Chapter 41

Chapter 41
Rafael pov

The question hit like a blade between the ribs. I stopped moving.

“No,” I said. “I didn’t.”

She searched my face, looking for the lie and found none. Her shoulders sagged a little.

Did she expect me to lie? Fuck!

“Then why?” she whispered. “Why keep me here? Why not let me go? He is my father, right?"

Because I’m a selfish bastard—because the thought of you gone rips me apart.

Because you’re the only light in this fucking darkness.

I didn’t say any of that. Instead, I closed the distance, until I could see the pulse jumping in her throat.

“Because you’re not bait,” I said. “You’re my wife, Raelyn, and I'll protect what’s mine.”

Her eyes flashed. “I’m not yours. I don't belong to anyone”

“You are,” I said, my voice rough. “You’ve been mine since the night you looked at me like I was worth saving, and I’m yours, Raelyn. Whether you want me or not.”

She stared at me, her chest rising and falling too fast. Then her hand came up. I was expecting her to slap me or push me away, but instead she fisted my shirt, pulling me closer.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” she said.

“I don’t.”

I leaned in and kissed her hard and desperately. Like I could pour every oath I couldn’t say into her mouth.

She kissed me back, angry and aching, her nails digging into my shoulders. We stumbled against the wall, the impact rattling the framed art.

She tasted divine.

When we broke apart, her lips were swollen, eyes glassy.

“He’s not taking you,” I said against her mouth. “Not while I’m breathing.”

Her breath was hot against my lips. I pulled back just enough to look at her. Her gray eyes were wide, waiting.

I had to tell her the truth, all of it.

“I need to say this,” I said. My voice was low.

“The truth.”

She nodded once; her hands stayed fisted in my shirt.

“When I took you,” I said. “That night I planned it beforehand because I knew who you were.”

Her body went still.

“I suspected you were Vincent’s daughter,” I said. “The man who killed my cousin and hurt my family. I wanted revenge, so I forced you to marry me to hit him where it hurt the most.”

Her lips parted, but no sound came out.

“I was wrong,” I said. “I thought you were a weapon, just a way to break him.” I cupped her face; my thumbs brushed her cheeks.

“But then I saw you,” I said. “The real you. Brave,kind and strong. You looked at me as if I were more than my name. Not like a cold-blooded person, everyone is afraid of.”

I swallowed hard. “I fell in love with you, Raelyn. It’s not revenge now. I love you, and I'm ready to burn the world just to keep you safe.”

She stared at me tears filled her eyes,“You used me,” she whispered.

“Yes,” I said. “At first and I hate myself for it.”

She closed her eyes and a tear rolled down her face.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m so fucking sorry but please believe me,I won't do anything that will keep you in danger.”

She opened her eyes and whispered “Prove it, then"

I nodded.

“I will,” I said. “Every day, starting now.”

I kissed her again but soft this time and she kissed me back.

When we pulled apart, she rested her forehead against mine. “He’s still coming,” she said.

“I know,” I said. “But he won’t touch you Amore mio.”

She took a shaky breath, “I’m scared,” she said.

“Me too,” I said. “But we face it together.”

She stayed close, her forehead against mine, her breath shaky. I could feel her heart racing through my shirt.

I pulled back just enough to see her face.

“There’s more,” I said. “About you—about where you came from.”

She tensed. “ Rafael—I don’t want to hear it.”

“You need to,” I said. “You deserve to know who you are.”

She tried to step back but I held her waist gently.

“Please,” I said. “Let me tell you.”

She stopped fighting,her eyes stayed on mine.

I took a breath.

“Vincent didn’t just disappear,” I said. “He ran away after he killed my cousin. the police were searching for him everywhere so he faked his death and left everything behind.”

I brushed a strand of hair from her face, stroking her cheek lightly. “Including you.”

She flinched.

“Your mother,” I said, “she was his mistress not his wife. She was young and beautiful. He kept her hidden and when she got pregnant, he sent her away and paid her to disappear and never come back.”

Raelyn’s voice was small. “She told me my father died in a car crash.”

“He wanted her to,” I said. “He wanted you erased because that would be a weakness to him.”

I cupped her face again. “But your mom didn’t stay quiet,” I said. “She moved away and changed her name and married a good man. The one you called Dad. He raised you like his own. Loving and protecting you”

Her eyes were filled with tears again.

“She never told me,” she whispered.

“She was scared,” I said. “Vincent is a psycho. She thought if she buried the truth deep enough, it would stay dead.”

“But he never forgot you,” I said. “He watched you from far away and waited for a chance. That's when I took you, he knew. That’s why he’s coming now.”

She closed her eyes as a tear slipped down.

“I’m not his,” she said.

“No,” I said. “You’re not! You’re Raelyn. The girl I fell in love with. My wife who smiled at me in a church full of lies and made me believe in something real.”

I kissed her forehead.

“You’re not his daughter,” I said. “You’re the woman I love. That’s your truth now.”

She opened her eyes.“Then I choose you,” she said.

I felt my heart explode with happiness.

“I choose us,” she said.