“I want to take you somewhere, Rafaela. It won’t take long, I assure you.”
“Should I bring Golden Angel?”
He took a deep breath and as soon as he did, a horrible sensation washed over me, prickles of electricity dancing down my arms.
“No. Leave her in the house. Grab your jacket.”
I had no idea what to expect, but I remained sick to my stomach even before I eased onto the passenger seat of his favorite vehicle, one he only drove while touring the grounds. The old Jeep Wrangler was his fun vehicle, but far too dangerous to betaken out on the road. There was no way of bulletproofing or adding thicker glass for the windshield and back window.
Plus, he’d removed the windows in the doors and usually drove with the vinyl top removed.
As he drove the gravel road through the property, I could tell he was admiring everything he’d built. I knew exactly where he was taking me, the overlook a perfect location to see almost the entire property, rolling hills leading to the rich, turquoise ocean.
When he stood, leaning over the roll bar, so did I. I had to admit that our property was incredibly beautiful, pristine and lush in a way few families could ever afford.
“I never thought our vineyard would grow to what it is today. Your grandfather gifted me one hundred acres for my wedding present and told me to make something of it. So I did.”
“It’s beautiful.”
I fell the slow turn of his head, the sharp contrast in the way he was looking at me. “Yes, Rafaela. I’m very proud of what has been accomplished, and I refuse to allow anyone to destroy what took me years to create with blood, sweat, and tears.”
And murder, I thought to myself, not daring to utter a word.
Which obviously made him even angrier. “I’ve tried over the years to protect you from the evils of this world, my world. I wanted nothing but the best for you so you were kept from learning about some of the horrors and necessities of what must be done in this business. Perhaps I was wrong in doing so. Maybe it’s past time you understand what’s at stake.”
As soon as he thumped down in his seat, I fell into mine, looking at him while he placed the gear in reverse. What the hell did that mean? What did he want to show me?
Terror remained furrowed in my stomach, twisting and turning while I did my very best to keep my father from realizing how upset I’d become. Tears were considered a weakness.
Sadness was considered a weakness.
Hell, happiness was also.
He drove silently, heading toward an area of the property that I knew existed but couldn’t remember the last time I’d been allowed to see the area. From what I remembered, the original house from one of many adjacent properties purchased over the years still stood even after a raging fire. There was also a cemetery, old tombstones with dates going back hundreds of years. When I was a child, my father had told me the area was haunted.
Now, I wondered if the grounds hadn’t continued being used for what they were intended, only for the bodies of my father’s enemies.
Another cold shiver slammed against my spine and I bit back a cry. No weakness. None.
“Why are we here?” I asked when he stopped the Jeep.
“You’ll see. Come with me.” He didn’t offer me the opportunity to object, heading toward a clump of trees.
I had to jog to keep up with him. When he broke through to a clearing, I was confused seeing a makeshift platform with several outdoor chairs. The lumber used was new, completelybleached out. A horrible thought slithered into my mind. The platform had been built today.
Sick to my stomach, when I walked up the four stairs, I almost lost my balance, pulled the rest of the way by my father.
He gripped my arms while standing directly in front of me. “As I said, I’ve tried to protect you, but you’re a woman now. You can handle the ugliness that surrounds our life. A lesson learned, daughter, for you and for anyone who dares destroy our sanctity or ever try and place my family in harm’s way under any circumstances.”
When he walked away, I couldn’t understand what I was seeing at first, daring to move a little closer to the edge.
A strange wooden contraption had been built, two tall pieces of eight-by-eight lumber driven into the ground, connected together by one overhead. Hanging from the corners were chains and shackles. Another set bolted into the bottom of the salt-treated pieces.
“What… is this?” I hated my voice was shaking. My bastard of a father didn’t say anything yet when I turned my head, I noticed he was nodding to someone standing on the ground.
Snapping my head toward the direction, I hissed seeing Marco, who dared shift his gaze to my eyes.
“What are you doing?” Anger filled my voice.
