Isabella let out a loud laugh and looked at Rafael with amusement. She wondered if he was serious about this contract. Did he think Bella would willingly give herself to be his pleasure toy? He stared at her impatiently, waiting for her to utter a word, to give him a sign, but what she did was the last thing he expected. Bella held the contract paper at the headboard in front of him and tore it to pieces. They did not need words to understand each other. She looked at his face and wondered how insane her behavior would drive him. He merely grinned and shook his head. He had already expected that. Annoyance was unmistakable on her face as she watched him get up and leave the room. He stopped at the door without turning around as he spoke, "I've had tried to make you comfortable and offer you money and revenge, but it seems I must force you to follow my demands. We will return to LA tomorrow. I will send someone to take you shopping."
She tried to think of a plan to run away, but she needed more information. If she stayed and had his head, that would probably wipe off the missing mission in her file. After a few minutes, she decided to stay and take down this pack. She could not go back to The Lodge empty-handed. Rafael Valdez is not your typical leader on the hunt. He knows how to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. She had to find out how many men work for him, his trusted circle, his businesses and his fortune. He did not seem to have a mate. This would be her way through his walls.
The most difficult thing would be not to fall for his game. She had noticed how he had tried to seduce her some time ago. Since the first day they met, he had a remarkable affection for her. It was hard to deny how damn hot he was, his intense greenish-hazel eyes, strong jaw and light beard, and muscular, well-shaped body. He had everything she wanted in a man. No. She must stop thinking about him. Focus on the mission, Bella. He's just another beast she'll soon kill.
Sitting in that locked room probably made her lose her shit. She figured it would make more sense to rest. She'd need the energy later.
Footsteps moved toward Bella's room. She pretended to be asleep to see what they were up to. She could hear a feminine voice talking excitedly to someone. The voices came closer, and the lock clicked open. The couple entered the room. Bella could feel them staring at her. "Maldita sea ella es hermosa!" the girl said in Spanish. She came closer to her bed and extended a hand to her. "Hola, hermosa. Wake up-" She was caught by Bella's hand, which clutched her wrist before it reached her shoulder. She twirled her across the bed, sat on her, and pressed an arm on her neck to bend her down.
She looked at the guy who came in with her, "Back off if you don't want me to snap her neck."
"I mean, I don't care if you do, but Valentino will rip my head off if anything happens to his little sister," he said, amused.
"Aww, what a lovely mate you are, Diego."
"I know, right. I hate you too, mate."
Bella looked back and forth at the couple who were all chill around her. Do werewolves pack members act like friends? Aren't they cold-blooded gangsters? It didn't matter. She had to find out what they wanted from her. "Are you going to tell me why you two barged into my room?" her gaze wandered between the couple.
"Rafael asked me to take you shopping. We're going to LA tomorrow, and you're coming with us. I'm Valery, by the way. And the asshole in front of you is my mate, Diego." She rolled her eyes at him as she introduced him. He flashed her back with a 'I know you love me' smirk, teasing even more. Bella let go of her and adjusted her shirt. Couldn't they bring her a pair of pants or shorts? She hated walking around half-naked with a guy looking at her, even if he was just a beast.
"Could you bring me something to wear first? It's not appropriate to go out in public wearing shirt and underpants, you know." She rolled her eyes.
"I already thought of that," she said, reaching for a bag Diego was holding, "Here's a change of clothes for you. We'll wait at the end of the hall. Please, hurry."
Isabella pulled out of the bag a silky, skin-tight Sand Beige dress. It looked so damn expensive and beautiful. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd worn a dress before the night at the bar when she first met Rafael. It fit her well, but it exposed her curves more than she'd wished it would. It reached her mid-thigh. She wasn't sure if it was okay to go out in it. She felt more comfortable in baggy pants and tube crop tops. Fortunately, she found a coat in the bag. It would cover some of the scars on her arms and chest. The scars on her legs were still exposed and looked unpleasant. She was a slayer. She didn't care if she looked pretty. In her line of work, it was common to sustain serious injuries every few months. Maria is a good surgeon. She stitched Bella's wounds and tried to make them as invisible as possible.
Once she was ready, she left the room, still unable to believe that they kept the door unlocked. She looked around and spotted Valery talking to Diego or beating him for something he had said. Whatever it was, he was leaning against the wall and grinning at her. They had this strange chemistry of a love-hate relationship. She was glad for being mortal. She couldn't see herself stuck in a relationship with someone for the rest of eternity, though something burned inside her telling her otherwise.
