by Piper Stone
I thought about the hidden room, the concept terrifying me even more, making the situation that much more real. I just couldn’t understand how Rafael could live this way.
As I found the coffee in the cabinet, pulling the coffeemaker closer, I realized just how different he’d been the night before. I’d been allowed to see a completely different side of him even than when we’d shared time at the A Coruna house. The way he worked the kitchen, preparing a delicious meal in bare feet and tousled hair had seemed almost normal in comparison to the man who’d left only twenty minutes before.
Dressed in a black turtleneck and trousers, the holster firmly attached to his shoulder, he fit the persona of assassin. As I pressed the start button, I stared out the small window with an incredible view of the ocean. If only things could be simpler. I’d accepted his offer to make our relationship more permanent and although I hadn’t entered into it blindly, I realized that in the throes of passion, I’d allowed my emotions to get the better of me.
I had no way of knowing what being the girlfriend of a rich and influential mafia leader would mean. All the books I’d read and news reports I’d seen over the years involving various Mafioso families certainly hadn’t been able to give me even a remote understanding of what I could expect. Let alone I hadn’t planned on staying in Spain. I sagged against the counter, uncertain whether I could go through with my commitment. Was love enough? Then again, what did I know about love?
As I closed my eyes, I allowed several scintillating images to shove aside my anxiety. The way he’d leaned over me as he thrust in such a brutal manner, his cock surging as my pussy walls expanded, trying desperately to accept his savage plunges. I pressed my fingers across my lips, my legs trembling as I thought about the filthy things he’d said to me, driving me to the point of exhaustion.
“I’m going to take you to new heights of pleasure, sweet Savannah, a place where you’re going to beg me for more, plead with me to allow you to come. You’re going to scream out my name as a ravaging moment of ecstasy captures every cell in your body, a mere reminder that I own you. My possession. My beautiful baby girl. Then when you believe you can’t take any more, I’m going to turn you over, spanking your rounded bottom until your skin blossoms into the most beautiful shade of red. And the moment I plunge my cock deep into your tight little asshole, you’re going to surrender to me body and soul.”
My mouth was dry just thinking about his words, only he hadn’t issued a mere statement. He’d issued a dark command, as if knowing that I would never be able to resist him.
His hard muscles as they flexed under my fingers, his powerful thighs wrapping around me.
His velvety lips as he kissed me roughly, refusing to take no for an answer.
His control as he tossed me over his knee, smacking his large palm against me until I begged for forgiveness.
And his thick, throbbing cock as he brought me straight to the brink of raw bliss, one orgasm coming after another until I was left gasping for air. Pleading for more.
“Jesus,” I whispered, my heart racing from the building desire that I’d experienced over and over again the night before. A series of tremors rocketed through me, my pussy clenching then releasing from the vivid imagery splashing across my mind’s eye. How could he wield so much power over me while miles away? How could I continue to long for someone who was no good for me? Swaying, I tried to catch my breath, rubbing one hand across the thin material of the tee shirt. My nipples were instantly aroused, aching from the harsh yet delicious treatment as he’d pinched and twisted them, keeping both fully erect.
I could still feel him buried inside, the gush of his cum staining my inner thighs, the scent of him covering every inch of my body. I fell against the counter, sliding my hand past the waistband of the sweatpants, finding my heated core within seconds as I thrust my fingers inside. My pussy walls ached from the rounds of intense sex, yet I wanted nothing more than to orgasm. I bit back a cry as the force of my actions allowed the oversized pants to slide down my hips.
Oh, God. I was hot and wet all over, tremors remaining from the night before. How was that possible? He’d held me close, allowing me to feel the true power of his strong arms, muscles that had been honed by long hours spent in a gym.
“You need to remember that your orgasms belong to me. You aren’t allowed to come without my permission. If you disobey me, your punishment will be swift and severe.”
A wave of guilt rushed into my system and I was suddenly lightheaded. Without thinking, I removed my hand, dropping my head as I tried to catch my breath. A wave of guilt and embarrassment grabbed at every aspect of my being. I’d already disobeyed him. Shaking, I held my fingers into the light, staring at the way they glistened. As I brought them to my nose, I almost melted against the counter from his scent alone.
“And trust me, you will learn to obey my every command.”
“Yes, sir,” I whispered as I dragged my fingers across my lips. A sudden wash of humiliation replaced everything else. I struggled to yank my pants back into place, rubbing my fingers back and forth forcefully. I’d succumbed to him several times, the girl inside indulging in her inner desires. I wasn’t accustomed to a man who exuded so much control, allowing me to surrender in ways I’d never believed possible. However, I could no longer remain in the amazing fantasy. This was real life and I was smack in the middle of a precarious situation, my life possibly on the line.
And Rafael Santiago was everything I should run away from. If only I had the strength.
I took a few seconds, doing everything I could to shove the night before aside. My instinct told me that whatever Rafael would be forced to face would occur in a short period of time.
I only hoped that he would survive.
