Chapter 1 The Night of Blood

Marisol's POV

The storm outside was relentless, the rain

slamming against the windows as if trying to break in. Inside our tiny home,

the warm glow of the fireplace flickered against the walls, creating a fragile illusion

of safety. Luis and Ana played in the corner, their laughter rising above the

sound of the wind, while Mama hummed softly as she prepared dinner.

I sat at the table, my fingers tracing the

edge of a cracked plate, trying to push away the gnawing unease that had

settled in my chest all day. Papa's voice echoed in my mind from earlier that

morning, a warning laced with something darker.

"Stay inside tonight, Marisol. Lock the doors.

Keep your siblings close."

The tension in his voice had lingered,

sticking to my skin like a second layer.

The knock on the door came suddenly,

shattering the quiet.

Mama froze, the ladle slipping from her

fingers and clattering onto the floor. Luis and Ana stopped playing, their

laughter replaced by wide-eyed fear.

"Papa?" I whispered, glancing toward him. He

was already on his feet, his expression hard as stone.

"Stay here," he said, his voice low and

commanding.

The air seemed to thicken as he moved toward

the door, each step echoing like a drumbeat. I stood, my legs trembling as I

edged closer to the children.

When Papa opened the door, the storm's roar

spilled inside, bringing with it a group of shadowed figures. The man at the

front stepped into the light, his face a mask of cruel confidence.

"Miguel Torres," he said, his voice smooth and

venomous.

Papa's jaw tightened. "You're not welcome

here."

The man chuckled, a dark, chilling sound. "I

didn't come for hospitality."

Before Papa could react, the man shoved him

backward, sending him crashing into the table. The others stormed in, their

presence suffocating.

Mama screamed as one of them grabbed her, his

hand rough and unyielding. "No!" she cried, her voice breaking.

"Shut her up," the leader barked, his tone

sharp and final.

I stepped forward instinctively, shielding

Luis and Ana with my body. My heart pounded so loudly I thought they could hear

it.

"What do you want?" Papa demanded, his voice

strained as he struggled to stand.

"The debt," the leader said simply.

Papa's eyes flicked to Mama, then to me. "I

have nothing for you."

The leader smiled, but it didn't reach his

eyes. "Then we'll take everything."

The gunshot was deafening, the sound ripping

through the room and stealing the air from my lungs. Mama crumpled to the

floor, her blood pooling beneath her.

"No!" The scream tore from my throat before I

could stop it.

The man turned to me, his gaze cold and

calculating. "Pretty thing, aren't you?"

He reached for me, and I slapped his hand

away, rage and terror surging through me. His smirk widened, and he grabbed me

by the arm, his grip bruising.

"Let her go!" Papa shouted, but another man

struck him, silencing him with a brutal blow.

"Take the girl," the leader ordered. "Burn the

rest."

My vision blurred with tears as the man

dragged me toward the door. Luis clung to my leg, his small hands desperate.

"Marisol!" he cried.

"Run!" I shouted at him, kicking against my

captor.

The last thing I saw before the flames

consumed our home was Ana's terrified face, framed by the growing inferno..

The man who had dragged me from my family

stood over me, his dark eyes piercing through the haze. He grinned, a predator

savoring his kill. "Not so tough now, are you?"

I didn't respond. Couldn't. My chest heaved

with shallow breaths, my limbs trembling as I tried to push myself up.

"Leave her," he barked to his men, turning

away without a second glance. "She'll die here with the rest of them."

The weight of his boots faded, and the sound

of their retreating footsteps should have been a relief, but it wasn't. The

silence that followed was worse. It pressed down on me, a suffocating reminder

that I was alone.

Pain shot through my body as I crawled toward

the door, the heat of the fire licking at my back. Each movement sent

shockwaves of agony through me, but I refused to stop. Not yet.

