Il Destiano ~~~~
Rafael POV
The drive was short. When we pulled up to the castello, Benito turned the car off. I told him to leave us, so he got out and strode toward the
surveillance room on the back side of my home. I said nothing, just waited.
“I should have known,” she snapped, “that you have all the police here on your payroll. The two of you were laughing like old friends.”
“The police are helpless, too weak to stop our organisation. They know it is better to work with me than against me. A lesson you would be wise to learn, as well.”
“I don’t want to work with you.” Her voice hitched, as if she were holding back tears. “I don’t want to be part of your horrible family full of murderers and criminals. You’re all psychopaths. I want you to let me go.”
This from the woman who had nearly melted in my arms after hearing me interrogate and shoot two men? I didn’t believe it. She was scared because she might not mind it. She might even like it.
I reached into my coat pocket, took out the pistol and rested it on my knee. “Do you want to kill me, Valentina ?”
She grew very still, her gaze darting between my face and the gun.
“What?” I grabbed her wrist and forced the gun into her palm. Then I aimed the barrel at my chest. “Go on, then. Shoot me.” I stared directly into her dark eyes, showing her how comfortable I was with violence.
“Pull the trigger, dolcezza,” I said in a low rasp, like I was seducing her. Licking her lips, she tried to edge away. “You’re insane. What are you doing?”
Putting my hand on the door behind her, I caged her in. The lights of the castello illuminated the interior of the car, and I could see the pulse racing on the side of her throat, flush to her skin. No fear, however. Whatever she was feeling was something different, something that confirmed all my suspicions about her.
“You want to kill me, no? This is your chance. Pull the trigger and watch my blood spill out all over your lap and onto the seat, spray against the glass of the windows. Then you’ll be free,” I whispered.
“Until your men catch and kill me.”
“Don’t think about that. Think about how good it will feel to pull the trigger and take my life with your own hand. To watch the light fade from my eyes until I am nothing. What power you will feel in that moment.”
The barrel of the gun shifted against my sternum, and her mouth parted slightly on an exhale, her pupils dilating. I bet if I looked at her nipples, they would be poking through the fabric of her clothing. Dio, this woman. She was extraordinary. I had to curl my hands into fists to keep from touching her.
“You’re crazy,” she said quietly. “It’s like you want me to do it.”
“I want to prove that you are not frightened of me. That you are just as crazy, just as wild as we are.”
“I’m not. I’m a good person. I don’t want any of this.”
“A good girl would have stayed at home instead of sneaking out of her father’s house, just to find a man to fuck her. A good girl would not have stabbed a man like me in the hand with a pen. A good girl would not be turned on by holding a gun on a man.” I leaned in.
“You are definitely not a good girl, Valentina .”
“You’re wrong.” Her voice was weak, unsure.
“Go on then. Pull the trigger.”
Valentina POV
This was insane. It was like he was seducing me into killing him. His voice, rough and low, filled the car and my head, luring me deeper into his web. I was mesmerised, not frightened, which worried me.
You are definitely not a good girl, Valentina . Was that why I hadn’t fought when Ravazzani’s soldier shoved me back into the car? Or why did my stomach flutter when Ravazzani himself showed up to retrieve me from the police?
Was that why my panties were soaked right now? No, I could not let it be true. I had to remain strong and remember I wanted a normal life. The life my mother had wanted for her daughters. I was not turned on by this man or the violence he represented.
I shoved at his shoulder, which I couldn’t help but notice was solid and strong, and handed him the gun back. “Stop fucking with my head.”
Smirking, he put some distance between us and pocketed the gun. I hated that smug look on his face. “Don’t think for one second that this proves anything. I’m not stupid enough to shoot you when I know I’ll be caught. I’d much rather wait until you let your guard down.”
“My guard is never down. You’d be wise to remember it.” That sounded like a horrible way to live. But I didn’t feel pity for him.
This man had chosen this life, even if his fate was preordained by family. We all had choices to make, and he clearly made them a long time ago. Just like my choice was to not marry a criminal.
But his comment made me wonder. “How did you know I left?”
“There are eyes and ears everywhere. It’s how I keep my family safe.” The cameras. Of course. Dimitri said I would never see them, so I had to learn where they were to avoid them next time. “Why aren’t you angry I tried to escape?”
“Because I suspected you might and I like to be proven right. Especially when it comes to you, it seems.” The light played across his cheekbones, as well as a lush mouth that could be so cruel but also teasing. He hadn’t shaved recently, and a dark scruff covered his sharp jaw.
There was something about his hard blue eyes, along with the power he exuded, that caused me to shiver. I had to get a hold of myself. The man had put a gun in my hand and told me to shoot him. He was straight up certifiable.
“You knew I wouldn’t get away,” I said. “You knew there was no chance I could escape.” His mouth curved into a smile so sexy it would tempt a nun into breaking her vows. “That is true.”
Frustration burned my skin, an embarrassing combination of anger and hopelessness I didn’t bother to hide. “I hate you.”
“I know. It will get easier, though, once you have accepted your fate.”
“It’s not fate. You are forcing me into this. My fate was to go to college and choose my own husband.” He threw his head back and laughed. “If your father allowed you to believe this, he is a bigger fool than I imagined. Women in our world do not have choices such as this. He would have married you to another family’s son to strengthen his position. It’s what is to be expected And deep down you know it.”
“No, I don’t. What I do know is that I will continue to defy you, Dimitri , and anyone else who gets in my way of escaping this nightmare.”
“Nightmare? You should feel honoured that I am willing to marry you to my son knowing you are not pure. You should be bowing and scraping at my feet in gratitude.”
I gaped at him. “Not pure? Are you serious? You have some nerve judging me, considering you banged your girlfriend inside the house.” One dark brow rose. “You almost sound jealous.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said, putting as much indignation as I could muster into my tone. “I don’t care if you screw her sideways against the kitchen wall, but you can’t slut shame me for having sex outside of marriage when you are doing the same.”
“Yes, I can. The rules for daughters are different, as you well know And Katarzyna likes it when I fuck her against the wall.” Great. Now I had that visual in my head. I shifted in my seat, suddenly very warm.
“At least she tells you she likes it. She’s probably very good at faking it.”
“Oh, there’s no need to fake it with me. Italian men are very attentive partners, Valentina . Making a woman come is necessary to men here, like breathing air.”
Unbidden, my gaze darted to his mouth. Did he give oral? David hadn’t been a fan and I’d always wondered what it was like. Something told me Ravazzani loved to eat a woman out. My thighs clenched, and I had to get the hell out of this car. “Are we done?”
He produced the gun again. “I don’t know. Are we?”
Was he threatening to shoot me? It didn’t matter. I had to remain strong and never show this man any fear. He would crush me if I did. “I won’t marry your son. So go ahead and do your worst, Ravazzani.”
Reaching over me, he flicked the handle and the car door opened. His smile was all teeth when he said, “Do not worry about that, piccola monella. I most definitely will.”
I hurried from the car and didn’t look back. When Dimitri asked if I’d like to take the boat out two days later, I eagerly agreed. Being off the estate meant the possibility of escape, and I would grab every opportunity presented.
I expected one of those deep sea fishing boats. Or maybe a sleek speedboat. I did not expect a gigantic 30-metre mega-yacht with split-level decks and a pool. Dark tinted windows ran along the side, hiding the interior from curious eyes. Perfect for mafia business, I supposed.
The name on the back read, IL DESTINO.