Chapter 10
RAPH
Silently, we leave our house and head through the woods, too much distance between us in every sense of the word. When we were good, we always had something to say. She’d talk to me about school, about her dreams of becoming a vet one day. I’d listen to it all. It’s what I did.
I wouldn’t dare tell her about my own problems. She was still a child. But I knew Nicolette needed someone to hear her. No one else did. She had one friend—can’t remember her name—but other than that, she was alone.
It gutted me that I had to stop listening, stop talking to her like we once did. And I know that hurts her still. I’ll always be sorry for hurting her, but I can’t be sorry for how I did it.
She winces in a pair of sneakers I found in the closet that were only a size bigger.
I stop mid-stride and face her, a hand cupping her hip and the other cradling her jaw. “I’m gonna carry you all the way there.”
When her mouth moves, I lift a finger and press it to her mouth.
“You hush now. I make the rules, remember?”
She instantly closes her trembling lips.
“Stop being so damn brave all the time,” I tell her. “I’m right here, ba…Nicolette.”
The word I wanted to say vanishes into thin air. I couldn’t say it. I just couldn’t. But damn, do I want to.
I turn around and kneel. “Hop on my back.”
I hear her exhale sharply before she does. Grabbing right under her knees, I secure her against me, while she curls her arms around my neck. And together, we start deeper into the woods.
For a few minutes, we’re both silent until she breaks it.
“Where are we exactly?” she asks as we brush past shrubs on both sides of us.
“About an hour and a half from the city. This area is pretty dead. One of the smallest towns in the state. That’s why Michael purchased the cabin to use as a safe house.”
The cabin had gone to foreclosure, and like with mine, our lawyer, Hudson, arranged the purchase under a shell corporation.
Her forearm tightens around my shoulders and every protective molecule in me wants to tie her up to my bed and keep her there.
“How did I end up here? The only thing I remember was seeing a guy hurting the one who was chasing me.”
I clench my teeth at the reminder, wanting to spill my father’s blood for ever hurting her.
I stop in my tracks, tugging my face back so I can look at her. “He will pay, Nicolette. When this is finally over, he will suffer, and he will regret ever hurting you.”
Her eyes widen. “I believe you.”
My pulse pounds, my gaze slinking down to her pretty full mouth. So damn kissable.
I want to throw her up against a nearby tree and bury myself inside her.
Fuck.
I bend my hand into a fist. Here I go again, unable to maintain a single thought without thinking about fucking her, being with her. Having her in every way.
Not just her body. That’s not what this is about. Not with her.
I start for the trail again, needing to hurry to the store so we can get back unseen.
The less we’re noticed, the better our survival.
My father could have eyes everywhere. It’s why I didn’t want to drive.
Didn’t want either one of us to be caught on any traffic cams. My father has people who could hack them.
“Who was the guy who found me?”
“He’s a cop who lives around there. He’s on our side. He found your name on your license and immediately called Michael, who told him to bring you to him.”
“Are you sure he won’t tell your father where I am?”
“If he does, Michael will know of it. But he’s loyal. He’s been tested, and he always passed. He won’t talk. Michael pays him well.”
She sighs as we finally reach the clearing, finding a long-abandoned road, the large shopping mart right across it. A single car slowly drives off playing a country song, an elderly man waving to us as he whizzes past.
“Keep your head down when we’re inside and don’t talk to anyone.”
“Okay.” When we’re across the street, I place her on her feet and grab her hand on instinct.
And I feel it—that instantaneous bond. I feel it in every single part of my body. Like she’s the pump that keeps my heart beating.
I open the door and let her go in first, following her.
My eyes glance over our surroundings. A single camera is pointing toward the entrance.
A young man, maybe twenty, with spiky black hair and a black sweater is by the cash register to our right, and two elderly gray-haired women with shopping carts are talking to each other.
Going to have to have Michael wipe that camera clean.
