After Sergio left her parent's home, Raquel was barely able to focus on her dinner. She was still in San Francisco at his home on the hill, away from everything. She could still hear the wonderfully talented Marion Meadows playing in her ear, while Sergio was whispering in the other. Her mother knew that she was preoccupied, so she took pity on the girl, and excused her for the night.

Now Raquel was back at her place, and once she brought every Marion Meadows, and Boney James Album via Apple music, she left it to play aloud through the speakers on shuffle in her home. Putting her weekend clothes, and purchases away, Raquel headed into her bathroom, smiling at the person in front of her.

Yeah, Alberto hurt her, but he didn't break her. Sergio made sure she knew that. She moved her hand over the very dainty, yet expensive looking bracelet still resting on her wrist. She shook her head when she thought of him having to place his name on almost everything he gave her. To be honest, she found it sexy, that a man such as him wanted to possess her in such a deep, life affirming way. Walking back into her room, Raquel took the t-shirt that was on her bed, and pulled it on, sans underwear. It was Sergio's shirt she found in his closet after one of the many rounds of sex they had on Saturday night. She pulled it to her nose, deeply inhaling his masculine scent, before heading to her studio.

She was feeling inspired.

She needed to paint.

...

Sergio was livid.

Not at the fact that he had a sister who had lost all function of her brain, but at Alberto Vicuna. He destroyed Ava's life, then tried to destroy Raquel. For that, he would pay. Since he strode out of his parent's estate, his phone had been ringing non-stop. Even Jacob was starting to get concerned, but the mutinous look on his face. He emailed Rose, and told her to do the meetings without him, once again thankful to have a competent business partner.

Sergio hated when things he planned went awry.

Something else to blame Alberto for.

"Sir?" he asked hesitantly.

Glancing up from his phone, he breathed deeply.

"Jacob. I need you to get a file on Alberto Vicuna. I want to know everything. His bank accounts, his education, where he hangs out at, down to where he pisses, and what is his dominant hand. I want all of this in two days."

Eyebrows raised in surprise, Jacob only nodded.

"Okay. But you should know, I may need assistance. If I am to protect you as well."

Glancing back at his phone, he swore under his breath at the hundredth call from his mother.

"Get the necessary people to help you. I don't care the cost. Let it be known the faster I get the information, the more I am willing to pay."

"Yes, sir. I know who to contact. Where are we heading now?"

"To Raquel's place. I need to speak with her."

When his phone rang again, Sergio groaned aloud before answering it.

"What!" he barked into the phone. Sergio could hear screaming in the background, and could assume it was his sister wailing at the suffering she will be experiencing at his hands.

"Bro. Where did you disappear to? You missed the rest of Ava's ramblings. She is trying to defend him because of some recent news that was just released ten minutes after you'd left."

At that, Sergio let his head fall back. He had no idea what was about to come out of his brother's mouth, and wasn't sure he even wanted to know.

"Where is Alicia?" he asked, trying to stall for time. Andres chuckled at his question.

"I know what you're trying to do. I'm your brother, remember? But, I'll bite. She has been filing mom's glass of wine. She went to get herself a glass, before calling her brother. She told him, which let's face it, is not a big deal since it'll be going national soon, and he is just as stunned. I think she is secretly face timing Daniel so that he can hear her shenanigans."

"What does he think?"

Sighing, Andres ran his hand through his dirty blonde hair.

"That she should be mentally examined." At that, Sergio snorted.

"That we can agree on." Unable to hold out any longer, Andres spoke almost gleefully.

"Get this, man. When Ava went to his office, to confront him, she caught him getting head from a dude! A dude, man! Some guy named Willow. Anyway, she was so angry that she pulled out some cash and paid the guy to go to the nearest news outlet, and confess that he was sucking the senators-"

"I get it, Andres," Sergio bit out, not needing the visual his brother was painting.

"Oh. Well anyways, this guy is telling everything, no holds barred. He even said that, the woman wanted him to tell. Currently Alberto is denying all allegations. When we asked Ava up front, she didn't say anything, but the guilty look in her eye said it all."

Sergio was wishing in this moment he had something stronger in this car besides soda.

"Sergio. You still there, man?"

"Yeah. I'm still here. I just can't believe this. I can't believe Ava would be this stupid."

"Yeah. But Sergio, she's got to learn. It's going to be tough, but we have to stick together. This is for her children. The only way for them to have a decent life." Andres said. Sergio could see that he was two minutes from Raquel's apartment downtown, and quickly got off the phone with his brother.

"Jacob?"

"Yes, sir?"

Opening the door, Sergio grabbed his wallet.

"Don't wait for me. I'll call you in the morning."

...

Raquel was in the midst of her painting, when she heard knocking on her front door. Irritated, she put down her brush, before jogging over to the door. Looking through the peep-hole, she was surprised to see Sergio standing outside her door. Opening it, she smiled.

"Hey, Sergio I didn't expect you to-"

Taking two long strides, Sergio cupped her neck, before kissing her as hungrily as he'd been wanting to since he left her. Gasping, Raquel wrapped her arm around his waist, as he walked them further into her place. Closing the door shut behind him, he broke the kiss only to lock the door, before picking her up, and carrying her to the bedroom. Breathless, she bounced slightly on the bed, watching him with wide eyes, strip for her quickly. Running a hand through her hair, she blushed at his stare glued to her legs.

"I um, don't wear underwear when I'm home alone."

Groaning at that, Sergio lifted her shirt, before kissing her chest. In between kisses, his deepened voice whispered across her skin.

