The Girl Who Chased Love
The tiny apartment was quiet for once.
Virgo Vendetta sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the cracked ceiling as the sound of sirens echoed somewhere outside. The silence should've been peaceful, but it wasn't. It only reminded her that nobody was coming home.
Not for her.
Her mother had disappeared three days ago, chasing another high instead of chasing the daughter who needed her.
Her father?
Virgo laughed bitterly.
She didn't even know where he was.
Growing up, she'd watched other little girls run into their parents' arms after school while she walked home alone. She learned early that if she wanted comfort, she'd have to find it somewhere else.
Somewhere...
Or someone.
That was her biggest mistake.
Every boy who called her beautiful made her believe she'd finally found the love she'd been searching for. Every promise sounded real until it wasn't. They all wanted something, and once they got it, they disappeared.
Just like everyone else.
Virgo walked over to the mirror hanging crooked on the wall.
Brown skin.
Soft curls framing her face.
Curves that made strangers stare every time she walked into a room.
People always complimented her looks, but nobody ever asked if she was okay.
She forced herself to smile.
It looked fake.
Because it was.
Her phone buzzed.
A text from another guy.
"You coming tonight?"
No "How are you?"
No "Did you make it home safely?"
Just another invitation.
Another reminder that people wanted pieces of her but never her heart.
She sighed, locked her phone, and tossed it onto the bed.
"I'm tired," she whispered to herself.
For the first time in a long time, she meant it.
Across the city...
Music blasted through the walls of the Moretti estate while men argued over business in the next room.
Nasir Moretti leaned against the balcony railing, looking over the city lights.
"Boss," one of his men called. "We found him."
Nasir didn't even turn around.
"Good."
"He says he wants to talk."
Nasir let out a short laugh.
"Everybody wants to talk when they're out of options."
His deep voice carried a calm confidence that made even grown men nervous.
He ran a hand through his dark hair before switching effortlessly into Spanish.
"Ya terminé con las excusas."
(I'm done with excuses.)
His father stepped onto the balcony.
"You've been working too much."
Nasir looked over.
"You taught me to protect what's ours."
"I taught you that family comes first."
Family.
It was the one thing Nasir never had to question.
His parents had always stood beside him, even after his father handed him control of the family business.
His father smiled.
"One day you'll find someone worth protecting more than this life."
Nasir smirked.
"I doubt it."
Neither of them knew fate was already moving.
Somewhere across the city, a broken-hearted girl was about to cross paths with the one man who would call her mi ángel—my angel.
And neither of their lives would ever be the same.
