by Sam Crescent
“When we do it again, it won’t hurt?”
“It won’t hurt.”
“Good. I liked it. Not at first because of the pain but you waited and it stopped hurting and it felt good.”
“When you’re ready, I’ll show you how good it is for you to have an orgasm while my dick is still inside you.”
“You can do that?”
“Yes. You’ve got a lot to learn.”
She spun around. Her hand lying flat against his chest. “You’ll teach me?”
“I’ll teach you whatever you want to know. Just tell me what it is your heart desires and I’ll do what I can to give it to you.”
She reached up to cup his cheek. “Are you even real?”
He laughed. “What makes you think I’m not real?”
“I don’t know how someone can be related to that monster and be … nice.”
He took her hand, pressing a kiss to her open palm. “I’m not nice, Elenore. I want you to be aware of that. I’ve never been a good man. I’m a monster.”
“You saved me.”
“And a lot of women have died before you. Until I take my father’s place, a lot more will die as well.”
“When will you take his place?” she asked.
“When I know I’ve got the power to get rid of all of my father’s loyal followers. He has a lot of men and they are willing to die for him. They would see me dead before they ever followed me.”
“Oh.”
“It’s politics.”
“It sounds dangerous.”
“All of it is.” He grabbed a sponge and some soap. “Let me take care of you. I’ve got some presents out there that I think you’d like.”
“Presents?”
“Gifts.”
“I’ve never had gifts.”
“You’re going to like these. I promise.” He kissed her head. Putting the sponge to her skin, he started to massage into her flesh. She let out a moan, and he took his time with her, getting her used to his touch once again. Her nipples were hard buds and he wanted to do nothing more than lick and suck them.
He didn’t. He held himself back, taking his time. Washing her body, relaxing her.
After he’d soaped her body, she took the sponge and did the same. His cock got hard but he ignored the demands of it. He was the one in charge and until Elenore had recovered, he wouldn’t be playing any time soon.
Tonight, she’d granted him something precious and in return, he was going to fight for her freedom, but time was running out. If he didn’t take out his father soon, he had no doubt his old man would learn the truth, if he didn’t already.
He shampooed and conditioned her hair. With the long locks, he fingered the length before rinsing it out. After climbing out of the bath, he held a towel out to her and dried her body.
“Don’t get dressed.”
With a towel wrapped around his waist, and his body mostly dry, he led the way through to the hall where the packages waited. “Open them,” he said.
“They’re all for me?”
“Yes.”
She knelt down on the floor. He watched as she opened them and pulled out the first pale-yellow summer dress.
“You bought me clothes.” Her hand stroked over the fabric. “It’s so pretty.”
“You’re free to wear what you want. You can, of course, still wear my sweatpants, but I hope you get some enjoyment out of these clothes.”
She looked up at him. “Did you pick them?”
“Yes. I picked everything.” Moving around her, he opened up some of the lingerie. “Try them on. Let me see.”
She took a matching yellow lace set and removed her towel.
He admired her body as she slid her feet into the panties. He’d gotten her size just right. Everything fit perfectly.
Smiling to himself, he sat back and just wanted her. So beautiful.
She couldn’t do the zip of the dress. He finished it for her, zipping her into it. She ran her hand over the fabric, touching her waist. “It feels really good.”
“I’m glad.”
“Where do I put everything?”
“In my closet. That’s where you’re going to be sleeping from now on. In my room, in my bed.” He wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I feel like a normal woman.”
“You will be a normal woman. Timothy’s working on some identification. One day, you will live your life how you want. There will be no late-night demands. You’ll be free.”
“Free. I stopped thinking about my freedom a long time ago.” She took a deep breath and he saw the tears in her eyes. “I’m free now, Raphael.”
“Not truly free.”
“I can’t walk out the door but I can say no and yes. I like being able to say that. Will you teach me how to read?”
“Yes. How about I don’t go to work tomorrow? I stay right here and I teach you how to read. We can write, and I’ll show you how to tell the time.”
“I’d like that.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t know what I did for you to help me, but I’m so glad you did. You’re a special man, Raphael.”
He wasn’t special.
What Elenore had done was win his heart and open his eyes to the reality of what his world did. Now he had to fight to keep her safe. Going up against an even bigger monster than himself, his father.
****
“Do you get it?”
“No, it’s a stupid clock. How can that be ten but when the big hand is on the two, it’s ten? It makes no sense. It’s not right,” Elenore said. She sipped at her milkshake. After the disaster of reading, she’d hoped time would be easier. No, it was worse.
At least not on the clock he showed her. Twelve all the way around to twelve. Not to mention morning and night.
“I know it’s confusing.”
“I’m stupid.”
“You’re not.”
“People know all of this and don’t have a problem with it.”
“They’ve been taught it at a young age.”
“I had an alarm in my room. I should know this,” she said.
