Chapter 4
ROSE
My head is scrambled. I just witnessed a murder. A man’s life ended today, and I’m still in shock about that.
Throughout the journey, I prayed for his soul, pleading with God to deliver me safely and keep me from harm because I’m guessing this isn’t the future Sister Agatha intended for me.
Then there’s him. The man who stole me away under the guise of protecting me.
I picture the black jet and what could have been waiting inside and wonder if he’s lying to me. Am I in danger from him? I already know the answer to that question because as soon as I stared into his dark, devilish eyes, my soul unraveled.
The gardener pales in comparison to this man. Tall, dark and handsome for sure, but there is a masculinity, a presence if you like, that commands attention.
When he stripped off the uniform, I saw a body tightly contained inside a black silk shirt, slightly open, revealing a tanned chest with a crucifix nestling against the dark hairs. A man of God—most definitely not, and if I were to hazard a guess, I would imagine he was firmly on the other side.
But those eyes. They mesmerize me, and his strong jaw and heavy gaze will revisit me for sure in my dreams tonight.
Julius Ravera. A strong name for a strong man, and despite what happened back there, I am reassured by his presence.
I say nothing, preferring silent anonymity while I figure out what just happened and could happen when we reach our destination.
Work for him. In what capacity? An assistant, a housekeeper, or…
I swallow hard as my heart races, and I avert my gaze to peer out of the window at the passing scenery.
So many thoughts rattle through my mind as I consider my position. This morning, life was very simple, and yet here I am now. Surrounded by drama and unsure of the outcome.
The car stops, and I stare in horror at the helicopter waiting for us.
“I thought we were going to Washington?”
Julius nods. “We are but first we must get to Zurich airport and this is the fastest way.”
He reaches for my hand to pull me from the car, and every nerve ending I possess stands to attention as our skin connects.
I almost can’t breathe as a man holds my hand for the very first time because growing up there wasn’t any freedom to explore that possibility.
“Come, I’ll help you into the helicopter.”
I attempt to focus as he opens the door and as I climb inside I notice one of the men who traveled with us retrieve my suitcase from the trunk of the car.
It appears so small and shabby in comparison to the world I have fallen into, and I’m guessing I must look the same because it’s obvious I don’t fit in here.
Julius sits beside me and pulls on his ear defenders, and before long the helicopter shudders and then moves away from the ground.
It’s not my first time in a helicopter either, and it reminds me of life before the convent and boarding school.
I close my eyes, remembering the mansion we lived in and the gold-lined rooms and valuable paintings that hung on the walls.
It was another world, a decadent, cruel world, and one we were happy to leave behind.
Now I enjoy nature’s brilliance rather than man’s, and material possessions are no longer coveted. It’s the simple things I enjoy now, and yet here I am, far from the simple life and ready to play a game I haven’t been given the rule book for.
The journey is made in silence, and as we land, I notice another jet nearby where dark-suited men are surrounding it, gazing around them as if expecting a war to break out.
Once again, Julius takes my hand, and a warm feeling spreads through me, causing me to wonder why I like this so much?
“Come, we don’t have long as we have a slot to catch.”
I’m ushered up the steps into the jet and as my eyes adjust, I am greeted by an attractive flight attendant who guides me to a plush seat nearby.
“Welcome to Viper Air. May I help you with your coat?”
Her smile is kind, but her gaze dismissive, and I shake my head. “No thank you.”
She shrugs and says pleasantly, “May I fetch you a preflight drink?”
“Um, water please.”
She smiles once again, and as she moves away, I shrink back into my seat and wish I was back in the stark room at the convent where life was easy and simple.
They murdered a man in front of you, and you apparently don’t care.
My inner voice is working hard today as it plays on repeat in my mind.
I must be in shock because the fact I was apparently kidnapped and transported halfway across Switzerland isn’t registering as much as the fact that a man is dead because of me.
I close my eyes and attempt to breathe because this isn’t what I expected. I have many questions but fear the answers and wonder if asking to return home is an option.
The attendant returns with a glass of water, and I open my eyes to thank her with a smile. The engines fire up, and my heart rate increases as the aircraft moves from its standing position, signifying there is no going back now.
Julius drops into the seat beside me and says over the engine noise, “The flight is a long one, and you must be exhausted. If you need to sleep at any time, there is a bedroom in the middle of the plane. Take it; it's yours for the duration of the flight if you require it.”
His smile is kind, but his eyes are cold, and yet something in them catches my breath on fire. They shimmer with intensity, almost as if they are pulling me under a dark spell, and I’m not gullible enough to pretend that he isn’t equally as dangerous as the situation he saved me from.
As I said, I have many questions but wonder if this is the time to voice them. It may be better to remain silent and draw my own conclusions before offloading my thoughts to a man who is certain to use them against me.
Once we are airborne, the attendant returns and addresses Julius.
“Your usual, sir.” Her eyes burn—no positively smolder—as she smiles at him, and he nods.
“Whiskey neat and whatever Rose wants.”
Hearing my name on his lips is not unpleasant, and I wonder why I like the sound of it. Her gaze meets mine, and I smile. “Just water, please.”
As she moves away, Julius turns, and his scrutiny is a little intense, causing me to hold my breath. It hasn’t escaped my attention that he is an extremely attractive man, and there is something about his gaze that unnerves me.
“The car that collected you from the convent was booked by Sister Agatha, but the driver was found dead with his throat cut at five thirty this morning.”
I say nothing as he carries on in an emotionless voice.
“The man who took you to the airport was Mickey Stallin, one of Liam Dettori’s guards. It was under Liam’s instruction to kidnap you, and his intention was to take you to Romania, where he has a mountain home.”
“But why?”
I am confused about that because why would a man like that be interested in a girl like me? I have nothing to offer him, but Julius sighs and surprises me by taking my hand.
I stare at his hand heavy against mine, noting the strong, tapered, tattooed fingers with several heavy rings. My hand appears small in his, and I wonder if it would be impolite to snatch it away because this is messing with my mind.
Then he speaks, and my attention is dragged back to reality when he says roughly, “I hate to be the one to break this to you, baby girl, but you are in a whole lot of trouble right now. You have a price on your head and a target on your back, and it’s my job to keep you alive.”