Chapter 40 Chapter Forty
Elena's POV
Fuck!” he cursed quietly, his grip tightened on the wheel, as he threw his jacket on me, “cover yourself.”
“I…”
He interrupted me, “Before you say you are not naked, it’s because of the snow.”
I smug dragging the jacket, “but I’m really not cold unless you want to say you are not comfortable with my clothing.”
He didn’t answer, he just glared at me and then turned back to the road and cursed. He kept cursing under his breath as he drove, his jaw tense and fingers gripping the steering wheel so tightly I thought it might snap. Every second my eyes find their way to his arms, it seems his grip grows stronger on it, like he wants to break the steering wheel.
“Relax,” I said, trying to lighten the suffocating silence. “It’s not like you kidnapped me, and my father is going to come for you.”
He shot me a sharp glare, eyes narrowing as though I had just suggested he throw himself off a bridge. His hand went through his hair, ruffling, tugging, messing it up in pure agitation.
I blinked at him. “Wait… are you scared of my father?” He didn’t respond. Not a word. Just stared ahead as if the road had personally offended him. A slow grin curved my lips. “I didn’t know the mighty Nikolai Rossetti Romano could be scared. Wow! I should write this down in my diary.”
His head snapped toward me with that signature dangerous look. “I am not scared of anyone,” he growled. “I just don’t want anyone yelling at me for something I didn’t do.”
“So you are scared,” I teased, folding my arms.
He breathed out heavily, muttering something in Italian that definitely wasn’t polite. The car sped up a little, as if the acceleration could shut me up. But teasing him was too satisfying. Especially the twitch in his jaw. Especially the way his eyes flicked to me like he wanted to strangle me or something else entirely.
"Can you just keep quiet!" He snapped but I was enjoying his tense side.
"Why? Did something else happen that I don't know?"
"Yes, your stupid boyfriend went to my house to look for you." I froze but that didn't stop my misdeed.
"So what? It's not like he is your enemy, unless you want to tell me he hurt Emma." He let out a humorless laugh.
"He wouldn't dare, unless he is on a death wish." He spat out and then I chuckled.
"So it only means, you are tense and scared of my father." He glared at me, and I chuckled inwardly.
By the time we entered the gates of the mansion, Nikolai’s mood was a storm cloud ready to strike lightning. The car hadn’t even fully stopped when I spotted Shannon by the entrance, pacing like she had been tracking my location by satellite. The moment she saw me, she bolted forward. “Elena!” she cried, wrapping her arms around me so tightly I squeaked.
"Oh, this silly girl, stop acting like I just escaped a kidnapping attempt," I whisper, hugged her back. Relief, confusion, and a bit of dread tangled inside me. Before I could even ask what she was doing here or why she looked like she hadn’t slept in days, the realization dawned on me that she must have flown here with my father. I parted my lips to ask her if Dad was mad at me.
A shadow appeared at my left Then a fist. A fist flying straight into Nikolai’s face.
"Rafael!" I screamed, but the sound was drowned out by the sickening crunch of impact. Nikolai’s head snapped to the side, and he staggered back a step. His hand came up to his jaw, wiping the small trail of blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His eyes went dark, dangerous, lethal dark. Yet, he didn't do anything; he just took it, a twisted smile playing on his bloodied lips.
Rafael stood in front of him, chest rising and falling like a bull ready to charge. “You slept with her, didn’t you?”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I shoved Rafael’s shoulder, but he barely budged. His eyes were glued to Nikolai with burning fury.
"You let him fuck you!"
"What is your problem?" I snapped at him. Rafael studied me for a second before he shoved me aside, throwing another punch at Nikolai.
"Did you touch my fiancée?"
Nikolai straightened slowly, his expression unreadable but radiating simmering violence. “Get off my face,” he said in a deadly low tone.
Rafael didn’t listen. He raised his fist again, ready for another punch. Before he could swing, Shannon rushed between them, shoving Rafael back with surprising strength.
“Stop it!” she yelled. “Are you insane? If Uncle Moretti finds out Elena came with Nikolai and not you, he’ll lose it! You want him to kill you? Not like I care if you die, but I don’t want Elena being dragged into your mess.” I almost wanted to laugh
Rafael froze for half a second, not because her words sank in, but because he seemed to genuinely register Shannon’s presence for the first time. His chest heaved.
“It’s not over,” Rafael hissed, pointing a shaking finger at Nikolai.
"Stop it please!" I pleaded my voice shaking
“Nikolai, you have crossed the line." Rafael spat, chest heaving, "You think you can touch her and walk away? I swear to God, I'll kill you, if you don't stay away from her.”
