A Dangerous Love

The enemy of my enemy

RAINE

I came to on a bed and the man called Rowan is hovering over me. He must have seen the terror on my face, because he backs away with his hands out in supplication.

"Take it easy, I'm not going to harm you. Here is some tea and sandwiches Maria made for you. You must eat."

He sits down on the edge of the bed. The room is dimly lit. There was no window as far as I can see. On the bedside table is the tray with the sandwiches and a large mug of tea. My stomach growls in response. I haven't eaten for quite a while.

" H-how do I know it isn't drugged?" All sorts of horrible visions went racing through my mind at the thought of what they could do to me. Remembering what Sergio's man had said earlier on made me shiver. "I can assure you it is not." He takes a bite from one of the sandwiches and eats it. He also takes a sip from the mug. "See?"

I hesitantly take the mug from him and gulp down a huge sip. I am so thirsty. He watches me digging into the food with a half smile lifting his lips .

"Why did you ask me to not tell them where my father is?" I ask, meeting his gaze directly. He does not answer. Those gray eyes keeps mine hostage. It makes my stomach flutter insanely. Quickly I pull myself together. This man is a dangerous criminal, I can't go thinking how attractive he is! "That man said he was going to sell me. Is it true?" I touch his arm. Maybe if I got him to like me, he might help me get away. I saw the way he looked at me. This is a very dangerous and dicey thing, but I will do anything to get out of this situation.

He gets up off the bed, avoiding my eyes. " Get some sleep."

"No, don't go, please." I grab his arm. "Please I'll feel safer if you stay." My voice is starting to quiver, I am fearing what could happen if I let this go too far.

He frowns at me and I let go of his arm. My heart is beating so fast I swear it's going to leap out of my chest.

“Rowan, please I have to know... What will he do to my father? Is he - will they kill him?” I swallow hard, my throat is bone dry. Not that I know anything of syndicates or whatever this is, but one thing’s for certain, these people are very dangerous. What in the world had my Dad gotten himself involved in?

He sighed. “I can tell you this much Miss, your father has done a very stupid thing. These people are not to be trifled with. Don Morello is the head of the Sicilian Mafia based in Cape Town. He stole a very large amount of money from the mob. I am sure you can see that they will not let it go. But there are others out there looking for your father. If you are a religious person I suggest you pray very hard the right one’s find him. And for your sake I hope you are as innocent as you seem to be in all of this.”

His words chill me to my core.

“Please, please, you have to believe me. My father and I are not that close. I know very little about his business dealings. We hardly see each other. Whatever he is involved in I honestly don’t know. I- I don't want him to be killed. Oh God...” My heart is aching thinking that the man I call my father, the man I have respected all my life, although I have always doubted his love for me, that he could be involved in criminal activities. He is all family I have left. I hide my face in my hands, ashamed because I can’t stop sobbing. Then I feel his strong hands on my shoulders, lifting me up and holding me against his hard, muscled body. He strokes my hair softly, whispering in my ear that everything will work out, I must just keep faith.

The door opens and the man called Jules steps inside. The smirk on his face says it all.

“How cozy. Trying to sample the merchandise, Mr. Conrad?” His dark gaze rakes over my body. I can literally feel him undressing me. 

Rowan lets go of me rather quickly and I fall back onto the bed rather ungracefully. He turns to face the other man.

“It’s not what it looks like, Capo. I was just...”

“Oh save it. Can’t say I blame you, Rowan. But you can always share.” He lunges for me and grabs me by the T-shirt and dragging me close to him. His breath reeks of cheap wine. It makes me gag.

I hit him in the face with all my might, hearing his nose crunch under my knuckles. Jules retaliates furiously with his fist in my stomach. I collapse at his feet, struggling to catch my breath.

“Little b***h broke my nose!”

The next moment Jules is lifted off the floor and slammed into the wall.

“Do that again and you’re a f*****g dead man!” Rowan growled at him, his face dark with fury. “The boss told me to protect his asset and that is what I am doing. Now get the f**k out!” He dropped the bleeding and snarling man and stood between myself and the latter.

“This is not over Soldato Conrad. I am still your Capo. You will pay for this.” He looked over at me and smiled eerily, the blood from his broken nose smearing his teeth. “Later, puttana.”

As soon as the door closed behind him, Rowan was beside me. He lifted me off the floor.

“You alright?”

I nodded, still winded and unable to make a sound.

He let out a short bark of laughter. “You have a mean right hook.”

That had me smiling. I just wish I could’ve hit him harder.