Chapter 10
Rafaela
My arms ached from the bruises Marco had inflicted.
Dark, ugly bruises that were only now beginning to fade. The one time I’d been caught heading toward the vineyards to try to spy on what was going on, he’d caught me. The pain he’d inflicted had been nothing in comparison to the graphic details of what he’d shared he had planned for Kazimir.
He’d known damn good and well I wouldn’t squeal to my father, which was what had given him the balls to touch me after shoving me against a tree.
Even now after days had passed, I shuddered from the ugliness in his voice, the desires for me he’d dared share.
God, I hated the man. If only I could kill him with my bare hands.
I stood staring out the window at the glistening lights decorating the olive trees, watching as guests enjoyed the music and food, liquor and champagne brought directly from Paris. A treat, as my father had told me.
Even if I wasn’t speaking to him other than when absolutely necessary.
I hated all men.
My mother had warned me all men were users, capable of heinous deeds and I hadn’t believed her.
I’d sensed how little she cared about my father as a child, which was why she was so miserable.
As I’d grown older, I’d realized exactly why.
Their relationship had been nothing she’d wanted and he was more interested in spending time with other women than with the mother of his children.
I’d finally accepted that what men wanted was to use and abuse women and toss them aside. I’d been stupid enough to lose a little bit of myself in the man who’d told me to go the hell away. Well, fuck him. To hell with him.
I’d never ached as much as I had when he’d laughed at me.
In the five days since the horrible beating I’d witnessed, I’d controlled my emotions as I’d been taught, going about the paces of my life. To school. Homework. Dinner.
My father had kept a keen eye on me, watching me for the first day like a hawk. Tomaso had done the same, acting as if I had plans on running away. I’d wanted more than anything to check on Kazimir, but knew if I had, his punishment would have been much worse.
So I’d been a good little actress, pretending that all the fight had been beaten out of me instead of Kazimir. Maybe I should continue staying away from the handsome Russian. If caught again, any possibility of going to Paris would be cast aside.
Maybe that’s why the ache in my heart was so painful.
With my pulse racing, I stared at my reflection in the glass, studying the dress I’d finally selected. I’d chosen red after all, a color that I’d picked not only in hopes of enticing the man I couldn’t stop thinking about, but also in defiance of the life I’d been born into.
I knew he had to leave, to risk everything in escaping. There was no other choice, but I the stupid girl inside of me hoped that one day he’d find me in Paris. How ridiculous was that?
One day.
“Why are you still up in your room?” Sedona asked just as she threw open the door. “You have an entire table full of presents downstairs and there are some hotties here tonight.” She waved her hand in front of her face, whistling as she did when trying to alter my mood swings.
Nothing would ease the heartache tonight.
Somehow, he’d managed to crawl into my system already and as hard as I’d tried, I couldn’t let go of my longing for him. This was the last night I might ever see him again.
He’d made it perfectly clear he didn’t give a shit about me, but I’d found that hard to believe given the heated kiss.
And the way he’d looked at me. I’d almost convinced myself he really didn’t care.
If I had, why had I taken more time to get ready for a party I hated?
Why had I selected a sexy dress? And why had I prepared a bag with a few items inside?
Because I was a fucked-up girl. No. Not a girl any longer. A woman with wants and needs. And one with an idea to prevent me from being forced into a marriage I couldn’t stand. My idea was riskier than everything else, but what choices in my life did I really have?
I also hadn’t wanted Kazimir to suffer and in some small way, his successful escape would be a slap in my father’s face.
How delicious would that be? Maybe I was making excuses, but so what?
I’d taken him a few items against his wishes, finding a hiding place for them myself.
Clean clothes. Some food and water that would keep.
A flashlight. And an envelope of money and the map.
From there, he’d be on his own. I’d tried to get a burner phone but had been caught and forced to come up with an excuse.
He’d said nothing to me, scrutinizing the items with minimal thanks, listening when I told him where they’d be hidden so no one could find them.
I’d tried so very hard to hate him and failed.
I wouldn’t be able to stand myself if he left and I didn’t tell him exactly what I thought. I was no fool. He was right in that I couldn’t go with him. That didn’t mean I couldn’t take a little bit of something I wanted.
