Sasquatch’s eyes widen in apparent disbelief, making me smile with triumph.
“He told me to keep her here.”
Maria shakes her head, slightly breathless. “Change of plan, I guess.” And she disappears back the way she’d come as I watch Sasquatch with a pleased smirk.
“Toodles, then.”
I send him a cheeky wink as I slip out past him and into the corridor beyond, taking a right to follow Maria, when she calls out, “This way. Follow me.”
I grin despite myself when I hear Sasquatch snort a laugh from behind me as I do as she bids, keeping close as we walk briskly along a long, wide hallway. The plush, deep red carpet muffles the sound of our footsteps until we reach a polished wooden staircase.
As we descend, the sound of a raised voice greets my ears, getting louder and louder until we emerge into a wide-openspace. An elderly man with a shock of silver hair appears to be berating two young men in terse Italian.
He trails off when his eyes land on me, disdain filling his features as he openly looks me up and down, finding me lacking on every level.
I’m familiar with the assessment. I witness it every time I interact with my mother.
But rather than look away, I spear him with a contemptuous look of my own until I follow Maria around a corner and out of his sight. She ducks into an office space, striding through and outside onto a large deck area.
We pass a gigantic pool surrounded by sun loungers before we stroll out onto the manicured lawns beyond. My eyes scan the area, landing on two men in dark sweatpants. Both are shirtless, their similarly tattooed muscular torsos glistening with sweat as they grapple with one another.
One is almost as big as the grinning Sasquatch we’d left inside, except he has fists the size of hams, and I flinch when he makes a solid connection to his opponent’s jaw.
My teeth find my bottom lip when I realize the man spitting blood to one side is Rafe.
Despite his bloody mouth, he laughs darkly and beckons the other man closer once more. He’s stealthy on his feet, moving swiftly and with ease to avoid the attempted strikes of those enormous fists.
Rafe doesn’t even glance our way when I gasp loudly, noticing the other man has drawn a knife. A wicked grin spreads across his face when he lunges forward on his left foot as his attacker charges, the blade glinting dangerously in his hand.
I’m utterly riveted by the scene before me as the knife slashes through the air, coming closer with each thrust. My entire body is on edge, my breath caught in my lungs as I watch helplesslyuntil finally, blessed relief unfurls in my chest when Rafe knocks the weapon from his opponent’s grasp.
As fast as lightning, Rafe kicks out, swiping the opposing man’s legs out from under him and, in one fluid motion, he plucks the discarded knife from the ground to bring it to the fallen man’s throat.
Both men are panting heavily when Rafe extends his hand with a wry grin.
“Nice try, Paolo.” Then he drops the knife to the ground as he tugs the other man to stand, half embracing him while they slap each other on the back. “Same time tomorrow.”
Paolo nods with a grin of his own before grabbing his discarded shirt and walking back in the direction of the house.
“That will be all, Maria.”
At Rafe’s words, my companion nods, then she follows Paolo, leaving us alone. My gaze is intent as Rafe wipes his brow and torso with a small towel. He tosses it over his shoulder, his indifferent eyes finding mine.
“How fuckingdareyou drug me and bring me here?—”
Rafe cuts me off coolly. “I have time to answerthreeof your questions.” Then he arches a dark eyebrow. “Choose wisely, Miss Rivers. I willnotafford you the luxury again.”
My teeth clench when he refers to me in such a formal manner.
Asshole.
Strolling closer, he plucks a plain white T-shirt from the grass to tug it over his head. The act shields my eyes from the magnificence of his chest, and I don’t know whether to be grateful or disappointed.
I grit my teeth at my ridiculous train of thought, suddenly furious at the feelings this man so easily evokes within me.
Damn him to Hell.
My need for answers wars with my need to rip him a new one, but after a beat, the former narrowly wins out.
