Chapter 11: Raelyn
Raelyn pov
The house felt unusually quiet after Rafael and his brothers went out handling their business. I had been sitting in the living room for what felt like hours, flipping through magazines I didn’t even understand and sipping tea that had long gone cold.
Sofia flopped down on the couch beside me sighing dramatically. “This is so boring,” she whined, her Italian accent was thicker when she was annoyed.
“I’m okay with boring,” I shyly replied with a nervous laugh. I had grown to appreciate the calm moments in this kind of a life.
“No, no, no,” Sofia said, sitting upright. “You’re young and You’re married to Rafael De Ross for God sake! You should not be boring. Let’s go out!”
I blinked, startled. “Go out? Like... outside?”
“Yes!” Sofia’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “There’s a new mall downtown,It’s Christmas season, Raelyn! We need to shop, drink hot chocolate, and take photos!”
I hesitated, glancing toward the entrance where two bodyguards stood like statues. “I don’t think Rafael would like that...”
Sofia waved her hand dismissively. “Who cares what my brother likes? He’s not here and we’ll be back before he even knows we’re gone.”
“I don’t know...” I bit my lip unsure if this was the best idea.
But Sofia wasn’t one to take no for an answer. “Raelyn ” she said, leaning closer with an evil grin, “do you really want to sit here all day doing nothing? Or do you want to go have fun like normal people?”
Fifteen minutes later, we stood near the staircase, whispering our plan. The bodyguard assigned to watch us, Matteo, had already refused our request to leave the premises.
“Signorina Sofia, I have strict orders from capo to keep you both here,” Matteo had said, crossing his arms like a fort.
But Sofia had a backup plan. “Alright, Sister-in-law,” she whispered, smirking. “Go to your room and lie on the floor. I’ll take care of the rest.”
I blinked feeling confused. “Lie on the floor?”
“Just trust me!” Sofia said with a wink.
I did as i was told, stretching my body out on the fluffy carpet in the bedroom, feeling utterly ridiculous. Sofia, meanwhile, stood outside the door, screaming dramatically.
“Help! Oh my God, Raelyn fainted! Matteo, help!”
The sound of heavy boots echoed in the hallway as Matteo rushed toward the door. “Madam? Are you alright?”
Sofia unlocked the door just a little, her voice was trembling with fake panic. “She’s not moving! I think she hit her head!”
“Let me in!” Matteo demanded, pounding on the door.
“Wait! I need to... um... find something to cover her with first!” Sofia stammered.
While Matteo continued knocking and shouting, Sofia turned and gave me a thumbs up. “Let’s go!”
We slipped out of the bedroom window and landed safely on the ground thanks to a conveniently placed hedge.
By some miracle, we managed to catch a bus to the mall. I was unused to public transportation and I clutched the pole for dear life as the bus jolted down the road.
“This is kind of fun,” Sofia said, grinning as she looked out the window. “You’ve never been on a bus before, have you?”
I shook my head. “I always walked or borrowed a neighbor’s car back home.”
“Well, welcome to the adventure,” Sofia said, laughing.
The mall was fun. Sofia dragged me from shop to shop, insisting we should try on ridiculous holiday sweaters and take selfies with the massive Christmas tree in the center of the mall.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed this much. Sofia’s infectious energy and carefree attitude made me forget, just for a little while, about the dangers and restrictions of my new life.
Author pov
Back at the villa, Matteo was in full panic mode after realizing the girls had escaped, he frantically called Rafael.
“What do you mean, they’re gone?” Rafael’s voice was a low growl dripping with fury.
“They tricked me, Signore. I...”
“You let my wife and sister trick you?” Rafael snapped. “How incompetent are you? Find them now!.”
Matteo swallowed hard. “Yes, Signore. Right away.”
Rafael ended the call, his jaw was clenched so tightly that it hurt. He didn’t know whether to be more furious at Matteo or at his wife and Sofia for pulling such a reckless stunt.
By the time Rafael stormed into the mall an hour later, he was like a man possessed. His sharp suit and the menacing glare made him stand out like a wolf among sheep, and people instinctively moved out of his way as he stalked through the crowded halls.
He finally spotted them near a bakery, giggling over a tray of Christmas cookies. Raelyn cheeks were flushed, her eyes were sparkling with delight as she took a bite of a gingerbread man.
Sofia noticed him first and her face went pale as she muttered, “Uh..oh.”
Raelyn looked up just in time to see Rafael bearing down on them like maniac.
“Rafael!” she squeaked, nearly dropping her cookie.
“Raelyn” His voice was low and dangerous, and Raelyn instinctively took a step back.
“We were just...” Sofia started, but Rafael cut her off with a sharp glare.
“Get in the car. Now!,” he growled.
Raelyn opened her mouth to protest, but the look in his eyes stopped her instantly. Without another word, she followed Sofia toward the exit with her heart pounding.
The ride back to the villa was silent and tense. Rafael sat stiffly in the front seat, his fists were clenched on his lap, while Raelyn and Sofia were in the back, too afraid to speak.
When they arrived home, Rafael dismissed the driver and turned to Sofia. “Go to your room,” he ordered.
Sofia didn’t argue, disappearing up the stairs with a sheepish look. She knew her brother wouldn't do anything to them.
That left Rafael and Raelyn alone in the living room.
“raelyn ,” he said, his voice was tight with as he tried to restrain his anger.
“I...I’m sorry,” she stammered. “We didn’t mean to...”
“Do you have any idea how damn dangerous that was?” he interrupted, his voice rising. “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?”
Raelyn blinked back the tears, her lower lip trembling. “I just wanted to have fun... I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Rafael’s anger disappeared as he saw the tears welling up in her eyes. With a heavy sigh, he ran a hand through his hair and muttered, “Dio mio. You’re going to drive me insane.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered again.
He shook his head, his expression softening just a little. “Go to bed, Raelyn. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.”
Raelyn nodded and hurried upstairs, leaving Rafael standing in the living room, his heart was pounding with a mixture of anger, relief, and something he couldn’t quite name.