Chapter 26
The moment the door opens to my favorite coffee shop in the middle of the city, my shoulders drop to relax, and I let the warm scent of coffee hit my nostrils.
I’m in my happy place. A place where I can sit, watch people around me and create stories in my head about their lives.
I look over to see that the table I always sit at its open, and I get a little giddy.
Lorenzo is behind me and the other one who Enzo assigned is standing off to the corner near where we came in. “I’m sure this the last place you planned on being at today.” I tell him over my shoulder as I picture if I want to get a scone or a something else.
“Mrs. Ricci, it is my job to go where you want to go.” He says with a little smile on his face.
I turn slightly to look at him. “I’m aware. I was just thinking that you could be doing something other than babysitting me at a silly coffee shop.”
“Mrs. Ricci, I took an oath to your husband to protect you. As well, one to you.” He takes a moment scanning the shop before continuing, “I respect your husband and this family. You are part of that.”
Nodding my head at him and smile at him. “Well, I promise to not get you in trouble again like the whole nightclub fiasco.” I turn to look at the menu when I cast over to him. “At least let me buy you a coffee.”
Lorenzo does not respond by the time we make it to the front of the line to be greeted by the barista.
I read her name tag, Mai. Her dark hair is tied up on top of her head in a messy bun, thick teal glasses sit on her nose, and the light bounces off her nose ring.
The tan of her skin with her almond shaped eyes makes her stand out and is beautiful.
“Hi! Welcome to Witchy Brew. What can I get for you?” Her cheerful voice is loud over the machines in the back.
I smile at her. “Hi! Can I please have a medium ice-cold brew with oat milk and two pumps of pumpkin with a cranberry and orange muffin on the side and three butters. Not toasted.”
“Those muffins are my favorite ones, and you’re in luck today as we have only two left!” She points to the case next to the register.
“Can you make that two muffins? Same way, please and a tall Americano.” Lorenzo says behind me.
“You got it!” Mai says as she is ringing us up. “That will be fifteen dollars and twenty cents.”
I open my purse and hand her the black card that Enzo had given me on day two of our marriage when I went shopping with Gianna.
Once she has run the card, I take it back, put it back in my purse and take the number card to have them bring us our items where we are sitting.
Lorenzo is right on my heels as I weave my way through the shop, heading straight for my favorite part of the whole place.
The other man, who has barely has said two words is still standing, taking up space near the door.
Lorenzo places the number sign on the table and takes one final look around the shop before taking the first seat that is facing the whole area. And I know before I have the deliciousness of my coffee hit my lips, I’m going to need to go to the bathroom. It never fails.
“I’ll be right back. I need to use the ladies’ room.” I go to make my way toward the back of the coffee shop when he stands up to follow me. “Um, you can stay here, and I’ll be right back.”
“Mr. Ricci has given me strict orders that I’m to follow you where you go.” His face is blank, but I can tell by his eyes that he does not really want to come into the women’s restroom.
I look around and say, “Well, I don’t see my husband anywhere. And I hardly doubt he would want you to see me going the bathroom.”
His whole-body stills, and his face goes pale because he knows that I’m right. Enzo would kill him on the spot if he knew that Lorenzo accompanied me to the bathroom. “Stay here and try the life-changing muffin. I want to know your thoughts on it.”
“Three minutes, Mrs. Ricci. Then I’m coming in.”
“Okay, three minutes. But seriously, I want to know your thoughts on the muffin.”
The restroom is not too far from where I like to sit, which I’m sure, made Lorenzo somewhat a little less stressed.
My hand pushes on the black door, letting myself inside the two-stall room.
The same indie music is playing on the speakers in the very standard public bathroom.
Both stalls are open, and I use the one farther inside to relieve myself.
I hear the door open then the stall next to me.
I exit the stall, stop at the sink, and place my purse down on the counter before I go to wash my hands.
The hair on the back of my neck stand up, and my body feels warm.
It’s the feeling I had with Gianna and at the club.
My heads move up slowly to meet my gaze in the mirror, trying to see if the person I heard come in is still in here.
There’s movement in the stall. My heart is racing a mile a minute, and chills are running down my spine, and my hands are shaky.
Mentally I’m screaming at myself to leave as soon as possible.
I grab my purse and go to leave when the stall door pushes open. My eyes widen at the person standing in front of me. Ian. I am looking at a ghost with haunting dark green eyes. He was dead all those months ago at our wedding. I saw him die. This is not happening. This cannot be happening.
Those cold, soulless green eyes meet mine. His dark hair is perfectly styled without a hair out of place. He has a sly grin on his face like he is hunting his prey. I release that I am is his prey.
“Hello, Isabella.” The hatred and anger in his voice stops me in my tracks from moving at all.
I’m frozen. “My fiancé has been busy spreading her legs when she should be spreading them for me.” He steps closer.
My eyes dart to the door to see if I can be fast enough to run.
“Tisk, tisk. That is not very lady like of you. It’s very slutty, you whoring yourself out.
Your father promised me that you were to make me even richer, but now you will make me some money.
Your father is a tough man to work with, but of course for the right price, it was easy enough to get him see my families side of things.
Lucky for you, your husband is too busy finding who is tampering with his shipments.
” I hate how he says my husband. It sounds dirty coming from his mouth.
He stops in front of me, and I can feel the hotness of his breath.
I want to turn my head and look away, but my body won’t move.
“But now, I plan on seeing what the big hype is myself when I fuck you, and I will make sure it’s in front of Enzo before I kill him.
” He laughs deeply. “The last thing he will see is me fucking you.”
He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a cloth, and covering my mouth. It all seemed to be happening in slow motion, and I couldn’t stop him.
“Nighty night, Isabella. You’re mine…again.” Ian says, but I feel like I’m under water with how muttered it sounds.
Then everything goes black.