~Nevaeh~

Dragging my feet and a million-pound heart, I'm soon back in the anarchy of the Perez family. They have stopped beating the shit out of each other, however, everyone is trying to over yell the other. After getting tequila, I sit down at a barstool and shake my head. Blah, blah, blah is what I'm hearing along with the ringing of irritation.

"Hello," I say in a sad attempt to quiet them. When that doesn't work, I decide to listen, catching bits of everyone's conversation.

"That's total bullshit!" Mateo yells but I'm unsure of who he's speaking to so I look at Bellemy and Lorenzo.

"How are you gonna believe a girl you barely know?" Enzo questions.

Bellemy snorts in anger. "It's not the first time he's done this!"

"I told you, I was testing her!" Victor argues.

Once again, I try to hush them. "Everyone, stop."

Ignored like the first time, I sigh.

" You sick bastard, all you can do is lie!" Amada screeches.

Carmen points at Marcus as he laughs at my mother-in-law's statement. "Why are you even here?"

He shrugs with a smirk. "Because I can be."

I finish the bottle and stand up, getting a bit wobbly. "Can everyone calm down?"

They're overlooking me still so, I swing my arm up before flinging it down, letting the empty bottle smash to the waxed floor. Everyone freezes and looks my way. "Are we done, children?"

Victor glares. "You started this!"

" I didn't start anything! You and my power high mother did," I remind him.

He looks around, making me smile a bit. At least I got rid of them for now. "Where are your parents?"

"I told them to get out the same way I'm telling you! This party is done!"

"You don't have a say when we end this night! You'll get your ass out there and smile like everyone else!"

I start towards the door, showing him a solid simper. "The only thing I'm doing is putting an end to this bullshit bash!"

I go to walk out, but Victor jerks my arm, steering Bellemy to my rescue. " Get your hands off her, now!"

Victor loosens his hold, watching his son closely as Bellemy slides me away. I sneer, keeping my face straight, but inside, I'm shivering in fear. The old man has an air about him that tells of his cruelty. It's almost like demons surround him and radiate fear-inducing vapors. Understanding that he has power doesn't influence me from wanting to make my mark in his mind. He already knows I'm not defenseless. Still, I need to convince him I won't bend to his name like so many others.

"You'll do no such thing!" He reiterates.

I sneer proudly. "Watch me!" Pulling away from Belle, I storm out of the kitchen and to the backyard. I grab the microphone and clap loudly until everyone quiets. "I appreciate you taking the time to come and celebrate, but we've had a family issue and we have to end it a bit early."

Everyone stares at me like I'm losing my mind and perhaps I am, but I don't care. I want them gone and their slow action clips the last string of my sanity. " What did I just say? Get the hell out of my house! Party is over! Go sip on your haughty booze somewhere else!Geez!"

As they start clearing, the family comes back up to me. Victor is pulsing fury from his dead eyes as he towers over me and speaks lowly. "Do you have any idea how bad this looks on us?"

"Yup and I don't give a shit. I said the party's over!" Shoulder checking my father-in-law, I barge back inside.

He'll learn that I'm not his typical skirt. Times are changing and I'll be the one to show Victor Perez that he's not untouchable.

~Bellemy~

I could see that the night's events were ticking away my wife's resolve. Also, I was extremely nervous because she hadn't said how she felt about my indecisiveness about her parents. I'm praying that she understands what position I was in to start with. As for my father, I wasn't buying his bullshit "test". He said he wanted to make sure Nevaeh was real and could be trusted, but that's only because he got busted.

When she's out of sight, I sigh, feeling bad about her night being ruined. It may have been a party to please my pops, but it was supposed to let her have a night to relax.

My dad swings my way, tugging at his hair. " Bellemy, you need to put that woman in her place! This behavior is unacceptable!"

Mateo laughs. "I like it. She don't play! It's nice to watch something new around here."

"We don't do change, Mateo! She needs to be like your mother and every other woman in this line of work; be a shell of beauty while keeping her mouth shut!"