“Did you set the alarm?” he asked.
“No.”
“You’re being way too hard on yourself.” He put a hand on her shoulder but it wasn’t reassuring her.
She was stupid.
No matter what Raphael said, she couldn’t get the hang of it.
She got to her feet and moved toward the window, staring down at the ground. She was too far up to make any real faces or know if it was a man or a woman. They all knew how to tell the time. They weren’t stupid like her.
Raphael moved up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist. She didn’t push him away but sank against him.
“We’ve been doing this for one morning.”
“And I don’t know anything,” she said.
“You do know kids go to school for years, right? They can take longer than a day to grasp this.”
“I never went to school.”
“I know. It’s my point. Kids are like sponges. They pick everything up easily. It’s what they are designed to do. You’ve spent most of your life fighting for it, of being afraid.” He kissed her neck. She closed her eyes, basking in his touch, in feeling him surround her. She loved being in his arms.
This was his world.
There were women out there who could do all of this and would be able to stand by his side.
“You’re not going to get it in a single morning.”
“You’ve got better things to do with your day than teach me,” she said.
“No, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
“Raphael, you don’t have to lie.”
“My job will be there tomorrow. I’m not saying I can stay with you all the time. I can’t.” He turned her around to face him.
She forced herself to look up at him even as she felt completely embarrassed by her inability to read and write or tell him the time. This was her failing. It was another reaso
n why they would never really be together.
“This will come.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“I don’t allow myself to think about it not being possible.” He kissed her cheek again. “I know we’re going to do this together. You’re going to have everything your heart desires.”
She put a hand to his chest. Could she tell him that her one true desire was to be the perfect woman for him? Her life had changed so dramatically in such a short time, but she was too afraid to give in to her silly wants.
“Let’s do this.”
For the rest of the day, she worked through all of his questions, nibbling on her lip because it was all just a little too confusing to her. She didn’t really get the clock but the digital clock that went a full twenty-four hours, she did. Just the standard clock she seemed to be having her doubts about.
After her long session of studying, Raphael sent her to the shower while he made them both a meal. This time, she didn’t go to the room he’d given to her. She went straight through his bedroom, passing the bathtub and instead, using his shower.
Back at Giavanni’s house, she wasn’t allowed to shower every night. The slaves were only allowed to shower when he deemed it necessary. Whenever he wanted her for the night, he’d collect her after her shower. She’d be ordered to clean every single part of her as he refused to have anything dirty near him.
Just thinking about that monster set her teeth on edge. She couldn’t believe how someone so evil could create such a nice man as Raphael, not that she believed he was pure good. No, there was a darkness to Raphael circling in his gaze, ready to explode.
He’d have to take over from his father and when that happened, would people even let him? She wasn’t completely blind to the world.
One of the most incredible benefits of being a no one was blending in. Giavanni always wanted someone to serve drinks or stand waiting to be ordered around. There were many days and nights she’d stand in his office, holding a tray, or just waiting for instructions. She’d listen.
Some of Giavanni’s men were not to be trusted. They doubted the path their leader was going on. During her time there, she’d seen many a man killed. She often wondered what kind of excuse he’d give for the death of one of their capos. If Giavanni found out about Raphael’s betrayal, he’d kill his own son, she had no doubt. Raphael would never be safe, not while his father led.
“It’s dinner time,” Raphael said. “Don’t be too long.”
She switched off the shower, grabbed a towel, and quickly patted herself dry as she padded back into his bedroom. She found a silk negligee she liked. The moment she tried it on, she loved the feel of the silk against her body.
After running a brush through her long locks, she made her way toward the dining room. Raphael had turned down off the lights and a couple of candles took their place. He opened his arms up and without a second thought, she stepped into them.
Resting her head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes. “What about food?”
“It’ll still be warm.”
“This is nice.” She’d never been held like this before. “Raphael, what will happen if your father finds out what you’re trying to do?”
He tensed up. “You know what he’ll do if I react too late. Son or not, I’ll be dead.”
She lifted up.
The thought of him not being alive, of never seeing him again, she hated the very thought of it. “You can’t do that. You can’t allow that to happen.”
“I won’t.”
“Please, Raphael? Maybe we can run away together? Would that work?” She didn’t want him to die.
“Elenore, what has brought this on?”
“He’s evil. He’ll kill you. I’ve seen him do it to anyone who doesn’t agree with him. If you get caught, he’ll hurt you, and I can’t bear that to happen. Please, Raphael, don’t do this.” She pressed her face against his chest, unable to look at him in case he saw her tears as weak.
He held her tightly. “You saw my father kill?”
“Yes. It was horrible.”
“When?”
She told him about the two capos she watched murdered.
“They were doing dirty deals,” Raphael said after she described them. She remembered their names because they had wives and children.