As the coffee brewed, I found a giant mug as well as powdered creamer. It would have to do. I studied the kitchen and smiled. This particular safe house hadn’t been updated in several years, but it was comforting in the hominess it represented. My family had never been well off by any means, my mother working two jobs just to keep food on the table. Even after she’d married Wallace, things had been tight. Granted, I’d found out the asshole had gambled away half of his earnings, preferring to spend time away from his family.
Grousing wasn’t going to do any good. As I scanned the appliances, I became curious. A smile crossed my face. Rafael had left me alone. He’d spent time here before. Had he left anything behind that would allow me to get to know him more? I opened one cabinet door after another, finding nothing remarkable, although every creature comfort had been purchased and kept clean. The drawers were the same, nothing personal of any kind.
The pantry was impressive, the amount of canned and bottled food capable of feeding a small army for some time. The freezer was stocked with meat, all dated and protected by vacuum sealing. I’d already seen the well-stocked liquor cabinet and wine refrigerator, having indulged in more than one cocktail the night before.
After pouring a hefty mug of coffee, I ventured out into other rooms, studying the art on the walls. There was nothing spectacular, although every decoration was cohesive to the rugged furniture selected. I had to wonder what kind of people stayed in the safe house. Who would the Galicia mafia consider protecting? One of their own? If that was the case, then there had to be a few personal items left behind.
The living room didn’t offer any clues other than a few books and videos carefully placed in the bookshelves. Given what I’d found at the other beach house, I’d say the selection had Rafael’s influence. Perhaps I hoped I was right, the action and adventure movies absolutely reminding me of the dangerous man.
The first bedroom was completely devoid of anything except for extra blankets, the bathroom much the same. I noticed another room that Rafael had spent hours behind the closed door. I stood in front of it for at least a minute before daring to turn the knob. To my surprise, the door wasn’t locked. The blind was open, the splash of light coming into the room just enough to make out t
he various features. The entire room was almost oppressive; forest green walls and Berber carpeting. Functional. That was the single word to describe the room.
The impressive computer system with two monitors and a hefty-looking hard drive caught my attention first. If I had to guess, I’d say the entire system was secure as hell, cracking any passcode attached likely impossible. There was a hutch as well as a closet, the desk with only a few drawers. I bit back a snicker, took several sips of coffee, and slid the cup onto the desk.
There were no outward signs of anything he’d been working on and the computer had been turned off. I walked around the desk, opening the drawers, finding the bottom one locked. I’d never let a lock deter my curiosity. There was no letter opener of any kind but there was a thick paperclip. I laughed as I pulled one of the prongs free.
I was shocked when the technique I’d learned as a kid hungry to find out what I was getting for Christmas worked. I slowly opened the drawer, uncertain of what I might find. There appeared to be a single envelope nestled in the small space. I glanced at the door, half expecting Rafael to be standing in the doorway, ready to admonish my horrible behavior.
I remained nervous as I pulled open the flap. While I wanted to learn as much about the mysterious man as possible, a huge part of me was terrified of what I’d find. What other secrets could he be hiding and would I be able to handle them?
What I found was nothing more than basic real estate transactions, various houses that had been purchased over the years. There was even a comprehensive spreadsheet, although there were no identifiable locations, merely some sort of code used. I had to wonder why this kind of information would be kept in a safe house.
Unless it had been left as an afterthought or perhaps in some kind of effort to throw off anyone who happened to breach the Galicia mafia security. As I thought about the reason, I realized that this house in particular had been designed for the family’s protection only. If what Rafael had told me was true, he’d spent more time in the location that I’d originally thought, handling business operations from this very spot. I shoved everything back inside the envelope, carefully placing it back into the drawer. When my knuckle hit the bottom, the hollow sound drew my attention. I turned on the desk lamp, dragging it closer to the edge of the desk. I could swear there was a false bottom given the depth in comparison to the others.
Using the same paperclip from before, I managed to dig my nail under a corner. There was a single picture in a frame and nothing more. As I held it under the light, I was surprised to actually see Rafael smiling, a drink in one hand, his arm wrapped around another man. There was also a third guy in the picture, all three dressed in beach attire, a cabana-style umbrella in the background.
Happier times.
I rubbed my finger over the glass before replacing it into its secretive home, closing the drawer and once again glancing around the room. The hutch held nothing but additional computer equipment, including a printer. However, the closet was an interesting find, the wall safe housing an impressive-looking combination lock. If I had to guess by the size, I’d say it held weapons and ammunition, among other prized possessions.
Wire shelves were positioned on both sides holding various pieces of surveillance equipment including binoculars and goggles. A cold shiver trickled down my spine. Anyone staying in the location could be prepared to hunker down for some time, fighting whatever enemies happened along the way.
I grabbed my coffee, finally leaving the room. Everything was out of sorts, spending time with him creating more questions than answers. There was one aspect I did continue to return to in my mind. Rafael was right in that our chance meeting not once but twice had seemed far too coincidental. While I doubted that he’d embellished the story about how he’d managed to save me on the darkened street the first night I’d arrived, what about the café? Was it possible this Alviro Calleja had known Rafael wouldn’t be able to resist me, finding a way to push us together?
