Chapter 13
Rafaela
Dark, tumultuous clouds blanketed the early evening sky, the ominous setting occasionally electrified by a blinding fork of lightning. As I stood staring out the window, limbs from the massive oak trees lashed against the panes of glass, the savage thumps matching the rapid beating of my heart.
Since the attack of years before, I’d learned to be terrified of storms. With every crashing sound of thunder, echoes of what I’d endured assaulted my senses.
Ugly voices.
Pounding boots.
Monsters determined to shatter my world.
The exaggerated memory lingered even now, even with my Golden lying only feet away. The party had finally ended, hours going by and yet sleep wasn’t going to be easy to come by. My father had grabbed me by the arm minutes after I’d returned, demanding to know where I’d gone.
I could only hope and pray that my acting skills had been perfected. He’d seemed appeased when I’d told him how nervous I’d been, my stomach reacting to the little bit of champagne I’d consumed.
He’d acted as if he’d bought my excuse, immediately berating Tomaso for not remaining plastered to my side. If I knew my father, the man would be disciplined in the morning. I should feel somewhat guilty for what he might be forced to endure, but honestly, I couldn’t care less.
The game was all about maintaining some sense of normalcy while praying that the man who’d awakened a part of me I hadn’t known existed escaped.
Now the anger was replacing the fear. I’d been poked, prodded, asked to turn around and show off my wares to a group of six true contenders.
Even though my father had tried to disguise what was happening, acting as if he was simply showing off his beautiful daughter on her glorious day, I knew exactly what the motherfucker had been up to.
After that, I’d been dismissed so the men could retire to my father’s office and talk business.
Of course I knew what business they were discussing. At least after that, he’d left me alone.
Those around me said I was a lucky girl to be born into such a family as well as incredible luxury. The same people said I should be grateful for all I had when so many others were suffering daily.
Maybe they were right. I’d been born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Swaddled in angora blankets. Schooled in etiquette of how to be a princess. Given rules to follow. I’d been raised in beautiful surroundings where the money flowed and friendships were required.
Instead of feeling lucky or even grateful, I felt like a caged animal. More so now that I’d had a single taste of what life could be like. Oh, I hated my environment.
While Sedona had tried to get me to spill the beans, I’d lied. To my best friend. That’s how nervous I’d been about Kazimir being able to escape. Fortunately, the party had started to wind down not long after.
God. What was I doing to myself? I was sick with worry, frustrated I was stuck here and unable to enjoy memories of the passion we’d shared.
Well, maybe I was a little bit.
Giggling, I tried to ignore the storm as the butterflies in my stomach reminded me that a man had been my first. A real man complete with dark eyes and a gorgeous body. Whatever I’d be forced to suffer through, no one could take that away from me.
I forced myself down from the high.
Since there were no guards charging the grounds, no security lights and alarms going off, I had to assume he’d managed to get away. While I was thrilled for him, thankful I’d helped in a small but decisive way, I was also saddened by the feeling of loss.
So much so as I stood staring out at the crazy figures and shadows, I wished that I’d insisted on going with him. To hell with college.
A small laugh left my lips as a chill trickled down my spine.
Maybe getting under the covers would provide some sense of comfort.
Just before I turned away from the window, a bolt of lightning crisscrossed the sky, lighting up the entire terrain outside my window.
With the rain still active although tapering off, there was a light fog in the air.
But movement caught my eye. Blinking, I pressed my face closer to the window, holding my breath so I wouldn’t steam up the glass.
There was someone outside.
A lone person dressed in all black.
My heart hitched, my stomach lurching at the same time. Was someone daring to break into the house or was the visitor someone I knew?
Backing away, my thoughts were all over the place.
I’d given up my only weapon to Kazimir. Was it possible he’d returned for me?
No way. Hours had passed. He wouldn’t miss his chance to get away.
Would he?
I peered out the window again, this time seeing nothing, but between my skin crawling and my nerves on edge, I wasn’t going to allow another horrible incident like the one from three years ago to happen again.
What if Marco was making good on his promise made only days before? Spinning around, I glanced around my room before crouching down to Golden, who’d already sensed I was on edge.
