CHAPTER 12 #2
“Aye. There’s two on this floor and one upstairs, though the one upstairs doesnae have a bathroom.
Let me show ye,” Arran explained. I felt his hand at the small of my back then he was leading me to a doorway across the wide hall from his and Callan’s rooms. I knew Dante’s room was somewhere on this floor too, but I couldn’t remember which door it was.
The room Arran led me into was much more of a normal size for me.
It was big enough for a king size bed in the centre, flanked by two nightstands.
There was a chest of drawers between two wide and tall picture windows, and a tall set of wardrobes down the wall to the right of the bed.
It was decorated in soft shades of pink and pale grey, and floral fabrics that perfectly complimented, adorned the bed.
It was bright and welcoming, but I imagined it would feel cosy if you pulled the heavy curtains closed and flicked on the tall lamps beside the bed.
It was by no means a small room, but it wasn’t cavernous like the one upstairs.
Every corner was filled and visible from the bed, which I needed after my nightmares.
“There’s a bathroom through there,” Arran said as he nodded to a closed door in the corner. “It doesnae have a bath, but there’s a big shower. This is the smaller room. The one at the end of the hall is quite a bit bigger,” he explained.
“I don’t want bigger. This is perfect actually,” I assured him.
“Do you think Rafe would be okay if I took this as my bedroom instead? I prefer the smaller space.” I didn’t add that I would also be far enough away that Gia wouldn’t hear my screams from my nightmares when she got back from her trip, but that was also a definite plus.
“I dinnae see why no’ but ye best ask him. Ye can leave yer things in here fer now though,” he replied.
“Thanks.” I set my pile of clothes and toiletries in the centre of the bed, then looked to Arran. “What happened last night, with those kids taking pictures of us?” With all of the craziness of my anxiety attack, I had forgotten all about it, but seeing Arran had reminded me.
“Ye’ll need to speak to Rafe about that too. We found out a few things ye need to know.”
“Dante said something equally as cryptic earlier. I don’t like all this secrecy,” I accused.
“It’s no secrecy, hen. It’s just that Rafe wanted to be the one to update ye on what we found.”
“Then I suppose I should go and find him,” I sighed.
“Aye. Might be fer the best. He’ll likely be in his office.”
I looked up at him and smiled. He had his hair pulled back into a top knot and his beard had been trimmed down a little shorter than usual. There was a slight smile on his face too, and it only added to his good looks.
Dante was right that I was attracted to Arran, but that was kind of a given, considering how handsome and in shape he was.
He had this mischievous twinkle in his eye most of the time, that made him fun, but he also had this ability to soothe me when I felt anxious, and make me feel safe in the way I had only ever felt in that house, with those men, and my brother.
In other words, I felt Arran was the perfect man.
The only issue was, he wasn’t the only perfect man I had encountered recently, and I was catching feelings for all of them.
“Cara?” I realised I had been staring at him with a smile on my face that likely looked demented. It was all Dante’s fault!
“Huh?” I dropped the smile and looked down to my hands, fidgeting with my sleeves awkwardly.
“Cara? Look at me, lass.” Arran crooked his index finger under my chin, then lifted until my eyes met his. “Talk to me.”
“I’m okay,” I whispered, embarrassed.
“Ye look upset, and I want to know why. Is it because I cannea tell ye what we found out last night? I would tell ye, but Rafe…”
“No, Arran. It’s not that. I’m not upset. It’s just some crap Dante said earlier. It’s making me think too much.”
“What did he say?”
“It’s not important. He’s just got the wrong end of the stick about something. Forget it,” I dismissed. “I should go and find Rafe, find out what’s going on.”
“I can talk to Dante, if ye want me to? He doesnae think before he speaks most of the time.”
“No, don’t!” I cried. The last thing I needed was Dante telling Arran what he’d been saying to Cal earlier. “It’s fine. I know what he’s like, and I don’t mind his honesty. I’ll handle it. But thank you.”
“I’m here, Cara, if ye need anything. All ye have to do is ask,” he told me.
I nodded, then stepped forward and wrapped my arms around his waist. It was random to just hug him, but I wanted to.
I needed the comfort and I hoped it would stop Arran from fussing over me so much.
