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The following day,Noelle set out to visit Raf just as before, armed with a basin of warm water, towels, food and medicine. She couldn’t wait to see him again since their previous conversation had defined their relationship in her mind.
He was serious about her.
She blushed just thinking about his kisses and his words of commitment.
Although she didn’t know how people behaved while dating in normal circumstances, she was sure Rafaelo was one of a kind simply by virtue of his honesty and loyalty. He’d been very straightforward with her when he’d told her he didn’t make light of their filtration and wanted more—something concrete.
While she had no doubt that someone else would have taken advantage and fucked her on the spot, despite the debilitating injuries, her Raf had been so circumspect, so gentlemanly.
She had the urge to fan herself as she felt herself heat up as she replayed their conversation in her head.
Yet for all her good spirits when she headed to the basement where he’d been locked, she was shocked to find it empty.
“Lulu,” she called out as she hurried back to her apartment. “He’s gone. He’s not in the basement anymore,” she added, panic growing inside of her by the second.
Lucero was at her desk, embroidering a piece of material. Hearing Noelle’s cries of alarm, she looked up, frowning.
“What do you mean he’s gone?”
“He’s not in the basement. Where could he be? You don’t think Sergio…” Noelle trailed off, her fear turning into a full blown panic attack. “My God. He’ll kill him. I know he will. He probably found out I’ve been visiting him and now he…”
“Noelle, calm down,” Lucero said in her usual calming voice. “You won’t solve anything if you think of the worst.”
Rising from her chair, she moved toward Noelle, stroking her lightly on the back.
Noelle clutched at the necklace nestled against her skin, her breathing becoming more and more erratic.
“We’ll find him. I promise you,” Lucero whispered as she hugged her in an attempt to soothe her.
It took Noelle a few moments to get her bearings under control enough that she could think clearly again. She was still breathing hard, her heart racing, but at least she was calmer.
Once she realized she wouldn’t achieve anything if she panicked, she focused on ways of finding Raf. And the first thing she did was check the security footage.
“Here, I’ve made you some calming tea,” Lucero said as she placed a hot mug on the desk.
Noelle gave her a strained smile.
“What would I do without you, Lulu? Thank you.”
Lucero nodded, her lips tipped up.
They both settled in front of the monitors, combing through the footage.
“There,” Noelle pointed to a video timestamped early in the morning.
Rafaelo was being carried back to the slaves’ quarters and put into isolation.
“They must have let go of the others if they’re moving him,” Lucero noted.
“It doesn’t make sense, though. Something is just… odd.”
“You’re still thinking Sergio had something to do with it?”
“I don’t know, Lulu. Maybe I’m overreacting, but I know that the moment Sergio knows what he means to me is the moment his life is in danger. And I can’t afford that.”
“Then you need to be more careful. You can’t keep visiting him or people will notice.”
“I know,” Noelle sighed, pursing her lips. “I’ll only go check on him tonight. The last time, I promise,” she muttered, though she knew deep down it was all a lie.
