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I refused to allow the man to get to me.
Or to take me away from my life.
If I was a smart girl, I’d call the police. And tell them what? I laughed as I scanned the street, unable to locate him but I knew he was waiting like the vulture he was.
Images of our time together floated into my mind and every time I moved, I gathered the scent of spicy citrus and sandalwood. The combination was irresistible.
As I spun around, refusing to fall into whatever game he was playing, I knew in my gut I wouldn’t contact anyone, including my father. The man had some kind of crazy control over me, a web that I couldn’t break free from, but not from fear. From longing.
God, I hated myself for it.
An hour passed and I continuously moved toward the window, peering outside. He was nowhere in sight, but the car hadn’t moved. I wasn’t certain whether to breathe a sigh of relief, allowing myself to believe I’d been wrong in my assumptions, or to race out the back door, returning for my car later when it was dark outside. I could walk back to school. It was only… five miles. No big deal.
I was determined to get as far away from him as possible.
When I dared look out the window again, the Ferrari was gone.
Maybe he’d given up. Maybe I could breathe easy.
Maybe I needed a CAT scan.
* * *
Arman
Arguing with Raven was exhilarating.
Craving her divine.
Kissing her as close to salvation as a man like me would ever achieve.
Fucking her… Out of control.
Needing her was something else entirely, my mind barely able to think of anything else, including the fact someone was out to seek revenge or destroy my family.
Taking her was truly my only option.
I didn’t like the undercurrent that currently existed in the family. Francois’ constant push, his need for independence was a possible problem. But that was the least of my worries.
By the time I’d made it to Baton Rouge, he’d sent the required information, although the details on the fire weren’t very helpful. Neither was the warrant. It had been quickly thrown together, likely grabbing some judge off the golf course to sign. I was certain of it. There was an old boys’ way of handling business that was entirely different in Texas. Perhaps that’s why I could barely tolerate traveling there. Nothing was straightforward, always someone obliging another.
Okay, well, it was methods used by every powerful individual, but I preferred straight out blackmail to greasing someone’s palm. That had never been my style. A smile crossed my face. Taking Raven was the perfect ace in the hole. I’d need to figure out how best to share the joyful news with Mr. FBI director.
God, I did love being an evil bastard.
Raven had pushed me more than any other woman had before, so much so that for a few seconds, I’d almost found myself tongue tied. It was rare that someone who barely knew me had pegged my personality so well. I’d never done any of those things she’d talked about, preferring to follow in my father’s footsteps of enjoying the finer things in life.
It had been drilled into me that certain things were beneath our regime. I could see Raven in her bare feet, skipping along the water’s edge, laughing as the sun began to set, a dripping ice cream cone or glass of champagne in her hand. Loving life. That was her personality, even though she’d yet to blossom into the stunning rose I knew existed within her.
The kiss had been an explosive reminder that we were toxic together, so much so that remaining aloof could be more than an insignificant problem. Fucking her in the bathroom of a shitty little coffee shop had been beneath me.
But so fucking hot my skin continued to tingle. The woman was more than just a problem. She was a disaster waiting to happen.
At least with my daughter living in the house, we could more easily keep our distance.
Maybe it would allow my bride to be the opportunity to develop a plan to slit my throat in the middle of the night.
Chuckling, I rubbed my jaw, staring at the front of the coffee shop, wondering why I’d remained outside for well over an hour. Respect? I had very little for anyone else, long ago realizing that I garnered the respect, not the other way around. But for some reason, I’d wanted her to finish out her working day. I adjusted my sunglasses, noticing she’d crossed in front of the oversized plate glass window for the fifth time. She was obviously looking for me.
