22. Chapter Twenty-Two
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
I stumbled from the bathroom the next morning after doing my business. Benedikt was lying face down on the bed when I came in to change my clothes. I headed downstairs and went into the kitchen.
It had been a long time since I had the urge to cook for someone.
Benedikt treated me so well that I was on autopilot, collecting ingredients for a full breakfast. Flashbacks of last night played in my mind as I put together the world’s biggest omelets. I started the coffee, and grabbed plates out of the cabinets to set in front of the bar stools at the counter.
Benedikt snuck up behind me and placed a soft kiss on my neck, just as I was plating the first omelet.
“What’s this?” He whispered in my ear.
“I wanted to make a healthy breakfast for you,” I whispered back.
“Do you want me to help?”
I shook my head no, and pointed to one of the bar stools. “Take a seat and watch me work.”
With a grin, he followed my orders.
I handed him a fork, and he dug into his omelet, letting out an appreciative groan. I finished cooking mine and plated it up, so I could slide into the seat next to him. Before I sat, I grabbed each of our mugs and filled them with coffee, remembering to bring the cream and sugar to the table for myself. Benedikt liked his black. We sat in blissful peace as we ate our meal, and Benedikt praised me on each bite. I couldn’t help but preen underneath his attention.
It felt good to take care of him.
That’s what I was doing. Caring for him. Like he did for me. Benedikt wore his heart openly, and although he may not say the words, I felt them in his actions. I never once felt afraid in his arms.
He protected me when no one else did.
“I could live like this every single day and never grow bored,” Benedikt said.
I wondered briefly if he meant it.
“I love it here. The view is amazing,” I murmured, while taking a bite of my eggs.
One reason I chose to eat here was the gigantic windows. It was easy to see the land behind the property. Greenery as far as the eye could see. A calmness washed over me.
This was nothing like the chaos in the city.
It also wasn’t like The Academy. Benedikt’s home, our property, was gorgeous, and I could see us raising kids here. I shook my head at my thoughts. I couldn’t believe I was even thinking of bringing children into this world after all I’d lived through.
I hadn’t heard the hiss of snakes in a long time, and my dreams were no longer plagued by the Headmaster’s scent. I slept fitfully beside my husband. I was healing in a relationship I never expected to be in.
I thought I would be forced home once I gained my memories, a bargaining chip between two warring factions, but Benedikt was not letting me out of his sight. I didn’t think he was going to let me go at all. I couldn’t say I was complaining.
Safety was found in his arms.
I never questioned that.
“I could show you the prop-” A flashing red light cut off the rest of what Benedikt was saying.
He leapt out of his seat and grabbed my hand. “Follow me quickly and quietly,” he whispered.
We ran through the mansion until we reached our room. Benedikt shoved me into the walk-in closet and moved his clothes out of the way. In the back wall, there was a small panel on the door.
“Panic room,” he said.
Benedikt entered the code and shoved me into the room. “Don’t open this door for anyone but me. Do you understand?”
I nodded and then he was off, slamming the panel closed behind him. I could see the cameras all over the house, including inside the closet Benedikt was rearranging the clothes in.
He covered the entrance well and withdrew his weapon. I watched in fear on the wall panel, as men approached the mansion. They broke into the front doors and Benedikt was alone. He crept slowly through the halls as they noisily broke inside.
I watched in horror as a gunfight ensued. I checked my body and couldn’t find anything of use to help. There was a phone in here. I just needed to recall a useful number.
The only person I could think of was Valentina.
I dialed her number and waited for her to pick up.
“If this is a telemarketer, know that I will find where you live and assassinate you,” she warned after picking up on the first ring.
“Valentina?” I whispered .
“Isa? Is that you?” Her shocked tone had a male voice grumbling in the background.
“We are under attack, and Benedikt is all by himself.”
“Wait,” a ton of movement sounded on her end, and then Valentina was back. “Say that again for Roman.”
“Benedikt and I are in his home, and we are under attack. He doesn’t have guards here.”
Valentina cursed. “Shit.”
“I don’t know what to do,” I cried.
“Don’t worry, sis. I’m going to get you both help on the double. Just stay where Benedikt put you and trust me, alright?”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see it, and we hung up. I watched as Benedikt went room by room, taking soldiers by surprise. He’d already uncovered some of their faces, and I caught them on camera.
It was the cartel.
Benedikt was stuck in a hand-to-hand battle with multiple assailants, and all I could do was hold a hand across my mouth to muffle my cries. I wanted to help him, but he told me to stay in the panic room.
Hell, even Valentina told me that.
Just as I was ready to break my word to both of them, I noticed huge SUVs pulling up outside. There were two tanks and a slew of soldiers pouring out of all the vehicles. They were shooting at the cartel.
Valentina sent reinforcements.
The men in the house started retreating outside, trying to help their fellow soldiers, but Benedikt killed two before the others ran. I watched as the rest of the fight ended quickly.
There weren’t many prisoners taken, maybe because Benedikt already knew who was behind the attack. He came back into the bedroom as I watched on the cameras. He walked into the closet and closed the door behind him .
He moved his clothes out of the way, and unlocked the door to the panic room. I flew into his arms, feeling safe once more.
“I don’t want anyone to know about this room. I killed the architect and workers who built it, so it would always remain a secret. You are the only one who knows.”
I nodded. “I understand.”
I wouldn’t share this knowledge with anyone. It could mean life or death, keeping this secret. Not just my own, but my future children. A wave of dizziness assaulted me and I sat down. Recent events had left me shaken to my core.
My family was relentless in their pursuit of me and I couldn’t understand why.
“I am going to capture that capo and serve you his head on a platter,” Benedikt vowed.
I didn’t want my ex-fiancé’s head on some plate though. I just wanted to feel safe, and live a relatively normal life. I wanted this war with the Cartel to be over. Too many were losing their lives for needless bloodshed.
Benedikt swept me into his arms, and carried me bridal style to our bed.
“Just rest while I deal with some business. When I come back, we can have dinner.” He kissed my forehead and moved my white hair out of my eyes like usual.
I said nothing, even though I wasn’t hungry since we just ate. How could I be when we were just attacked? I watched Benedikt as he walked out of the room. I felt like I’d lived a hundred years since the attack started.
I was just going to doze off for a little while, and then I would head to dinner with Benedikt. When I woke up, everything would be well. The cartel would leave us alone, and I could go back to living a free life.
Well, as free as Benedikt allowed me to be, that was.