“Okay, come on,” I tell her, heading toward the aisle with shampoo and all that other stuff she needs. I tug her closer and grab a shopping basket. “Make it quick.”
“Crap. I didn’t bring my money,” she whispers, eyeing me nervously. “I completely forgot to take my wallet.”
I chuckle. “Come on, now. How long have you known me? You think I’d ever let you spend a dime?”
Her long eyelashes flutter, and a smile dances on her lips.
“Thanks,” she says, turning away.
And when she stops looking in my direction, my heart misses her already.
She’s it for me. No matter how much I deny it. These feelings won’t stop.
I watch her pick up a few bottles of stuff and throw them into the basket I’m holding.
And as she does, as I watch her, all I think about is her living a life without me.
Someone else touching her, making her happy, giving her a family.
I can see it now. Her with a baby inside her by some other asshole who’d never care for her the way I do.
“I’m going to go grab some more things.” Her sweet voice zaps me out of my ill-fitted thoughts.
“I’m coming with you.” I start to follow, not giving her a chance to protest.
“Uh…no.” She grimaces, growing uncomfortable. “I’m pretty sure you don’t want to watch me pick out tampons.”
“Doesn’t bother me, Nicolette.”
“But it bothers me.” She gently places her hand on top of mine. “Just stay here for a minute, okay? I’ll be right back.”
I swear I hate the idea of letting her wander without me, but I won’t be far. “All right. Go. But I’ll be watching you the entire time.”
“I’m sure you will.” She scurries off like she’s afraid I’ll change my mind.
And believe me, I’m about to.
Space grows between us as she goes two aisles away. I can see the top of her head. I throw in a six-pack of soap and razors while my eyes scan the store again, making sure no one new has walked in.
“Can I help you with something?” A guy’s voice trails off from beyond, but I don’t see him.
And suddenly I’m moving toward her, my pulse picking up speed.
“Not really,” she answers him. “I’m just…”
I appear just as she’s about to finish that statement. It’s that prick from the cash register. As soon as she sees me, her eyes expand. She must see something in my expression.
Good.
“Let’s go,” I tell her, my tone tight, and that has the little jerk looking my way.
I don’t like how close to her he’s standing. I could break his hand in an instant and shoot off his trachea so he can’t scream.
The more she looks at me, the more her expression turns from shock to amusement. Her mouth curls at the ends, and instead of leaving with me, she faces that asshole.
“Actually…” Her tone goes all syrupy, and I already know she’s going to pay for what she’s about to do. “Do you think you can help me find some new shorts?” She giggles, side-eyeing me. “The ones I own are a bit too tight.”
“Nicolette,” I call with a low and savage growl.
“What kind of shorts?” The kid grins, completely ignoring me, while subtly checking her out. “Like jeans or…”
“You know, the short, sporty kind I can sleep in.” She gives me a wicked look, and my hand itches to throw her ass over my lap and teach her a lesson.
“Sure.”
He’s still smiling at her like he’s got her in the bag, while my blood fucking boils.
“Come with me,” he tells her.
I’m on their tail, my palm on the waistband of my sweats, rounding my fingers on the pistol. I grip the basket harder with my other hand.
“Nicolette…let’s go,” I mutter, barely able to suppress my rage.
They both ignore me, and he wraps an arm around her back.
I’m suddenly there, snapping it away, bending his hand back.
“Ow!” he screams, both of them sharply turning. “What the hell, bro?”
“Get your damn hands off of her.”
No one gets to touch her. To have her. No one but me.
I drop the basket with a loud thud, and my face lowers to his, my chest heaving with ravaging breaths, not letting go of his hand.
He cowers, fear slinking in his eyes. I’m taller, a good six inches on him and a lot more power. I could break him like a twig.
“You ever touch her again…” I grit, “and I will cut off both your hands and gouge out your eyes for merely looking at her. You understand me, bro?”
“O-okay. I was j-just helping.”
“With your hands?” I husk.
His mouth shudders wordlessly.
