“Elodie, please, wake up.”
I stir into awareness as Rafe’s arms wrap around me, and my scream dies in my throat. His familiar bergamot scent envelops me, letting me know that I’m safe.
It takes long minutes for my heart to slow to a normal rate while perspiration cools on my brow, making me shiver despite the heat of the Sicilian evening.
Rafe rocks me soothingly within his embrace, whispering over and over, “It was just a dream. Just a bad dream,Stellina. You’re safe now.”
I blink heavily before angling my face to his. “I know now why I didn’t remember.”
His forehead creases with concern and anguish before I reach for his hand and hold it in mine. “When he took me away from you that night, he broke my cheekbone.”
Rafe winces as I continue in a completely detached tone, as though I can see what happened, but I didn’t really live through it.
“The hospital chart said I’d suffered two broken ribs, and a ruptured eardrum. Bruises and cuts he’d inflicted using a small penknife.” A shudder runs up my spine at that, knowing precisely which cuts healed and which ones he’d ensured would scar me for the rest of my life.
My eyes find and hold Rafe’s, and I can see he’s already thinking through ways to make Nico suffer the most, just like he did with Jeremy.
I move onto my knees and throw one over his body so my legs are straddling him. Leaning closer to palm his face, my eyes showing him everything he needs to know.
“I want him to die begging for his worthless life on his hands and motherfucking knees.” Rafe’s eyes fill with pride before he nods slowly. “I want him to scream. To cry. To plead. I want him to know trulyexcruciatingpain before you send him straight to Hell. Promise me, Rafe. Promise me this.”
He sits forward, his gaze intent with dark promises. “I swear to it.On my life.Lo giuro.Lo giuro sulla mia vita.”
My racing heart quietens as Rafe’s words soothe the ache for vengeance that’s steadily burning within me, and he reaches a hand up to cup my cheek so tenderly, I feel I might shatter.
His eyes rake over my face, deepening in an intensity that makes my cheeks flush, and I nibble my bottom lip between my teeth, almost squirming beneath his fervent attention.
When his eyes drop to the action, his jaw tics and the thought that he might close the distance to press his lips to mine sends a thrill of anticipation careening through me. Indecision wars on his handsome face before he neatly flips us so that I’m nestled in the crook of his arm.
“You’re far safer there than where you were.”
There’s a self-deprecation in his tone that makes me look up at him questioningly, and his lips part in a broad smile as he chuckles.
“I would lay down my life to keep you safe,Stellina, but I won’t deny it…” The humor leaves his face as his eyes deepen in intensity, his voice dropping an octave. “I want you.Badly.”
Tension crackles between us as my breathing quickens, my stomach flooding with desire as he brushes the pad of his thumb across my bottom lip. “I’m a patient man. I’ve carried the longing to claim these lips for two years. And I will claim themsoon, but only when old wounds have healed, and the memories of what you have relived this day have faded.”
He pinches my chin between his thumb and index finger, giving me wide-eyed honesty that only feeds the yearning he’s stirred to life within me. “I’ll do a lot more than kiss you, Elodie Rivers, but only when you’re ready to trulybe minein every sense of the word. Because what’s between us is so much more than physical, you understand me?”
I nod slowly, even as every molecule of my body screams for him to kiss me. Eyes as dark as midnight hold me prisoner as I whisper, “Si.Ti capisco.”
Then he leans closer, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my brow. A kiss filled with a tentative promise of so much more, and a contented smile warms my lips at the knowledge as I nuzzle closer into his embrace.
Safe.
Happy.
Home.
CHAPTER 18
RAFE
Elodie loosensthree shots in quick succession, hitting each target Emiliano had set up for her during an earlier practice session with ease. She lowers her arms, glancing over her shoulder at me as delight plays across her face.
The revelations from three days ago seem to be a distant memory, and I relish watching her settle into life here at the compound. If I could manage to get Aurelia back home and Conti six feet under, life would be pretty fucking perfect right about now.
I’d spent the morning on a call with Salvatore. The double-crossing fuck is now under the impression that he’s finally pushed me into announcing a union between Gabriela and myself. What he doesn’t know is that I am more than aware of his little charade and ready to call him out on it.
