CHAPTER FOUR
RAFAELLE
The minute I heard her voice, I knew I’d hear it over and over again in my dreams. In my nightmares. Penetrating through the darkness and terror. Through the haziness and confusion.
I didn’t think voices could do that.
Sirens are meant to be beautiful enough to ensnare sailors to their death. Liliana is exactly the legend come to life.
Long, luscious dark hair, eyes like molten lava and lips that are all too entrancing. As soon as she walked towards me from that stage, in her pretty little dress, hips swaying and her tan skin practically glistening in the low light of the bar, I knew I’d have her. It was only a matter of when.
As Liliana slides into the car before me, lust crackles within me at the sight of the smooth curve of her ass. I have no idea how I’m maintaining a calm, patient exterior. Inwardly I’m a mess of crackled tension that I need to let out somehow.
Yesterday was a slow day and when I’d noticed this bar on the way home, I’d decided perhaps a drink or two might lift my spirits.
What I hadn’t been expecting was the sound of her voice drifting through the door.
As soon as I cracked it open, my eyes immediately zeroed in on her.
And for some reason I hadn’t been able to look away.
She’d faltered once as she sang. The words dying in her throat at my appearance.
Which led me to believe I had a similar effect on her.
But then she’d continued, looking away. The break in eye contact had been unacceptable, angering me slightly.
The type of anger that has me fighting for control.
But I’d counted a couple of breaths and found some reason.
There was no denying the interest in her eyes.
I just had to find a way to cultivate it.
And now I have her in my car.
I slide in beside her, ignoring the sharp intake of breath as I do so. With a short nod, the guard in the driver’s seat starts the car and then we’re off. My arm brushes hers. The small contact has the effect of electricity fizzling within the small space between us.
My jaw clenches.
I’m not sure Liliana has taken a full breath in seconds. I hide my amusement, turning to look at her.
Even her side profile is beautiful. Clear skin apart from a beauty mark on the top of her lips that I’ve been trying to stop myself from touching. She’s wearing minimal makeup, something on her lips, and false eyelashes. I take in every inch of her face, slightly fascinated.
“Stop doing that,” she murmurs without turning to look at me.
“Doing what?”
“Staring. Weren’t you ever taught it’s rude to stare?”
“No,” I answer honestly.
My lessons leaned more towards learning how to run an empire and create wealth. Salvatore was the heir to the title of Don, but my father made sure we were all exceptional.
“Oh,” she says quietly.
She still hasn’t looked at me. It pisses me off a little. But I understand this is a weird situation for her. I imagine it doesn’t happen very often. A man walking into the bar and stealing her away for the night.
Or maybe it does happen often. The thought has my hands curling into fists. Rage lines up my spine but then I inhale once, then exhale.
She’s already uncomfortable. The last thing I need to do is make that worse.
“Don’t be nervous, Liliana,” I state.
Finally she turns to me and a soft breath of disbelief escapes me. They’re amber, bright and beautiful. Filled with a type of light I can’t even come close to understanding. Something within them calls to me but I shut it down quick.
“I have a question,” she starts, curiosity in the depths of those gorgeous eyes.
“Go on.”
“Why did you wait for me?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” I say with a small smirk. “Because I want to get you into my bed. I already mentioned it.”
“First off, you’re lucky I’m not a girl that cares about flowery romantic words and shit because if I did, there’s no way I’d be in this car with you.”
“Flowery romantic words and shit,” I repeat, humor lining my tone.
I call bullshit though. I know for a fact every woman wants to feel worshipped and adored.
It’s the perfect way to get through their defenses.
I would never employ such tactics because I have no use for their affections.
I don’t need them to like me, I just need to fuck them, get it out of my system and keep it moving.
It makes me sound like a piece of shit. But I already know exactly what I am.
“And second,” she continues speaking. “I’m asking why you approached me in the first place. Why do you want me in your bed?”
The question catches me off guard. I think about it for a second, wondering if I should provide her with a straight answer. Unease hums under my skin. Deep down, I know I should have never brought her into my car.
I shouldn’t have waited for her and I certainly shouldn’t be taking her home right now.
Walking into a bar and taking a woman home for the night isn’t exactly my thing.
Most women I fuck know exactly what they’re getting into.
