Chapter 30

My heart was racing loudly in my chest as Raf's hand which felt rough and insistent took hold of mine. He was pulling me through the bustling mall and he didn’t say a single word to explain what was going on.

As I tried to keep up I stumbled a little catching a quick view of the bright shop windows and the cheerful shoppers around us. It was a brief moment of clarity before I was hit by an overwhelming realization of my situation.

This was my life now and it was completely tied to Rafaelle Tommaso a man who hadn’t even known who I was just a few hours ago. I had only six months to get through this just six months where I would have to find my way through the shadows of his world.

It felt huge and intimidating like a place that was both magnificent and stifling at the same time a world I had never encountered before.

I wanted to ask “Where are we going?” but the words got stuck in my throat. They came out so quietly that I could hardly hear myself over the loud and chaotic voices all around us. He didn't even look at me or respond to my question and his silence felt even louder compared to all the thoughts racing through my head.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Sam and my mind was racing with worry. I kept wondering what Raf was planning. Did he have any idea about what had happened between Sam and me?

The possibility that he might know sent shivers down my spine and made me feel uneasy. I started to question if he was feeling angry. Was he upset about the mistake Sam made? That mistake which was driven by a sudden urge could lead to some serious problems.

My voice got louder as I spoke with a sense of urgency and fear “Raf!” I called out for him hoping to get his attention. However, my desperate plea was answered only by the same cold silence that hung in the air around us.

This silence seemed to get thicker and more oppressive with each step I took. It felt as if the quiet was wrapping around me making it harder to breathe and filling my heart with a deep sense of worry. Finally after what felt like an eternity we arrived at the car.

The shiny black car shone ominously under the bright unyielding lights of the mall its polished surface reflecting the harsh glow like a dark jewel. Inside the car, Hugo was already settled in the driver's seat his face showing no emotion at all like a cold mask that revealed nothing of what he might be feeling.

Raf standing beside the car opened the passenger door for me with a slight gesture. I carefully climbed into the car feeling the air thick with tension and an awkward silence that seemed to wrap around us. When the door slammed shut behind me it felt like I was being locked into a cage of my creation and I could feel the heavy weight of my decisions pressing down on me making it hard to breathe.

Without saying a single word Hugo turned the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life. He smoothly navigated the car into the flow of traffic and as we pulled away the world outside the windows became a blur of bright colors and shapes.

This vibrant chaos stood in sharp contrast to the suffocating darkness that felt like it was closing in around me making the entire experience feel even more intense and overwhelming.

The journey home felt like it was taking forever and it was filled with an uncomfortable silence that made me anxious. I looked out of the car window watching the world outside turn into a blur as we drove by but my mind was completely focused on Sam.

I couldn’t stop thinking about him and what Raf might do to him. My breaths were short and quick and I could feel a heavy feeling in my chest filled with a terrible mix of worry and fear about the situation.

At last, as we were close to our home the quietness that had been around us all the time suddenly broke apart. I could hear Raf's voice which was deep and rough because he was holding back his irritation. His words made me feel uneasy and sent chills down my back. I found myself holding my breath automatically getting ready for the approaching trouble that I could sense was about to happen.

“I—I didn’t mean to do it,” I said my voice shaking and my heart beating very fast against my chest. “I was just trying to...”

“Are you saying that’s all there is? Just shopping?” he interrupted me his voice filled with barely contained anger as we drove into the driveway. The large and intimidating house stood in front of us its well-known shadows providing very little comfort or peace.

I needed to explain everything clearly so that he could understand what happened. I said “Raf I promise you I only went out to shop for some things. Then out of nowhere Sam grabbed my arm and pulled me into the restroom! I was completely surprised and had no idea what he wanted from me. It all happened so fast and I was caught off guard!”

His eyes became smaller as he turned his head to look directly at me. I could see the muscles in his jaw were tight and tense under his well-fitted jacket. He spoke to me with a serious tone saying “What do you think it looks like to me when I see you out there with him doing who knows what? I already warned you to keep your distance from him.”

“Please just take a moment to hear what I have to say!” My voice became a bit louder filled with a sense of urgency and desperation. “I truly had no idea that he would do something like that—”

“If you believe that I am going to trust what you are saying you should reconsider that idea.” His anger came out suddenly as he forcefully hit his hand on the dashboard making a loud noise that surprised Hugo who quickly turned his head to look at us through the rearview mirror. The atmosphere was filled with a heavy silence full of unspoken tension that seemed ready to burst at any moment.

Before I had a chance to try to fix what was happening the front door suddenly swung open. At that moment Luiza walked in and she had an overly sweet smile stuck on her face which made me feel a little uncomfortable.

She looked at me and asked in a slow drawn-out way “What's going on here?” Her voice had a tone that seemed to pretend she didn’t know anything but I could tell she was just putting on an act.

I felt my irritation growing stronger as she walked deeper into the room. Her eyes quickly moved back and forth between Raf and me making it clear that she was trying to figure something out. She said “I heard about your little outing together. You were probably off somewhere kissing Sam weren't you?”

“Please stop talking Luiza!” Raf shouted his eyes filled with anger. “What is happening here has nothing to do with you.”

“Oh but it is true,” she said softly her finger gently moving along the edge of the counter like it belonged only to her. “You understand how quickly rumors can travel from person to person especially when someone like Iris is in the picture. Who can say for certain? It’s possible that everything you heard was just a part of some clever plot to take something valuable from you.”

“No,” I said with frustration in my voice my feelings of anger rising just below the surface. “You don’t get it—”