Chapter 6
ROSE
Iam trying so hard to keep it together, but the moment Julius mentioned Morgan Sorcusi, my heart cracked open and revealed a festering wound.
Tears burn behind my eyes as she crashes back into my life, and it’s obvious that all of the prayers in the world won’t shield me from her.
Just her name alone causes my heart to pound, and I should have known she would be involved in this. It’s why we ran—she’s why we ran because that woman appears to have only one mission in life. To destroy ours.
My hands are shaking, so I clutch them tightly because I can’t show any weakness.
I must be strong and put this down as one of God’s tests.
I have only left the convent for a few hours and I’m already struggling.
Where is the excitement I experienced when I learned of my mission? It doesn’t appear so exciting anymore.
Julius returns, and my world stills. It’s as if he eclipses the planet and I can only see him.
I swallow hard as he says in his husky whisper, “Are you hungry?”
I think about that because I’ve lived with hunger for a long time now and don’t even consider it anymore.
“A little.”
The fact my stomach is growling reveals the truth, and he nods, his dark eyes glittering, causing me to squirm on my seat.
He stands and heads to the front of the plane and after a few minutes returns with a small smile.
“Come.”
Once again, he reaches for my hand, and rather than cause a scene when he is being so kind, I allow mine to find his, wondering why I love my hand in his so much.
I’m almost giddy as I stand and he leads me to a table where two chairs are positioned and says huskily, “The flight attendant is bringing some food. We have a limited choice, so she is fetching what we have.”
“I’m sure it will be lovely.”
He takes the seat opposite me and leans back, his gaze sharp and his smile curious.
“Tell me why you want to be a nun, baby girl?”
Something inside me flips as his slow drawl catches me off-guard, the endearment strangely comforting.
“Because the world sucks.”
He grins. “I can’t argue with that, but it’s not a good enough reason. Try again.”
“Try again?”
My eyes widen as I repeat his words, and he grins as he leans forward, his dark, compelling gaze stripping away any defenses I foolishly thought would remain in place.
“Three sisters in their prime with the world at their feet decide to flee their entitled boarding school for a life of sacrifice. Something must have driven you to such extreme measures, and I am curious about that.”
“Entitled, you say.” I shake my head. “Do you know what it’s like to be a girl growing up in my world?”
“I can guess.”
He holds my gaze, and a surge of heat scorches through my veins.
I cough slightly and break eye contact, sighing, “I may as well have been in prison. We weren’t allowed to leave the house unless under armed guard. We had no freedom inside it either. Our days were planned with tutors and then study.”
“Study?”
He raises his eyes, and I shrug.
“Piano, needlework and painting to name a few pastimes. We were not permitted to have friends, communication with the outside world or chats with the staff. The only people I could engage with were my father, my sisters and her.”
“Her? I take it you are referring to your stepmother.”
I nod, reluctant to dwell on that woman.
“To be honest, she did us a favor when he died by sending us away. It was as if we had the keys to our cell, and we ran and never looked back. It was an experience we had spoken about for many years, and yet boarding school wasn’t quite the dream we envisioned.”
“In what way?”
“In every way.”
I think back on the hell that goes by the name of Canton House Academy and shake my head.
“The other girls were mean, rude and made our lives hell, and because we were inexperienced in life, we had no ammunition to defend ourselves. We were the academy joke. Everyone bullied us, and once again, the only safe place was when we were locked in our room at night and it was just the three of us.”
“You were locked in your room!”
His face is like thunder, and I nod. “Apparently, our stepmother requested it. In fact, she requested a lot of things that probably didn’t help, and we were singled out because of it.
No sports, no social clubs and a strict diet.
We weren’t allowed to join in because she made the rules that the academy followed after a huge donation. ”
“It’s no wonder you ran, but why a convent?”
“Because the world is a scary place to live when you are ill-equipped to deal with it. Sister Agatha was kind, welcoming, and the convent felt like the safest place in the world. Why wouldn’t we want to stay?”
“I guess.”
He stops as the attendant arrives with a tray of food that smells delicious.
My attention diverts to the most amazing dishes of salad, meats, vegetables and a basket of assorted bread.
She fills my glass with crystal water and sets a bottle of wine on the table in the middle, handing me some silverware and a crisp white napkin.
“If you require anything else, please call.”
Her smile is warm, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes, but I’m grateful for her attention.
“Thank you so much.”
She smiles as she moves away, and Julius nods toward the food.
“Eat as much or as little as you want. Nobody will judge you here.”
I’m surprised because it had already crossed my mind that I couldn’t possibly manage everything, and it’s a sin to waste food. However, there is far too much for two people, and I smile softly and, feeling bold, stare right into his eyes.
“Then it’s a good job there are two of us. I hope you are hungry, Mr. Ravera, because it would really help me out if you were.”
He grins, and my heart leaps a mile as his eyes flash as he lifts his silverware.
“I kind of relish a challenge, baby girl, in every way possible.”
As I lift my silverware, my heart thumps inside me because, for the first time in my life, I am dining with a man who isn’t my father, and I’m surprised by my reaction. I should be horrified, worried and fearful, but the only emotion I’m experiencing right now is excitement.