Page 5

The Allure.

T he suitcase overflows with unworn clothing as I shove another pair of pants on the growing pile. I can’t believe he’s not going to let me graduate. It was the one thing my father had made him promise, the one thing I wanted to achieve before I packed up my life here and returned to Italy.

“This is not what my father would have wanted.” I turn to Rafael, who is now leaning against the wall, his black shirt clinging to every ridge of his strong body. I forgot what he looked like. Partly because I never spoke to him growing up. He’d be with my father or brothers and was rarely ever in the house I grew up in.

“Dante wants you home,” is all he gives me.

“But why?”

Pushing off the wall, he strides toward me, placing the last item of clothing I had on my bed into the suitcase. “You can ask him yourself, Principessa, when we hit the shores of Falcon’s Keep.”

A shudder rolls down my spine at the mention of the island where I grew up, and although I should have fond memories there with my family, I don’t. I pause, waiting for him to zip up my suitcase, throw me over his shoulder and take me back to the dreary island, but he doesn’t. Instead, he waits for me.

“How is my mother?” There is hesitation in my voice when I ask because a small part of me doesn’t truly want to know. He looks away, the moonlight drifting through the window splashes across his high cheekbones. When he looks back, his grey eyes are filled with sympathy. I don’t know why I expected the answer I was hoping for. It’s been the same for the last five years.

“Not much has changed since you left,” he admits, zipping up my suitcase and placing the wheels on the floor. Dante would never allow me to stay in a shared house, so he leased one for me close to the college my father and I chose together before he passed.

The air stills for a moment, my thoughts bringing me back to the last moments I spent with him, and my chest tightens. I haven’t thought of him for years, too focused on achieving the only goal I set out for myself and now, a small bit of guilt claws its way through me as I realise I haven’t even been back there to visit or pay my respects to him.

“What time is our flight?” I ask, hoping I’ll have time in the morning to say goodbye to my life here.

“Eleven.”

“I need to tell Elodie.” I reach for my phone with the intent to call her but my screen remains blank.

Dead battery.

Shit.

“Be ready to leave at eight.” He takes a step toward my bedroom door with my suitcase in hand.

“I need to pick up something from my friend’s house in the morning.” I give an excuse to stay a little longer, not wanting to leave without a proper goodbye.

He pauses, taking a breath in, his eyes boring into mine as he considers my request. “Fine. Be up early. I’m not missing the flight.”

The years have been extra kind to Rafael. As I stand here and take him in, I notice his boyish looks have been replaced with high cheekbones, a strong jaw, and full lips. The only similarity he shares with the boy I once knew, is the void behind his beautiful steel eyes.

“Rafael?”

His expression softens, waiting for my question.

“How’s Dante doing?” I ask, more from a place of curiosity than empathy, because my brother hasn’t spoken to me since I left Falcon’s Keep.

He takes a step toward me, his jaw tensing as he brings his hand up to scratch his chin. “Dante…has been trying to do what he can with what he has.”

“That’s vague.”

He smiles, his white teeth coming into view, the piercings on his nose twinkling in the dim light. “I don’t remember you being this direct.”

“That’s because you never spoke to me.”

“Hm.” His eyes graze over me and when they land on mine again, I struggle to ignore the shiver that runs down my spine, all too aware of his proximity. To my dismay, he turns on his heels and takes a few steps toward my door. “Goodnight, Principessa. ”

He walks away, leaving me to question the direction my life is about to take.

The tapping of my shoes on the floor echoes through the hall as I wait for Elodie, and all I can think about is asking her to come with me. I look over my shoulder at Rafael, leaning on the driver’s side of the black sedan, and my heart races at the inevitability of my situation.

People file out of the auditorium and I search for Elodie’s bright blonde hair. When she comes into view, I hastily make my way through the crowd, and she gasps when I grab her by the wrist and pull her to the side, away from the crowd.

“What’s going on?” She checks me over. “Are you okay?”

“I…” I swallow, the words not wanting to come out of my mouth, unsure of how she’s going to take it. “I have to leave.”

She pauses, and just when I think she will slap me, she laughs.

“I’m serious.” I look over to Rafael, who’s still in the same place with a cigarette between his lips, and she follows my vision, her body tensing when she sees him.

“Who’s he?” she asks, looking back at me. “Nera, what is going on?”

“I have to go back to Falcon’s Keep.” The words taste bitter, but I say them anyway, not seeing a way out of this.

Her eyes widen. “What!? Graduation isn’t for another few months. What about the ceremony? What about your future? What about all the effort you’ve put into your degree?”

I slide my hands into hers. “I know, but I don’t have a choice.”

Disgust piles onto me when there’s an unwanted caress at my hip, across my lower back, and I know who it is without looking up.

“ Bella …what are you doing on this side of campus?”

Elodie squeezes my hands so hard, that the rings on my fingers almost meld together as Jeremy’s gaze lingers far too long on my chest. Just as I’m about to push him away from me, his eyes are torn away to something behind me.

“Is there a problem?” The deep timber of Rafael’s voice livens up the now empty hall. When I turn, Jeremy takes a step back as Rafael drops the cigarette butt onto the floor, putting out the ember with his boot. He’s dressed in all black, the top buttons of his shirt undone, offering a view of his dark chest tattoos and the silver cross he wears around his neck.

Jeremy scoffs and turns back to me. “Did you hire a bodyguard with all your slut money?”

Heat rises to my cheeks at the mention of my night job, and Rafael smiles.

“Do you think belittling a woman for earning her keep will make up for your lack of character and respect?”

Jeremy opens his mouth to answer, but before he can, Rafael speaks again. “It just proves you have nothing of substance to offer in terms of equality.” He takes a step toward Jeremy, circling him like prey. “Or support.”

He stands behind Jeremy, breathing down his neck. “Typical qualities of a boy ,” he whispers, and when Jeremy turns to face him, my stomach flies into my throat at the sight of Rafael towering over him, the dark markings on his neck a harsh contrast to Jeremy’s bare skin.

“At least I have a promising life ahead of me. What do you have in your future? Prison?” His snarky tone makes Rafael grin, and I can’t pull my eyes away from what’s unfolding before me.

“I cannot foresee the future, but I know what lies in my past.” His ominous answer has Jeremy lost for words as Rafael stares at him, waiting for him to break his gaze.

“Whatever, man, I don’t have time for your riddles.” Jeremy’s hand lands on Rafael’s shoulder, aiming to push him, but Rafael doesn’t waste a second, grabbing a hold of his hand and walking him back into the wall.

“Whoa, man, what are you doing?” Jeremy’s voice wavers. “You’re hurting me.”

I watch as Rafael twists his hand backward, bending his elbow and shoving him face first into the wall, Jeremy’s cries resounding through the hall.

“Please! Alright! Fuck! Okay!”

“All it takes is a little bit of force and I dislocate your shoulder, possibly tear some ligaments and sever your chances of playing any sport for the rest of your life.”

“No, no, no, please, no,” Jeremy begs as Rafael holds him pressed against the wall, the muscles in his arm tightening.

“Apologise.”

“Fuck! Sorry! I’m sorry!”

My hands come up to cover my mouth when a loud snap sounds. Rafael takes a step away from Jeremy, watching him cry out in pain.

“What the fuck!?” he screams, gaining the attention of a few straggling students. “My shoulder!”

“I’d say I hope you’ve learnt your lesson, but I doubt people like you do.” He spits at the ground. “ Buona giornata, testa di cazzo. ”

“Time to go, Principessa, before I add one more name on my wall.”