I scoff at my dad's rule. "No, I like her the way she is. She has something that can lead us into a new era. If you want to keep this alliance with her family, you best start groveling at her feet to make it happen. After what you did, her mother is liable to have your head on a spike by sundown tomorrow."

"I'll salvage this without your whore's help!" He yipes, showing his worry with wrinkles on his forehead.

"Wow, papà, you seem a bit scattered. Are you scared?" I ask him, trying not to let my amusement out too soon.

My father croons in annoyance. "Don't toy with me! I am no coward and a little rich girl can't frighten me! Keep it up and I'll slit her throat to remind you of your place!"

I growl and surge forward, putting my nose to his. "If you so much as give her a cross look, I'll show you just how much I've learned from you!"

"You don't want to push me, mi hijo!" Dad growls. "I'll bury you."

"We'll see about that," I say, taking a step back and grinning. " Now, I believe my wife told you to get the fuck out of our house."

He gapes at me with his signature stare, but I'm not afraid of him and I'll be damned if he brings Nevaeh any harm. He can't be too pissed. This is exactly what he asked of me.

After I clear the house, I call in a few extra hands in case either of our parents tries to make a move. Then, I go and knock on Nevaeh's door. She calls for me to enter so I walk in and shut the door behind me as she sits up in the bed. She's wearing a pair of silk, cheerful yellow pajama pants, and a thin-strapped crop top. She pats the bed, making me kick off my shoes and shed my jacket before climbing next to her.

I prop up on my elbow and take her hand, gifting it with a feathery kiss. " Are you okay?"

"I think so," She huff, nipping at the ends of her hair.

I pull the moist hair from her mouth and wind it around her ear. "You don't have to lie to me."

She gives me a pathetic giggle. "Well, I'm not mad at you if that's what you're after."

"That's a relief, but I wouldn't hold it against you if you were." Peeking up from her hands, I can see the tears she's been fighting all nightbreak through the gates.

It's heartbreaking and it takes a lot for me to say that. I'm normally not the kind to break down so easily but she's bringing out a part of me that was damn near gone. I pull her into my lap and kiss her head as she melts down. 30 minutes must pass us by before she lifts her head again.

"I'm so damn mad, Bellemy! I don't even know what else to feel! I've never been so angry that my tears are from purchase! Your father, my parents, they're heartless! Why would they do these things?"

"It's this life, Bella(Beauty). It warps our minds and makes us into our worst nightmares. It eats our humanity little by little. That changes us into people we never want to be; people who we never thought we were capable of becoming."

She wipes her eyes and sniffles. I hate seeing her so broken, but I still can't help thinking how cute her little nose looks with a red tip." You're not like that. I can see how much you struggle."

I shake my head and smile weakly. "If you had met me 10 months ago, you'd find me just as appalling as my father."

"Then, why are you different now?"

Her question throws me into a bit of a bashful state and I don't really want to express why. Nevertheless, I feel she has a right to know. "Well, you changed me. You know, for the first two months, I only messaged enough to satisfy my dad. Then, one night, we had a close call with a rival family. I thought I was a goner. As I was dodging bullets, I heard a voice telling me, you have a wife, now. She needs you. It was a weird feeling since I didn't know hardly anything about you. Anyways, that's when I realized I wanted to change that. I needed a chance to get to know you and I used that as a guiding light to steer me from a dark place."

Her shamrock pearls are full of awe. I guess she's speechless because she takes my face between her dainty hands and strokes my scruff before kissing me. We get deep into it and I gently lay her back so I can climb on top of her. Her touch is as intoxicating as the taste of tequila lingering on her tongue. I'm getting more addicted to her presence with every nibble, stroke, and moan given. It feels like I'm floating out of my body. I pull back and my eyes devour her beauty.