I reached the edge of the doorway, my fingers

digging into the scorched wood. My vision blurred as I looked out into the

night, the rain hissing against the flames. My family's screams echoed in my

mind, their faces flashing before me.

"Mama... Papa... Luis... Ana..." Their names

left my lips in a broken whisper, each one a knife to my chest.

And then, darkness.

When I awoke, the world was cold and wet. Rain

pelted my face, mixing with the blood that had dried on my skin. I blinked

against the stinging droplets, my body stiff and aching.

I was alive. Somehow, against all odds, I had

survived.

But as I sat up, the memories came rushing

back, slamming into me like a tidal wave. The fire. The blood. The laughter of

the men who had destroyed everything I loved.

A scream built in my throat, raw and primal,

but I swallowed it down. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of hearing my

pain, even if they were long gone.

My fingers curled into fists, nails digging

into my palms until they drew blood. I would not die here. Not like this.

I forced myself to stand, every muscle

protesting. The storm had washed away most of the blood, leaving my torn

clothes clinging to my body. My reflection in a nearby puddle was almost

unrecognizable wild eyes, matted hair, and a face streaked with soot and tears.

"Marisol Torres died tonight," I whispered to

myself, my voice shaking but firm. "But someone else will rise."

Days passed, though they blurred together in a

haze of pain and desperation. I stumbled into the city, my bare feet leaving

bloody prints on the pavement. People stared but didn't stop. No one ever did

in a place like this.

I found myself in front of El Infierno, a

nightclub infamous for its owner a man whispered about in fear and awe. Rafael

Montoya.

The bouncer at the door sneered at me, his

gaze raking over my battered form. "You lost, sweetheart?"

I lifted my chin, forcing strength into my

voice. "I need to see Rafael."

He laughed, the sound grating. "You and every

other girl in this city. Get in line."

"I'm not here for his bed," I snapped, though

my voice wavered. "I have information he'll want."

The lie slipped from my lips easily, a spark

of desperation fueling my boldness.

The bouncer raised an eyebrow, but something

in my eyes must have convinced him. He stepped aside, gesturing for me to

enter.

The moment I stepped inside, the world

shifted. The pulsing bass of the music vibrated through my bones, the dim

lighting casting shadows that danced like specters. Women in shimmering dresses

swayed on platforms, their movements seductive and hypnotic.

And there he was.

Rafael Montoya sat in the center of the chaos,

a king on his throne. His dark eyes scanned the room with a predator's

precision, missing nothing. When his gaze landed on me, my breath hitched.

He was beautiful in the way a storm was

beautiful dangerous and all-consuming. His sharp features were illuminated by

the glow of a cigarette, his lips curling into a smirk as he watched me

approach.

"Who let this little bird in?" he drawled, his

voice low and smooth.

"I let myself in," I replied, my voice steady

despite the way my knees threatened to buckle under his gaze.

His smirk deepened, and he leaned back in his

chair, spreading his arms as if to invite me closer. "Brave little bird. What

do you want?"

Revenge.

The word burned on my tongue, but I swallowed

it. Instead, I said, "A job."

He chuckled, a rich, dark sound that sent a

shiver down my spine. "You think you can handle working for me?"

"I think I can handle anything."

The challenge in my tone made his eyes glint

with interest. He stood, towering over me as he closed the distance between us.

The scent of smoke and expensive cologne enveloped me, making my head spin.

He reached out, his fingers brushing a strand

of hair from my face. The touch was deceptively gentle, but there was a threat

behind it a reminder of his power.

"You're a mess," he murmured, his voice a mix

of disdain and curiosity. "But there's fire in you."

I held his gaze, refusing to flinch. "You'll

find I'm full of surprises."

Rafael's smirk returned, and he stepped back,

gesturing to one of his men. "Clean her up. If she survives the night, we'll

see what she's made of."

As they led me away, I glanced back at him, my

heart pounding. Rafael Montoya was dangerous, but so was I.

And I had just taken my first step toward

vengeance.....