness and regret flowed through Nicóle after her encounter with Marisol. She knew deserved every bad thing happening to her for going with Miguel. She never wanted to leave in the first place, it was Lynx who wanted to come here and just wanted to be with her big brother. It was like heaven for him ever since.
But boy, was it hell for Nicóle.
She laid on the bed crying to herself on all the fucked things happening because of her. She wished she'd never gone with Miguel, she'd still have friends and family that still cared about her besides from Dixon.
I should've never come here. . .
"How do you feel?" Miguel asked touching Marisol's head.
She pushed his hand away, "I'm fine, and don't you have doctors to do this?"
He smirked, "I had to come see you today since I couldn't bring your lunch."
"Lucky me," Marisol grumbled sarcastically, "what do really want from me?"
He clicked his tongue lifting down the corners of her tank top while she breathed heavily, "You're down here by yourself, thought you just needed some company and a small. . . .release ~"
"W-what are you talking about?" she stuttered as he proceeded to take off her tank top leaving her in her bra.
She quickly crossed her arms over her breasts as Miguel just eyed her hungrily, "You have a beautiful figure, you shouldn't have to hide."
"I should when you're around, you sick bastard," she hissed angrily.
His hands want over to the side of her stomach tracing the the long gash with a sigh, "I'm sorry I hurt you back then, I know you weren't the source to Augustus."
Marisol turned away keeping quiet.
He chuckled, "I heard you told everyone your old man did this, now why is that?"
She still stayed silent.
"Did you actually care about me?"
"You're out of your fucking mind," she snapped making Miguel laugh.
"Why else would you lie to everyone and say that Lucas did this?" he asked curiously, "just by telling the truth, you could've got rid of me sooner."
"All I know is that it wasn't because I cared anything about you."
He narrowed his eyes roughly grabbing her shoulders pulling her close, "Why won't you just admit it that you felt the same way that I do for you?"
She glared at him straight in the eyes, "What I feel for you is pure hatred, Miguel," she hissed with venom in her tone, "you think I care for you after what you done to me, you done to my daughter, what you done to Augustus, and what you done to your own family? Because if you do your ass must've been born yesterday."
Before she could say anything else Miguel roared in fury brutally slapping Marisol with the back of his hand. She fell down with a loud thud with blood dripping from the corners of her mouth. As she tried to sit back of up Miguel tackled her down to the with an insane glint in his eyes.
"If you don't feel it then I'll make you feel it!!" he growled.
He went on to pull down her jeans tossing them across the room leaving her in just her underwear.
"Please, please stop!!" she kept crying out.
As she kept pleading with started to roughly kiss her on the neck while she squirmed leaving dark purplish bruises. He just kept laughing at her wails continuing to kiss all the way from her breasts to between her legs.
He then began to pull down her panties before someone called his name from the entrance. It was the silhouette of a man that was holding a gun that just stood there looking awkward with Miguel whipping his head to face him with an annoyed look.
"What, Dixon?!" he snapped loudly getting the man's attention.
"Um. . .sir, there's someone at the gates who wanna see you."
He got up rolling his eyes groaning, "Can't I go without a day with fucking interruptions every goddamn second?" He then turned to Marisol who was curled trembling while Miguel just looked down and frowned, "I'll deal with you later."
He marched upstairs shoving Dixon out of the way. Then he looked down at Marisol with a sympathetic look and sighed.
"I'm so sorry we had to put here like this," he murmured but enough for Marisol to hear.
Before she could speak up Dixon shut the door leaving her alone in the darkness.
"Outta my way!!" Miguel growled making his way through the oddly small crowd that was in front of the gates.
He saw Sabrina up ahead of the group with eyes full of surprise and hatred as she stared who was at the gates. He ignored it continue to move until he stopped looking at the reason why Sabrina looked the way she did. Though his expression was fill with disbelief. He couldn't believe they were actually here, she finally came back to him all these years.
He opened the gates to find Victoria getting out the cart along with Cobra following behind her giving Miguel a cold look. He ran up to her grabbing her hands while she looked away not even wanting to look at him.
"Tori, mi amor," he breathed touching her cheek, "it's been so long since I last saw you."
Victoria stayed quiet while Miguel placed a kiss on her forehead. He turned his attention to Cobra who glared at him intensely.
"Mi hijo mayor," he smiled, "you're here too."
Cobra narrowed his eyes, "I'm not your son."
He ignored Cobra's comment leading the two back inside, "Come on, I bet you two are hungry."
As Victoria walked through the crowd she Sabrina staring at her in malice then she saw Nicóle who couldn't come to look at her mother who she abandoned all that time ago.
Victoria sighed to herself knowing this reunion wasn't going to get easier anytime soon.
She remembered this mansion quite clearly. Miguel father, Sergio, owned it. It was also where Miguel took her on one of their dates which was where Ivy was conceived. But this mansion held a dark past of what Miguel's family stood for.
His father was known for being one of richest drug lord in Virginia. He also would order his men to take out anyone who stood in way. It was how he was able to build this huge fancy mansion that could hold hundreds of people.
Victoria could remember clear as day on how Sergio was. A cruel, hateful manipulative, snobby, and a very sexist guy. He wasn't like Miguel who got angry and got on rampages if he didn't get what he wanted. No, he always kept his cool and would always find a way to get what he wanted, even if it meant taking out a few others.
When she first met Miguel he such a charming, sweet person. She also loved that he didn't act like his father and brothers; for the most part. But he despised him all through his life. People always thought she was after him for his wealth but that wasn't the case. He soon married her after she pregnant with Ivy moving to Charlottesville away from his family living out their lives there. She became a surgeon like always dreamed to be and had two more kids with him. She thought everything was fine.
