Chapter 33 #2
“The one charged with keeping her unscathed in a world that doesn’t care for women who are considered mouthy, insubordinate, and problematic.
I think the real question is who are you to demand I deal with it?
You have no real claim over her, Raf. You’re just her fake, maybe boyfriend, right?
You really want to stake your claim as her Law Daddy?
Put a fucking ring on her finger and a baby in her belly. ”
His words rock me. What he’s suggesting is complete madness, and yet a reckless thought zips through me at the notion of opening the door and welcoming it in. My dad’s words echo in my mind like a gong, a warning, and a reminder of all that’s at stake.
“Just like I thought. Easy to sit on your throne all high and mighty, passing judgement on the rest of us, but you’re just like every other selfish motherfucker she’s ever known.
Take, take, taking from her when you’re right—she’s got very little left to give.
You don’t have to confess your sins for me to know you’ve crossed all your lines for her already.
We might come from different sides of right and wrong, good and bad, but we’re not so different, you and me, so trust me when I say you could paint those lines with fire retardant, adding spikes and electric currents to try to stop you, and you would’ve still crossed them. ”
He pauses, but I don’t speak because I’m still grappling with the first bomb he dropped while trying to process the truth in the words he’s just said. It stings my ego and holds a mirror to just how similar we are when I was so intent on judging.
“That’s funny. A lawyer with no argument prepared.
” AJ chuckles. “Well, while I have the floor, Julian didn’t give me any of the information he promised on the lead in Marco’s shooting in exchange for the meet and greet with Chiara.
But I’ve got some new intel I need to look into.
If I need you, I’ll be in touch. Until then, I suggest you keep your dick in your pants, and work out what the fuck you’re going to do to really help Chiara if you’re this intent on being her fucking hero. ”
The sentiment of his words reminds me of my father’s—though I know with absolute certainty that I don’t have a savior complex. I have something much worse, my parting words the death knell.
“AJ. Deal with it—him—the way you do in your world. And if you need my help to deal with the consequences in the way we do in mine, you have it.”
“You know what you’re asking?”
“Yes.”
Then the line goes dead, and I take a deep breath for the first time since I got Avery’s message, but I won’t breathe easy until I set eyes on her myself.
My driver pulls up in front of my brownstone, and I jump out before he comes to a complete stop and sprint to my front door. Avery is waiting.
“How is she?” I ask as he hands over the bags of takeaway I asked him to get.
“Sad, a little drunk, and probably in need of food.”
“Let me guess, she hardly ate anything today?”
“Bingo. Working on set is relentless, and she works so fucking hard.” Awe shines in his eyes, and I hate that it grates on me, but I don’t have time to let my jealousy fester again. “I can’t shake this feeling that she’s hiding something.”
“She’s usually an open book,” I say.
“That’s what she likes us all to believe. She’s outspoken, yes, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t a master at hiding bigger truths from the light.”
“Noted. I’ve got it from here.”
“She’s all yours,” he says, hands raised in surrender, clearly taking a dig at me. “But we’ll be stationed here all night. Call if you need anything.”
I nod once in acknowledgement, already keying in the code to get in. To get to her.
I’m used to coming home to a silent, dark home, but there’s something eerie about knowing she’s here yet not being able to hear or see any sign of life. It’s unsettling.
I walk through to the kitchen, checking to see if she’s there, though I knew she wouldn’t be from how quiet it is. The lights are all off, and even though it’s only been a few days with my new roommate, I know that she likes to have lights on.
“Chiara,” I call as I walk further into the house, turning on lights as I go.
“Chiara!” I shout, a little louder this time, making my way towards her room.
When I’m standing in front of her door, I call her name loudly again.
Still no answer, and despite my reputation for being cold as ice, the heat of fear licks over me.
I’ve seen her in the throes of an anxiety attack, and while I don’t know exactly how badly she suffers, I’ve gathered enough to know that if she’s having a full-blown panic attack right now, there’s no way she’ll be able to answer me.
That’s all the convincing I need before I’m bursting through her bedroom door and across her room, following the trail of her clothes towards the bathroom.
I can’t hear the shower going but I look towards it first, then across the seemingly empty bathroom to the large freestanding bath. I walk towards it and notice it’s filled to the top, but there’s no sign of her, until I am right beside it and I see the outline of her gorgeous body fully submerged.
“Chiara!” I rumble, not thinking twice as I plunge my hands into the water and roughly yank her out, setting her upright.
“Are you okay?” I rush out, my lips millimeters from hers. I have this overwhelming urge to hold her and kiss whatever it is better as a tightness takes hold of my chest and throat.
She blinks up at me, her long chocolate hair plastered to her face, neck, and shoulders.
“Yes, I just wanted to hear the sound of silence,” she says softly, her breath tickling my face, the smell of red wine and the orange blossom of her bath oil invading my senses.
“You fucking scared me.” I breathe out heavily as I press my forehead to hers and relief floods me.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to. It’s just something that calms me.” She touches my wet sleeves. “I hope the bath oil doesn’t ruin your expensive suit.”
“I don’t give a fuck about my suit,” I say as I gently lean her against the back of the bath. She closes her eyes, and without second guessing myself, I’m removing my jacket and shirt, then my belt, shoes and socks, leaving me in just my pants and white fitted undershirt.
I gently push her forward. She slowly opens her eyes but remains uncharacteristically quiet as she watches me climb into the bath behind her and slowly seat myself, fully clothed, into the water, my legs on either side of her body.
She leans back slightly but is hesitant to close the space between us.
I, however, seem to have forgotten all my inhibitions as I wrap my arms around her slippery, naked body, pulling her back flush to my front.
She lays her head against my chest, and I feel her go limp against me, relieved that she’s giving the heaviness of her weight to me, even if for just this moment.
I exhale into the top of her head before placing a kiss on her crown.
“Raf, what are we doing?” she whispers.
“Taking a bath.”
She laughs weakly. “Have you ever taken one before?”
“This is my first.”
“Clearly. Otherwise you would know that you need to remove all your clothes before hopping in.”
“Oh, I know,” I say, playing along, wanting to lighten the mood. “It’s just that I don’t trust myself not to slip things into places they don’t belong if I was fully naked.”
“Who’s to say I don’t want slippery things in wet places?” she says with a small smile.
“Enticing as that sounds, it’s not what you need right now.”