Chapter 14 #2
As we continued moving together, I wrapped my arms around her, nuzzling my face into her neck. I heard the slight hiccup when I bit her earlobe. Not from pain but her own realization I would soon be gone.
Was this a fairytale for her? Maybe, but she’d soon learn it was a dark one at best.
Her body responded to mine beautifully, every inch of her quivering in my hold. It was like capturing a baby bird and holding it in my monstrous arms.
Yet she didn’t seem to mind that I could easily crush her.
The few moments were present in my mind, soon to be locked away. At some point, I’d allow myself to think about them again. One day when the darkness and my mood allowed.
My actions became rougher and her body responded in kind, meeting every thrust with one of her own. The sweetness and level of her vulnerability was fading before my eyes, the girl becoming a formidable woman.
Maybe I could see her outcome in the future.
Maybe I would make a point of doing so.
In fact, my thoughts were much darker than she realized.
I fell into the sweet fantasy as her breathing hitched and I knew she was on the verge of another climax. I yanked her head back, forcing her body into an arc, and hearing her muted cries as the orgasm rushed through her was an incredible sound.
My actions were no longer gentle in any way, my needs overtaking every other thought.
In a few minutes, I could no longer take the pressure, slowly lifting my head toward the ceiling.
I collapsed over her, pulling her into my arms, resisting a chuckle when her very patient dog finally jumped on the bed. She found a comfy spot lounging across her pillows. There was something both serene and surreal about the sweet golden harrumphing before quieting down.
As if any of this was normal.
Certainly not for me.
We remained locked together, each controlling our breathing.
“Why don’t you call your friends?” she whispered while rubbing my arm.
I kissed the top of her head. I’d thought about it, but if I had to guess, I’d say her father was actively tracking her calls. Even if I erased the call or text after making it, decent hackers could find the number at minimum.
If he did, her safety would be placed even further into jeopardy. Besides, there was no way of knowing if anyone had remained in Italy or if another tragedy had struck. Mikhail’s condition weighed heavily on my mind.
“Not feasible. Don’t worry, Rafaela. I’ll be alright.”
“My father doesn’t like to lose.”
Now I laughed while pulling her closer. “Neither do I.”
The little healer had no idea what she’d done or the needs she’d awakened.
This wouldn’t be our last night spent together.
Whether she liked it or not, on the day she’d discovered the dangerous man lurking in her vineyards, she’d become mine.
* * *
I’d left her sleeping. The beautiful printsessa had fallen into a nice slumber.
Maybe she was somewhat aware I’d remained for another twenty minutes, jealous of the way Golden Angel had curled up next to her.
An obsession for her had already been born and my mind was in motion about how best to punish her father while getting what I wanted.
I moved from the house in the same way I’d gotten in. With ease. The security system they used was similar to the one my father had installed at his house and with all systems, there were weaknesses.
As there were with every man.
Including myself.
The obvious break in my usual behavior because of a woman continued to surprise me. Had being with her for another couple of hours been worth the continued risk? Maybe.
By the time I made it outside, the storm had stopped, the brisk clouds rolling by allowing for a quick glimpse of the nearly full moon.
The guards were right on cue, moving further into the darkness while I hid in the shadows until they passed. From there, I returned to the bag of items she’d provided, carefully avoiding any possible traps.
Given the full moon, I didn’t need the flashlight at first until I was forced to pull out the map.
The woods were dense, but the cover was perfect and I headed toward the ocean where I’d walk along the shoreline for four miles to grab a water taxi, heading to the mainland of Italy.
From there, I’d simply disappear until connections were made.
There were sounds of night creatures and little else, barely any breeze to flush through the leaves.
Maybe that’s why when I heard an unusual sound, my entire body tensed. With the light off, I moved behind a tree, waiting for any additional noises.
After five minutes and hearing nothing, I moved on.
With every step taken, my mind was heavy with thoughts that I should shove aside.
All about Rafaela. Using her would be somewhat dangerous, but given my mind was prone to believing the Cosa Nostra Don was behind the ambush, our alliance would become much more important than what my father had developed.
But only if I played my cards right. Was their attack based on the desire to add to their territory? I had mixed feelings on that. What would be the point? They wouldn’t be allowed to step foot in Russia even if they caused some form of damage to my infrastructure or my reputation.
As far as using their water channels, I could easily pick another crime syndicate who controlled waterways or alter who I sold the arms to. There were dozens of hungry purchasers.
Then there begged a question about the timing of my father’s death. I was a skeptical man. Rafaela had told me that with the cash she’d provided, I might be able to secure a phone before leaving Sicily.
I was almost to the ocean. Another sound and this time I was certain there were heavy footsteps crunching down on the fallen debris.
My hackles were raised and I pulled one of the guns into my hand. I had her knife with me as well, the blade still flecked with Marco’s blood. It was a preferable way to handle whoever was following me, but it was possible I wouldn’t have the opportunity.
I hissed but had to decide how to handle this. If I didn’t ditch the bag, Rafaela’s assistance would be discovered. With the pocketknife she’d given me, I marked a tree and tossed the bag under a shrub.
Then I ran.
Fuck this.
While I couldn’t tell if there was anyone following me, I continued weaving through the trees until I reached a clearing.
A presence was felt before I could react.
Even though I spun around, prepared to shoot, the assailant was too quick for me.
With a brutal smash of something against the side of my head, I went down.
Stars floated in front of my eyes, but I wasn’t giving up without a fight, kicking and lunging toward a figure highlighted by the reappearing moon.
A brutal kick against the man’s groin pitched him backward. I threw myself in the other direction, driving my fist into someone’s jaw. The cracking sound brought a smile.
Pop! Pop!
There was no other choice but to fire my weapon, catching one of them in the chest.
Even as he fell to his knees, other guards appeared, one knocking the weapon from my hand.
I slipped on the mud, going down hard, but managed to yank the second gun into my hand, the knife in the other.
As another man rushed toward me from the side, my reflexes were only quick enough to drive the knife into his gut and twist upward, but he wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
The fight continued, one asshole after another coming for me. Even though I managed to get off several blows, refusing to give in, the sheer number of men issuing one blow after another made my body start to wear down.
There were at least five more, one going down with a single shot between his eyes, but they closed in, one of them laughing as they did.
Another blow to the head and I fell as if in slow motion to my knees.
As a bag was shoved over my head, all I could think about was my sweet and beautiful little healer.
My Rafaela.