Chapter Twelve
“Rafael,” he barked into the phone.
“It’s me, Casen. Look, Harmony just got a call. I picked up on the other end to listen. This guy told her he had one of her sisters and to come out our gate, and they’d pick her up. They said if she didn’t come, they would hurt her.”
Rafael’s stomach dropped because he knew for a fact that Faith’s phone call was the same. “Faith just got one, too.”
“I’ll call Rowan and give him a heads up.”
“Call if you get anything.”
“We’ve got to watch our women. I think if I hadn’t intercepted, I would have lost her. They would do anything for each other.”
“I agree.” Rafael raced out of the office and up the stairs to the bedroom, praying she was lying down. His heart dropped when he found the room empty. “Goddammit!” he yelled. He started back toward the stairs when his cell phone rang.
“What?”
“Hey, Boss. You don’t want your wife sneaking down the driveway, do you?”
“Fuck, no. Keep your eyes on her. I’m coming.”
“You got it.”
Rafael ran out the back door and tore down the driveway. He slowed when he caught sight of her. He crept up behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist, making her scream.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
She struggled against him. “Listen, let me go. This is your chance to get rid of me, and I have to protect my sister.”
“Everything you just said was so wrong.”
She pushed against his chest as tears fell from her eyes. “No, please listen. I need to do this.”
“No…”
“Please. I’m tired. I’m tired of being scared all the time,” she sobbed. “I just want it done with.”
“You mean you don’t care if you get kidnapped?” he asked, shocked.
“Yes … no. I’m tired of being fearful and hurting.”
“Your sisters are fine. They got the same calls.”
“That makes this even better. I know I don’t have to worry about them. They are happy with their marriages and will be protected.”
“Goddammit. I’ve had enough.”
“Then let me go,” she pleaded.
“I’ve already told you I’m never letting you go.”
“You can’t keep me a prisoner here. I’ll eventually get free.”
He grabbed onto her arm and started pulling her back to the house. He motioned to one of his security guys as he continued to cart her along. “She got a call, and someone might be stopping here thinking they’re going to get her. If it’s possible, grab them. I’d like to question them.”
“Yes, sir.”
She had stopped fighting to walk docilely by his side. He went through the house to their bedroom. He released her and locked the door.
He watched her walk to the window and gaze out of it with her arms hugging herself.
“I didn’t have sex with anyone.”
She continued to look away, frozen in place.
“Turn around and face me.” He gritted his teeth when she didn’t move. “Now, Baby.”
He marched over to her and twirled her around. His gut twisted at the vacant look on her face. She had shut down. She was hiding from him mentally, and he was terrified he wouldn’t be able to get her back. He had to admit she’d been through an awful lot in the last few days, and he suspected there was more to come. The threat of kidnapping hung over the group but more so for the girls.
“Did you hear what I said? I did not have sex with anyone. I went to see the woman I had been seeing before you and told her I could no longer see her because I was married and cared deeply for my wife. She hugged me. That’s where I got the lipstick from.”
Dammit. She wasn’t acknowledging him at all. He knew part of it was exhaustion and knew that was something he could fix. He stripped off her clothes, laid her naked on the cool sheets, and covered her up.
He swept her hair from her face as she closed her eyes. He didn’t know if it was sleep or avoidance that made her do it. “Rest for a bit. I need to make a few calls, but I’ll be near.”
She didn’t acknowledge him at all, and it made him grit his teeth. He left her to walk out into the hallway and called Rowan. He explained what was going on with Faith and asked about Angel. After that conversation, he called Casen and had the same discussion. When he got off the phone, he walked back into the bedroom and stood off to the side so he could watch her.
Rafael could tell she was awake, but she never moved an inch. He’d known his wife for just a few days but the thought of losing her made him crazy. He knew without a doubt he’d do anything to keep her with him.
****
Faith kept her breathing steady, hoping he’d leave her alone. There were to many emotions, mostly negative and painful, and she just needed time to digest and find a way to deal with them.
If she had her sisters, it would be better, but she’d realized she had no one. She was pleased her sisters at least had husbands who cherished them. Her husband just wanted to own her, like she was some doll he could do anything to.
She tried to find it in her heart to believe him when he said he’d told the woman about her and that he could no longer see her, but what woman was going to take that and not fight for him, unless it had just been about sex? She could never see herself being able to do that, but then again, she’d had no experience with sex before a few days ago.
Faith felt the mattress dip down behind her, and then his arm came around her waist before she felt him press his lips against the back of her head. When he did nice things like that, it threw her off and made tears fill her eyes. Faith was sick of being sad and scared. Why did life have to be so hard?
“Shhh,” he murmured. “Everything will be okay. Please trust me.”
She almost snorted. Trust? Trust a man who went to see his mistress a few days after marrying her? Trust a man who repeatedly told her he owned her?
The only people she trusted were her sisters and her father, who was gone forever from her life. She had yet to see how often she’d see her sisters. It was the only thing she looked forward to.
Faith finally felt herself get drowsy and prayed for any way to be away from Rafael. If it couldn’t be physical distance, it had to be emotional.