Chapter 6 Setting Her Up

~ CARLOS’S POV

Nala Williams, or should I say, Erica Menendez. It’s honestly hilarious how naive and foolish she is. She genuinely believes that I married her because I love her—that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard from someone so simple-minded. I don’t fantasize about any girl, especially not one as plain and clueless as Nala. The truth is, I see absolutely nothing in her, the only thing I see is who she is and that’s exactly why she’s in my life. I want something from her and I will make sure I get it and then toss her aside like she’s yesterday’s news.

As the sleek black car glided to a stop in front of my mansion, the guard promptly opened the door for us. I reached out, offering my hand to help her out of the car, and she looked at me with a hint of concern in her eyes. I just faked a smile, masking the turmoil inside me. I absolutely despise pretending to be happy and content when, in reality, there’s nothing that truly brings me joy.

Nala and I walked up the grand staircase leading to the main door of the mansion, and I couldn’t help but glance at her face. She looked so innocent, blissfully unaware of the trap she was walking into. If only she realized she was stepping right into the devil’s pit—a hell with no exit, where she’d be ensnared without even knowing it.

We walked into the house, the familiar scent of polished wood and fresh flowers filling the air. The servants approached us, their faces bright with smiles. "Hello, Sir," they greeted me warmly before shifting their focus to Nala, "Hello, ma’am."

"Take her to my room," I instructed them, my voice firm but gentle. I turned to Nala and said. "I will be there in a few minutes." Despite my reluctance, I leaned in and pecked her softly on the cheek, a fleeting gesture that felt both necessary and bittersweet. Then, I made my way to the library, eager to meet my father.

My father is my role model, the man whose footsteps I strive to follow. I do everything in his will because he possesses wisdom that surpasses my own. He was the mafia king before I took over, a legacy that weighs heavily on my shoulders and I must not do anything to tarnish his reputation.

As I entered the library, I found him settled in his favorite armchair, surrounded by towering shelves of books, lost in the pages of a war novel. "You never get tired of reading, do you?" I asked, a hint of admiration in my voice.

My father doesn't waste time on the old, boring princess tales; his interests lie in stories of strategy, bloodshed, and power. It’s a reflection of his life, and he thrives in both realms. His gaze lifted from the book, piercing yet thoughtful. "If you reach my age, you’ll understand," he replied, a knowing smile creeping onto his lips.

"I doubt I will ever understand, Father," I retorted, shaking my head.

He let out a scoff, the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement. "You will, because by then, you’ll be too old to fight but still young enough to read about it."

I smirked, intrigued by his words. "Is that so?"

"Absolutely," he affirmed, leaning forward slightly. "Anyways, I hope you are here with good news. Tell me, is she here?"

"Of course, you want her here, and you got it. Erica Menendez is here," I said

"That’s great," he smirked, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. My father had been searching for Nala for years, a relentless pursuit that had consumed him. Finally, after all that time, he thought he had found her, and I had promised to deliver her right into his hands. And I did. I had maneuvered everything so perfectly that I had Nala entrapped with me in a way she probably never saw coming.

Nala thinks she’s with me because she witnessed a murder committed by my men, but the truth is, I let her see that murder. She believes I want to marry her, but really, she’s just a pawn in my selfish game. She has no idea that everything is a set-up—the murder, the marriage, even her meeting with Jose. Jose was never there to help her; he was working with me. He was good to go until I had a change of mind and decided, instead of making Jose kidnap her and bring her to me, why not I make her be with me willingly, this way there will be no escape. I planned this very well and everything is going perfectly well.

As for her parents? Let’s just say I know exactly who they are, and she’s here because of them. I need her to get to them and I will make sure that I do that.

Nala is so innocent, and I love that she’s completely oblivious to what’s really going on. But that’s fine; I don’t want her to be aware of anything at all. Her naivety makes it easier for me to manipulate her, to keep her in line with my plans without her ever suspecting a thing.

My thoughts are interrupted when Father speaks, "Anyways, I hope you have everything set for tonight. Everything must go perfectly. We can’t afford any mistakes, especially with Nala in the mix. She’s the key to everything we’ve been working toward." His voice is steady, but there’s a hint of urgency that makes my stomach churn. I nodded knowing I had to keep everything under control.

"That’s good. You can go now," he said, his voice steady and dismissive. I nodded, trying to mask the whirlwind of emotions inside me as I turned to leave the room. The anticipation coursed through me like electricity; Nala being here was both a blessing and a curse. I hated the web of lies we were tangled in, but the thrill of what was about to unfold for Nala Williams—or should I say, Erica Menendez—was almost intoxicating and I can’t wait to unleash my plans on her but first, I will have to make sure that she never ever finds out who her real parents are.