Until he started cheating on her with Sabrina going as far to even have children with her. He got more aggressive and possesive towards her and their kids to the point where he started to beat them often if something didn't go his way. Victoria decided she wasn't having it packing up her things, taking the kids, and tried to go their separate ways. She bought her own house which was the same house she was in now and felt that could finally relax with him out of her life.
But he had other plans. He one day went to her house begging and pleading for her to come back while she just kept saying no. Miguel wasn't going to take this and ended up brutally beating her, locking her up in her room, and proceeded to rape her.
They barely spoke after that with her getting a divorce instead of pressing charges against him. Though she was devastated she did what she had to do.
That late evening, Victoria and Cobra were in the kitchen with Miguel. Miguel sat across from Victoria with Cobra sitting beside her. He had someone to prepare dinner for them and her and him ate in silence. Cobra's food still sat in front of untouched getting colder by the minute.
Miguel had his eyes on Victoria the whole time while they ate. She nervously looked up at him wanting to be serious but she still couldn't stand to even look him in the eyes.
"How've you been?" he asked in a strangely soft tone.
"I'm okay I guess," Victoria replied not looking towards his gaze.
He smiled, "It's almost a dream that you're finally here."
Cobra scoffed.
"So what made you change your mind about coming to stay here?"
This time she could put down her fork to glare up at him, "Are seriously asking me that question?"
Miguel furrowed his brows, "Um, yeah, there's a reason for everything right?"
"Sí, my reason is because of my leader being held against her will in exchange for my son," she growled making Miguel widened her eyes in realization.
Just mentioning it made Victoria's blood boil. He was always wanted Moo for the longest time, even before the apocalypse.
"I heard about what he did to one of your men, but please, Miguel, I beg of you; don't hurt him."
"Why would I hurt him?" he spat offensively, "you still think I'm some heartless brute?"
"Yes", Cobra mumbled.
Miguel then narrowed his eyes into dangerous slits, "Besides, Tori, you owe me, remember?"
"I don't owe you crap."
He got up walking up to her as Cobra got up too rushing beside his mother ready for what Miguel was about to do to her. He looked her in the eyes with the look that always haunted her.
"We had an agreement," he hissed quietly, "don't you remember?"
Victoria looked down thinking about what "agreement" she had with this man.
And then it hit her.
That agreement that would leave Moo alone for the rest of his childhood, the agreement that they had after Moo was born.
The agreement that Moo wouldn't know the truth until he was grown.
Victoria breathed heavily knowing that this could change her whole image as a mother. Even at eighteen she still didn't want him to know the truth. The reason he didn't know by now was that she remembered that he was kidnapped for four years. Boy, Miguel was so devastated when he heard about that and hoped that he'd have no knowledge that Moo came back.
But it was too late for that.
With the help of Miguel's spies he knew in a heartbeat that Moo was alive, well, and the age of eighteen. . .
Victoria bit her lip, "M-Miguel, I-I don't he'll care about this."
"Bullshit!" he snarled slamming his hand down on the table, "I've waited for years to tell that boy the truth about me. All you've been doing was filling his head with lies on who I am!"
"Do you have any idea what's that gonna do to him?!" Victoria cried, "he was happy then without the test, he's happy now, I don't need you ruining that for him!"
"He going to know whether you like it or not and I don't care how much it'll take just to get him here."
"So you're even willing to start another war just because you want to tell Matéo something?" Cobra interrupted glaring back at Miguel.
"I'll do whatever it takes. Besides, he belongs here with me."
"You'll never take my son!!" Victoria yelled angrily.
"I'll take whoever I fucking want!!"
"Then take me!!"
Miguel blinked in confusion, "What?"
"Take me, Miguel," her voice softened touching his cheek, "do whatever you want to me, but just let go of Marisol, leave Matéo be."
Cobra looked back his mother worryingly, "mamá, what the hell are you doing?"
She ignored him, "please, I beg of you."
She saw Miguel's face soften with a hint of reason in his eyes. He touched her hand lips quivering as Victoria smiled thinking she would finally get through to him.
But sadly her smile dropped as Miguel bursted out laughing with tears coming from his eyes. Victoria could feel her stomach drop as Miguel played her for a fool while Cobra's eyes burned in fury.
"I can't believe you actually fell for that!" Miguel kept laughing wiping away some of his tears, "after all these years, Tori and you're still gullible."
"You son of a bitch," Cobra gritted his teeth.
"Watch it, boy," Miguel hissed, "I think you're going have to show your papá the same affection you do for your mamá."
"You was never my father!"
Miguel got impatient with Cobra's attitude and simply called his guards to take him away. At least five had to keep him still because of his massive size as he tried to shake them off.
"Where do you want him?" one of them asked.
He stared at Cobra for a minute before smiling malevolently at him, "Until he can respect me lock him down there with Mary."
As took him away Victoria rushed after them to get back her son before Miguel forcefully grabbed her arms eying her hungrily.
"Whoa, whoa, why leaving me so soon, mi amor?"
"Miguel, please don't this!!" Victoria's eyes flooded with tears, "you can't take my children like this!"
"They're my children!!" he roared back, "and he is too no matter how much you deny it; test or not."
She kept shaking her head on denial not wanting to hear this, "No, no he's not! He never had a father and he never will!"
"We'll just see about that," she took a sharp breath as he pulled her closer with their noses almost touching having that same dangerous glint in his eyes he has twenty-two years ago, "as for us I think we have some catching up to do, don't you agree. . .?"
As Victoria cried desperately in protest Miguel dragged her out of the kitchen heading to towards his bedroom. She couldn't help but scream in horror as the same nightmare was about to come back. Miguel just chuckled still dragging her against her will before looking back her with a manic smirk.
"We'll all be a family again real soon. . ."