I'm back! As promised, here's the real chapter 17! Enjoy!
Chapter 17
Juan and Oscar were deeply cross with Franco when they heard they brought Sarita to their house. They find it unsettling that the most difficult of the Elizondo sisters was the first to be in their new home.
"Why would you do something so stupid?" snapped Juan, pacing in front of Franco, who sat in one of the arm chairs, staring at the floor like he was an insolent child. "Why did you bring her here?"
"What else could I do, Juan?" grumbled Franco. "I couldn't leave her injured in the field by herself! I was obligated to help her!"
"Franco," began Oscar, who was standing by the window as if looking out for the storm, "they'll come looking for trouble. Tonight or tomorrow."
Franco's brow furrowed. He clearly didn't think this through. Why couldn't he have driven her to a hospital? Wait… never mind...Sarita's condition could've gotten worse because driving to a hospital would've taken hours. And her horse was abandoned in the fields.
"You didn't have to argue with her!" shouted Juan, shooting Franco a disappointed look.
"I couldn't keep quiet after all the shit she was saying!"
Franco got to his feet, enraged by how that woman insulted him.
"She was out of her damn mind! She almost hit me in the face with a fucking whip!"
Franco was tensing up. That woman knew how to set him off. Juan sensed Franco's hostility.
"No!" argued Juan. "That's not how we show we are good men! Damn it!"
Franco glared at Juan, who walked around him to sit on an armchair. Did he honestly think he purposely hurt Sarita? He's thought about it, yes...but could never..well..Sarita is a bitch.
"They'll keep thinking we are criminals", explained Juan. "That we enjoy mistreating women."
Oscar scoffed.
"I can only imagine what that damn girl is saying to her family," he muttered. "I'm sure she exaggerated everything and they'll even send the police!"
"You would've done the same thing!" yelled Franco. "You're both crazier than I am!"
Although one of their nemesis was in their house, Franco thought he'd done an honorable deed. He watched the wretched little woman fall off a horse and smack her head on the ground. There's no way he could just leave her there. No matter how annoying, wild, or temperamental she was, Sarita was still a young woman who needed to be cared for.
Franco's thoughts were disrupted when he heard a couple of dogs barking and a car engine revving in the front of the house. His heart sank to the pit of his stomach. Perhaps it's the Elizondos wreaking havoc.
The brothers went out to figure out who it was. It turns out it was the Rosales. Mr. Zacarias Rosales and his daughter, Dinora. The two were present when the Reyes threw a party, when they spoke to the Morales over the open fields. The Rosales had a fit when they lost those fields to the Reyes.
Franco and Oscar eyed Dinora up and down. They could tell that there was something off about that woman, but she was undeniably beautiful; Her long reddish, brown hair complimented her electrifying green eyes and her spidery long legs and slim modelesque figure would leave any man craving for her.
Apparently the Rosales came to apologize to the Reyes and invite them to a party in their honor. Oscar and Franco accepted but Juan on the other hand, stayed quiet. Franco wondered why.
He and his brothers were dining in their glorious kitchen, discussing more business, but Franco had no mind for it. His head was elsewhere...or more on someone else. Oscar noticed and wanted to comment.
"I find it very strangely peaceful", admitted Oscar. "Especially after what had happened with Sarita."
"They should have screamed bloody murder by now", agreed Juan. "Unless they have reported us to the police."
Franco was getting anxious. Quintina was pouring the brothers orange juice and couldn't help herself to jump into their conversation.
"It's not that big of a deal!" she scoffed. "The young girl was fine! All we did was help her!"
"Maybe she felt embarrassed and didn't tell her family, is all." suggested Franco, thinking back on her idiot accusation against him. He grimaced as he bit into his fork.
Oscar shrugged.
"That could be possible but you never know with women." he smirked deviantly. "Just look at the Rosales' daughter."
Juan looked up from his plate, visibly uncomfortable at the mention of Dinora.
"First, she was spitting fire and then invited us to a party like nothing ever happened."
Franco narrowed his eyes at Oscar.
"At least she's pretty." he said, his voice laced with such disdain for the feral young woman he had to help. "Sarita Elizondo is nasty, bland, and annoying! And on top of that, she smells like a damn horse!"
He really couldn't stand that girl. Juan raised his brows, curious at Franco's last comments.
"She wasn't that close to you, was she?" he asked.
"I had to carry her, man." Franco told him as if it was some horror story.
Well...it kind of was. She may have felt tiny and lithe in his arms, but she was vicious, mean, and downright annoying when she attacked. That girl was so ungrateful above all else. If it were up to him again, he'd leave her ass to die in that field.
"I can't believe she was here." commented Juan.
Franco, Oscar, and Quintina nodded in agreement with Juan. Just then, Franco sees Eva standing in the dining room doorway. With her bony frail fingers, she beckons Franco to her. He follows her quietly to the front of the house. He notices Eva's panicked behavior when she turns to face him.
"What's wrong, Eva?"
"It seems like Miss Sara came back." she answered him.
Franco let out a frustrated sigh as his heart thumped loudly in his chest. He knew this peace was all a lie. The bitch was back.
"Where is she?" he seethed, wanting to put the damn girl in her place.
"She's in the fields taking down the fences again."
Willing to set that girl in her place, Franco took one of his best horses, and galloped to where Sarita's men were tearing up his fences.
"Wait until I get my hands on that ugly, bland bitch…" he muttered under his breath, his hands fisting the reigns of his horse.
He sees Olegario tossing a broken piece of the fence. Franco approaches him on his horse.
