The Protector 2

(Névtelen)-2

“You can’t be serious. He’ll never make it to the clubhouse on this motorbike.”

“Just chill,” I pull a grin. “Rita will be driving, Gunner only needs to hold on from behind.”

Raven stares at the woman with her chin dropped, and there is genuine respect on her face as she and Rita embrace one another.

“Thanks for everything.”

“All the best, Raven. And… take care of him,” she points her chin to me.

We are the last to leave the toilet, but before Raven steps out, I yank her back by the arm. I press my left hand on her back, I support the back of her neck with my right, and hold her so tight that she can’t move. She looks up at me with horror, and obviously has no ide what’s come over me. My stare is eagerly scanning her face, there is mad desire inside me. I’m fighting hard against my excitement, and I’m aware that I couldn’t have chosen a worse time, but I can’t help myself. While I watched her just before as she was seeing to Gunner’s wound without any disgust, the genuine adoration for her just filled my senses again. I’m overwhelmed by her courage and selflessness, that even in a life-threatening situation she is ‘healing others’ wounds’. I’m filled with the urge to protect her, comfort and possess her, and the feeling terrifies me. Because I have no clue how Raven feels. We haven’t spoken a word about what happened last night, and I’m torn by despair.

She makes big eyes at me, and she’s so beautiful that it blows my mind. I could say things like, I’m proud of you, I’m so damn crazy about you, or, I constantly want you ever since you stepped out of my bed, but I won’t. I surrender to the temptation, lean over, and simply give her a passionate kiss on the lips. She murmurs my name with surprise, but the word is drowned in the kiss. She is hanging off my arms like a ragdoll, and surrendering to the attack, she kisses me back with submission. Restrained emotions are raging inside me, and I’m giving an outlet to the tension in the most direct way.

Raven sticks her fingers into my hair, and pulls me to her, but I gently push her away. I must do that while I still have enough will-power to put an end to the madness. I press my hot forehead against hers, and we hold eye contact for a few seconds, panting. Her face is flushed, her gaze is full of questions I can’t answer, and with uncertainty that I can’t heal. I straighten up, and with a shivering hand, smooth her chin. I’m furious with myself for being unable to control my feelings. I lick the edge of my mouth, and can still taste Raven’s sweet flavour on my tongue.

“I shouldn’t do this,” I moan with my eyes closed. “I should keep myself away from you, because I’m not good for you.”

“What are you talking about?” she asks, gasping.

Oh God! I have no idea what I’m saying. I’m hardly conscious, all I see is her bloated, inviting lips. I shake my head, and run my fingers through my hair, cursing out.

“We have to go,” I say briefly at last, and take her hand.

Raven nods dreamily, and allows me to lead her to the car. I’m at least as confused as she is, and I can’t explain what came over me just before. I’m really beginning to lose my mind.

We don’t talk much after this. I can see that Raven is totally exhausted, both physically and mentally. The past twenty-four hours was a mad roller coaster journey for us both, with lots of turns and curves. She practically shrinks on the seat, closes her eyes, and surrounded by the monotonous humming of the engine, falls asleep.

Raven

I come round to the sound of Rafe repeating my name, and gentle fingers are stroking my face. Its pitch dark when I open my eyes and blink through the windscreen.

“We’ve arrived, Rae. You must wake up.”

“I’m tired,” I whine unwillingly, and shiver with cold as the air hits me through the open door.

“I know, Bella. Soon you can sleep again. Come.”

Even with a dreamy head, I smile to myself, because he talks to me as if I’m still a child.

“Where are we?” I ask dizzily.

“In safety. At my mum’s.”

The last statement shakes me out of my numb state, and I look at him with wonder.

“What? Oh my God, I thought you were saying we were at your mum’s.”

“That’s what I said. Come on, let’s go inside, because it’s cold.”

I dizzily get out of the car, and let my eyes take in the two-storey family house with the white veranda. The scarlet red entrance is visible from afar even in the darkness. What the hell happened while I was asleep? He takes me by the hand and begins to pull me towards the house, but my feet won’t obey. The words ‘my mum’s’ are still echoing in my ears.

Sensing my resistance, he turns back and strokes my face.

“Everything is okay, Rae. You’ll be safe here while I arrange our paperwork and air tickets.”

“The… air tickets?” I repeat with growing incomprehension.

“We’re flying to Northern Ireland. To your mum’s parents’ house, the one you were talking about.”

Slowly, I manage to close my mouth, but can’t come round from the shock. God! And he worked all this out while I was snoozing on the passanger seat?

“I… don’t know if it’s a good idea,” I stutter with embarrassment, although I can see the logic in it. The further away I get from Philadelphia, the better. But what will my uncle and my cousins say? Do they know about this at all? And how does Rafe’s mother get in the picture?

