Adriana’s POV

Adriana had faced cameras that tried to strip her soul with a single flash. She'd had to deal with reporters who twisted every sentence she said into a scandal, but none of that prepared her for this.

Adriana stayed upright on the broken bench. She wasn’t about to give Silvia the satisfaction of watching her tremble.

This same woman she had left behind on a road in Mexico barely a day ago was now standing in front of her. This same woman who waved off her ride because she was too proud to sit beside what she assumed was a pretty stranger. And now here she was, striding forward like the queen of this ghost carnival.

Adriana forced her voice to stay steady. “You? What the hell are you doing here?”

“Me, yes, me!” Silvia spread her arms theatrically, as if presenting herself on stage. “I see you're surprised?”

“That’s one word for it.” Adriana held her chin high. “How did you—”

“Oh, don’t ask boring questions!” Silvia cut her off. Her tone was sing-song and mocking. “The how doesn’t matter. The fact is that I’m here. You’re here. And Jose will figure it out soon enough.”

Adriana shook her head in confusion. “I don’t understand. Yesterday you needed help on the road in Mexico, and today you’re kidnapping me? You got to Texas before us, set this all up in hours. Who even does that?”

Silvia tilted her head and laughter bubbled out of her lips. “A woman who moves fast, faster than anyone expects. You see, darling, when you want something... no, when you need something, you don’t waste time. You take it.”

“You’re insane, do you know that? Let me go!”

Silvia ignored her command. “I am not insane, I'm just committed. Which word sounds prettier to you?”

Adriana glared at the woman, not believing that something like this was even happening. "All I did was help a stranger on the side of the road. That’s it. I didn’t ask to be dragged into whatever circus—”

She suddenly gasped, and the rest of the words were stolen out of her mouth because Silvia's cold fingers had clamped around her chin. Silvia squeezed hard enough to make Adriana’s teeth clack together, forcing her to look up into those glittering eyes.

“No, beauty." Silvia growled. "You weren’t helping. Don’t pretend otherwise, bitch!”

Adriana’s jaw ached under the pressure of Silvia's hands but she refused to look away. Silvia's face was so close to hers, that she could see every single one of her teeth. She could even smell the strawberry in her lipstick. This was much too up close and personal for her. Adriana found all of this funny, but also unsettling, because Silvia seemed like a person that escaped from a psych ward.

“Help,” Silvia repeated slowly. “Is that what you call it? Interesting. Because from where I stand, you’ve been helping yourself to what doesn’t belong to you.”

Now, she was truly scared, but she kept her face blank. “Look, Miss Silvia, if this is about Mr Torres, you’re wrong. I don’t want him. I’m not doing anything with him.”

Silvia laughed and let go of her chin. “Oh, beauty. Don’t lie to me. It ruins your face. I know about the kiss. Do you think I don’t know about that little kiss? The one inside the car? It was so sweet and so stolen. And yet so predictable.”

Adriana stared at the other woman in horror. Nobody had been there to see. How the fuck had she found out about it?

"How do you even—”

“I always know. I know everything about everyone I find important.” Silvia interrupted, voice dropping to a chilling whisper. “Jose is mine. MINE, do you hear me? Every breath he takes, every woman who looks at him, every whisper of affection is mine to allow and mine to erase. Do you understand?”

“You’re delusional!"

“No, I’m protective and possessive of the things and people I own. The two are sisters, don’t you think?” Silvia twirled a strand of her hair and leaned closer. “You’re not the first, beauty. Other women who thought they could touch what’s mine. Women who thought they could tempt him. Do you know where they are now?”

Adriana’s words stuttered despite her efforts to hold herself together. “Wh... where?”

Silvia’s lips curved like she was telling a bedtime story. “They are all gone. Out of the picture. Eliminated!” She shrugged lightly. “A woman has to prune the garden to keep it beautiful. And Jose is my garden.”

Adriana’s insides screamed. Oh my God. Oh my God, what the fuck?! Yet she kept her voice level. “You’re out of your mind if you think Jose belongs to anyone. He doesn’t even belong to himself half the time!”

Behind Silvia, the men glanced at each other, they all looked uneasy. Some of them even gave Adriana warning looks, like "shut your mouth because our boss is a crazy lunatic".

Silvia, however, clapped her hands four times like she was delighted by the comeback. “Oh, she has claws! I like that!”

“You shouldn’t,” Adriana retorted. “Because I don’t want him. You’re just wasting your energy!”

Silvia bent forward, her smile vanishing as quick as it came. “Liar. You want him because he makes you feel seen after your boyfriend dumped you. I know how Jose can make a woman feel. That’s why I picked him to be mine. But here’s the difference between you and me, beauty: I don’t just want him. I own him.”

Adriana’s stomach twisted, but she met Silvia’s wild eyes. “If owning someone makes you proud, you’re smaller than I thought.”

The words barely left her lips before Silvia’s hand whipped across her face. The sound cracked in the night air and Adriana gasped. Her face snapped to the side and her head hit the wrought iron gate behind her.

Her cheek was burning up and she was tasting blood in her mouth but she managed to turn her head around to stare right into Silvia's crazy eyes.

Silvia looked as if her head was about to explode. Her own face was red with anger, then suddenly her mouth split into that too-wide smile again. She clapped her hands again triumphantly. “She thinks she’s brave! Isn’t she adorable?"

The men stayed silent with their eyes fixed on the ground. They were clearly used to their boss’s mad performance.

Adriana dug her nails into her palm under the bench to hold herself back. “You can play this game all you want, but I’m not scared of you.”

“Of course you are,” Silvia purred. “Fear just wears different costumes. But don’t worry, I’m not here to hurt you. No, no. Hurting is for amateurs. I’m here to make you useful.”

Adriana’s brow furrowed. “Useful?”

Silvia’s grin returned. “I will make you a lesson Jose will never forget. He’ll see what happens when anyone dares to touch what’s mine. And you will learn your place, by hook or by crook!"

Adriana shook her head. “You’re wasting your time. I don’t care about him enough for this drama!”

“Oh, but he cares about you.” Silvia’s voice was almost tender, then it suddenly whipped back to sharp. “He kissed you. That’s all the proof I need that there is something between you two. And now I have you, which means I have him.”

Silvia turned away from Adriana and turned to the men behind her. With a flick of her wrist, she addressed her men without even looking back.

“Boys, why don't you make dear Adriana here comfortable in the warehouse?”