ELEVENCATHERINAI might have just disliked how arrogant and so full of himself Andres Cruz was but right now after almost killing me by shooting so close to my head and his breaking my brother’s arm; I had every reason to dislike him with a passion that overwhelmed even me.After the doctor had treated my brother and he had had a good night rest, he went out and has not been back but I knew he was going to be fine and the hand was going to heal if he took good care of it as the doctor had said.My mamma was still in an argument with my papa over his non- challant attitude towards my brother’s pain and judging from my papa’s response to her, I just wished she would give up. There was no convincing somebody as bull headed as my papa that he was in the wrong.I sat on the couch with my sister Audrey beside me listening to the news about a drug bust and the death of one of the key witnesses to the crime.“That’s Andres’ warehouse, isn’t it?” my sister asked.“I suppose.” I answered as we

THIRTEENCATHERINAWe weren’t expecting my abuela but there she stood at the door with a little packed suitcase and that grin that frightened me as a child. She was a tall woman for her age and that probably was the reason my papa was tall because I was sure he did not get the height from my midget of a grandfather who died before I was born.“Well, child… are you just going to stand there and gawk at me without letting me in?” she said, her mouth thinning.“Sorry abuela, we were not expecting you.” I answered, opening the door wider for her to come in“Do I need to phone ahead before visiting my son and grandchildren?” she sauntered in, stopping to take a deep breath.“Ofcourse not, abuela. I shall ask mamma to set out one more plate for lunch since you will be joining us.” I said, dragging the suitcase behind me; it was heavier than it looked and I wondered what she had packed in it.“I came over to see the man that will be marrying my granddaughter… where is he?”“He is with papa i

FIFTEENCATHERINAI kept pondering on Andres’ words to me and the fact that he was correct; I was a slut who was pining after her own sister’s husband to be and instead of feeling shame, I was fully aroused by his actions during lunch. I could still see it as clear as day, that erotic grab of his middle and the thought of how I had wished it was my hand making that grab came unbidden to my head.After the food, I had excused myself and fled the presence of the overpowering man before I did something as stupid as touching him. My whole body tingled with self- awareness as I sat close to him and when he slid his shirt up to reveal inked arm, my breath hitched in my throat. It was a snake tattoo; the one I had so desperately been trying to look at the other day and I wondered just how long the snake was. It looked as fierce as its bearer, dangerous and oddly compelling.My Abuela had a lot of questions to ask him and he answered her politely while I stared at the movement of his lips won

SEVENTEENCATHERINA“Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting or something?” I said, glaring at the man who stood over me; not helping me up from the shrub I had gotten myself tangled in.He smiled; putting out a hand for me to grab on. I eyed his arm like it was a snake but put my small one in it and he pulled me up too dangerously close to his own body.I pulled away immediately before my sister who was hiding behind the shrub had any time to think about why I was so close to him.We stared at each other for a while and I noticed he was wearing pants and a black short sleeved shirt that allowed me see the snake tattoo on his arm a little bit better and also notice how smooth and tanned the other arm was with its taut muscle; I was breathing a little bit faster but I did not care and we just stood there in front of each other with warmth rushing to the pit of my stomach while he watched my face with an eyebrow raised.“What were you doing in the shrub and why do you want to stay there?

NINETEENCATHERINAI held my sister as we walked down the stairs to join the guests, it was a full place already and my eyes unconsciously roamed around for Andres amidst the faces of unknown men, laughing loudly. My mamma was waiting at the foot of the stairs with a disapproving look on her face; I pointedly ignored her and clung to my sister who was holding my hand a little too tight, she seemed terrified.“nina hijas, you take too long to dress up. The guests have been waiting, come with me, Audrey” She said, prying my sister from my hands and disappearing through the corner with her.I stood at the foot of the stairs, not sure of where I should be at the moment with so many unknown people in our home.“You must be Manuel’s dulce nina” A voice said behind me.I whipped around and was met with most beautiful man I had ever seen and then he smiled at the stunned expression on my face. His smile seemed to light up his face, crinkling the corner of his eyes.“My name is Catherina” I sa