“I haven’t told anybody about this plan yet. Noone even knows that we’ve come here. It’s better that way.”

He holds my waist protectively and walks me towards the house. My sleepiness is replaced by quivers of nervousness. I don’t like the idea, although I don’t have a better one either.

“Your mother doesn’t know either?” I glance sideways with bewilderment. Rafe shakes his head. “Good God, Rafe. We can’t do this to her.”

“My mother will have nothing against the idea. She’ll be happy to finally see me, and she’ll adore you,” he replies matter-of-factly, giving me a reassuring smile.

I strongly doubt that Mrs. Harlan will be overjoyed about his son making a sudden appearance, and bringing home an unexpected guest, who is, by the way, wanted by half the mafia.

“That’s not cool, Rafe. I don’t even know…” I struggle, wringing my hands as we stop by the red entrance door, and he rings the bell.

He turns towards me and gently runs his finger along the line of my chin. His voice is full of tenderness as he speaks pleadingly.

“I need a little time to prepare everything before we can disappear, and this is the only place where you are safe. After what happened in the house, I can’t rely on anybody. Trust me, Bella!” There is a noise of movement and footsteps behind the door. I nervously lick the edge of my lips, while Rafe is still fixing his eyes on me with expectation. “Do you trust me?” he asks again with a low, cooing voice. What can I say? The truth is, I would never be happier to put my life in anybody else’s hands than his.

“Yes,” I sigh, but there’s no time for more, because the door opens.

A grey-haired woman of about sixty years is facing us with wonder. Her eyes are exactly the same penetrating, deep blue as Rafe’s.

“Hello Mum, can we come in?”

“You still should have told me you were coming. Then I would’ve at least cooked something decent,” says Anne Harlan, shaking her head, while serving us drinks.

With a finger, Rafe carefully pushes the curtain to the side on the kitchen window, and takes a peek outside. This is what he’s been doing since we arrived and sat down in the kitchen. He has checked every window and door, pulled the blinds, and won’t stop looking outside, as if waiting for someone. Finally, he sits down with us to the round kitchen table and takes a sip of his drink. He answers with tension in his voice.

“It was a spontaneous decision. And I didn’t want you to make a big issue. We can’t stay long, anyway,” he shrugs his shoulders.

I pick up my head with resentment. How can he be so rude with his mother?

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Harlan. I’m really sorry that we’ve dropped in out of the blue, and it’s so late as well…” I turn towards her with embarrassment. “If there had been another solution,” I look at Rafe flatly, who stares at me with an open mouth.

“Don’t you feel sorry for me, dear,” the woman places her hand on mine so lovingly that my heart sinks. “It’s a great idea that Rafe has brought you here. We don’t meet too often these days,” she says, casting a grumpy look in her son’s direction. “I’m always glad when he comes home, especially when he brings such a pretty guest with him.”

I’m terribly embarrassed, even though she welcomes me with much kindness and friendliness. What’s more, she often forgets her eyes on me, wondering if she knew me from somewhere, even though I am sure we’ve never met. Rafe told me about his family at university, and along with his brother, he often mentioned his mother as well, who had been raising them on her own since they moved into the States. We never got round to being introduced, and it wasn’t only his fault. I was the one who kept a distance at the time. Long years have passed since then, and I never thought in my wildest dreams that one day I would meet Mrs Harlan. True, I wouldn’t have believed until a week ago that desitiny would bring Rafe and I together once again, and there you go. We have not only met, but made love. Because what happened last night, cannot be called anything else. We made love with such intensity as if we were a couple madly in love.

What brings me back from my musings is that Anne is calling my name. I look around, puzzled, and when my eyes meet Rafe’s, I blush. I sincerely hope my thoughts are not displayed on my forehead.

“Ehm… yes, sorry. My mind’s gone to sleep,” I stutter, and smile at Anne.

“You must be tired, dear. I’m sure you’ve had a hard day,” she says with sympathy.

A hard day? Hell, yeah. You could put it that way – I think to myself, recalling the sight of the armed assassins who wanted to finish me off a good few hours ago.

“I’m really worn out,” I nod with resignation.

“It would be best if you both went to bed right now,” says Anne, and at this point, my eyes meet Rafe’s hungry gaze again. To go to bed? I wouldn’t object to it, and from the way Rafe practically devours me with his eyes, I come to the conclusion that he wouldn’t chase me out of his bed either. “You’ll have a good night’s sleep, and tomorrow you’ll see things in a new light,” Anne continues optimistically, and I take my eyes off Rafe with guilt. “If you want to have a shower first, you’ll find everything you need in the bathroom. Come, I’ll show you where it is. I’ll give you a clean towel too,” she says, and taking the initiative, she takes me by the hand.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Harlan,” I whisper.

“Anne. Just call me Anne.”