Gorgeous skin, glossy bronzed hair, teasing lips, and viridescent gems that would hypnotize any man to do her bidding. She just pure and utter perfection. I take her chin between my thumb and finger as I brush my lips against hers. Then, capture her eyes. Seeing the suffering in them, I want to destroy every single soul who placed it there.

"Mi luz( My light), you're apart of me now and nobody can take that away from us. Not a soul will ever hurt you again. As of today, I will be your most devoted servant until my last breath. I will be your shield and protect your heart, mind, and body. I merely need you to trust me."

She glimpses at me in wonder for a long time before tossing her head back and groaning playfully. "Oh, goodness, I think that promise earned you some points."

Her giggle is contagious so I join her, receiving another kiss. Then, she gets serious as she fondles my cheek. "I don't need you to walk in front of me or stand behind me, Belle. I need you at my side. I meant what I said yesterday. As husband and wife, I want us to be on equal ground and we need that going forward."

"And you have that," I say, stroking her face.

"Good because we're gonna need it to prove to our parents how big of a mistake this marriage is."

Furrowing my brows, I lean away a bit. Hell, I sort of believe this was a good thing, despite everything so far. "Damn, I thought we were having a moment there."

"Oh, we were!" She laughs, pulling me back towards her. "What I meant was how big of a mistake it was for them to bring us together."

"Oh, okay," I bob my head slowly since I can't grasp what she means. "How exactly are we gonna do that?"

"We're going to beat them at their own game," She notifies me, looking more than confident.

" Is that so?"

"Damn right. They wanted an alliance, that's what they got. It's just not gonna benefit them."

"I'm up for that. As I said, I'm yours to command."

"Great, but we can talk about strategy another day though. I'm exhausted."

"Right. Well, get some sleep." Not wanting to leave her, I'm disappointed. Still, I shove down my emotions and kiss her. As I try to stand, she jerks my arm.

" I want you to stay with me tonight,"

I'm working extremely hard not to show her how grateful I am to hear her say that because I don't want her to think she's married a sissy. "You sure?"

"Yes, no funny business, though. I just want you close by."

"I'll try to behave," I grin. "But I sleep naked."

She rolls her eyes, except I can still see her amusement. " Briefs."

"But, but," I playfully pout.

Nevaeh holds up a finger, clucking her tongue. " Eh, no lip, Mister!"

"Fine...just this time."

"We'll see about that." She beams.

"It won't be long and I'll have you enjoying your naked ass against those $200 sheets with me."

Her pleasing laughter makes me want to tempt her into a night of fun, however, I can see that's not the type of comfort she requires right now. The two people she loves the most hurt her and that's a variety of destruction that will take soothing time to repair. For Nevaeh, and her alone, I'm willing to be a softer man and take my time. There is just something about this woman that drives me up the wall and drowns me in hope for a better life.

Once I'm in my underwear, I crawl in the bed. She kisses me for a moment before scooting away and stretching out, then, takes my hand. I pout because I want to feel her close to me.

Nevaeh scowls a bit. "Don't give me that look. I need room to move. Trust me, I'm doing you a favor here."

"I won't accept this," I tell her with a hint of power lacing my voice.

"I'm sorry, did I give you a choice?" She questions. Damn, her bossy behavior makes me want to ravish her even more. I grumble playfully and tug her into my body, earning a few huffs.

"Hey, I said-" Feeling flirty, I smack her ass, shifting her cheeks from pink to red and getting a wide-eyed expression. "Wha- Bellemy?"

"Nope!" I shush her. "We can be a team outside of our bedroom walls, in them, I make the rules."

"And what are those?"

"Who knows," I shrug. "I'll make them up as I go. Tonight, I want your body against mine. Tomorrow, I may tie you to the bed. It's like Russian roulette, you never know when the bullet will come."

"I'm not promising to play nice in the future, but for tonight, I'll forfeit to your wishes...only because I'm sleepy."

I lay flat on my back and she places her head on my chest, holding my hand. I'm more content than I've ever been in my life as we drift off to dreamland.