And give something in return.
My stomach ached more than before, every emotion leaving me raw inside.
“I need you to do something for me,” I told Sedona even before I turned around.
She closed the door, moving closer, gasping as soon as she did. “What’s wrong? My God. What happened to your arms?”
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” I was anything but fine. “Are you really my friend?”
“How in the world can you even ask me that?”
“I need to know, Sedona. Will you betray me if I share and ask you to keep a horrific secret?”
She flanked my side, her mouth twisting. “What’s wrong?”
“My father is a horrible man. He’s been keeping someone prisoner on the grounds, beating him for saving Golden Angel from hurting herself. All because he looked at me. He was nice to me. He protected me against Marco’s horrible advances.”
“Oh, my God. What a pig. Why is your father keeping a prisoner? Other than the obvious.”
“I don’t know. I’ve tried to find out, but I couldn’t.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I want to see him one last time.”
Reaching out, she grasped my arm. “Wait a minute. You’ve talked to this man?”
With the ache only growing to the point of sheer pain, I nodded and turned my head. “Several times. I knew where he was being kept. He was so nice and they weren’t giving him water or food.”
“Oh, my God. Isn’t the man dangerous? You don’t know what is going on, Raf. You could get hurt or worse.”
Now, I smiled. “No. He’s the most amazing man I’ve ever met. So sweet. So kind to me. So sexy.”
She huffed, looking away briefly. “If your father found out…”
“I know. I’m only asking you to lie and say my stomach was suddenly upset. Then text me afterwards so I can leave. He’s going to disappear tonight and I want to be able to say goodbye.”
“Are you sure that’s all you’re doing? You’re not thinking of going with him. Please tell me you’re not.”
“No.” I half laughed. “I’m going to Paris. Almost all of the details are worked out. This is just about saying goodbye.”
Sedona puffed her cheeks as she blew air into them. “My father would kill me.”
“I promise I won’t risk that. Okay? I really need some help, or I’ll never get away from the party even for a few minutes.”
“Who is he? Do you have any idea?”
The less she knew the better just in case. I’d also learned the hard way over the years. “Not really. Just that he’s Russian and also has no idea why he’s been taken.”
“What was he doing here?”
“Business of some kind.” That was true. He’d told me he’d come here on a business trip, the vehicle he’d been riding in ambushed.
Of course, I’d found nothing to corroborate that, but I’d known I wouldn’t.
My guess was my father’s men had been responsible.
Whatever the case, my father was determined to make Kazimir miserable for an extended timeframe. The why didn’t matter any longer.
“What’s he like?” Her wicked side made a return.
“He’s tall and muscular, so handsome that he could be a man inside the books we read. He’s a man of power in Moscow. That much I can sense. He has an aura only emanated from someone of great wealth.”
“You mean he’s dangerous.” She finally smiled slyly, which allowed me to breathe a little easier. Although I’d known her all my life, she was far more accepting of the life she’d been born into.
Including the perks of money and clout.
The slight warmth across my jaws and cheeks occurred almost every time I thought about him. “That too. Will you do it? Please.”
“O-kay, but if he hurts you or tries to take you with him, you need to text me.”
I squeezed her hand. “I will. You text me if anyone is bugging you about where I am. Let’s go downstairs and pretend we’re enjoying ourselves.
” Doing so would be extremely difficult for me and acting would be required.
Everything in my life thus far had boiled down to me being an excellent actress, more so lately.
Over the years, I’d honed the craft, which had enabled me to get away with small acts of defiance. This was way out of my usual league, but nothing was going to stop me from getting what I wanted.
“One more thing. I’m certain Tomaso will be lurking around, hovering over me. Can you flirt with him?”
Now I could tell I’d awakened her sassy spirit. “I would be happy to do that.”
Golden already had her head lifted. I’d explained things to her, needing both her strength and her companionship. I knew in my heart she wouldn’t fail me like everyone else had.
We walked downstairs and within minutes, I was absorbed into the crowd and the party. I had to say that in my mind I’d kicked up my acting skills a notch. Including when my father had insisted on introducing me to several young men.