Page 30

Rising Tides.

T he only way to give up something you love is to watch it die right in front of you. If it lives, breathes, and moves, you’re tethered to it and there’s nothing that could pry it out of your reach. That’s what I thought before I came back here. Before I was signed away to be bound to Frances Lucchese. The dream of a degree or a quiet life away from here died as soon as I stepped foot on this island. Like any and all dreams do as soon as they reach these shores.

The music is muffled inside my head as my life flashes by, bending and breaking at his every command, by his side like some trophy wife that he won in a bidding war. The guitar warps as it comes back into focus when Frances speaks.

“Don’t forget your promise to me.”

“How can I when it’s seared into my brain?” I seethe, smiling as I lift the champagne glass to my lips.

“Don’t forget why you’re doing this.”

“You promised you’d let them go as soon as I signed the papers. Where are they?”

He swirls the drink in his cup beside me, his watch glinting in the low light of the Fortress.

“You don’t need to worry about your brothers. They are safe. Until you are married to me, they will remain in America.”

I take a deep breath, the alcohol flowing through my bloodstream, slowing everything down. “If you renege, I’ll kill you in your sleep.”

He huffs a laugh. “Do you know how to hold a gun, Nera?”

“I know how to hold a knife and there are plenty of those around.”

Our eyes meet and he smiles at me. I don’t expect him to say anything further but then he surprises me.

“Maybe in a different world, you would have found me as alluring as you do him. Maybe even more.”

My brows furrow at his words and I pause.

“It’s impossible to miss the look of a man filled with rage at the sight of another kissing the woman he loves, wouldn’t you agree?”

I purse my lips, unwilling to speak, so he continues.

“Maybe if you had continued your degree, we would have eventually met and you would have given yourself to me.”

“I’d never love someone like you.”

He brings the glass to his lips and polishes off the rest of his drink, then leans into my ear.

“And yet, you’d risk it all for someone like him.”

He stands to leave, some of his men taking him out toward the back of the Fortress, and I search for Raf inside.

This is utterly fucked in so many ways.

When I come up empty, my heart starts to race, my chest almost constricting as I stand abruptly, clutching at my throat.

What the fuck is going on?

I stare at my glass, wondering if I’ve been poisoned as I struggle to get air into my lungs, my chest burning with the need for oxygen.

Oh my god, I’m going to die.

My cheeks become wet with tears as I claw at my throat and clutch the end of the table, my vision dimming slowly.

“Miss Nera,” Olga’s voice sounds from behind me, but I can’t turn around or move at all, my entire body is focused on trying to breathe.

“R-Ra…” I try to speak but the onyx wave pulls me in and a small rush of calm makes its way through me.

I’ve always wondered what it’d feel like to die. Do you see a bright light? Is there some mystical creature that hovers over you as it sucks your soul out of your body? I guess I won’t be finding out today because as soon as I open my eyes, I’m surrounded by people I’ve never met making a fuss over me like they’ve known me my entire life.

“I’m fine,” I say with disappointment. Maybe it would have been easier to escape all of this and watch from below as Falcon’s Keep met its unavoidable fate. It doesn’t matter anymore because I’m alive.

Strong hands clasp around my waist and pull me up.

“You gave us a scare, Nera.” Dante’s voice is filled with concern as he walks me out of the Fortress.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to make it all about me.” I chuckle and he reciprocates. I want to ask him where Rafael is but I need to trust him. My head spins as Dante walks me back to the manor and I wonder what could be making me feel this way. I’m not sick, I never get sick.

“Are you okay?” I know Dante’s question comes from a place of brotherly concern and even though I don’t think I could ever forgive him, he’s my blood.

“I think I just need to lie down and rest.”

He walks me up the stairs and helps me sit on my bed, making sure I don’t pass out again.

“I need to ask you for something.”

“I don’t think I can say no to you considering…well…” He gestures with his palms facing up. “Everything.”

“I need you to call Olga and ask her to bring me a glass of water.”

“Sure.”

I pull my phone out of my purse and lie down on my side as he steps out, closing the door behind him.

I pause my thumb over Rafael’s name, then lock my phone and toss it over my shoulder. Taking a deep breath, I try to relax my thoughts because I know I’m going to be expected back at the Fortress to continue our charade, but the more I want my mind to relax, the more it accelerates. Not only does it conjure some wild thoughts, but it causes my anxiety to heighten to a level I’ve never experienced before.

“Miss Nera, it’s me.” Olga knocks on the door.

“Come in, Olga.”

She steps in carrying a tray with buttered bread and a glass of water, and I smile at her attentiveness. I sit up as she places the tray on my bed, then stands to the side, watching me bite into the bread.

“Miss Nera, maybe it would be good for you to see a doctor.”

I shake my head, my mouth full of bread as I chew.

“I can call Mr Lucchese’s doctor. She can be here tomorrow morning.”

Swallowing, I look up at her. “I’m fine, I just think it was a panic attack. I’m okay, really.” I reassure her because I’m already beginning to feel better after some bread.

“Should I call Mr Lucchese?”

“Absolutely not. I don’t want to see him.”

She looks at the floor, considering if she should say what she wants to.

“Go ahead, Olga, say what you want to say.”

“Pardon me, Miss Nera, but I saw you with Mr Guerra by the beach in the morning and I can’t help but wonder why you want to marry Mr Lucchese when I don’t think your heart is in it.”

My mouth goes dry and I reach for the water, biding my time so I can think of a response to handle the situation. Does everyone know? Were we that careless?

Yeah, fucking your adopted brother any chance you get and ogling him whenever he walks past would surely get noticed, Nera.

Before I can speak, she sighs.

“You’re young, Miss Nera, I just want to see you happy.”

“Happiness is overrated.”

She purses her lips, knowing she’s not going to get anything out of me, and turns around to walk out. Before she does, her hand lingers on the door as she looks back at me. “Sometimes, we might think we’re doing the right thing but instead we’re enabling all the wrong things to continue.”

She leaves with her words hanging in the air, making my stomach churn. As soon as she shuts the door, my balcony doors open, slamming against the wall, making me jump to my feet. Rafael stands there, his crisp white shirt stained with dark red liquid, his hair a mess and his eyes filled with concern and rage.

“I’m okay.”

He rushes to my side, lifting my chin delicately with the crook of his finger as he places a gentle kiss on my lips.

“Tell me what happened.”

“Honestly, I’m fine, I think it was just a panic attack.”

He checks me over. “Did he do something to you?”

I shake my head and whisper, “No, but he knows about us.”

“What?”

I rise to my toes and wrap my arms around his neck. “I don’t think we were as subtle as we thought we were.”

“How can you expect me to be when you walk around in those short dresses?”

I can’t help but smile at his words as I hold him tighter, resting my cheek on his shoulder as the silence surrounds us, a reminder of the imminence of what’s to come.

“I have to go back.”

He steps back and heads toward my walk-in robe. I wonder what he’s up to as he rummages through my things and steps out holding my suitcase.

“Pack your things.”

I look at him with confusion. “Why?”

“Be ready, Nera. Pack your things.”

When I don’t move, he opens my drawers and begins stuffing my clothes into the open suitcase, the urgency now on the rise.

“You’re scaring me.”

He whirls around with a pair of my panties in his hands. “You were right, Principessa , except you had it twisted. It’s not that you and I were not worth fighting for…” He drops my panties inside the suitcase and leans into me, placing his hand on my cheek. “It’s Falcon’s Keep that wasn’t worth the fight.”