Chapter 26 #3
“Are you ready?” I asked, referring to her.
The smile slid from her face, a harsher look shifting into one of absolute fear. She’d had a lifetime of dealing with terror. “I’m always ready.” She ran her fingers through her hair, creating a just fucked look before sliding the cotton gag into her mouth.
Even her tone was entirely different.
I knew the drill of how to make contact. So I made the call, keeping my eyes pinned on her. She was already hyperventilating, which was amusing in and of itself. I’d never thought I’d value the use of a true partner before.
Then again I’d never expected to meet anyone like an Italian printsessa.
“Yes?” There was zero inflection, no emotion and no possibility of identifying the person on the other end.
“Merchandise secured.” A burner phone had been purchased for the single call.
“I’ll need some proof. Pictures.”
We’d anticipated the request, enough so she’d smeared her makeup as if she’d been crying. The lights in the cabin had been dimmed enough with the lower pixels of the camera, I suspected it would appear as if we were in a moving truck.
“Talk to the nice man, Rafaela.” My voice was gruff and I held the phone out closer to her head, using Facetime to connect.
Her scream was muffled and I waited for three seconds to remove the gag.
“You fucking son of a bitch. My father will kill you.” She struggled as if tied up, keeping her hands behind her back.
“State your name,” I growled.
“Fuck you,” she shot back, even adding to the dramatic moment by spitting in my face.
I reacted instantly, maybe a little too harshly, cracking my hand across her cheek.
The force was just enough for a sound, not enough to cause any pain.
However, not only was she a good little actress, snapping her head to the side, she darted the tongue across her bottom lip as if collecting the blood I’d caused.
And the fire in her eyes told me even though we were acting, I would be the recipient of retaliation later.
I couldn’t wait.
“Do not!” the purchaser snapped. “Hurt the merchandise.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it. Far too precious. Now, state your name,” I told her again.
“Rafaela Bitch Marichetti. And I think I’ll kill you myself.” Her words were said with such conviction I wondered if I should be frightened of her and her improved skills.
“Accepted,” the man said.
“I will provide you with a transfer number for the money we discussed. Be mindful of our contract. I will not tolerate a change in plans. Where do I leave her?”
“You’ll have the information later today. Keep her out of the public eye for now. No one is to know you have her.” I could hear a slight hint of concern. Perhaps that was based on the news of my reappearance.
My sigh was full of anger. “If you cross me, I will hunt you down.”
“You’ll have your information by the end of day. Call then.” With that, the unidentified bastard ended the call. The end of day. Things had been expedited. That meant I would need to move forward as well.
Which was fine by me.
Yes, the anger lingered, threatening to exact the same revenge I’d mused over only hours before.
The noose had a knot and the invisible monster was swinging the rope in a direct aim for my neck.
That’s how protective I’d become of my female companion.
After I grabbed a napkin and wiped spit from my face, she offered a heated look. “Very believable.”
“I do try my best,” she mused.
I fisted my drink, her smile an indication she was pleased with her acting abilities.
In truth, so was I.
“Sadly, I don’t recognize his voice,” she said. “You didn’t try and get him to laugh.” Her attempt at making light of the ordeal allowed me the security to note she hadn’t been traumatized.
“It was disguised much like mine.”
Kirill shook his head, neither one of us able to decipher the man’s identity. Neither could my lovely companion.
That was fine. The proof of life was all that mattered.
“That was… joyful,” Kirill said. “And of little use.”
“Nonsense,” Rafaela said, with a tone I remembered well. She was enjoying being a naughty vixen. “Didn’t you hear the fear in the man’s voice?”
“Have patience,” I told them. “As my father used to say. The dead often speak the loudest.”
Kirill shrugged and moved from the seat, giving us a few minutes of privacy.
She scooted onto the edge, taking my hand in hers. “I know this is very difficult for you.”
“You have no idea how much. Someone I cared about could have betrayed me.”
Her sigh was heavy. “You need to remember that sometimes people are so overwhelmed by sadness that they see no other way out but to do the unthinkable. Dante blamed himself and no punishment my father inflicted on him eased the suffering from his guilt. That’s why he left, but not before promising me he’d find a way to make it up to me. ”
“Did he?”
“He tried,” she whispered. “But his life is his own. I don’t blame him. Just remember that when you discover the truth.”
“What I may end up doing today will be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life.” Admitting it wasn’t a weakness. It was allowing through the sadness of knowing how easily trust and loyalty could be abandoned.
“Because family is important.”
With my hand firmly wrapped around hers, I pulled her hand to my mouth, kissing each knuckle. “More than I understood. Which is why you’re never leaving me.”
Thankfully, her laugh was able to fill me with joy. “Well, I might be able to tolerate you for a few years if… If I’m allowed to live my life.”
“I think that might be arranged.”
“Then you’re not getting away from me,” she purred.
I eased hair from her face then pulled her into my lap. She placed her arms on my shoulders, wrinkling her adorable nose. “You are a godsend, Rafaela. Naughty. But a godsend.”
“Tell me that in twenty years. If our marriage lasts that long.”
Laughing, I slipped my hand around the back of her head. “It will.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’m never allowing you out of my sight.” This time as I captured her mouth, there was even more sweetness, a joy of tasting her that felt free of the chains of before.
I loved the beautiful woman, but the past had to be put to rest before I could feel true and absolute freedom.
That meant it was almost time to play my last hand.
One that could have a chance of crushing what was left of my soul.
As soon as the kiss was broken, she nipped my bottom lip.
Smiling, I brushed my hand across her cheek, worried that I’d hurt her. I could tell by the sparkle in her eye she was enjoying the hell out of herself.
Maybe there was something to having a partner.
Especially one as beautiful as my future wife.