13. Ravenna
Ravenna
“ T his is my favorite room,” I murmur against Cian’s chest, where we lay on the plush area rug in front of the sofa. “I could stay here forever.”
“If you love this library so much, then I’ll give you a key. Which reminds me… how did you get in here? I’m sure I didn’t leave the door unlocked.” Cian gazes curiously at me, and my cheeks flush.
“I have a secret. Something I’ve never told anybody about before.” Except my twin sister, of course.
“Oh? Do you trust me to keep it, broc meala? ”
My stomach flutters as I confess, “I do.” I mean those words with all my heart. In such a short time, that we’ve spent mostly together, I’ve come to trust this big Irishman. He may be all scowls to the outside world, but to me he’s mi Irlandese .
“Then tell me your secret.” He smooths a strand of hair behind my ear.
“I picked the lock with a bobby pin. I learned how when I was thirteen and since then I… do it sometimes.”
“Like when there’s a locked door in the way of satisfying your curiosity?” He arches a blond brow.
“Exactly.”
“You’re full of surprises.” His lips touch mine in the gentlest of kisses and I melt. “And so very clever. That skill takes practice, and much patience.”
“You’re not upset, or angry with me?” I wasn’t sure how he’d react, but indulgent wasn’t my first guess. My father would have been furious, and Matteo would have found a way to use my skill for his own benefit.
“Of course not. I will never be angry with you for telling me the truth. Honesty, remember? I value it above all else. Pick any lock you want, just tell me you did it. Always tell me the truth and we’ll have no problems between us.”
My breath catches in my throat. I need to tell him who I am. I need to come clean before it’s too late.
Isn’t it already too late?
My lips part then close, then part again. I must look like a fish out of water.
“What is it, broc meala? ”
“I have to tell you something.” I sit up, my brows pinch together. “But I don’t know how or where to start...”
He props himself up on one forearm, his muscles flexing. “Start at the beginning.”
“Right. I suppose that would make sense. The beginning.” I lick my sore, puffy lips. “On our wedding day at the church—” My phone rings, drawing my attention. It’s in my dress pocket. I ignore it, letting it go to voicemail. “At the church, I?—”
My phone rings again. Whoever it is really wants to reach me. Urgently.
“I’m sorry. It could be my mother.” I crawl over to my phone just as it rings for a third time, showing an unknown number. Cautiously, I answer. “Hello?”
“Ven?” Muffled sobs sound through the line. “Help me. I’m so scared.”
My heart twists in my chest, and my stomach drops. “Elena, what happened? Where are you?”
Cian’s questioning gaze cuts to me. In that instant, I realize my mistake. Her name slipped off my tongue. But my sister’s safety is more important to me than covering up my lies, so I focus on the situation at hand. Consequences will no doubt come later.
“I-I don’t know where I am. He s-shoved me out of a van and told me to call home on this burner phone. Can you come f-find me? I’m s-scared.”
“Of course. Ping me your location.”
“Yeah. O-okay.”
My phone chimes and I glance at the pin on the map. “I’m coming for you right now. Just stay exactly where you are. I’ll be there soon.”
“Okay.”
Reluctantly ending the call, I turn to Cian who’s quickly dressing. “My sister’s in trouble. I have to get to her right now.”
“I figured as much.” He tosses me my dress. “Send me her location. My men will provide backup.”
Relief washes over me. He doesn’t ask any questions, just does what needs to be done. A cage of butterflies opens up in my stomach.
Dressed, shoes on my feet, and phone in hand, I follow Cian to his garage. He opts for a luxury SUV with blacked out windows. Wolfe and some of his other men meet us there, get into vehicles of their own and follow us out of the compound.
The navigation system directs us to Elena’s location deep in Brooklyn, as my heart thunders and I scan the dusky streets for my sister. A million questions crown my consciousness. He shoved her out of a van. Who? It sounds like she was kidnapped. Why?
Has she been held captive the entire week I was enjoying my honeymoon in Key Largo?
Oh my god. If that’s what happened, then she didn’t run from her arranged marriage, she was taken, and no one bothered to go looking for her.
Papa and Mama just assumed she ran away. I did the same, for the most part.
Guilt pumps through my veins like a toxin.
All of us have let my sister down. We abandoned her when she needed us most. How can I ever make this up to her?
Did this strange man only hold her captive, or did he do other things to my sweet, innocent sister?
My throat tightens, making it hard to swallow. My palms grow clammy.
“There!” I point out the window as soon as a glint of dark auburn hair catches my eye. “That’s her. Pull over.”
Cian pulls up to the curb where my sister stands under a street lamp in a soiled dress. The same dress she wore on what was supposed to be her wedding day over a week ago. The vise in my chest cranks tighter.
As soon as the vehicle stops, I’m out of my seat, rushing toward Elena. Cian follows, but he’s not looking at her, his attention sweeps the area for threats.
“Wait—!” Cian’s command comes too late. I’m already at my sister’s side, pulling her into my embrace.
