Page 49 of Dark Reunion

CHAPTER 18

YASMINE

The courtyard was one of the few places that didn’t feel like a cage. The sun cut across the stone, grass, and flowers in long, warm strips. The smell of the flowers and fresh cut grass tickled her nose.

Yasmine sat on a bench while the twins chased one another around the fountain, their laughter bright against the gloom of the compound. Her newest addition was sleeping happily in the baby sling. She touched the top of his matte black hair and smirked. He looked like a miniature Dean.

Isabella giggled in Ava’s lap, little fists reaching for the girl’s long braid and drawing Yasmine’s attention.

Ava smiled faintly as she let the baby grab her hair, her hazel eyes distant with a dark shadow that never seemed to leave. Yasmine had learned to read the silences and nervousness. Ava carried her trauma like invisible scars. She was trapped here, and as much a prisoner as Yasmine. Luckily, Dean was not his father, and Yasmine never tasted cruelty like the young woman had. Yasmine wanted to do more to help her but didn’t know what.

“Thank you for helping me with the children,” Yasmine said softly.

Ava shrugged, eyes still on the baby. “They are all so wonderful, I’m happy to help. Besides, looking into Isabella’s eyes it is easy to forget.”

Yasmine didn’t press further. She already knew.

“Mommy, look what we found,” Aiden yelled as the boys ran over. He had a monarch butterfly sitting on his fingers, the wings slowly opening and closing.

“He’s beautiful, but be very careful, their wings are delicate, and you don’t want to hurt him.”

Yasmine marvelled at how their eyes lit up staring at the pretty insect. She could picture them working with animals when they grew up.

The heavy scrape of shoes on stone cut through the moment. The air shifted. The twins’ smiles dropped, their eyes darting to the archway.

Carlos Ramírez strode in, his presence dragging the warmth out of the courtyard. His dark suit was pristine, his expression thunderous with the storm brewing inside of him.

Yasmine’s stomach rolled. She told Dean about their last confrontation, and as Carlos’s eyes focused on her face, malice in every line, she knew that they were about to have another.

“There she is.” Carlos’s voice was smooth and venom-laced. “The dutiful wife of my prodigal son.” His eyes dragged over her, then slid to the children. “Dean’s pitiful little legacies,” he sneered, but it came off as childish jealousy.

He moved closer, and the servants in the periphery froze.

Yasmine stood, keeping a hand on Andrés back ready to protect her family. “Señor, welcome,” she greeted carefully, keeping her voice steady for the children’s sake. “It’s a lovely day.”

He laughed, sharp. “Do not play respectful with me. I see you, Yasmine. You—” He jabbed a finger toward her, face twisting. “You are the reason Mercurio is weak and a traitor. You and these brats.”

Carlos snarled like an animal, spit flew form his mouth with every word. Whatever had happened had him in a state. Yasmine could feel the rage coming off him like it was his cologne.

The twins whimpered and clung to her skirt. Carlos’s eyes narrowed.

“See even his offspring are weak. Do they whimper like that over everything?”

Yasmine opened her mouth, but before she could get a word out, Carlos snatched the little butterfly off Aiden’s finger and crushed it in his fist.

The boys immediately started to wail, large tears rolling down their cheeks as Carlos opened his hand and dropped the monarch on the ground. “Life is tough, this world is mean, and people and animals die all the time. Get used to it.”

“Leave them alone,” Yasmine ordered, her voice breaking despite her best effort to remain unfazed.

Carlos’s hand shot out, grabbing the wrist that Yasmine had held to Andrés’s back, and yanked her toward him. Carlos’s grip was iron, grinding bone against bone, as he yanked her toward him. “Maybe I should teach you respect first. Let you learn what happens when someone crosses me.”

Isabella screamed like she knew what was happening. The twins started crying in earnest, tugging at his pants, their little voices frantic.

“Stop! Let go of Mommy!”

“Get them off of me, or I will make them,” he growled and glared at Tate and Aiden.

Ava laid Isabella down and slipped between Yasmine and Carlos, trembling but unflinching, her small frame planted like a shield.