“That’s what I thought,” I clip out. “Fuck off and go help someone else.”
I’m close to losing my temper. If I wasn’t concerned about my father finding her, I’d have done so much worse. But I can’t have this piece of shit reporting us.
He raises both his hands in the air while I reach into my pocket and remove my wallet, taking out a wad of cash and throwing it on the floor by his feet.
He peers over at a shell-shocked Nicolette, whose gaze is locked to mine. I can see it from the side of my face. I’ll deal with her later.
When my nostrils flare and I practically bare my teeth, his eyes bulge, and he scampers off after picking up the cash in a hurry.
Once he’s out of view, I rush up to her, wrapping my palm around her nape and pushing her backward until her body hits the wall of neatly folded clothes.
I drop my mouth until my lips brush the corner of hers, the tip of my tongue begging for a taste. “You ever let another man touch you like that again, and the things I’ll do to him will be on you.”
My other hand slips down her hip, rounding a palm to her ass, squeezing hard. My fingers deepen into her flesh, and her skin breaks with prickles.
“That’s not fair,” she says breathlessly.
“Never said I was.”
NICOLETTE
His jaw is locked, and his eyes flare every time they find mine. Like beneath his calm facade, there’s brooding chaos ready to erupt.
He was jealous at the idea of another man flirting with me. Touching me. That has to be it, right? I didn’t imagine it? Why else would he threaten other men if that wasn’t the case?
I admit it was pretty stupid on my part to talk to that guy. What if he somehow leads Giancarlo’s men to us?
But the second I saw Raph’s eyes on me when I was talking to him, I couldn’t help myself. He appeared deadly. I don’t doubt Raph was close to killing him. I’ve never seen him that way. It excited me to know I did that. That I have power over his emotions.
I’d do anything to make him realize that the only man I want is him. That no matter how many years have gone by, how many conversations we didn’t get to have, he’s still the one my heart wants.
I thought if I could make him jealous, he’d see that. I know he feels something for me. He wouldn’t have gotten hard otherwise. All I need is to give him a reason to give in just enough to try. Just a kiss. One where he finally kisses me back.
His rough exterior is all kinds of arousing, and I instantly want to run my hand over his thick stubble. He’s god-awfully masculine.
“You know…” I pick up some black leggings and matching tank tops and throw them in the basket. “If you don’t want us to get caught, threatening some young kid is probably not the best idea.” I lower my tone so no one overhears.
His howling breaths from beside me would scare anyone else, but not me. I know him too well.
He glares. “Should’ve thought of that before talking to him like that.”
“He was just helping.” Of course that wasn’t all he was trying to do, but…
He inhales long, deep, those eyes holding mine as he takes a single step closer. I practically hold my breath as he does. Waiting. Hoping. For something. Anything.
His arm swoops around my lower back. He drops his mouth to my ear, his lips feathering against it and I gasp at his proximity. At his compounding nearness that has every inch of me in blistering heat, and want, and utter devastating longing.
“Just because I won’t let myself have you, little one, doesn’t mean I want anyone else to.”
I gasp at yet another confession. He just admitted he wants me. Kind of. Sort of.
I can’t move. Can’t speak. And while my heart beats, the back of my nose burns. Because that confession? It’s both remarkable and utterly heartbreaking. I can’t go on like this, wanting him and not having him.
His fingers squeeze around my hip, and my throat goes dry, my heartbeats crackling like fireworks in my heaving chest.
“Your body’s made for sin,” he goes on, his lips brushing softly against the curve of my ear.
His breaths are intoxicatingly warm, cascading down my throat in unhurried waves of ecstasy. I instantly grow tight between my thighs, aching with need, wanting him to touch me so badly, I’d beg.
“Maybe you should be a sinner, then,” I whisper.
He sighs and gradually moves back a fraction. The intense longing in his eyes only devastates me.
“I’ve been a sinner all my life, tesoro mio. But some sins you can’t come back from.”