Page 42 of Dangerous Deception

“Have I?” Raffaele asks in a strange tone, as if the concept is alien to him. “I didn’t know that.”

“Why, because you’ve killed so many?”

“It seems my reputation has a life of its own now,” he replies calmly.

He talks as if half of what I’ve heard isn’t true. Maybe he thinks he can pretend with me or act like he’s not the monster I know him to be.

Then again, this is the man who killed for me. He rescued me from that hellhole, bathed me with his own hands, and held me throughout the night. He feeds me, comes when I call, and has taken every second of my angry, guilt-filled outbursts. He hasn’t complained. He hasn’t pushed back. He’s just been here.

He’s becoming this sweet, kind man who doesn’t fit with everything else I know.

Unless he was always this way and I just never noticed.

Dabbing at my eyes, I turn away from Raffaele as my grief gives way to new, different feelings. Underneath the pain is something else I can’t quite name. This intense urge to be near him to feel safe rises constantly, and when he’s not with me, I almost feel panicked. Is this just infatuation because he saved my life or is it something else?

I certainly never felt this way about Carlos.

What is wrong with me?

Briefly, I close my eyes and will the tears away. The leather beside me creaks and Raffaele clears his throat.

“There’s something you need to know.”

I open my eyes and look across at him. “What is it?”

“We’re going on a trip soon. For the summer, to get you away from all of…this.”

“Where are we going?”

“Italy. We’ll be staying at one of the vineyards I own.”

“Is it business related?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you taking me?”

Raffaele looks visibly surprised. “I would never leave you behind.”

“Oh.” I’m used to my father leaving on trips that last a long time. Raffaele wanting me to be with him is different but not unpleasant. It’s just a surprise.

“But for you, this trip is so you can relax. Take time for yourself. I want you to be happy, Adelina.”

I scoff softly and turn away as my mood sours, and the urge to hide away from the world rises in the absence of my tears. “Y’know, if you’d ever cared about people being happy, you never would have murdered my fiancé.Hewas innocent, by the way. Not that you’d care.”

17

RAFFAELE

Carlos Giordana.

A name that’s beginning to haunt me.

Last week, at Marie’s funeral, Adelina was vocal about her thoughts on me. I can’t blame her for listening to the carefully crafted rumors that exist about me, although from her words it seems like some of them have spiraled out of my control. She thinks I would bring harm to children and that I kill without reason. I want to tell her she’s wrong, but she won’t believe me.

Because of Carlos.

Her fiancé.

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