Chapter 41 Chapter Forty-one
Elena's POV
As much as Rafael hated to apologize to Nikolai, somehow he found himself apologizing to him, and the cocky Nikolai just nodded. I could see the anger screaming from within Rafael, but I don't care, I was only getting started for the things he had done to me, since I arrived here.
"That being sorted out, let's go," I said chirpily.
"Sure!" Shannon said having that smug grin. I know she was going to bombard me with questions as to the details of everything that happened before now, and what's my deal with Nikolai. How did I end up with Nikolai? I just pushed that thought behind me as I focused on how to deal with my father.
When the four of us stepped into the main living room, where I suppose my father was, Rafael, gripping my wrist like a handcuff, Shannon shifting nervously beside me, because as much as she was satisfied with the way I shut Rafael up, she knew I still had to answer to my father. And Nikolai was stalking behind us like a silent shadow. We all acted as if nothing had happened outside. As if Rafael hadn’t tried to break Nikolai’s jaw. As if Nikolai wasn’t seconds away from returning the favor. As if Shannon wasn’t shaking like a leaf and I wasn’t internally screaming.
We walked in like the most unconvincing actors in a terrible stage play. But to my father, none of the tension in the air existed. The moment he saw me, his whole face lit up with relief.
“Elena, baby,” he called out, voice warm, smile wide. My heart squeezed. For a second, all the chaos dissolved. I stepped forward, freeing myself from Rafael’s hold.
“Dad?” He moved toward me, and I met him halfway, slipping into his arms. His embrace was familiar, solid, comforting, smelling faintly of cigars and expensive cologne. The kind of scent that always made me feel seven years old again. But when I pulled back, I noticed someone beside him.
Amara Blake. A model face, perfect hair, perfect dress, Perfect figure. Just the perfect female every man wants beside them, and she is perfectly annoying. Somehow she reminded me of Arabella.
Amara was clinging to my father’s arm as if she owned it. She is the one female who has stayed longer in my father's life, since my mother abandoned me at birth. And she is the one female that I hated more than all the females my father had brought home.
I tried to school my expression, but I knew some emotion slipped through irritation, annoyance, or something in between. I hated to breathe the same air as her. Although she hasn't done anything wrong to me, she has done everything wrong to my best friend, my sister. My nanny.
Amara Blake hated Shannon, so I hated her.
“Dad, what are you doing here?” I asked.
He sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. “oh my poor heart, I think I'm being replaced," he said softly, I smile then he continues, "Since my daughter decided she doesn’t want to take my calls, doesn't want to return home, and the old man is worried, after every single call went straight to voicemail, I thought perhaps I should come look for her. Make sure she hasn’t run away, or gotten into some kind of trouble.""
I laughed and hugged him again despite the teasing. “Who would dare hurt Valkor Moretti's daughter?"
"Maybe, someone on a death roll." He teases, and I laugh hugging him for the second time,
"I missed you,”
“I don’t think so.” He squeezed my shoulder lightly. “The way you refuse to come home? Running off here without my consent. You must be enjoying yourself too much with Rafael.”
I froze, My smile faltered. What an irony! Rafael stiffened beside me, and I felt his eyes on my face, waiting for me to respond, to confirm, to lie.
But lie about what? I hadn’t come with him, and never for once had he made my stay here enjoyable. It was all Nikolai, even though he didn't want to stay around me, his presence was what kept me here.
I forced a faint, tight smile. “Something like that,” I mumbled. Shannon shifted subtly closer to me like she could feel the storm gathering.
Before I could change the subject, Amara Blake stepped forward with a way-too-bright smile that scraped against my nerves.
“Elena, darling,” she cooed, “when is Rafael finally coming to ask for your hand in marriage? The engagement is taking far too long. People are beginning to talk.”
I actually rolled my eyes. I didn’t even bother to hide it. Before I could reply something snarky, something deliciously rude, Rafael suddenly pulled me against his side, an arm firmly circling my waist.
“Very soon,” he said, voice low and confident. I stared at him, stunned. What was he doing? Since when did he love me enough to pick me over Arabella? Since when did he speak for both of us?
I know
Since always. That was his problem. He always makes decisions for me. His hand tightened on my waist, like he feared I would run again, like I was some misbehaving child needing discipline.
My father laughed, amused by Rafael’s possessiveness. “Good. It’s about time.”
"Dad?" He smirked pulling my cheeks playfully.
"Don't be silly, I know you wanted to be with him badly, even if I don't approve of it that you're too young. I'm afraid you will rebel. So I will just agree, cause I can't say no to my darling."
I didn’t say a word. Didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. Not because I was scared of telling Father everything, but because I knew this arrangement was all my fault. I had practically told my dad that I love Rafael and I wanted him to be my boyfriend, didn't think that Rafael might not want me. But apart from that, someone else was watching me. Nikolai was watching.
Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Rafael’s hand on my waist. His expression unreadable, too calm, the kind of calm that came before a storm. His jaw ticked once. His gaze lowered to Rafael’s fingers, then back to Rafael’s face. Rafael didn’t notice, no one noticed but I did.
And my stomach twisted.
My father turned toward Don Alessandro, Rafael’s father who was seated comfortably as if he had been waiting for us to finish our drama.
“Well,” my father said, clearing his throat, “we should be leaving. It was good to see you, but I had to take this rebellious girl home.”
Don Alessandro raised his brows. “Leaving? But we are having a party tonight, and Sarah will be arriving soon.”
I frowned. “A… party?”
“To celebrate Christmas Eve,” Alessandro said with a grin. “The family will gather. You should stay. All of you. I could announce the marriage and make the engagement public.”
My father shook his head immediately. “I have daughters. I can’t bring them to a mafia gathering. My kids are off that shit.”
I resisted the urge to correct him. He always said it like we were fragile porcelain dolls. Shannon and I, are no longer kids. Even though Shannon isn't my father's biological daughter, he treated her like one.
Alessandro waved a hand dismissively. “It’s a clean party, not business. Just family togetherness. Good food, drinks, and Music. No guns, no blood, no drama. Just for Christmas.”
Rafael coughed, glancing at Nikolai. “No drama,” he repeated unconvincingly. Nikolai didn’t react. He simply watched silently like he already knew the party would be anything but not calm. That was the first time he was acknowledged in the room.
My father hesitated, glancing at me. I nodded slightly, telling him I was okay. Or trying to, anyway. He exhaled heavily.
“Fine. We will stay.”
Amara clapped her hands together, all excited and with perfect teeth. “Oh, wonderful! I’ll need to choose a dress! For my step-daughter.”
I resisted the urge to gag or correct her words that I'm not her stepdaughter, that my father will never marry her.
My father turned to me again, patting my shoulder. “Good, go with her, so you get something nice.” I plastered a smile on my face and nodded. Inside, my brain screamed.
Because this wasn’t a simple gathering. And nothing with the Romano or Moretti families was ever “just a party.” I glanced over at Nikolai again. He wasn’t looking at anyone else, just me.
And for one unguarded second, I felt it again, the same heat from the changing room, the same electricity from him zipping up my dress, the same tension that almost pushed us into a kiss again.
But it was gone as fast as it came. Nikolai straightened and looked away, expression flattening back into cold indifference, as he turned and walked away. I hope he stays for the party as well. Rafael, noticing my gaze drift, pulled me closer, too close.
His fingers pressed into my hip, possessive and irritating. “You will stay beside me tonight,” he murmured under his breath. “Don’t wander.”
I stiffened. “I’m not a child.”
He smirked. “Sometimes you act like one.”
Before I could snap back, Shannon touched my arm gently, whispering, “Let's go.”