He crossed to the low table in front of his sofa and used the remote sitting there to turn on his stereo. A popular music playlist came through hidden speakers around the space.
Walking into the bedroom, he slipped the knot in his tie, removed it, and threw it into the chair in the corner of the room.
From his pants pocket, he removed the switchblade he carried there and set it down on the dresser.
Piece by piece, he removed each article of clothing, throwing them haphazardly in the same direction as his tie, uncaring whether they landed in the chair or on the floor.
Naked, he walked over to the bed and slid under the covers. He reached out for Daleyza and pulled her back to his chest.
He pitched his voice low and soft into her ear. Notes of jasmine flooded his nose. “Are you a virgin, belleza?”
The tension in her body strung even tighter.
“Ildefanso—”
“Shh. Quietly. Answer the question.”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I need you to trust me, belleza. Can you do that?”
“I don’t…”
“I understand.” He kissed her shoulder. “I know it’s difficult, but it’s very important that you do. Some things I do will not make sense. Some may even seem cruel. But I need you to know that I will always protect you from anyone who wants to hurt you.”
“Okay.”
“Buena chica.” Another kiss to her shoulder.
He picked up the knife from the bedside table, then quickly rolled on top of her.
Fear made her eyes go round and wild, but before she could utter a single sound, he pressed the button on his blade and slit the nightgown from breast to waist.
She gasped.
A tearing sound followed as he ripped the garment open the rest of the way until she lay exposed beneath him.
Once more, the knife cut its way through silk, this time at the thin bands of her panties that rested on her hips. With two quick cuts, they were destroyed.
He ripped the pieces of her nightgown and underwear from beneath her body and threw them to the floor.
“Scratch me, belleza,” he whispered. “Fight me off.”
Her hands scrabbled against his chest. Her hips jerked as she tried to dislodge him.
He felt the sting as her nails caught and gouged his skin.
Quickly, he brought the blade across his thigh, making a long, shallow cut that began to bleed. He swiped his palm across the wound, then shoved his hand between her legs, palm down on the sheets.
She stopped fighting him. “Jesuchristo, what did you do?”
“I just saved your brother’s miserable life.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Tomorrow, when the maid comes to clean the rooms, she will be required to take the sheets to my father to prove that we consummated this marriage. You said you were a virgin. If there was no blood, it would appear as if you’ve shamed your brother.
“Your father tried to cheat mine, and he paid for it with his life. Your brother paid his debt by giving you in marriage to the Colonel’s bastard son. Now, he will be allowed to serve my father and stay alive.