"Olegario!" shouted Franco, writhing with so much anger he could possibly muster. "How much longer do you want to play this game?"
"Until you learn how to respect my boss's rights!" Olegario barked back.
"Tell your people to stop, or else, Olegario." Franco warned.
Olegario sized Franco up and down and laughed.
"I don't take orders from you, Franco Reyes." he spat. "Miss Sara is the only person we take orders from."
Franco's nostrils flared angrily at the mention of Sara.
"And where is that bitch? Don't tell me she came again!"
Olegario scoffed at Franco's nerve.
"That bitch…" he repeats, directing Franco with a pointed finger. "Is over there."
Franco looked to where Olegario was pointing. The rage, the annoyance, disgust began to strip from him when he saw his little nemesis in a way he's never seen her before.
Franco swallowed his pride, watching her walk over to Olegario, her hips swaying deliciously as she went. From how he remembered, Sarita was always covered like a frigid nun but the woman walking over to him now was blossoming in newer and more tasteful clothing that accentuated her natural petite curves. She smiled, showing her pearly white teeth as she got closer to him and Franco could swear he felt a strong tug in his chest.
Did he still believe she's bland, ugly, and tasteless?
Franco, never taking his eyes off Sarita's well-defined curves, jumped from his horse and slowly began to walk to her. He couldn't help the smirk forming on his lips. Her transformation was because of him. He knew his harsh words had an effect on her. So the feral creature had feelings?
"It seems like you and your men have nothing better to do." he taunted her, stepping even closer to her. "Why don't you quit this nonsense, Sarita?"
"That's my problem, Franco." she told him, her voice holding that reign of authority he always hated. "And I will return here as many times as necessary to take down the damn fence!"
All the while she spoke nastily to him, Franco had to admit she looked good. Not great, but good. His eyes scanned her new attire. Her breasts were still perky and small, bouncing lightly when she moved, beneath that short beige tank that barely covered her toned tummy. And those jeans looked amazing on her. He could make out the soft and supple curves of her shapely thighs and hips...now if only she'd turn around…
"If you want to put it back up", she rambled on, clueless of Franco's wandering gaze and guttered mind. "You'll need a permit."
Franco was brought back down to earth by her last sentence.
"I can do whatever I want with my property, all right?" he told her and he shifted uncomfortably watching her tongue slowly wet her plump bottom lip. His tone remained serious. "And make no mistake about it! We're not beneath you anymore. We are at the same level, understand?"
"Bullshit!" she hissed.
Franco gawked at her in disbelief. Out of her two sisters, Sarita had the filthiest mouth.
Her dark eyes slanted evilly at him.
"You can't compare to us, Franco. We are a family of honor and tradition. You are just a bunch of opportunists!"
It was Franco's turn to narrow his eyes.
"Even if it stings, we have the same right!" he barked at her. He stepped back when she took a menacing step forward. Franco swore he could smell a sweet, intoxicating scent blowing from her dark shoulder-length locks.
"What stings the most is the humiliation of having been in your house and I won't ever forgive that you dragged me in your room and laid me on your nasty bed, you insolent jerk!"
He shook his head, sneering at her choice of words. Did she want something to happen or what?
"You think I did it out of pleasure?" he snarled, leaning to her, his blue eyes noting the healing wound on her right temple. "It was out of responsibility!"
He looked at her for a brief moment, trying to find any reason and decency in her dark narrowed eyes. His voice then softened.
"I couldn't leave you alone." he told her, his eyes trying to soothe the raging fire in hers. "You passed out and I had to help you. So you should be grateful I didn't leave you out there to die."
A slight color crept on her smooth pale cheeks. Franco could tell she was a bit embarrassed.
"I wish you had!" she retorted, rather childishly.
Franco just stared at her. After all the trouble to help her recover from that nasty fall, she's still the same arrogant young woman he'd met since he first set foot on her ranch.
"Good to know for the next time." he snarled, gritting his teeth at the ungrateful little woman.
She laughed cruelly in his face and Franco wanted to wrap his fingers around the satiny skin of her frail neck.
"You think there'll be a next time?" she taunted him. "Don't be stupid! I'm not some idiot who keeps passing out so that creeps like you can take advantage and carry me to your lair."
Franco shook his head at her, internally fuming at her idiot accusations. She still believed he did something to her.
"I'll never step foot in that place again, Franco." she told him, her voice not as authoritative but calmer.
She turned her back to him to order her men to continue on tearing the fences. Franco glared at the back of her head, wondering how someone could be unbelievingly cold and spiteful as she.
"Hurry up, boys!" she commanded, ignoring Franco's presence for a mere second. "Take down that piece of crap!"
"Stop or you'll be in trouble!" Franco cut it, having enough of Sarita's bullshit. He tried to get to where the men were, but he underestimated Sarita. Her men were fully armed under her orders.
He turned to find her smiling deviantly at him, her little hands resting on her hips. Franco blanked at her stance.
She looked incredibly powerful...but worst of all. Sexy.
"Who's in trouble now, Franco Reyes?" she taunted, still smiling at him.
Seeing how her men pointed their guns and rifles at him under her command, made him question Sarita's character even more. Although she may appear different to him now… there's still no denying that she's still annoying, vicious, and feral.
He mounted his horse and glared at the tempestuous little woman, who triumphantly turned to look at him, delight flickering in her dark brown eyes.
Franco couldn't believe what had just happened. Sarita was a force to be reckoned with.
And that force's ass looked so good in those jeans.
Sara… Sara… Sara… What is Franco supposed to do now?
Chapter 18 is coming soon! Thank you for reading!