Isela's Love by Sasha Cain Page A

grabbed a handful of her hair. He hauled her to him, holding her hair so tight it brought tears to her eyes.
    “Is that true, Isela?” he asked.
    “No, no, it’s not.”
    He released her so suddenly, she stumbled. “So you’re saying your accuser is a liar?”
    “No—”
    “Then you’re lying.”
    “No, I’m—”
    Reaching out, his hand as quick as a snake, he slapped Isela open handed.
    “My people do not lie to me, Isela. But you do, don’t you?”
    He turned his attention to the new inmate, who stood glowering at him.
    “What’s his story?” Guarros asked, glaring back at him.
    “He defended her,” the guard said nodding toward Isela.
    Guarros raised an eyebrow. His lips curled into an evil smile. “Really? How gallant of you...what was your name again?”
    “Brendan Malone.”
    “Well, Brendan Malone, since you’re new here, we’ll assume you’re unfamiliar with the rules. A mistake I’m sure you won’t make again.” He turned to Isela, grabbing her chin in his hand. “Watch, darling. This is because of you.”
    Guarros punched Brendan in the gut, doubling him over. He then, took Brendan’s head and slammed his face into his bent knee. Isela looked away.
    Brendan stood, struggling to breathe, his nose and mouth bleeding. He looked Guarros straight in the eye.
    “We do not interfere when another inmate or one of my servants is being disciplined. Is that understood?”
    “She didn’t do anything wrong,” Brendan replied.
    Guarros punched him in the face. Isela looked at him desperately, her eyes pleading with him to say no more. He met her gaze, nodding slightly.
    Guarros got in his face. “Are you slow, boy? I don’t care what you think. That’s why Harriet is my supervisor and you’re not. Get it? She decides who needs to be punished and who doesn’t. End of story.”
    He took a step back, clapping his hands together. “What did we learn here, boys and girls?”
    Isela resisted the urge to scream, “That you’re a filthy, heartless pig.” Instead, she answered for the two of them to spare Brendan further abuse at Guarros’ hand. “We learned to be careful and prompt when it comes to work and we don’t interfere.”
    She looked over to Brendan, giving him that same pleading glance.
    “And you, boy? Do you agree with our lovely Isela, here?” Guarros asked condescendingly.
    Brendan nodded, his eyes still locked to hers.
    Guarros clapped his hands together again and smiled. “Take him back downstairs. Leave her with me.”
    Isela’s heart sank. She’d have rather worked all day and night than to have to spend one minute alone with Guarros.
    Guarros shut the door behind the guards then turned to face her. The angry expression on his face told Isela this wasn’t over. She tried not to wince as he approached her, his fists clenched. He walked a complete circle around her, stopping in front of her.
    “You don’t think I saw that?” he hissed.
    She blinked nervously a couple of times, unsure of what he meant.
    “Oh, what? You’re going to pretend nothing’s going on?” he demanded.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Isela whispered.
    He nodded, tapping his lip, pacing back and forth in front of her. “I see. So you haven’t taken a shine to the new inmate.”
    “What?”
    “He hasn’t been here long enough for you to have screwed him.” He stopped, pointing his finger at her. “You must’ve told him you’d screw him.”
    “No, I didn’t! I don’t even know him.”
    He laughed bitterly. “You expect me to believe this young man, whom you’ve never met, just stood up for you for no reason.”
    Isela gritted her teeth. “Maybe he’s just a good guy, not like you’d know anything about that.”
    He raised his fist, pulling back his arm. Isela squeezed her eyes shut, cringing. Guarros stopped. He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.
    “Do you see what you do to me?” he yelled. Taking a deep breath, he pressed her against the wall. His