Chapter 7 THE ESCAPE PLAN

I watched him leave with his men hastily but with a poise demeanor like they had been practicing that move all their lives, but it was all what made them who they were— daring men.

Immediately they walked out of the door, everywhere fell under the hush of silence and I let out a rigid sigh that I didn't realize I had been holding in for a long while.

I gazed around the room, realizing I was indeed alone— all alone that my skin began to crawl. I know I wanted this, the quiet world, away from worry and being frightened under his lingering gaze, a peace so quiet that I have no feeling of resentment in my heart.

But then again, why do I feel extremely lonely all of a sudden. The stillness of silence was too loud and deafening that I could feel myself burst. Perhaps, I was yet to adapt to such a quiet world and this was not the type of leave I wanted for myself.

This felt like I was trapped— trapped in a cage with no exit in sight. I just sat there at the table, meal untouched as I had left it with the wine glass beckoning at me to take a sip at least to warm me up, but that was the last thing I needed to resort to in order to tender my grief.

All though, it would be an effective companion if I had tried, I wasn't just bold enough to take a drink or maybe I was just being conscious of my predicament and I had to be careful with whatever I had around me.

Seconds crawled into minutes and the minutes grew longer until I took no further record of it.

What was I waiting for at the table?

Rafael?

Was I waiting for his return?

What business of his had arisen that required such urgency?

He had left with a gun in his hand— the look he had carried confirmed someone was going to die by his hand tonight.

Who could it be?

What really does it take to be in a Mafia's ring?

He had told me to pray for his return and this may be a confirmation to something.

There may be a duel in this business that has called him away from me and it may result in his death.

What really should I pray for?

For Santiano Rafael Devereaux to safely return to me and give notable, unquestionable answers and reasons to my abduction from my wedding or for him to die at the war front?

I couldn't bring myself to think much of this because praying against these two variables was riveting a conflict within me.

In my ridiculous train of thought, out of nowhere, a thought glinted brightly to be pondered on.

If these men had all left the house to settle a business deal, it might as well be the appropriate time for me to plan my escape from the mansion and not only a plan, but actually acting it out.

Immediately, I took a quick glance towards the kitchen where the chefs were working and they all were fully distracted with one chore or the other.

I had to make sure that no one was paying attention to me enough to notice I was no longer seated at the table.

When I had confirmed this, I lifted up my dress up to my thighs, ripping off a huge chunk of the fabric so I could move more freely and fast without it depriving my movements going forward.

Then, I stood up from my seat, carefully making it towards the door without making a sound. My heels had been displaced as I had no intention of running away in them and I tugged at a prayer in my mind,

'I hope no prince finds them.’

The hallway ahead was extremely silent with no single soul monitoring and parading it. I quickened my pace towards the end and the little floor plan I had mastered while coming down for dinner at first reminded me of where I should be expecting next.

'The grand staircase.’— the same one Rafael has been waiting for me at the base just so he could hold my hand to dine with him.

It all had happened for a brief moment and as I got twirled back into memory lane of that moment, I couldn't describe what I was feeling yet again.

Everything about Rafael's actions from the moment I opened my eyes to behold his existence up to the moment he left me all alone to tend to his business were all contradictory.

A moment, he appears to be the sweetest man alive and the next, he is the exact reincarnation of what the devil appears to be.

I could remember the look he had in his eyes as I descended the stairs with grace. His hands folded behind him like British men await their lady to dance with them in an enormous ball room, endowed with glistering treasures and wonders.

And like a fine gentleman, he has extended his hand at me, wanting me to grace my arrival towards him with my touch which—

“Vanessa!” My inner self punched at me as I barged out of the opulence of my thoughts.

With hastened steps, I rushed past the stairs. Everything seemed too easy— or should I say, escaping from this mansion owned by Rafael seemed too easy to be true.

No one was guarding the doors and the once men-filled house had no one in sight. It was strange, a lot too strange that I felt it could be a test.

But if this was last luck showing me mercy, I'd rather push at it without doubt.

The door.

With a heavy heart, I dreaded towards it, hoping I met no obstacle to my path of freedom the moment I got to it.

My hand reached for the knob and without a final look, I pushed to open. The cold night wind blew against my face and refreshed my spirit which also sent a sharp chill down my spine, but that wasn't the only cold greeting I received as I suddenly could feel my cheek burn.

It was a slap to my cheek that I lost balance, falling back into the house.

Who could have thought they'd be waiting out there for me?