I hated that they all worried about me constantly. That needed to change.
Arran and I separated on the first floor, Arran headed out to work, whatever that meant, and me headed to find my brother, hopefully in his office.
I was relieved when I stepped in and found Rafe sat behind his desk.
“Morning, sweetheart.” Rafe looked up the moment I pushed the door open. There was a smile on his face but it didn’t mask the worry I saw there too. Once again, I had scared him the night before.
“Hey. Have you been in here all night?” I asked when I noticed how crumpled his white shirt looked.
“Most of it,” he sighed. “Things with the business have become a little crazy just lately. I have several large deals all coming to a head at once.”
“Plus whatever is going on with me, the Armenians, and the Russians, right?” I pushed. I crossed the office and took a seat in the tan leather, high back chair opposite his desk.
“It’s nothing for you to worry about. I have it all in hand,” he assured me, closing his laptop so we could see one another better. “How do you feel this morning? Did you get any sleep?”
“Some,” I nodded. “I’m doing okay.”
“We need to do some brainstorming together later. I want us to plan a way to alter your bedroom so you can feel comfortable in there. You can’t go on without a safe space to call your own.
I can bring in an interior designer. I was thinking maybe we could break the space up with some stud walls, make them into smaller spaces with specific purposes.
Maybe a study section, and a beauty section?
Is that what you’d call it? For make up and beauty and such? ”
“I have no idea,” I laughed. “I’m not much of a make up girl.
But honestly Rafe, that’s not necessary.
I was actually going to ask you if I could move into the guest room opposite Cal’s on the fourth floor.
Arran showed it to me earlier so I could store some of my things in there, and it’s perfect.
The space is smaller and I think I could feel pretty cosy in there. ”
“That’s the smallest bedroom in the house, Cara. We can do better than that,” Rafe insisted.
“I need the smallest room. Your home…it’s beautiful, and I love it here, especially when I get to be with you and the others.
I’m settled here, and I feel safe when I’m not alone.
But after everything, I just…I know how stupid this sounds, but I…
I get scared. It’s like when I was a little kid all over again.
Dark corners and silence just set my mind running wild, and that triggers everything that’s happened, and before I know it my anxiety hits.
I need that small room Rafe, plus, it’s hardly small.
It’s still a pretty luxurious bedroom,” I explained.
“Okay. First of all, this is your home too, not just mine, and you don’t know what a relief it is to hear that you feel comfortable here, especially considering the threats you’ve faced since you arrived.
Secondly, there is nothing stupid about feeling fear after what you’ve been through, Tesorino.
You’ve faced some terrible situations in just the last month, which you never should have had to, and I wish more than anything I had done a better job of protecting you.
But you faced every single one of those horrors with so much strength, and fight.
You are strong, but even strong people get shaken every now and then. ”
“I just want to be strong again,” I said tearfully. Rafe rounded his desk and knelt before the chair I sat in, taking my hands in his and holding them gently.
“You will be, but you have to give yourself time. You haven’t even healed your physical injuries yet. The mental ones will take longer still, but I know you will find your strength again.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so,” he told me with determination.
“Now, about your room. If you would prefer the guest room, then you can take it. If you want to change the décor or furniture – anything at all in there, we can do that. I want you to make it your own. I want you to have your own space within this house where you feel safe to be. I’d prefer you be nearer me, but that’s just me being protective. ”
“Plus, you barely ever sleep in your room, Rafe. If you want me close, you should give me a room next to this office,” I teased, and he smiled.
“I think it would be better for me to be further away from Gia for now. She gets angry when I wake her with my nightmares. At least me moving down a floor will remove one thing about me that annoys her.”
“Yes, well, we need to speak about Gia,” he sighed as he rose to his feet and released my hands. He rounded his desk and sat again.
“What is it? Is she alright?” I worried.
“She’s fine. I spoke with her last night and she seemed to be enjoying her trip,” he assured me.
“Then what? Does she still want me to leave, because I c…”
“No! We’re not discussing that again. I don’t care what Gia wants. You belong here. You’re staying here,” he said flatly, cutting me off. He took a deep breath and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck exhaustedly. “You know about the teenagers photographing you last night, correct?”