NOVEL WEB Chapter 4: He's Trouble
Maria stepping out of El Rey's car, her mind reeling as she makes her way towards her apartment building.
The night air was cold, but Maria barely noticed, her thoughts still fixated on the enigmatic man who had just driven her home. She fumbled for her keys, her hands shaking as she unlocked her apartment door.
As she stepped into the empty space, she felt a sense of relief wash over her, the familiar surroundings offering a momentary respite from the uncertainty that had been plaguing her all evening.
Maria moved through the apartment in a daze, switching on the lights and locking the door behind her. She could still feel El Rey's presence lingering in the air, like a shadow she couldn't quite shake.
She walked into the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water to steady her nerves. But as she brought the glass to her lips, her hand trembled, the water spilling over the edge and onto the countertop.
The sound of the water hitting the marble surface jolted her out of her thoughts, her mind suddenly flooded with the memory of El Rey's gaze, his voice.
The shrill ring of Maria's cell phone echoed through the quiet apartment, pulling her out of her reverie. She checked the screen, her heart thudding as she saw Rosa's name flashing across the display.
"Hey, Maria," Rosa's voice crackled over the line, her tone anxious. "Did you get home okay?"
"Yes, I'm home," Maria replied, forcing herself to sound calm.
"I just wanted to make sure you got back safe," Rosa explained. "And also, I'm not coming home tonight.
Maria's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she listened to Rosa's words. "Vincent,You're going to stay with him tonight right?"
Rosa giggled, her voice filled with playful embarrassment. "He convinced me to stay over at his place tonight."
"You two," Maria laughed, shaking her head. "I guess that sex must have gone pretty well, huh?"
"Yeah, we really hit it off," Rosa sighed, her voice still fluttering with excitement. "He's just so sweet, you know? He makes me feel... safe."
The lightness of the conversation evaporated as Maria uttered El Rey's name, her voice suddenly heavy with uncertainty. "Rosa, listen, I need to tell you something," she began. "El Rey... he dropped me off tonight."
"El Rey?" Rosa gasped, her breath catching in her throat. "He dropped you off? Maria, what happened? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Maria replied, her voice firm. "But... I'm not sure why he did it"
"He's a gentleman, is he?" Rosa chuckled, her tone laced with playful disbelief. "Maybe he's finally starting to see the light. You might have a chance after all, Maria!"
Maria's face twisted into a scowl, her eyes flashing with irritation. "Don't be ridiculous," she hissed, her voice tight. "He's not a gentleman. He's a criminal, Rosa"
Rosa fell silent for a moment, her playful teasing evaporating in the face of Maria's fierce rebuke. "Okay, okay," she murmured, her voice contrite. "I'm sorry. It was a bad joke.
"Just... be careful around him, okay?" she continued, her tone serious now. "He's not someone you want to mess with. If he did you any harm, I'd... I'd never forgive myself."
Maria sighed, her body tensing as she thought of El Rey's gaze.
Maria's stomach growled, the fear and uncertainty of the night making her realize just how hungry she was. "I'm going to find something to eat," she said, her voice steady.
"Okay, be safe," Rosa replied, her voice warm with concern. "And call me if you need anything, alright? I mean it."
"I will," Maria promised, a small smile crossing her lips as she hung up the phone.
The silence of the apartment settled around her once more as Maria pondered the events of the evening, she couldn't help but wonder if she'd somehow caught El Rey's eye. It was a dangerous thought, one that sent a shiver of fear down her spine. But there was also a small, traitorous part of her that found the idea thrilling, her heart racing at the thought of being the object of his attention.
She shook the thought away, pushing it to the back of her mind as she made her way into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she scanned the contents, her eyes falling on a leftover slice of pizza from the night before.
Maria grabbed the pizza, her stomach grumbling impatiently as she slid the slice into the microwave. As she waited, she found herself thinking about Rosa's words. "If he did you any harm..."
She shook her head, a wave of frustration sweeping over her. Rosa was right, of course. El Rey was dangerous, unpredictable. But there was something else about him that stirred a dark, primal part of her soul.
The microwave beeped, the pizza hot and ready.
Maria pulled the pizza out, blowing on it to cool it off as she wandered back into the living room. She sank onto the couch, the soft fabric molding to her body as she lifted a slice of pizza to her lips.
As she chewed, her mind drifted back to El Rey. She remembered the intensity of his gaze, the way he had made her feel both vulnerable and desired. It was a dangerous combination, one that sent a tingling sensation down her spine.
"He's trouble," she muttered to herself, a bitter smile twisting her lips.