“Stay here, baby. Mommy will be right back.”
I was finished with playing the victim, so if anyone thought they were going to capitalize on the fact a party had been held and an ugly storm would hide sound, they were dead wrong.
Golden didn’t fight me as I left my room, tiptoeing toward the stairs. There were no strange sounds, no ghostly footsteps.
Just the rumble of thunder beneath my feet.
The darkness was invasive, so much so I had to stop a couple of times to take deep breaths.
I hurried downstairs, hugging the wall as I made my way to the kitchen. With the light on over the stove, my eyes focused immediately, highlighting the butcher block holding knives.
Another bolt of lightning was followed by another band of heavier rain, the rapid drops pinging against the glass. The entire setting was ominous and surreal, enough I could easily be paralyzed to the point of being unable to move.
Hell, no. Not this time.
No one was going to dare turn me into a victim ever again.
Maybe if I continued making that promise to myself, I’d finally believe it.
With the knife held with my tense arm, I moved toward the living room, standing just inside the doorway.
Listening.
Waiting.
Maybe hoping.
A single sound caught my attention and I moved silently toward it. A figure stood in the hallway leading to my father’s office, a gun in his hand. I moved behind him before he realized what I was doing, driving the tip of the blade against the back of his neck.
“I wouldn’t move if I were you. I’m an expert with the knife and have no problem ending your life right here and right now if you so choose to continue with your actions.”
The intruder stiffened, lowering his weapon.
But not completely. I could sense he was a true monster, a man capable of doing anything he set his mind to.
There was something enticing about his courage.
A man who’d found a way inside the home of a brutal bastard capable of heinous acts, the location as secure as any presidential building was truly a courageous man.
Either that or he had a death wish.
My body responded to the danger as well as the fantasy all women had about bad boys. My heart was thumping, my mouth and throat dry, yet my mind was processing the event as excitement drove me to thinking unimaginable thoughts.
And insane desires about surrendering without question.
“I suggest you hand over your gun. I’ll add that to my collection.” When he acted as if he was going to do as I said but held it out to the side where my arm was already in use, I sighed. “Nice try. Or if you’d prefer, Ya ne mogu pozvolit’ tebe ubit’ moyego ottsa.”
I can’t allow you to kill my father.
“Printsessa, ya delayu to, chto khochu, kogda khochu.”
Princess, I do what I want when I want.
Every word dripping from his lush lips further excited me, leaving my core throbbing in a way that couldn’t be normal or decent. But I no longer cared about any act of decency. I wasn’t that sad, suffering little girl any longer. At least I think that’s what he said in his gruff, unyielding voice.
“Then I will need to kill you.” I pressed the tip of the blade into his neck. No light was needed for me to know I’d pricked his skin. How interesting he was completely relaxed as if this tiny girl would never dare hurt him.
He was wrong. He had no idea what I was capable of.
The man took a deep breath. “I pochemu tak?”
And why is that?
“Because if I don’t, I will be imprisoned for life.”
“I won’t allow that to happen.” The feel of his soft lips against the back of my neck created a wave of electricity as well as another knot in my stomach.
But I wasn’t allowed to lament over the pool of nerves for long.
He demonstrated not only his extensive training but also his power over me.
With his lips still caressing my skin, he turned sharply, wrapping his fingers around my wrist and wrenching the knife free.
Instead of it clattering to the tile floor, he held it in his hand, the glimmer of the blade highlighted by a flash of lightning just before he drove me against the wall.
“Kazimir,” I managed as he brushed his knuckles from one side of my jaw to the other before taking my throat prisoner with his fingers. “You shouldn’t have come. They’ll find you.”
I pressed my palms against his chest, fighting both tears and joy. In tugging on his shirt, I sensed my resolve crumbling. The man should be considered armed and dangerous, an enemy to my family, but to me, he was more than just a beautiful secret.
He was also the only person who’d managed to capture my real essence.
“Then so be it, my little healer.” He captured my mouth, holding our lips in place. I was already lightheaded in just responding to the forcefulness of his kiss.