The Armillo Girls

"If you let me," She began in a slow, enticing voice. "I'm going to show you how much of a terrible decision you made by marrying the wrong Armillo sister."

Nicolás stared at her, his lips curled up in a half a smile.

"I never harm women or kids." He began maintaining his smile. "But unfortunately, I do sometimes break my own rule you see, and sweetheart if in the next five seconds your hands are still on me..."

He left the rest of his words hanging, the shocked look on her face comical and Nicolás simply stared back at her, the seconds counting in his head, and luckily for her, she pulled away just in time.

"Good decision you made there." He said turning away.

"You can't be serious!" She cried. "Listen, I know you might think this is a trap or something but it's not. She won't find out if that's what you're worried about, I..."

He turned sharply and faced her, all traces of humor faded from his expression, and all that remained was sheer irritation. Nicolás had had his fair share of women throwing themselves at him and he wasn't a Saint, he did his bidding with the ones who caught his fancy but he would be damned if all he was reduced to was a horny bastard who bedded everything that came along.

He approached her slowly and she took a step back, her earlier confidence wavering until he had her backed against the wall.

"You…" She tried to speak but her voice came out shaky.

"I care very little about your sister, but somehow I care even less for you. Tell me, how should I convey it past the thickness of your head that you make me sick?" He asked his eyes set on her, watching her fidget under his scrutiny.

"The next time…"

The door opened, cutting short the rest of his words as Annalise walked in, her eyes moving from her sister to Nicolás as she noticed how close they stood to each other.

**** **** **** ****

Annalise had for a long time know how much naivety she'd been thought to have, she wasn't stupid but her quiet nature was often misinterpreted to mean stupidity. Too many times, she'd let Laura take advantage of her, or get away with making a mockery of her, not for anything but the fact that she felt her sister was going through her own turmoil and needed someone to lash out at, she didn't mind being Laura's emotional punching bag… For someone who felt as very little worth to the Armillos as Annalise did, it was more of a relief to know that she could in a way offer help to her sister.

It was why when she saw Laura and Nicolás in such nearness, she shut off that part of her brain that wanted to overthink, react or simply just want to say something, anything… Anna didn't want to have to listen.

Instead, she put up a bright smile on her face. "I didn't know you were coming." She said excitedly, putting away her shopping bags.

She saw from the corner of her eyes that Nicolás moved away from Laura and headed back into the room he'd spent his whole day.

Laura looked after him, an angry expression on her face.

"Is everything alright?" Annalise asked, walking up to her. "You look…"

"Please for God's sake Annalise, would you just shut the hell up?" She screamed.

Annalise looked around, hopefully, Nicolás wasn't in earshot.

"Laura," She corrected, ignoring her sister's tone. "Remember the lie we told?"

Laura sent her a death glare. "Yes, I do! I fucking remember how you tricked me and got married to him."

Annalise's face creased into a confused one.

"I didn't do… You were the one who…"

"You could have refused!" She yelled out again, grabbing Anna by the shoulders. Her bigger frame was a much-needed advantage over Anna's who could only stand and stare in shock.

"You knew what he looked like already, didn't you?" She asked.

Annalise shook her head frantically, how the hell was that possible? Very few people did and up until the day at church, she'd thought she would see a horrendous man whose face was scar-filled.

Laura released her letting her fall to the floor in a loud thud, Annalise muffled her scream when she felt a sharp pain in her ankle.

It also wasn't the first time Laura was getting physical with her.

"What?" Laura asked in a mocking tone as she bent down, her voice lowered. "Do you want to scream out? Call for your husband?"

Annalise said nothing, bowing her head as silent tears ran down her face.

"Go on then, call him over. I sure do have a lot to say about you and let's see if you'll both still be married." She threatened.

Anna's head snapped back up… Laura wouldn't dare, anyone finding out the truth now wasn't just a detriment to her but their family as a whole, but a look into Laura's eyes told Annalise she would.

"You know I don't want this marriage, and I still don't. This is not my fault." She said, her voice breaking.

"I see through you Anna, and I always have so save your stupid innocent act for who cares to believe you." She stood up and with one more spiteful look at Annalise, she made her way out of the house, slamming the door on her way.

"Pretty interesting conversation there," Nicolás said.

Annalise's felt as though her heart was about to rip off from her chest when she looked up and saw Nicolás standing in front of the door that led to the room she'd thought him to be.

The question she wanted to ask him swirled in her head, unable to come out… How long had he been there? How much had he heard? But nothing came out, she could only stare at him wide-eyed.

"Good to know we're on the same page about this marriage." He said as he headed towards her. "Very good to know." And he patted her head before heading up the stairs leaving her to stare after him.