Saint and Sinner

Chapter 3

Elena

The air grew heavy. I stepped back. Rafael didn’t. Slow, deliberate, he closed in until my back hit the wall. His gaze held me—possessive, claiming.

His fingers brushed behind my ear—light, electric. A shiver ran down my spine. I hated myself for it.

I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for... A slap? My chest heaved, heart pounding.

And then, just as suddenly as it started, the heat was gone.

"Very funny, Rafael. Don’t mess with her, this one’s mine."

The voice cut through the tension like a blade. I snapped my eyes open, my body going rigid.

Isabella stood in the doorway, arms crossed and an amused smirk on her lips. She looked so calm, so in control the opposite of me.

I pressed harder into the wall, as if I could disappear into it.

Rafael turned lazily toward her, his grin deepening.

“And Rafael,” Isabella continued, her voice light but firm, “put some clothes on, would you? Not everyone here is charmed by your… confidence. Also,” she added with a smirk, “you smell like s*x. Take a bath.”

He chuckled, glancing back at me before leaning over to kiss her cheek. My stomach twisted at the sight of it, and the casual wink he threw my way made it worse.

When he finally left, the tension in the room didn’t lift. If anything, it felt heavier.

I didn’t move, barely breathing as Isabella’s eyes landed on me. Did she see my fear? Did she enjoy it?

“Don’t worry,” she said, stepping further into the room. Her voice was softer now, almost gentle, but I flinched anyway. The memory of her earlier threat burned fresh in my mind: Do as I say, or your brother dies.

I searched her face for the cruelty I’d seen before, but this Isabella looked… different. Warmer. Like she wasn’t the same person who’d spoken to me through clenched teeth, her hand gripping my chin.

"She tilted her head. 'I won’t speak to you like that again. You’re family now. And we don’t threaten family.'”

I swallowed hard, her words catching me off guard. Family? A bitter laugh bubbled in my chest, but I shoved it down.

She had to know how ridiculous that sounded. After all, what kind of family holds you hostage and threatens to kill your brother?

Her voice dropped. “Unless you betray me.”

There she was , the real Isabella. The softness was a lie, and I knew it.”

She held out a bundle of clothes, her movements slow and deliberate. “This should be more your style,” she said, her tone light again, like we were just two normal girls having a friendly chat.

I stared at the fabric in her hands, hesitating.

My fingers shook as I reached out. Did she really expect me to trust her now?

“Thank you,” I murmured, but even I could hear the hollowness in my voice.

She arched a brow, her gaze unreadable. “Training starts tomorrow at nine sharp,” she said, her tone brisk now. “Don’t be late.”

And just like that, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with a knot of emotions I couldn’t untangle.

*****

The next morning, the new clothes didn’t feel like armor. They felt like a mask. A way to pretend I wasn’t suffocating under the weight of everything—my brother, my choices, Isabella, Rafael. I tugged at the sleeves of the shirt as I wandered the hallways, my nerves tightening with every turn.

When I got to the corner, low voices floated through the partially open door. I should’ve kept walking. I knew I should have. But my legs refused to move.

I leaned closer, peeking through the gap. Inside, Rafael loomed over a trembling man, his broad frame casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the room.

Without warning, Rafael grabbed the man by the collar and slammed him against the table.

“Repeat what you just said,” Rafael growled, his voice low and venomous.

I flinched, my stomach twisting into knots. I wanted to leave, to forget I’d seen anything. But I couldn’t move, couldn’t look away. The raw power in Rafael’s voice rooted me in place, a chill running down my spine.

I should’ve been used to this by now the violence, the threats. But no matter how much I braced myself, it still hit like a punch to the gut every time.

And yet, I stayed.

“Enjoying the show?”

The dry voice made my heart leap into my throat. I spun around, my cheeks burning, to find Isabella standing there, one brow arched, her lips curled in that faint, amused smirk that made me feel like an i***t.

“I-I wasn’t—”

“Save it.” Her smirk softened, her eyes glinting with something almost playful. “You’re new, so I’ll let it slide. Just don’t let it happen again.”

I swallowed hard, the words tangling in my throat. My cheeks burned hotter, and I found myself staring at the floor. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled, the words barely audible.

“Better.” She stepped aside, nodding toward the hallway. “Let’s go. You’ve got a long day ahead.”

I exhaled shakily, the image of Rafael towering over that man still playing on a loop in my mind. I turned to follow her, still shaken, only to collide with someone.

I stumbled back, and my breath hitched as I looked up. It was him. The man Rafael had pinned to the table. His face was twisted with anger, his dark eyes filled with hatred and anger.

“I…I’m sorry,” I stammered, backing away so quickly my shoulder bumped the wall. He didn’t say a word. Just stared. His gaze was sharp, dissecting, like he was searching for something…or someone..to blame.

I didn’t wait to find out what he was thinking. My legs moved before my brain caught up. My heart pounded, desperate to escape.

****

The training field stretched under the burning sun, deceptively peaceful. The tall grass swayed, but the air was thick with tension, tightening around my chest like a vice.

Isabella wasted no time. She didn’t ask if I was ready or if I needed a moment to collect myself. Instead, she threw me into it.

“First lesson: flipping your opponent,” she barked, circling me like a predator. “You’ll never survive here if you can’t defend yourself.”

I tried. God, I tried. But my body was sluggish, my muscles useless. Every fall stoked my frustration. My arms ached. My legs burned. My breath came in ragged gasps. Still, not enough.

I just couldn’t focus. My mind kept flashing back to the man in the hallway. To Rafael on the balcony. To the unspoken danger I could feel lurking around every corner of this house.

After what felt like an eternity, Isabella called for a break. She wiped the sweat from her brow, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“You’re not going to get this overnight,” she said, her tone sharper than the words. “But you’ll need to push harder if you want to keep up. Go grab a drink.”

I nodded, but my body didn’t move right away. It felt like my legs might give out if I took another step. Finally, I forced myself to walk, each movement slow and deliberate as I headed back toward the house.

In the kitchen, my hands shook as I gulped down water. It barely helped.

The moment didn’t last.

“I need your number.”

The clipped voice made me jump. Isabella walked in, her phone in hand, her gaze fixed on the screen.

“I… I don’t have my phone,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I left it at the church.”

She sighed, muttering something under her breath that I couldn’t make out. “Fine. We’ll get you a new one. The driver will take you to the shop, and I’ll cover the cost. Be quick about it.”

I nodded again, muttering a quiet, “Thank you,” before slipping out to meet the driver.

***

The car idled by the curb as I stepped out, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement. I realized too late that I’d left my bag in the back seat. Turning to grab it, I froze.

Across the street, I saw him. The man Rafael had pinned to the table. He was watching me, his dark eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach churn.

No. No, no, no.

I took a step back, my heart hammering against my ribs.

Don’t panic. Just go inside. Act normal.

I turned, trying to slip into the shop unnoticed, but it was too late.

They came out of nowhere. A hand clamped onto my arm. Another shoved a hood over my head before I could scream,Pain flared at my neck.

Then darkness.