I’m not in the habit of getting into bed with strangers I meet at bars.
But right now I’m like a train, on a collision course. And fuck it, I don’t want to stop.
“Because, little siren, you’ve entrapped me and now that you’re in my clutches, I’d like to see how it goes,” I answer honestly.
“You’re in my clutches,” she murmurs.
I pull back, confused, “What?”
“You said I entrapped you. Doesn’t that mean you’re in my clutches and not the other way around”
I wipe a smirk away as I lean back into the chair, staring ahead, “Don’t get cocky, Liliana.”
The inside of the car relapses into silence for a couple of seconds. I’m pulling out my iPad to watch something when I hear a loud grumbling sound from her stomach. I still for a moment, my eyes meeting hers.
“What was that?” I question, shocked that a human body could make such a noise.
She doesn’t immediately reply, her eyes wide, and I notice her cheeks reddening. She looks down and clutches her stomach, mortification in her expression.
“Are you ill?” I ask curiously.
“No,” she mutters. “I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten anything since earlier today.”
I pause for a second, “Define earlier.”
She looks like she’d rather not but answers me regardless, “Around 1pm.”
“It’s 12am right now. You’re saying you’ve gone almost twelve hours without having a bite to eat?” I grit out.
She lifts her hand to her mouth, biting on the edge of her nail for a second. Then she seems to remember herself and drops it with a frown.
It’s cute.
In the back of my mind, a voice questions when I started finding people cute but I ignore it.
“I forgot, okay? It happens sometimes. Plus, I’ve had a very busy day,” she defends.
“This is unacceptable,” I state before looking towards the front seat. “Get us to the nearest restaurant or diner so we can purchase her a meal.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she argues.
“Actually I do. Think of how mortified I’ll be if you die from something as simple as malnutrition.”
“Why would you be mortified?”
“Because I’ve never witnessed such a natural death,” I reply. “I imagine it would be a shock to my system.”
Most of the time, death comes with violence for me. Violence, blood and gore.
Surprisingly she seems to find my comment funny.
The smile that flickers against her lips is a sight to behold.
Everything about this woman is captivating.
I stare at her for a couple of moments, unable to look away.
She notices of course, clearing her throat, her eyes drifting like she’s figuring where to put them in the wake of my attention.
I solve that problem by looking away, concentrating on my iPad once more.
Two minutes later and we’re pulling up in the parking lot of a diner.
Its yellow glow seeps through the windshield and I pop open the door with a frown, stepping out of the car.
I don’t think I’ve ever willingly stepped into an establishment like this before.
Liliana slides out after me, excitement in her eyes. Which makes sense considering how hungry she must be. When the guards try to follow us in, I raise a hand to stop them. I doubt my enemies would try to murder me inside a place called Pop’s diner.
The doorbell chimes above my head as we walk in. Liliana walks ahead of me, while I stand at the doorway for a beat, my eyes glancing around. I’m half scanning for possible threats, half taking it all in. Considering it’s 12am, there’s no one else here apart from the workers.
When Liliana glances back with a question in her eyes, I move to join her at the counter.
“Welcome to Pop’s diner, what can I get you?” a fresh faced brunette woman says from behind it.
“What would you like? A salad?” I question, my eyes scanning the menu hoisted against the wall.
I’ve never been to a place like this or any type of restaurant with a woman before but I’m guessing that’s usually what they eat, especially this late at night.
“Ha! Fat chance,” she smiles before looking towards the employee waiting patiently to take her order. “I’d like a double cheeseburger and fries, plus a strawberry milkshake. Large please.” Then she turns to me. “What would you like?”
My expression morphs into disbelief, “It’s the middle of the night.”
“Your point?” she asks unblinking.
Amusement rolls through me. “I’ll have nothing. That many carbs this late isn’t healthy. My body is a temple.”
“Don’t judge my food choices, Rafaelle,” she says scowling, “Plus, what do you mean temple? Look at you.”
She gestures at the tattoos lining my skin and I smile.
“It’s also a canvas and a work of art.”
“You’re so full of yourself.”
She tries to glare but a smile inevitably peeks through, lighting up her entire face. Right now, she’s completely at ease in my presence. At least compared to earlier before she got in my car. It’s like she can’t decide if she should be scared of me or not.