The Billionaire's Dangerous Obsession (Nivera) novel Chapter 7

Chapter 71

Chapter 71

A sleep free of nightmares – he should have known better.

Alejandro had told himself he’d finally slept. Peacefully, even.

No shadows in the corners, no voices in his head. No blood on his hands. But the moment the dream took shape, he realized he’d spoken too soon

Alejandro’s first conscious breath came in a garden.

Not just any garden. The dreaded garden.

At first glance, it was beautiful–serene, even But Alejandro knew better. This place was never what it seemed

The garden was quiet. Too quiet. The wind didn’t rustle the trees, and the birds that usually chirped in this memory were silent. It was dusk. Or dawn. He

could never tell in this place,

His breath turned erratic as he turned slowly, his eyes darting through the dense foliage and empty path.

He knew this place. Knew it like he knew the sound of his own gun cocking. This was where it always began. Where it always ended.

His breath caught in his throat, and he slowly turned. Dread crawled across his skin like frostbite. The breeze carried a familiar scent–cologne and blood.

No, he told himself. Not here. Not again.

ce he had bee

And then came the voice he had been waiting for.

“Looking for me, little demon?”

Alejandro froze. That voice was carved into his bones. Gravely, cruel, soaked in the scent of blood and fire.

He turned, and there he was the figure that always haunted him,

The man stood beneath a twisted archway, shadows clinging to his figure like a second skin. His smile was all teeth,

“What a

are you doing here?” Alejandro demanded, his voice raw

“You look surprised. Thought you got rid of me, didn’t you?”

“What are you doing here?” he asked again, though he already knew the answer.

The man–no, the monster–smiled. A twisted thing

“Did you really think you got rid of me? You can never get rid of me, Alejandro. You are my demon. My little demon. The one I trained. And you’ll do me proud.”

“I am not your little demon,” Alejandro snarled, taking a step back. His eyes scanned the garden for anything–anything at all–that he could use to defend himself & branch. A rock. Anything

But there was nothing

“This is my world,” the figure taunted. “You can’t find anything here that I don’t want you to.”

Alejandro’s breath came faster and his fists clenched. He hated the helpless feeling he always had whenever he was around him

“You can’t run from who you are, the voice continued. “You try to hide behind that charming smile, that playful act. You act like you’re sort. Juvenile, Human. But we both know who you are, Alejandro. You’re worse. You’re the devil himself. And you’ll prove it to me very soon.”

Chapter 71

Then the figure laughed, and it was low and cold.

“Unless, of course. Your little doll softens you. What was her name again? Nivera? Such a pretty thing.

“Keep her out of your mouth?” Alejandro hissed.

“what happens when she finds out who you really are? When she realizes the man she’s culling up beside is more monster than man? Wit the rand Or will you end up breaking her fon? Or maybe someone else will do it.”

That was the final straw.

The fear evaporated and something darker took its place.

Alejandro lunged, fists first. A scream ripped from his throat – a mixture of rage and desperation.

And then

He gasped as his eyes flew open, and he was met with the sight of a familiar ceiling. The sunlight slipped through the windows. Sheets angled around him. The rush of breath in and out of his chest.

He was back

His hands were gripping the bedsheets, sweat clinging to his skin. He blinked rapidly, disoriented, pulse pounding in his ears.

“Alejandro?” He heard a soft voice, gentle and unsure. He turned and saw her,

She was beside him, now staring with wide, worned and curious eyes. One hand rested gently on his shoulder, which she pulled back when she realized he was already awake.

Without a word, Nivera turned, poured a glass of water from the carafe on the bedside table, and handed it to him.

He took it, the glass cool against his heated palims. He drank all of it.

“Nightmare?” she asked softly

He nodded.

“You okay?” she then asked.

He didn’t answer at first. His chest still heaved with the weight of the dream. The nightmare. His past.

Hmm.

She studied him for a moment, and he could feel the weight of her gaze.

“Do you want to talk about 177

He shook his head, voice still caught somewhere between then and now

“Okay,” she said simply.

She then slid out of bed and walked toward the bathroom. Just before stepping inside, she paused at the door.

“Thanks for bringing me up to bed.”

She disappeared into the bathroom without waiting for a response.

Alejandro let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding

Chapter 71

Why now?

It had been years. Years since he’d buried that devil. Since he took care of him. He should be free. That chapter should have been dood

He leaned forward, elbows on knees, hands dragging down his face.

Why couldn’t he get rid of him?

He’d done what he had to do. Hadn’t he?

His jaw tensed as he stood. The memory still clawed at his skin,

He strode to his room, not bothering to turn on the lights, and went straight to the small drawer beside his bed. He opened it, took out small bottle of pills, unscrewed the cap, and popped two.

They tasted like guilt.

Needing to clear his thoughts, he walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Cold, just what he needed to get him back to himse

The water hit him like a wall, but he didn’t flinch. He let it soak into his skin, hoping it would wash away the remnants of the dream, the voice, and the

taunt about Nivera

When he was done, he towelled off quickly got dressed in dark slacks and a navy shirt, rolled his sleeves up, and grabbed his phone

He scrolled through a few messages, ignored most of them, then tapped Antonio’s name.

His brother picked up on the second ring

“Alejandro“, Antonio’s voice was rough like gravel. He didn’t sound like he’d slept at all.

“How’s ZabelleT”

“Still unconscious. Doctors are monitoring. No changes yet, but the doctors are optimistic, her vitals are holding.”

A pause

“I stayed with her all night. I’ll stay until she wakes up.”

“You sound like shit.”

“Thanks. You sound like you saw a ghost.”

Alejandro let out a breath of dry laughter.

“Maybe Idid.”

They spoke a few minutes longer, short words, mostly plence. Then they hung up.

Alejandro dropped his phone on the bed and moved toward the window, armis crossed as he stared out at the sky.

And then–a scream,

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify