Captured Beauty

Chapter 4

Bound by Fire

Rafael’s POV

"Isabella, you believe you can leave me?"

I said softly, dangerously. She stood before me, her emerald eyes burning with defiance. Her stare at me, as though she wasn't afraid of what I could do, drove me crazy.

"I don't believe it, Rafael," she said. "I know."

Caging her in, I slapped my hand on the wall next to her. You are not leaving.

She raised her head. "Watch me."

Damn her. I had never encountered someone who challenged my control like this lady. Isabella was an inferno, scorching through every boundary I had erected, not only fire.

She attempted to push past me; I caught her wrist and spun her back into the wall. You wish to walk directly into a death trap? Suit yourselves.

Her words tinged with rage, she yanked her arm free. "He's my dad! I have to know the reality.

The reality? I laughed loudly. Lorenzo De Luca is a serpent, really. You were sold to me like property. Now that you are once more helpful to him, what do you believe he will do?

She flinched, but I caught the instant she steeled herself. Your rephrasing1: "I don't care." I want solutions.

I clenched my teeth. What if I decline?

Her eyes sparkled. "Then I'll go without you and find a way.

I held her chin to make her face me. "Try it, Isabella, and I swear, I'll chain you to my side."

Though she didn't turn away, her breath caught. Rafael, you don't frighten me.

She ought to be afraid. From me. From this planet. Of what her father had accomplished. But no—she remained there challenging me to halt her.

I let out a quick breath. "The truth is wanted by you?"

Her eyes burning constant, she nodded.

Okay, I said. "But we do this my way."

I took up my phone before she could protest. Mateo, prepare the vehicle. We're off hunting.

We're going on a hunt.

The trip to the meeting place was stressful. Isabella sat next to me, arms folded, gaze fixed out the window.

Though she wouldn't talk, I could sense her rage washing over me.

I murmured, "You're pouting," to end the quiet.

She glared at me. I don't pout.

You are doing it now.

She exhaled angrily. "I don't pout. I fume.

I grinned. "Adorable."

Her nostrils widened. I'm not adorable.

I came closer, my voice a whisper. You are to me.

She tensed, but I caught the way her breath caught. She could say it all she wanted, but the tension between us was sharp enough to cut with a knife.

The vehicle came to a stop in front of an empty warehouse. Mateo spun around in his chair. Rafael, are you certain about this?

I caught his look in the mirror. I have no option.

I looked at Isabella. "Stay nearby."

She rolled her eyes. I can manage my own affairs.

I clenched my teeth. "That's not the issue."

She didn't fight, but her eyes still showed the struggle.

The warehouse was darkly lit, shadows dancing over the concrete floor.

Shadows creeping across the concrete floor, the warehouse was poorly lit. The air was heavy with the smell of iron and something deeper.

Flanked by armed guys, Lorenzo stood in the middle of the space. Seeing Isabella, his damaged face contorted into a grin.

He responded gently, "Ah, my dear daughter." "I knew you would arrive."

Isabella's hands formed into fists. "Where the hell have you been?"

Lorenzo tsked. "Now, now, that's no way to welcome your father."

I clenched my jaw. Lorenzo, stop the nonsense. What do you desire, then?

He grinned, deliberately and slowly. Surely it's clear?

I moved onward. You made your bargain, handing her over to me. She's now my property.

Isabella tensed next to me, but I kept looking at Lorenzo.

Lorenzo laughed. Rafael, that could be accurate. But you see, Viktor Morozov has made a quite alluring proposition.

I stopped moving. What offer?

Lorenzo's grin grew. "Her."

A surge of rage coldly poured over me. "You son of a—"

Gunfire started.

Bullets ripped through the air, so I leaped and caught Isabella. Mateo yelled commands back, firing.

"Get her out of here!"

My pulse racing, I drew Isabella toward the door. But a person came into our way before we got to the door.

Viktor Morozov

With a revolver in hand, he grinned. "Going somewhere?"

I pushed Isabella behind me, my pistol up.

Viktor's grin widened. "Rafael, you genuinely believed this would be simple?"

My heartbeat a constant beat of violence, I gripped the trigger tighter.

No, I didn’t believe it would be simple.

Anyone who attempted to steal her from me would be killed.

Lorenzo, I ought to shoot you in the head right now.

Though my voice was soft, the danger behind it was lethal. My blood boiling with fury, my fingers danced on the gun's hold. Isabella stood next to me, her breath quick and her body tight. I could sense the energy pouring off her—anger, betrayal, something more. Something unrefined.

Lorenzo grinned, his scar distorting his face into something horrific. Rafael, you haven't shot yet, however. Why is that, then?

I gripped harder. "I don't waste bullets on men not worth the lead."

Cold and harsh, his laughter rang out over the warehouse. "Ah, but you see, I am deserving of it. Otherwise, you would not be here. And neither would she.

Isabella stepped forward, her words piercing the tension. "You used me," she hissed, her emerald eyes ablaze. You sold me as if I were nothing.

Lorenzo shook his head and groaned. Isabella, you are mistaken. I didn't sell you. I offered you a chance.

"An opportunity?" she said again, her voice tinged with skepticism. You gave me to him like a f*****g trade.

Lorenzo looked at me. "And still, you are here." Living. Safe. Strong in ways you never would have been under my roof.

Aiming my rifle at his chest, I moved closer. "You believe that justifies your actions?"

Lorenzo gave a shrug. Rafael, I believe you misjudge the game you are playing. I gave you my daughter knowing it would push you to decide.

Isabella gasped. A decision?

Lorenzo grinned more widely. "Kill me and you'll miss the whole reality. Let me walk out of here, and maybe, just maybe, I'll tell you who truly betrayed you.

Tension flared in the air between us. My body howled to pull the trigger; my finger lingered over it, ready to finish him. But the manner in which he expressed those remarks made me hesitate.

"Who?" I insisted.

His eyes sparkled. "You already know."

A gunshot echoed across the warehouse.

The shot's roar burst into the air as instinct seized over. Turning and shooting wildly at the shadows, I seized Isabella and pushed her behind me.

Mateo yelled from my earpiece. Rafael! Get out of there, now!

"Too late," I said angrily.

From the side door, a group of guys armed with firearms came in. Taking a deliberate step back, Lorenzo's grin remained unchanged. You didn't believe I arrived alone, did you?

I pushed Isabella in Mateo's direction. Take her out.

"No!" she said, attempting to resist me. I am not abandoning you!

Grabbing her by the shoulders, I made her face me. Isabella, you don't get a f*****g option. Leave.

Her lips opened, rage and something else—something that curled in my chest—flink in her eyes. Still, she remained still.

"I'm not leaving you," she replied, her voice strong, unwavering.

A bullet zipped past us and lodged itself in the container next to my head. I clenched my teeth.

Isabella, now.

She paused, then at last raced with Mateo for the rear exit. Before I looked back to Lorenzo, relief hardly had time to settle in my chest. Like the coward he was, he was already vanishing into the battle, sliding into the turmoil.

Under my breath, I swore and shot at the closest assailant, killing him right away. I turned and slammed my gun into the jaw of another man who had surged at me, then pulled the trigger.

A flood of corpses. The aroma of blood. War's acute, metallic flavor.

Then comes silence.

Scanning the bodies at my feet, I breathed out, my pulse racing. Lorenzo, however, was gone.

The bastard had fled.

Turning on my heel, I dashed for the exit where Mateo had taken Isabella. Every stride seemed like fire under my feet. I scanned the alleyway as I pushed through the door.

Vacant.

Panic coiled in my stomach. I spun, my voice cutting. Where is she?

Staggering forward, Mateo's side was stained with blood. "They took her."

My eyesight shrank, the world tilting. In my ears, my pulse was a raging tempest.

What? I said softly, dangerously.

Gripping the wall for support, Mateo swayed. They had a second squad. I resisted them, but— He gulped. Isabella and Rafael were taken.

My whole body went ice cold and my fingers curled into fists.

I had sworn to protect her.

And now, she is gone.

A slow, deadly rage built inside me, dark and violent.

Lorenzo had just declared war.

And I was going to end it.