Page 62 of Wicked (Wicked Billionaires #2)

RAVEN

After the perfect sunset, I reluctantly head back to the beachside hotel as if in a dream. Even if I’m still messed up, my spirit or soul feels like it’s finally letting go or giving up on men…

And Dante.

I start to plan my travel day tomorrow as I potter around in my hotel room. I love the island of Koh Samui, but I’m excited about leaving in the morning. Traveling to Tahiti and Bora Bora to write without any form of distraction will be divine.

I need a week alone to massage the book into the zone. Hitting the road again will be spectacular, and it’s time my adventure continues.

As I drop by the hotel lobby to pay for the room’s extras and get my passport from their safe, I notice the manager acting a little nervous. I’m unsure why, and it’s no big deal. That is until I ask for my passport.

None of the thatched roofed hotel rooms have safes in them, so I did what they advised. I gave my passport to the manager for their hotel safe.

As I wait in the lobby, I see the manager start to sweat.

“Madam, we’re sorry, but we are having trouble locating your passport.”

What the hell?

“It may have gone to the airport with a group for stamping.”

I double blink.

“It appears your passport is on the other side of the island.”

I have no words.

“It will be returned tomorrow afternoon with others.”

Even if the place is spectacular, staying here an extra day will mess up my flight to Tahiti. In saying that, I have my global flight deal for the next nine months.

“For putting you out, we will cover all expenses. And arrange a free private tour to an outer island tomorrow. Free travel, free lunch, and staff at your service.”

I shake my head and realize it’s not the end of the world. “Ok, and thanks, I guess…”

After bumping my international flight to Tahiti a day, I chill. I then unpack some of my things and hit the hay.

As I lay in bed and listen to the light waves in the lagoon, I roll over. I lay on my back and look up at the room.

I used to have no problem sleeping, especially with him. Now, I cannot sleep well without the son of a bitch.

Huffing, I roll over and I feel the soft pillow on my cheek. I think about us , and again my chest tightens. Then again… a lone tear runs down my cheek and into my mouth. Again, I taste salt.

I’m broken, and I’ll always be broken…

The next morning a white luxury jeep arrives, and I’m taken to a pier. A fancy white launch takes me to an offshore island, and a lovely young couple in uniforms stay with the launch. They explain the island is privately owned, and we will be here for the morning.

“And at midday, you will be served a special seafood lunch. Lobsters, oysters, crab, and champagne. The island is surrounded by lagoons, and you are the only person on it.”

After I’m given sparkling water and a fresh towel, I walk around my own private island. It is spectacular, and I start to relax and enjoy the space.

I place my daypack and sarong in the shade, and I walk through the lagoon that circles the perfectly white sandy island.

With just me, my black bikini, my sunglasses, and sunhat, I feel all alone. It’s not bad, it’s just what it is. Me…

Alone in the world!

It gives me time to consider where I’m going in my life and what I am doing.

For some reason, Tito, Olive, and Dante keep coming back to me, and it’s hard forcing them from my mind.

As I walk slowly along the palm lined lagoon in my bikini, I realize I miss them all. Even if I’m not good enough for Dante, I have to move on. I have to stay open to meeting another man, someone who likes me for me.

Young. Simple. Innocent-ish and untraveled. Make that semi-traveled.

I swim in several of the long, linked shallow lagoons, and I find conch shells. I also see turtles and angel fish. I find the most remote beach and lagoon, and it’s on the far side of the island. Not a soul is visible.

I decide this will be my home for the day and less than three minutes later, after walking through the center of the island, I am back with my towel, sarong, bag, and cool water.

I lay my huge towel down on the beach, and I take my bikini top off. As I lay topless in the sun, the cell in my bag rings.

I don’t usually check emails on beaches, but I’m half under a palm, and I’m expecting one from my publisher.

The email is from Parker, and she tells me to check a link. I sigh, sit up, and hit it. The link is from a media company in NYC, and the title catches my eye. How could it not?

Fraudulent-Tourism-Advertising-Investigation-Fired.

My old boss’s name then pops up.

I smile and speed-read as a small jet flies past the island. I refocus on the story as my heart pounds hard.

Maybe there can be justice.

I hear the jet circle again, and my eyes find it in the sky. It is low, and banking steeply. I dislike being disturbed topless, and what sort of moron flies that low?

As the plane peels off, I keep reading and glowing. Laughing, I leap up, and I run into the warm water, knowing my boss is caught and about to be hung.

I feel great, and I feel better about the world. Justice is sweet.