She had never known what it was like to have a lover. She had her friends at The Lodge, but it was different when they went clubbing or partied as couples. She had been alone. Always. Ig did not bother her as she sought out one-night stands to get herself through it. They did not know her, laugh with her, or even make sure she enjoyed the time. They only temporarily filled a void inside her until she had to go back to work. Salvador still haunted her nights. In the morning, she rested and completing tasks. It sucked how she lived day by day just to survive. She never thought about a love life or a family.
Rafael offered her a sum of money that could change her life for good. The contract stipulated that it would run until one of them died. She is an experienced hunter. She can kill him as soon as she has saved enough for herself. But why does it sound too good to be true? There must be something behind this contract. He would not offer a slayer money and security just to fuck her whenever he pleased. The risks of having her might have been a turn on to him, yet Raf wasn't that recklessly stupid to offer such a long term contracr for fun.
She walked up to the couple and stared at them suspiciously. Their eyes were scrutinizing her. She felt more eyes watching her than she saw. "My dress looks good on you, Hermosa," Valery said. "I see someone else has noticed it, too." She winked at someone standing behind Bella. She knew someone was watching her.
Turning to meet Rafael's gaze, "Indeed. You look stunning." His gaze scanned her body head to toe. The expression on his face gave him away. She could see how pleased he was with her figure. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. When his eyes reached the bare, scarred skin of her legs, his expression went irritated. He had expected a lot from a slayer. "I want to see you in my office later."
He turned to leave before she stopped him, "I'd like to reconsider your offer, if it's still valid."
She could feel he was grinning, satisfied with her words without seeing his face. He wanted something more than what he'd asked for in the contract. She was positive now. "I'm glad you changed your mind. We'll discuss it when you get back."
Valery motioned for Isabella to follow her. She walked to the entrance, keeping an eye on Diego, who walked behind them. She wanted nothing more than to run away, but she'd to finish her uncompleted mission.
Throughout the trip, Valery tried to strike up a conversation with Isabella. She tried to be friendly, but that only made Bella suspicious of her intentions. They got what they needed. Valery didn't want to go home so soon, so they ended up going to a luxurious Italian restaurant. Bella had never been to such a place before. These criminal beasts were living a dream. Valery chuckled at her expression and playfully intertwined her arm with Bella's arm, "You're going to see a lot more places with us. This is just the beginning."
The food was great, and the service was quick. Bella could not take her eyes off the beautiful view beside her. A glass wall separated the restaurant building from the flower garden behind it. In the center was a fountain surrounded by four benches. A familiar voice drew her attention back to her seat, "Look who we have here."
Antonio. He had been following her somehow. He planned to use her to overthrow Rafael Valdez and take over his group and his business. Her heartbeat quickened with excitement. She could get them to fight and get rid of one, then kill the leader of the other. "Long time no see," Bella said, turning in his direction and throwing him a cold grin.
"How dare you show up in front of us after scamming Rafael?" snarled Valery, pulling out a silver dagger hidden under her skirt. This chick can fight. Wow. Diego held her back. He was wiser to realize Antonio would not show up here alone. He had men disguised around us.
"What do you want, Antonio?" asked Bella, grinning broadly at him, which seemed to annoy him even more. She precisely knew what he wanted.
"I have no intention of killing anyone today, including you, unless that's what it takes to get you back." His gaze shifted back and forth between Valery and Diego. Their stares could burn a hole in his head.
"Do you realize that even if we let you have her, this could start a war between our two gangs?" said Diego in a casual tone as he lit a cigarette.
Antonio gritted his teeth in anger and glared at Bella. "Trust me. Your Alpha will be more than grateful to get rid of her when he finds out what she did to Pedro." He grabbed Bella's arm and pulled her to him. "For now, you are coming with me."
Valery pointed her gun at Antonio's head. Bella beckoned Diego to stop her. "Do not worry, pretty little redhead. I'll be back soon after I finish my work with Pedro Mendez." Valery stared at her in confusion as Diego narrowed his gaze at her.
A group of thirteen men, disguised as wealthy customers, followed Antonio to the back exit where their cars were. Bella had noticed some of them in the mall. She wondered what he was up to. They were driving to a mansion in the affluent neighborhood. She suspected they were taking her to Pedro to kill her. Maybe offering him information about Rafael Valdez would buy her some time. The men dragged her to the back of the yard and down a dark hallway to the basement. She was handcuffed.
Antonio impatiently followed them into the interrogation cell. They tied her to a chair while Antonio wrapped his hand with a bandage. He wanted to torture her to get information. He stepped closer to her and howled with rage. "It'll be easier if you answer my questions. You've a reputation for silence at all costs. No wonder you're the highest-ranking slayer in The Lodge." He walked around her chair and rubbed his hand on his bandaged fist. "What've you done with Pedro?"