Page 5 of Raphael

She glanced around, as if she was looking for someone, then leaned forward.

“My parents hate Hispanics,” she whispered. “And dogs,” she added. “It makes me want to visit every country in South America and send them a postcard. With a cute guy in it. And adopt every dog. Except they’d probably kill them.”

She was the oddest girl I had ever danced with.

And the most beautiful.

ChapterTwo

SAILOR

The song was over too quickly.

I should return to my girlfriends and Anya. But it felt so good to be dancing with a handsome stranger for a bit. It was a risk to stay around him, considering I was under twenty-one and he knew it. If he realized I was just a few weeks shy of eighteen, he’d probably be even more freaked out.

“Thank you for the dance,” I told him with a smile.

He was unlike any other man I had ever seen. The moment our eyes met, my breath caught in my lungs. He wassinfullybeautiful. Taller than any other man around here. Tousled dark hair, a devilishly handsome body in an expensive black suit. His skin was a rich golden tone that added to his mysterious charisma. But it was his eyes that captured me.

Blue. Magnetic.

Against his golden skin, they appeared even lighter.

“Running away, Reina.” The way he said it sent vibrations through my veins and made me want to faint. Like in one of those stupid, romantic movies.

“If I run, will you chase?” The words were out of my mouth. Reckless. Daring.

It wasn’t me. But I wanted it to be me.

His sensual lips tipped up. “Do you want me to?”

Yes. No. Maybe.

I wanted a prince. A savior.

“Only if you save me,” I breathed.

We still moved together on the dance floor, oblivious to the tempo of the song playing. It sounded like “Die For Me” by Post Malone and Halsey.

God, I kind of wanted a man like that to save me. My sister. To take us away.

I wanted to be a strong, independent woman. Save Anya and myself. Never depend on a man for anything. If Father didn’t care about hurting his own children, neither would other men. Our father made us into his victims. Anya suffered a lot more; she always protected me.

His body was all muscle underneath his suit, and it was only then that I spotted it. A splatter of red.

Blood.

There was blood on top of his hand. His cracked knuckles and hands had ink marking them. The letters on his hand readDiablo.

My steps halted. My heart froze. And my eyes widened.

“What is it, Reina?” His voice was deep, his eyes sharp on me. “Who do you need saving from?”

The prince was the devil.

I needed to get out of here, and I needed to do it fast.

ChapterThree