Page 83 of The Dark Obsession

“Now, trust me and follow my lead.” He unbuttons several buttons on my shirt. “Distraction. Okay?” He kisses my lips and his eyes linger on mine before someone bangs on the door.

“Rose,” Dale’s voice echoes down the hallway.

“The door’s unlocked, you moron.” A painful smile spreads across Rafael’s ashen face.

I hold my breath as the door opens.

Dale’s hair almost glows in the light as he slams the door behind him and takes three steady steps into the room. Rage is spoiling his handsome face, his eyes wide and vicious. He stops, apparently confused at the situation.

“A peace offering,” Rafael says through bared teeth and gestures to me with a steady hand.

“What?” Dale’s hand holds something tucked into his waistline, and the other moves to his head.

“You can have her. Just take me to her brother. Let him leave. Then I’ll walk away.”

“Do you think I’m fucking stupid?” Dale stammers, his stance weakening with each second.

“Well, I’ve had her. She’s useless to me now.” Rafael casts a disgusted look in my direction.

Although I know this is his plan, his words crush my insides. Each joint in my body aches to be out of this room, to take me back to that day at the library, to a place where I can reject him there and then.

Dale scans my shaking body, then regards Rafael.

Rafael puts his hands in the air and takes a few steps backwards, giving Dale space to approach me.

My heart flips in my throat and threatens to come out of my mouth.

“Rosa, love. You heard him,” Dale mumbles. His cold finger touches my hand, sending a violent shudder down my body. He traces my hand, his finger moving up my arm, and looks back at Rafael. His teeth crush together, and he growls.

I try to stop the shudder that rumbles up my back, but I’m unsuccessful.

“Why did you shudder?” Dale studies me and pushes himself into an upright position.

“Your hands are cold,” I mutter, unable to look at him.

“You want this man?” Dale pulls a large knife from his belt and points it at Rafael.

“No!” I scramble off the bed, and my eyes plead with Dale. “No, I want you.” Fire burns in my stomach and up my throat at the thought of Dale.

Rafael’s eyes flitter in my direction for barely a second.

“Then you won’t mind what I do now,” Dale says, smiling sweetly, and lunges forward to knock Rafael to the floor, and with a sickening thud, Dale’s fist connects to Rafael’s jaw.

I reach for the gun that’s digging into my hip and stare in horror as Rafael’s face contorts with pain. “Dale!”

“What?” he asks as he lands another punch.

“I thought you wanted me,” I stutter out as seductively as possible, distracting Dale for a second. Rafael kicks from the floor hitting Dale in the ribs. I scramble off the bed and reach for Rafael’s hand.

A tear of blood drips down his face, and he throws me towards the door, pulling the gun from my side, and points it at Dale. “Stay there!” The veins on Rafael’s hand almost burst through his skin, his finger on the trigger. He stands in front of me protectively.

“You wouldn’t shoot me.” Dale grins, but his cocky smile is weary.

“Get the keys, go to the car, and meet me out front.” Rafael nods towards his back pocket.

I feel blindly into Rafael’s pocket, not taking my eyes off Dale, then I glance at Rafael, my eyes brimming with tears. I spin on the spot, yank the door open, and run down the hallway, ripping myself from the situation. I linger at door to the stairs, listening for any signs of a gunshot. A swarm of buzzing bees fills and stings my chest as I sprint down the stairs.

Dale’s dangerous grin infatuates my already clouded mind.It’s a trick!I reach the second floor.A trap!I stumble on the steps to the ground floor.Hide!I throw the heavy metal door open.

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