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I sighed, setting down my fork. “Safe,” I muttered, the word leaving a bad taste in my mouth.
His eyes searched mine, a silent question lingering in them.
I hesitated, then decided to confide in him. I didn’t know why. He just seemed like someone I could tell things to, so I did.
“Marco… he used to hit me,” I said, the words tasting bitter. “I was always walking on eggshells around him, never knowing when he’d explode.”
Rafael’s jaw clenched, his eyes darkening. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. No one deserves to be treated that way,” he said, his voice firm with conviction. “You’re safe here, Ellie. I promise you, Marco won’t ever lay a hand on you again and if he tries, he’s as good as dead.”
His words were oddly comforting, and I found myself wanting to believe him.
“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling a strange sense of relief in sharing my burden.
Rafael nodded, a trace of a protective instinct flickering across his features. His comforting gaze held mine and my core flickered with heat. His warmth drew me in, and I found myself in a sudden state of confliction.
What was happening right now?
Dante, commanding and mysterious, intrigued me with his intense authority and icy demeanor.
In contrast, Rafael’s warmth and expressive eyes offered a comforting, approachable presence, his charm and protective nature starkly different from Dante’s coldness.
How could I be interested in both of them at once? They were my fucking enemies, for god’s sake.
I shook my head. I shouldn’t be thinking about them like this. I should be thinking about how the fuck I was going to get out of here.
Rafael cleared his throat, breaking the silence that had settled between us. “I’ve got some work to do,” he said, his voice bringing me back to reality. He stood up, leaving the room with a sense of purpose, heading off to what I assumed was his office.
I didn’t follow.
Alone now, my mind began to race with thoughts of escape. I considered a few possibilities—trying to find a phone to call for help, or even attempting to blend in with a staff member and slip away unnoticed. Each option seemed fraught with its own set of risks.
After mulling over my limited choices, a bold plan formed in my mind. The elevator. I remembered watching Rafael punch in the code the night before.
The code was four digits: seven, nine, six, one.
With my heart pounding in my chest, I made my way to the elevator, my steps quick but cautious. I reached the keypad and, taking a deep breath, entered the code I had committed to memory. I didn’t know if the twenty-four-hour time slot would be up yet. I hoped it wasn’t. To my utter amazement, though, the doors slid open. My heart leapt with a mix of fear and exhilaration.
I stepped inside and pressed the button for the garage. The elevator descended smoothly, and as the doors opened, I stepped out. I was so close to freedom that I could practically taste it.
Now I just needed to figure out how to get out of this fortress.
With my heart racing, I dashed through the garage, the cool air whipping past me as I desperately searched for an exit. The array of cars seemed to blur into one as I weaved between them, the echo of my footsteps loud in the vast, empty space. Adrenaline surged through me, every fiber of my being focused on escape.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I gasped, caught off guard. Twisting around, I found myself face to face with Rafael, his expression a complex mix of surprise and an unreadable emotion.
“You didn’t really think it would be that easy, did you?” Rafael’s voice was a low murmur, tinged with both amusement and something else, something much darker.
Something that I distinctly didn’t like.
It sounded dangerous.
Rafael’s hold on my arm was firm but not harsh as he guided me back to the elevator. I jerked against his grip, but I gained no leverage.
I was trapped.
As we entered the elevator, Rafael punched in the code with a resigned expression. “You see, the elevator sends an alert to my phone every time it’s used,” he explained, his voice carrying a hint of regret. “There’s no chance of escape. Not now. Not ever.”
The finality in his words sent a chill down my spine.
