All Chapters of Till Death Do Us Part: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

He held my gaze a moment longer, smiling satisfyingly at my words."¿Cómo te llamas?" he asked softly, making me grateful for the Spanish lessons I had taken years ago. I swallowed, my lips parting before I even realized I was answering."Valerie." It was almost a whisper, as if his very presence weakened me.His head tilted slightly, a strand of his dark wet hair falling across his forehead. "Valerie," he repeated, tasting my name like it belonged to him. The rain kept falling, soaking us both, but his beautiful eyes stayed fixed on me. As if nothing else in the world mattered.Then he took a single step forward, closing whatever space was left between us until I could feel the warmth radiating from his dark, elegant suit despite the cold rain. His hand lifted mine with gentleness, halting right before his intriguing lips. "Santiago Morales," he said, his Spanish accent wrapping around each syllable like silk over steel, "but most people call me El León."There was something in the

For a moment, time stood still. In my head, the Flower Duet from Lakmé was playing – the one we used to practice ballet to when I was younger.Left foot behind me, carrying the weight; right foot in front of me, swirling to my left, rolling my shoulders, turning away from Marek.It wasn’t graceful. It wasn’t a ballerina’s spin. But it was enough to break his hold.My wrist slipped free. I turned – heel, hip, shoulder – a little circle I’d learned in a studio with mirrors and taped floors, a lifetime ago.Santiago was already there. Moving like a gracious dance partner, he stepped into my orbit - one hand catching my elbow, the other a firm bracket at my waist.“Conmigo,” he breathed. With me.He pulled – clean, decisive, yet gently – drawing me out of Marek’s reach.Marek’s fingers clawed at the air and missed.Santiago pulled me close. Cedar. Spice. Heat.He looked me in the eyes, smiling softly, and for a second everything else vanished, and we were alone in the café. I felt pulled,

At the end of the square, across the street, a black SUV idled at the curb - the kind of car with tinted windows that stood out in a quiet neighborhood. As soon as Santiago appeared, the driver's door opened and a tall man in a perfectly tailored suit stepped out, scanning the street before walking around to open the rear passenger door.I froze, glancing between them. The tall, slender, and very serious-looking man gave Santiago a curt nod, the kind that carried more weight than words, before his eyes flickered to me. He looked a little curious, surprised even, but it felt more like he was assessing me than interested in Santiago’s company."Julián," Santiago said casually, answering the unspoken question, "this is Valerie."Julián's gaze scanned me, like mentally filing me away, before he turned his attention back to Santiago."¿A dónde, Señor Morales?" Where to?Santiago didn’t answer immediately. He looked past Julián, toward the café window where Javier stood with his hand on Ana

My eyes widened. “What?”His hand tightened on mine, iron wrapped in silk. “If I drop you off tonight, Wiktor’s men will follow – and knowing Wiktor, he will try to hurt me any way he can.” The way he said the words send a shiver down my spine. “So, until I decide how to deal with him, you’re not out of my sight.”“Santiago – “ I started, panic and heat clashing in my chest.He cut me off, his gaze molten. “You’re under my protection now, mi ángel. You sleep where I sleep.”I wanted to argue. I wanted to scream. But the words caught in my throat as Julián stepped closer, murmuring rapid Spanish. I couldn’t follow the words, but I saw the way Santiago’s jaw flexed, before he nodded. Then he turned back to me, brushing a strand of hair from my face with unexpected gentleness.“You’re coming with me, mi ángel.” His voice were soft, but his words left no room for argument. “Your apartment isn’t safe. And I don’t share what’s mine with scavengers.”I recoiled slightly. “What I am is none o

The doors sealed behind him with a click - a sound that made my chest tighten and my stomach twist. For a long moment I just stood there, pulse hammering in my throat, staring at the tall doors that he had locked. Apparently, he had other business to attend to before dealing with me.We have unfinished business, you and I. His words made me shiver.I turned, my eyes falling on the massive bed with its wine-colored silk sheets. It looked… soft, alluring, but also a bit terrifying. Like it was waiting to swallow me whole.His jacket, draped over my shoulders, smelled of him. Cedar. Smoke. Sandalwood. The scent was suffocating me. It made his presence stronger. I yanked it off and tossed it onto the bed.Wrapping my arms around myself, I rubbed soothing circles against my skin, trying to steady my breathing. Turning away from the bed, needing to move, to do something, I studied my surroundings. The room was beautiful in a way that made me uneasy. A carved dark wooden wardrobe stood agai