Topless in the lagoon, under my sun hat, and wearing my big sunglasses, I celebrate with my sparkling water.

I glow happily, alone, and something tells me everything will be all right.

I’m rudely shaken from my moment of triumph when a sleek chopper skims the water in the distance.

“Private, my ass,” I mumble as the chopper heads away.

I walk around the lagoon a little, and I peer far into the distance. The couple who brought me here are now heading away in their launch.

“Oh shit!”

I start to freak out when the sleek white chopper comes back into view. It banks around, fans out, and lands several hundred feet away on the pristine white sand.

Suddenly, a dog leaps out of the chopper door, and it sees me. Wagging its tail, it runs towards me along the beach. Confused, I walk up the beach topless and wonder if I’m being messed with. That’s when I realize the dog is Tito. My Tito.

Without wondering how he traveled, I run to him through the water.

Tito charges across the shallow lagoon water, and we hug in the sun. As I hold him and shed a tear, Tito yaps and wiggles.

I then notice the chopper pilot walking towards me. He wears a perfectly tailored navy suit, Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses, and bare feet.

He almost looks like Dante… But it can’t be. Firstly, he’s in Italy, and secondly, he can’t fly…

Or can he?

The mysterious pilot walks on, and as I hold Tito, my heart does strange things. It leaps, surges, and jumps around like a mad thing. The pilot and I examine each other from afar, and Tito starts to look between us both. His tail then starts to wag.

As the pilot gets closer, I wipe my eyes and realize it’s him.

“You’re a hard woman to find.”

I say nothing, and my body tenses up. I try to remain polite, and I say nothing. Dante steps closer, and cautiously, he crouches at the water’s edge.

As I kneel at Tito’s side, everything seems to fade away.

The entire universe. The last month. All the travel. Moments. Words in books. It’s just me, Dante, and Tito.

Like we’re in the castle.

“I found out that what you wrote about Italy is not what’s in your heart. I read the second article, and you truly have a way with words, like an artist. Like Da Vinci or Michaelangelo.”

I gulp, surprised to be compared to masters, even if it’s likely a plea.

“That you like… or even love Italy. It’s best you don’t ask how I know everything I know. I want to apologize and do the right thing, Raven. I want to be honest.”

I stand and cross my arms over my breasts as Dante rubs his jaw, disturbed. He rises and we stand on the edge of the lagoon.

“As we built out the theme park, I took on too much. I was stressed, and as CEO, I was protecting my company back in New York. I hurt you, and that is unforgiveable. It won’t ever happen again.”

My heart jumps, but I feel confused. Hurt, angry, and now confused.

“Today, I made changes to my fashion business. It will allow room for us. If you will allow an us .”

I watch Dante closely, and for the first time, the confident modern warrior looks unsure. Dante, the perfectly cool, calm, and graceful man under pressure is even nervous.

The man who stood up to the Italian mafia is nervous…

Over me.

“I worked hard, and I worked every waking hour for a decade. I never stopped, and I built my fashion company, Celestial, to…”

“You mean Celestial? Celestial Fashion?” Dante nods. “Celestial is yours? But that’s worth like ten billion.”

“Actually, a little more. Anyway, I’m sorry for keeping it from you. I just like keeping it on the down low. It effects some people, even if I now know it wouldn’t change you.”

Our eyes hold.

“Today, I decided it’s too big to be run by one man. Especially if he was say… busy… or a family man.”

What?

What is he saying?

“Or if he was married.”

Oh my God!

“On the way here, I made some changes, and I even bought a company.”

My mind moves fast, and I piece it together. “Was that you? You who bought the travel company and fired my…”

Dante twists the Ray-Bans now in his hands. “Maybe.”

My heart jumps. He does love me, and he is protecting me.

“I put a team in place to run my company, and I decided to step down as CEO. It’s too much for one man. I have other things I want to do now.”

Dante steps towards me, and he is now only feet away.

“Like?” I ask.

“Like building a family. Like worshipping the woman I love. Like supporting her in things she wants to do… And keeping her happy. At home, or say near a beach, on an island.”

Our eyes hold, and I shed a tear. It itches my cheek, but I ignore it this time.

There is that strange magic swirling around us again.

But he’ll hurt me again, won’t he?

Whether I like it or not, us , our spirits, are sparking again, and the anger in me is evaporating.

“I’ll need to think about it,” I say, lifting my chin.

Dante looks serious, and he lifts his chin. “I’m not here to negotiate, Raven. You’re mine and I want no other in the world.”