Touched me? I choked on air.
“What are you talking about?!” I snapped, shoving him again. But Rafael wasn’t listening. He grabbed my wrist tight enough to hurt and pulled me along with him toward the mansion doors.
“Rafael!” I protested. “Let go of me!” He didn’t. He didn’t even slow down.
"Why?" He stopped abruptly, his eyes blazing, "You don't want your father to know that you're exploring immorality. You don't want him to know you are slutty after my younger brother and screwing him around town when you are supposed to be with your fiancé? Well, congratulations little slut, we're not keeping this from your father."
Shannon hurried behind us, hands covering her mouth, muttering, “For God's sake, Rafael, you can't possibly do that. You can't tell Uncle Valkor that, I'm sure Elena has a good explanation for going with Nikolai."" I understand Shannon, she was trying to pacify Rafael, she thought I still have those undying feelings for Rafael, those feelings that make me fear losing him.
Behind her, Nikolai followed. Silent and slow. His posture was controlled, but his face was not. Oh, his face was terrifying. Cold and Tense. The kind of look that made grown men piss themselves. But he didn’t say anything. Not when Rafael dragged me like a misbehaving child.
Not when Shannon hovered nervously between us. Trying to pacify this demon pulling me like I am the bad guy and he is the good guy.
Not even when the house staff watched with wide eyes. He just followed. A quiet storm is building.
We reached the entry hall, and Rafael finally stopped, forcing me to face him. He was breathing heavily, jaw clenched so tight it trembled.
“What were you thinking?” he snapped. “Elena, you disappear all night, no call, no message, your phone off, and then I find out you ran off with him?”
I yanked my wrist free. “I didn’t run off with anyone! I just want...""
“You lied,” he cut in harshly. “You said you were at the mansion resting. I got here and I met an empty house. Then you show up with him wearing that.""
He gestured at my clothes like they personally offended him. I looked down at myself, fitted gown, hugging me in all the right places, showing a little skin, but nothing extreme. The gown was above my knees
“So now my clothes are a crime?” I snapped back.
Rafael was red actual red from fury. “I told you before… he is dangerous. You shouldn’t be anywhere near him.”
I actually laughed. “And who are you to decide that? My father? My babysitter? My owner?”
"I'm your fiancé!" He growls.
"Fiancé!" I let out a mocking laugh. "A fiancé who abandoned his girlfriend in the middle of nowhere, or the one who brought another girl on a trip that was supposed to be for him and his so-called fiancée. Do you want me to go on, and let's see how you tell my father that your secretary was beside you on your birthday not the woman that was supposed to be your future wife. Or maybe, I should tell my dad, how you introduced me as Don Valkor Moretti's daughter." I snapped at him, I was tired of his shit. "I guess this is a moment of truth, come on, let's go and tell my father."
His jaw worked, but no words came out immediately. His silence made him look guilty, and unsure.
Shannon stood off to the side, chewing her lip and glancing anxiously between all of us like she was waiting for someone to explode. Nikolai remained behind her, hands in his pockets now, staring as though he was analyzing every movement in the room.
He looked calm. Too calm. Which was what made it terrifying. When Rafael finally found his voice again, it cracked. “I... look, Elena, I just… I was worried.”
“Worried?” I scoffed. “You screamed at me on the phone! You asked me to leave because I was making Arabella uncomfortable. I sit alone on your couch like a beggar waiting for scraps.”
“Because I was scared!” he barked. “Your father kept calling me, asking me to give you the phone, and I didn’t know what to say!”
“Oh, please,” I crossed my arms. “You weren’t scared for me. You were scared of HIM. My father. What he would do to you when he found out all the things you had done to his little girl. Admit it.” Rafael’s mouth opened but nothing came out. And that was enough. I shook my head, fury crawling up my spine. “Unbelievable. All this chaos because I went shopping.”
“With him,” Rafael spat, glaring at Nikolai.
I rolled my eyes. “For the love of God, he didn’t even want to be there! He barely looked at me the entire time!” Nikolai’s eyebrow twitched, but he still didn’t speak. “He was only doing what you couldn't do, being with me when he doesn't."
"Elena!" Rafael's voice dropped, "You know that is not true, I love you, and I always want to be with you."
"You would apologize to him for punching his face." I turned to Nikolai, who stared at me, confused.
"What?"
"You will do that, or I will have to tell father, that you abandoned me this past week of being with you, or forget about this stupid engagement."