Page 17 of Wicked Devotion

“Yes. Can I help with anything?”

Maddie patted her cheek and then looked at Rafael. “She is a good one.”

Faith looked up at him and saw how pleased he was with the situation. She was, too. But it was disconcerting to realize she’d gone from one prison to another.

Although she knew very little about him, on some level, she knew she could trust him to keep her body safe. She just worried her heart would eventually be broken. Hell, she didn’t even know if after they got rid of the threat against her and her sisters, she’d still be married.

Chapter Eight

He grinned and answered his cook. “I know.”

And he did know how fortunate he was. He’d been smart to agree with Franklin because he would never have met her otherwise. Although he hadn’t been looking, she was exactly what he would have tried to find. Everything about her appealed to him, and the more he got to know her, the deeper his feelings became.

After they ate, he showed her around the house and then took her to the stables. He showed her his horses and introduced her to his stable manager, Wayne.

“Wayne, come and meet my new wife.”

Rafael wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Faith, this is Wayne, and he’s in charge of the horses.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said.

Wayne smiled. “You, too. Do you like horses?”

“Yes, very much. I grew up with them.”

“I didn’t see any when I was visiting your father,” Rafael said.

“Our stables are in the back, but we don’t have the horses anymore. My stepmother got rid of all of them.”

He could see the disappointment in her eyes. Rafael didn’t think he could hate Eldora more, but it kept getting worse. “Would you like to take a ride later? You’re not really dressed for it now.”

She smiled as she patted one of the horses. “I’d like that very much.”

“Good.” He held out his hand. “Let’s keep walking.”

“It was nice to meet you, Wayne.”

The man waved. “You, too.”

They walked hand in hand for over an hour before they made their way inside.

“Master Rafael, there is a man in the living room waiting for you. He says it concerns Mistress Faith.”

He turned to Faith, lifted her hand, and kissed her knuckles. “I want you to go upstairs to our bedroom.”

“Shouldn’t I be there if it’s about me?”

He shook his head. “No. I don’t know who this man is, and I want you safe.”

She nodded and let him lead her to the back stairs so she wouldn’t be seen. He made sure she was upstairs before he moved into the living room. He was pleased to see three of his security guys standing around the room.

“I am Rafael Montego,” he said. “You wished to talk to me?”

“Yes, sir. My name is Winston Barlow, and I was a friend of Franklin. Franklin died soon after you and your men left yesterday.”

“He what? He was fine when we left.”

Winston nodded. “I talked to him on the phone yesterday morning, and he said he felt good.”

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