Ugh. The concept sounded like something out of a thriller movie and not real life. Who in their right mind would go to those kinds of lengths in order to get us together and more important, why? I was no sleuth. In fact, I had no business being here in the first place, coincidences or not.
I moved into the living room, holding the cup in both hands. My entire body had maintained a cold chill since he’d awakened me. He was all business, his expression almost nonexistent except for the continued sadness in his eyes. He was two entirely different people.
I eased my head against the glass, wanting nothing more than to take a walk on the pristine white sand, still pretending. A flash caught my eye. As I lifted my head, shielding my eyes from the morning sun, I scanned the perimeter. The entire location was sequestered in a beautiful cove, all sides surrounded by the same kind of trees that we’d driven through. From what Rafael had told me, there were few houses, and almost no businesses within several miles of the house.
Yet I saw a single person walking with purpose down the beach. I shrank back, blinking several times as the sun certainly had the ability to play tricks given the light level mixing with the remaining shadows. I moved a few inches to the left, peering out the all glass door again.
I wasn’t seeing things. There was a person walking in this direction. From what little I could tell, it would appear he or she had on a jacket of some kind, a hood covering a good portion of their face. Sadly, from the position of the house on the knoll, there would be no way I could identify the intruder. I shrank back even further, my heart racing, uncertain whether or not I should be concerned.
What fucking recourse did I have? Shooting the person? Hiding in the safe room in hopes of Rafael’s return? I huffed, moving into the kitchen and pouring the half full cup down the drain. I was still able to catch a glimpse, hopeful whoever had ventured onto the forbidden turf would keep walking.
Except they didn’t.
Whoever the person was stopped almost right in front of the house, peering up as if waiting for some level of acknowledgment.
Butterflies floated into my stomach as I tried to figure out what to do. There was no way to communicate with Rafael. I was a sitting duck even with the great security system. What about the windows? Were they also bulletproof? If not, anyone could smash the glass if determined to get inside. I studied the lone figure for a full minute, even more fearful when the person didn’t move.
Think. Think...
The binoculars. Of course. I rushed into the office, my hands shaking as I grabbed them. By the time I made it back into the living room, the intruder had seemingly disappeared. I flew from window to window, trying to see where they’d gone. The fact the person had moved was almost more disconcerting.
As I paced the floor, peering over my shoulder every few seconds, I realized that panicking wasn’t going to help the situation. Maybe it was a great big coincidence that someone had decided to take a walk several miles and ended up in front of the house. Perhaps someone’s car had broken down in close proximity and strolling the beach for help seemed more viable.
Coincidences.
Hell, no.
As I looked again, I could just make out the intruder on the outskirts of a bank of trees. I was certain of it. Even though I brought the binoculars to my eyes, the angle was still bad. The only way to get a good look was to... go onto the deck. “Shit.” However, if I could at least describe the person when Rafael returned, perhaps that would be of help.
Convincing myself didn’t take much, although the inner voice nagged at me. I was risking a hell of a lot. My hands were clammy when I walked to the door, staring at the console. I’d take a quick look and return inside, locking everything down and remaining away from the windows. I had no other choice. I certainly wasn’t going to allow anyone to sneak up on me.
After disarming the security system, I raced into the kitchen, grabbing the Glock and sliding it into the pocket of the sweatpants. A quick glance into the binoculars told me the person remained exactly in the same posi
tion. Now I knew my instincts weren’t wrong. The house was being cased. I unlocked and opened the door, hunkering down and crawling toward the railing. I sucked in my breath then stood, positioning the binoculars immediately.
It took a few seconds to focus but when I did, I fought another round of biting fear. Whoever was watching the house also had a pair of binoculars and they were tilted in the direction of the house. I quickly studied the outline of the intruder, who wore jeans and a dark jacket with a hood. The breeze was strong enough I managed to catch the fact long hair was floating from the hood in the wind.
I froze in position as the person turned just slightly. There was no doubt in my mind whoever was standing in the shadows was watching me studying them. The intruder lowered their binoculars just as a bluster of wind forced the hood to tumble toward their shoulders.
For a split second, I was able to clearly see the face of the person before she disappeared into the trees.
Angelina.
What. The. Fuck?
My legs felt heavy as I rushed back inside, my fingers fumbling as I attempted to close the door, locking it then willing my legs to cooperate as I ran toward the front door. I resisted slamming my hand against the arming device. Once accomplished, I took long strides away from the door while I reached for the weapon. Hell, no, this wasn’t about some freaking coincidence. She’d been in on this game that was being played.
Why? Why? Why?
I was stupid as shit. I should have realized that she’d tried too damn hard to get Rafael and me together. What the hell had I been thinking? I moved into the center of the house, knowing that a very powerful set of binoculars could allow her to see several feet inside of the house. At least my stepfather had taught me a few things.
As I went through the house closing every blind, I tried to keep some level of rational thinking. Angelina had to be working for someone else, which would likely mean this Calleja person. If she was casing the place, I’d just broken our cover. I had no doubt she was on her phone calling her contact. Dear God. What the hell had I just done?