19. Sina
The icy wind whipped my hair across my cheek. I bounced from foot to foot on the curb, hugging my threadbare jacket tighter. I seriously needed a new one.
A storm was definitely rolling in, and the thought of tonight, going back to my flat with no heat and paper-thin walls wasn’t appealing in the slightest. Hopefully, Nik’s place was at least warm.
I blew into my hands just as a black town car pulled up to the curb. My heart started hammering . This was fucking crazy. Never let them take you to an undisclosed location. I mean, yeah, I knew it was going to Ash Island, but that place was basically deserted. One way on, one way off.
I tried to peer into the car, but the windows were too dark to see anything, which, if I was being honest, only stressed me out more.
This could very easily be Keith.
I took a step back as fear pushed its way to the forefront, just as the driver’s side door opened and a massive man stepped out onto the curb.
His long hair hung forward, half covering his face, the peacoat collar pulled up around his chin.
But when he lifted his head and met my gaze, recognition dawned on me.
“Rafe?” I said in relief.
Out of all people, I wasn’t expecting the gentle giant.
His brows pulled together, the movement tugging at the ink of his tribal tattoo as he walked toward me, concern in his eyes. And before I knew it, I was surrounded in his warmth, wrapped in a big bear hug.
I stiffened for half a second. Then melted into his strong arms.
“You're cold,” he rumbled.
I gasped, leaning back just enough to look up at him. He’d only spoken once at the warehouse. I'd almost forgotten he could talk.
“You talked,” I blurted, biting my lip to hide my embarrassment. “ Wow . I sound stupid. Sorry. ”
My cheeks heated, but thankfully the cold had already turned them red, so hopefully he didn’t notice.
He huffed a quiet laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
Then he took my hand in his much larger ones and guided me gently toward the passenger seat.
He opened the door for me and leaned in to buckle my seatbelt.
If anyone else had tried that, I would’ve chewed their head off.
But for some reason, coming from Rafael, it felt genuine. Sweet .
“Thanks,” I murmured, blushing again. God damn it. This man. I was practically swooning.
I watched him round the hood toward the driver’s seat and climb in. For someone so large, he was surprisingly graceful. I snorted softly to myself. Kiron was bigger than him, and I definitely didn’t think he could move like that.
I fiddled with the seatbelt as I watched him out of my peripheral vision.
He made me feel all fluttery and nervous.
Rafe leaned over and placed a hand on my knee.
I tensed but he didn’t move his hand any higher.
And after a second I relaxed. Between his grounding touch and the heat of the cabin I began to doze off.
A gentle hand stirred me awake and Rafe’s face came into view.
“I fell asleep? Sorry.”
Rafe gave me a small smile and offered his hand, helping me out of the car. The cold hit instantly, and I shivered, already missing the warmth of the heated seats.
“Wow,” I breathed, taking in the trees surrounding the rounded driveway. “I’m not gonna lie… this place is kind of creepy. ”
A sense of unease settled over me, low and heavy, and my steps slowed as I followed Rafe toward the massive three-story house in front of us.
Well… house was underselling it. The place was fucking huge.
More like a creepy old mansion that definitely looked haunted.
The trees around the property stood too still, their branches tangled together overhead and made me feel trapped.
It was silent, apart from my heavy breathing and the soft crunching of gravel under our feet.
No birds. No distant traffic. No hum of city life.
It was eerie.
I hugged my arms around myself as I walked. My gaze bounced around, catching on the tall fence lining the far end of the long drive. It wasn’t barbed or electric—just wrought iron—but something about it made my stomach twist.
Like it wasn’t there to keep people out.
It was there to keep something in. I swallowed.
The air felt… off. Thick . I didn’t know any other way to describe it.
Like walking through an invisible wall of pressure or water maybe.
I shook off the sensation but my mind felt cloudy, my ears buzzing faintly.
I bit my lip as my pulse began to thud harder with each step toward Nik’s house.
I had the sudden urge to run, like something deep and instinctual was whispering danger .
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.
My palms turned damp. My heart galloped in my chest. My body was reacting like I’d just stepped into a predator’s territory.
I didn’t know why.
“Um… Rafe?” I took a step back. Then another. The urge to run was so strong I was shaking. “What if I wanted to go home? Would you take me?”
He frowned, and something flashed across his face, too quick for me to read, before he smoothed his expression back into that calm, steady mask he wore .
“You’re safe,” he promised. I searched his gaze, trying to find even a flicker of dishonesty. Those dark brown eyes saw too much. “Stay. Please .”
He offered me his hand. I flinched away instinctively, fear spiking that he might just pick me up and carry me inside anyway.
But he didn’t. He just stood there. Waiting.
Letting it be my choice. I swallowed thickly, glancing around at the surrounding trees again, at the looming house, at the sky darkening overhead with the storm approaching.
Every instinct in me was screaming to run.
But his hand was still there. Waiting… So I took it.
I swallowed hard, letting Rafe lead me through the foyer. Warm air wrapped around me instantly, carrying the faint scent of something baking. Fresh bread, maybe? My stomach growled loudly.
“Something smells amazing,” I groaned.
The door shut behind us with a heavy, echoing thud. I flinched. But weirdly, the second it closed, that frantic urge to run snapped quiet, like the door slammed shut inside my chest too. That’s not weird at all. I shook off the feeling and took in the space.
The entryway was enormous. High ceilings crossed with dark wooden beams. A sweeping staircase curved up to the second floor like something out of a gothic novel. Soft amber lighting warmed the walls, making the polished floors gleam. My boots sounded too loud as we walked farther in.
“Beautiful.” My voice echoed slightly through the massive foyer.
A floorboard creaked somewhere deeper in the house. My heart jumped into my throat. At the top of the staircase stood Harlow.
“Yes, you are beautiful,” he said, voice smooth and dark as sin.
My breath caught. “Oh my God, Harlow. You scared me.”
Rafe didn’t let go of my hand. His thumb brushed once across my knuckles reassuringly .
Harlow’s smirk deepened. Then he started down the stairs, taking them two at a time, never taking his eyes off me. The way he watched me made my skin prickle.
I tore my gaze from his coal-rimmed eyes to take all of him in.
He wore ripped black jeans. A black fitted sweater stretched over his lean frame, ink visible at his wrists above his gloves.
Chains glinted at his hip when he moved.
The sides of his head were shaved while the top was left longer and messy.
Gauges in his ears. He looked like a vampire god—-or devil.
And even smiling at me… he was terrifying .
Alluring, but fuck, he was unsettling too.
I swear he did that on purpose. To keep people away.
He stopped right in front of me, and my knees actually shook.
“I’m glad you’re here, darling. My brother made lunch for us. I hope you’re hungry.” He gave me that knowing smile I was beginning to realize he always wore when he looked at me. Harlow’s bright blue eyes finally left mine, and I let out a breath.
Damn . That was intense.
His gaze dropped to where Rafe and I were still holding hands, and instinctively, I pulled away. Which just made Rafe frown and made me feel bad.
“Don’t stop on my account. I quite like seeing Rafe touch you.”
I frowned but didn’t take Rafe's hand back.
Didn’t he and Kiron fight over me the last time I saw them?
“I wasn’t— You didn’t,” I huffed, flustered. “Never mind. Where is your brother, anyway?”
And Kiron, I added silently. I wanted to ask about him too, but suddenly I felt shy and didn’t want to show my disappointment if he wasn’t here.
“Nikolai’s in the kitchen. Come on. I’ll take you.”