"Now. That. Is. All. I. Will. Be. Thinking. Of. When. I'm. At. Work." He said, ending the last part with her nipple in his mouth. Arching into his body, Raquel wrapped her leg around his waist, smiling when she heard her anklet jingle slightly. He released her nipple to before smirking at her.

"I like hearing that, you know. Reminds me what's mine."

Fully undressed, Sergio pushed her back before sliding into her already wet core deeply. Whimpering, Raquel wrapped her other leg around his waist, pulling on his hair. She bit her lip, when he hit her spot, the only spot he could ever find, and moved against him. She sensed his urgency, and Raquel was happy to see that she was a person he felt that he could come to in need. It made her feel desirable.

Keening, Raquel moved her hips quicker, unable to hold off any longer.

"Sergio! Sergio, I'm coming!"

Grunting, he moved even faster, before he stiffened, groaning aloud at finally being inside Raquel once more. Out of breath as if she had run a mile, Raquel watched Sergio pull out of her before collapsing beside her in bed. Scooting closer, she kissed his chest, before placing her hand over his heart.

"Hi," she said.

Turning to look at her flushed cheeks, kiss swollen lips, and sparkling eyes, Sergio had never seen a more beautiful woman than the one in front of him right now.

"Hi," he parroted back, smiling at her. Hitching her right leg higher, he ran his hand over her anklet.

"So, couldn't resist being without me for another day?" Raquel teased, before winking at him. Sergio's eyes widened before he burst into laughter. Kissing her hair, he noted her own giggling, and pinched her side.

"Well, madam, you would be correct. It would seem that I cannot function without you. I wonder how this will work out for my business? I guess you'll just have to move into the office with me."

Rolling her eyes, Raquel was secretly thrilled that he openly admitted to needing her. Straddling his waist, Raquel smiled down at him. Running her hands over his chest she sighed before speaking.

"Not to say that I'm not glad to see you again, and so soon at that, but what brings you by?" Suddenly, Sergio sat up with Raquel in his lap, growling a bit at how she felt in his arms.

Alberto really is stupid, Sergio thought in wonderment.

"How I wish this was just a social visit. I didn't mean to attack you as soon as I saw you, but you were so beautiful, and just there."

At that, Raquel blushed. Her inner woman was squealing, kicking her legs, and thanking God above that this man wanted her.

"Then why are you here?" Raquel asked, letting her legs settled fully around him, and unable to keep her hands out of his hair. Lowering his head to her breasts, he groaned in frustration. Kissing her chest, he pulled away.

"I didn't stop by work. After the family meeting, I knew I would be unable to concentrate, without practically firing everyone in sight."

"How bad is it?" Raquel said softly. Blowing air out of his mouth, he sighed.

"Yeah. I'm going to just explain it how Ava did to me. Please know Raquel, that I have no idea where my usually smart, and intelligent sister went. The family is thinking she suffered some mental break down in the last year or so. I want you to also know, that had I known, I would have told you everything up front. You deserve to know everything concerning Mr. Vicuna, and I would never keep anything from you such as this."

Looking into his eyes Raquel could see his sincerity, and she nodded.

"I know. Sergio, whatever you tell me, I promise to not hold it against you. I know that whatever members are your family say does not mean you feel the same way. You have proven to me in such a short time how much you want me, and only me. Please don't think you always have to apologize for his mistakes, or your sister's. Everyone is an adult."

Marveling at Raquel, he leaned up and kissed her soft lips, thanking her for being so understanding.

"Ava called us all in to say that Alberto proposed marriage to her. After she caught him getting head from a man in his office."

"What?!"

Sergio then went on to explain, in painstakingly detail, how Ava knew Alberto before he even met Raquel, how she was in love with him for the longest time, and her logic of staying with him even after the first kid.

"He never even said anything about a son, Sergio. I would never keep a little boy from-"

Eyes wide at what Raquel was implying, Sergio cupped her face.

"No, don't even say it, Raquel! I know you wouldn't. This is all Alberto's fault. He's a horrible human being, and what he's done to you, Ava, and I'm sure countless others is no excuse."

Sergio noted her half smile, and wondered what caused it.

"What?" he asked quietly.

Shaking her head, she peaked up at him before going back to tracing his shoulders.

"Ah, it's nothing. I was only thinking that I should've known. He is after all a politician."

Smirking, Sergio silently agreed.

"I can't believe your sister would marry him. Forget about me for a second. Even if I weren't in the picture, couldn't she see how toxic this man is to her child? You told me he hasn't even claimed the boy publicly! I would never do that to any of my children, not for any man. They are important."

"I know."

Blowing her hair out of her face, she noted his calculating look.

"Sergio. What are you thinking?"

Rubbing his eyes, Sergio stood up with Raquel in his arms before placing her on the bed. Pacing, as if he wasn't naked, Raquel silently watched his body in motion. After a while, he spoke.

"Raquel. I need you to know. I have to retaliate. He hurt my family, but more importantly, he hurt you. I need you to let me handle this."

Standing, she stood in front of the man. She waited until his gaze was on her.

"Okay."

Surprise lit his features.

"Okay?"

Smiling faintly, she nodded.

"Yes. Handle it. But I reserve the right to know what you are doing, should I ask."

"Fair."

Holding out her hand to shake his, Sergio smiled before taking her hand, and pulling her close to him.

"Thank you. Now, how about we get cleaned up, and you make me dinner."

Mouth gaping open, she smacked him across the chest.

"Now you want me to cook? What am I, your wife?" She tossed out, as she walked ahead of him into the bathroom.

"Not yet," Sergio whispered to himself, following her in the bathroom.