She buries her face in my neck as her body wracks with sobs. She clings to me. I hold her tight and move toward the open car door. This could be a trap. Whoever took her could be waiting to ambush us.
I have to get her to safety. Now .
Cian’s suddenly right beside me, practically shoving us into the backseat. He slams the door and returns to the driver's side. As soon as the SUV starts to roll, I focus my full attention on Elena.
“Elle, talk to me, tell me what happened. I’ve been worried sick about you.” I buckle her in before securing my own seatbelt. “Where have you been? Did someone take you? We thought you ran away.”
She shakes her head, more tears spilling down her pale, grimy face. “They did. They took me. I don’t know where?—”
“Who? Start at the beginning.”
She shakily inhales and nods, eyes closed as she calms herself down.
“I went to run a last minute errand. I don’t even remember what I needed now, but something for after the wedding.
I d-didn’t even make it back to the car.
” Her whole body crumples with a sob. “They put a h-hood over my head and I think I was in a van…” She wraps her arms around her middle. “They kept me in a c-c-cage.”
“Who are they ? Did you see their faces?”
“No. They wore m-masks the whole time. Two men, I think.” She sniffles, wiping at her bloodshot eyes. “Only one of them ever spoke to me. That was a man for sure. A big, scary man.” For the first time, her gaze takes in Cian. She flinches. “Big and scary like him.”
“Do you remember anything else? Any details that might help identify them?”
“I… I don’t know.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “I was so scared. The big man killed the other guy. He just… shot him. There was so much blood. It kept c-creeping closer and closer to my cage.”
I’m not sure what to make of her story quite yet. Why would one of them murder the other? But she’s obviously traumatized. I hate to do this, but while it’s fresh in her mind, I need to press for details.
“I’m so sorry you had to witness that. Right now I need you to think, Elle, did they make any demands? Did they say anything about a ransom?”
She shakes her head. “Wait. Yes. When they first took me, one of them said ‘there’ll be no wedding today’.” Elena gasps. “They didn’t want me getting married. Oh my god! The wedding. What happened? Are we at war with the Irish again? Papa must be so angry with me for not being at the church.”
“Shh. Everything is all right.” I keep my voice low. “I married him in your place.”
“What? Ravenna, that’s crazy!”
I cringe.
The SUV lurches to a stop. Cian turns around in his seat and clicks on the overhead light. I blink against the sudden glare.
When my eyes adjust, my gaze meets Cian’s icy blues.
He scrutinizes me and my sister. His features remain steely as myriad emotions storm through his stare.
Interest, disbelief, shock, I read them all like an open book before seeing the flicker of betrayal and pain that disappears beneath his glacial shield. He gazes back at me with pure loathing.
Guilt knocks the air from my lungs.
“Cian, I can explain.” My voice cracks. Pulse raging, I reach for him, but he dodges my touch. “Please let me explain.”
“You’re nothing but a lying, manipulative Italian whore.” His words are like a slap in the face. I flinch. Elena gasps.
Cian turns around and starts to drive again, but I soon realize that we’re not headed back to his compound. Even so, I keep my mouth shut. What can I say that will make everything better?
“What does he mean?” Elena asks in a hush. She’s visibly shivering.
Shaking my head, I remove my coat and drape it over her shoulders. I’m unable to answer her as my heart feels like someone’s driving a stake into it. The pain’s so intense, it’s blinding.
My world spirals around me. Descending into darkness.
Guilt consumes me from the inside out. I never should have secretly taken my sister’s place.
I should have told Cian the truth as soon as possible, it’s not like I didn’t have an opportunity or two.
And as soon as we returned, I should have launched a full scale investigation into Elena’s disappearance.
I’ve failed both of them.
I spend the rest of the ride in silence, until we pull up in front of my parents’ house. A strangled cry tears from my throat. No, please no.
Where else would Cian take us other than home?
This isn’t my home anymore.
Elena immediately bails out of the SUV and sprints to the front door. She’s home. She’s safe. But her refuge is my hell.
I stay rooted in my seat, unable to convince my limbs to move. I have a feeling that if I get out of this car, I may never find my way back to my husband again.
“Cian…”
He catches my eye in the rearview mirror. “I never want to see you again, Ravenna .” He spits my name like a curse. “If you come near me, I’ll put a bullet in your head, and two in your heart for good measure. Get. Out. ”
The backs of my eyes sting. He can’t mean it. He’s been my sanctuary, my hope, the man to unknowingly rescue me from what awaits behind that closed front door. I can’t go back to that. I won’t survive it.
I reach forward. “Let me exp?—”
“Get the fuck out of my car! Now!” His deafening shout rings in the confined space.
“Cian, please ?—”
When he turns around in his seat, he glares at me. There’s no warmth or affection in his features. I don’t recognize the man staring back at me at all.
This is the face he shows to the outside world, not to me. Being shut out like this hurts.
He really is through with me. I blink. Tears trickle down my cheeks.
With a single nod, I slide out of the backseat. I have no choice now but to face the wrath of my father.