POV: Raphael
“You will regret this!” Ethan told me this morning before he got to his car and left. All these years he has never threatened me or shown me his true colors. It’s been Nate all these years. Ethan just stayed in the shadows, doing his business behind the scenes. Now he has decided to join forces with Nathan and it’s going to be more trouble for me.
“You don’t have to take me home, I can get home by myself.” Victoria told me as I drove her home. She has been quiet since last night, she didn’t say anything about it, not even when she witnessed Gramps brutality with my brothers. She got her fair share of threats from Nate, but she kept her cool and just pretended not to notice.
“I didn’t ask for your opinion, did I?” I asked sternly.
“Can we skip this pretense and talk like two smart adults?
I thought we were past this stage. You may not like me Ralph, but at least treat me like a friend or a sister. Just get rid of the attitude already, it’s not who you are.” She told me, sounding so sure that she knew the real me. I scoffed, smirking evilly at her.
“You think you know me because we spent the weekend together?” I laughed, keeping my eyes fixed on the road.
“You know nothing about me, Victoria. You know nothing about anything. So just keep your mouth shut and let me take you home.” I told her sternly.
“I do know that you are not an asshole like you make everyone believe. Beneath this mean attitude is a good guy with a good heart. You can keep trying to be mean to me, Raphael. But I’m done fighting you.” She lets out firmly, her eyes filled with warmth. She is beginning to fall for me, I can see it in her eyes. I can’t let her into my life, I can’t fall in love with her because don’t want to hurt her.
I can’t love her like she deserves, I can’t give her the life she deserves. When this charade is over, she can go and be with whoever she wants. I’m sure she would find a guy that has enough love in his heart to share with her. She would meet a man to love her like she deserves. I refused to look her way until we approached my mansion. I turned to her and whispered softly,
“We’re here, Victoria.” I told her as my SUV hummed softly and pulled up in front of Victoria’s new house, I mean my gift to her family. The street is quiet, the only sound to be heard is the soft sound of my car’s engine and the gentle rustling of leaves in the night breeze. I turned to stare at her, my expression grim yet determined.
I haven’t looked at her since she told me she was done fighting with me. As I pulled over, I made the mistake of turning to look her way, and I got mesmerized once more. She is so beautiful!
I’m so lucky to have her on my side. These days I discovered that I am finding it hard to keep my hands to myself when she is around me. I almost screwed her in front of my grandfather and our guests last night. I’d used the alarm button to distract the audience from what transpired between Victoria and I on the dance floor.
She knows how to make me desire her with just kisses and caressing. She knows her way around my body and she sure knows where to touch to make my body come alive. She will be the end of me if I’m not careful. She would make me fall hopelessly in love with her if I let her.
“Thank you for everything, Raphael. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.” She admitted as she took in her surroundings and realized I took care of her family in her absence.
“This house is so beautiful, Raphael, how do I ever repay you?” she asks in excitement as she threw her arms around my neck and hugged me firmly. I smiled in approval and hugged her back seeing as her mom and her kid sister were staring at us from the window.
I’m glad they find this house to be a safe haven for them. It’s been a safe haven for me too, I cannot count the number of times this mansion had saved my life from my brothers and uncles. I can’t begin to express how much I love this mansion, it has sentimental value to me and that is why I keep it safe and clean always.
You see I bought this mansion when I was abroad. I needed a place to stay with no family around. I was still investigating my uncles and cousins, I didn’t want to go home often to avoid the incident that killed my father. So I got this house and I turned it into my secret hideout and my safe haven. It has never been discovered since I bought it, it’s been a safe haven to me for so long and I’m glad it could be a safe haven for Victoria and her family as well.
I reached out to gently squeeze Victoria’s hand, offering her a reassuring smile before we both stepped out of the car and made our way to the front door. As we approach, the door swings open and Victoria’s mother, Eloise, stands in the doorway, her face a mask of anger and worry.
“Victoria! Where have you been?
Do you have any idea what happened when you were away, do you know what we went through while you had fun and partied with your boyfriend?
How could you abandon your family to go and have fun with a man?
I raised you better than that, Victoria!
Your family comes first in your life, how many times do I have to tell you that?” her mom scolded her, sounding so damn furious. Victoria’s eyes filled with tears and she looked down shamefully, trying to avoid her mother’s accusing eyes. It’s not her fault and I know it. I can’t let her face the heat from her mom alone. So I step forward, my voice calm yet authoritative.
“I’m sorry for all you went through. Ma’am Eloise. But I assure you that you and Claire are safe now. I made sure of it. I will…” I wanted to say I will make sure it never happens again, but her gaze snaps to me, her eyes blazing with fury.
“You! This is all your fault! You put my family in danger! I want you to stay away from Victoria, do you hear me?
Stay away from us, we don’t need more drama in our lives. We have enough trouble in our family to last us several lifetimes. Keep your family issues to yourself and stay away from us!” she told me angrily, her voice breaking at the end. I could tell that she was sad and angry, but that was not enough reason to break up my relationship with Victoria, I won’t accept that. I looked deeply at her, my gaze unwaveringly, and my voice low and controlled.
“I understand your anger, ma’am Eloise. But there’s something you should know. Victoria and I are two adults and we can decide whether to be together or break up. What happened was nobody’s fault and I’m working hard to make sure it never happens ever again. Do not try to break up our relationship, ma’am, I won’t let you. And if you try to be vengeful, I will make you regret it!” I told her firmly.