“No, they didn’t. Your father got one of the soldiers to plant evidence to make it look like they were doing dirty deals.” She sniffed. “He will kill you if he gets the chance. Please, Raphael, don’t do this. He needs to keep his secrets.”
He cupped her face. “I’m not going to run but I can put you somewhere safe until all of this is over. You won’t ever have to fear for your life again?”
“No. I don’t want to leave you. I don’t care about me. You don’t deserve to die.”
“You don’t know how wrong that is. I’ve done a lot of terrible things. You know this. I’ve been honest with you.” He stroked her cheek. His thumb grazed across her lips. “Damn it, you’re beautiful and I want to do everything in my power to deserve you.”
“You do. This is … it’s wrong,” she said. She couldn’t find the right words.
“Trust me,” he said. “Can you do that?”
“You know I can.”
“Good.” He held her close. “Now, let’s have some food.”
He made no other move to touch her as he took the lead toward the food. She nibbled on her lip, hating her own physical reaction to him. She couldn’t let anything happen to him. Even though she didn’t know the full extent of what he had planned, whatever it was, she knew it increased the risk of his death. She hoped his father wouldn’t retaliate and kill him. She didn’t want him to die.
Eating her food, she knew she would help him.
If Raphael ended up being killed, then she would gladly follow him. He’d taken her out of hell and showed her some of what heaven could be. Her life wasn’t perfect, it never had been, but for a short time at least, she was able to forget who she was.
Chapter Eight
“This is good,” Raphael said, staring down at the new passport and driver’s license with Elenore’s name on them.
Timothy had placed her age at twenty-three. “I only do the best work. It’s more than good. You know that.”
He chuckled. “What payment for these?”
“The same.”
“What happened to the molester?” he asked.
“Do you really want to know?” Timothy asked.
“You’re right. A new one so soon?”
“I like to keep busy. Word on the street is your boy Antonio is causing a little fuss.”
“Antonio’s too busy with his woman. Marrying her, getting her pregnant.”
“Your father, Romeo Giavanni, is using him to send a message, Raphael. He’s got a new shipment of drugs coming on. Now some believe this drug has the ability to incapacitate any girl, like the date rape drug, only this one knocks them out for days at a time,” Timothy said.
“How did you hear this?” Even his contacts hadn’t told him this information.
“Raphael, I work in the darkness, trying to sniff out any signs of the dirty and disgusting. I like to hunt, to kill, to annihilate those who would harm others less fortunate. Women, they need protection. The men who offer the rape drug are already an easy target for me, but Antonio’s making them scurry out of town. Bad for business. If this drug gets out in the nightclubs, no woman would ever be safe.”
Raphael paced the room. “You’re sure about this?” From his last contact within the science department—that was what his father called it—he’d been warned of a drug trying to hurt women in such a way. He’d never believed in rape or force.
“Antonio is making it easier for this drug to be distributed. I figured you should know, seeing as you were best buddies at one time.”
“Thank you. I’ll get you payment soon,” he said. He was about to leave Timothy’s secure location but he was stopped at his words.
“She�
��s in danger, you know that, right?”
“My father stopped looking for her.”
“A slave girl who goes missing during a shootout, body never found, he hasn’t stopped looking. He’s waiting for her to slip up. If you don’t get her hidden soon, she will be killed.”
He didn’t want to lose her. Raphael turned to his friend. “If I bring her here, will you take care of her?”
“You know I will. We’re friends, Raphael, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
Raphael left. It had been a long time since he went to see Antonio at his place. Last time he heard from him, he’d been in the process of house hunting.
He drove through the city streets, and not a single cop stopped him. All it would take was for them to run his plates and discover who he was. They’d never bother him again.
Arriving at Antonio’s apartment, he parked his car and made his entrance. He held the security code to get into the building. Making his way upstairs three steps at a time, he knocked on his door in no time.
Ellie answered. “Raphael,” she said with a smile. “Come on in.”
He stepped over the threshold, taking in her flushed cheeks. “Where’s Antonio?” he asked.
“He’s showering.”
Good. He needed to have the element of surprise. He knew Antonio’s apartment better than anyone.
“Hey, Raphael, you can’t go in there.”
Ignoring her, he stepped into the bathroom, which was already steaming.
“Antonio, Raphael’s here and he’s being a pain in the ass.”
The water turned off and Antonio stepped out of the shower, showing off his dick. Raphael didn’t care.
“Well, I’ve got to say this is an interesting social call.”
“We’ve got to talk.”
“How about over dinner?”
“You’ve got to stop whatever it is you’re doing for my father,” Raphael said. “It’s not as … innocent and beneficial to the Family as you believe.”
He’d gotten Antonio’s attention. Good. He wanted to keep it.
“Ellie, baby, give us a couple of minutes.”
“You’re seriously going to entertain him in the bathroom?”
“Go and set the table. I’ll be out in a minute. Do not call his father,” Antonio said.