Oliver sent the healing elixir with one of his men, hoping it would bring Antonio back to life. Oliver would never trust demons. They like to start wars and thrive on hate. They can expand a little rage in your heart and turn it into a storm of indignation that you could kill your family over. Even though he was helpless, both paths would lead to a dead end. He decided to save his beta and let him make the decision. Salvador was waiting for him in the hallway, smoking a cigarette. This didn't make things any easier for Oliver. His presence made him constantly in fear for his family and his men. He didn't bother to explore the place or try to find any information. He walked through the hallway examining the old paintings hung up. "Sir Salvador," Oliver tried to hide the tremor in his voice. "I'd like to save the decision to accept your offer for Antonio. I hope you don't mind waiting-"
Salvador chuckled as he cut Oliver off. His chuckle faded into a glare fixed at Oliver. His eyes lit up in a beam of bright fire-gold, and half his facial skin turned into what looked like the rough skin of a snake. "You still think you've got a choice? You sold Antonio's soul to the Satan when he took the healing elixir. Did you expect the devil to help you out of kindness?" He let out a snake hiss, showing his tongue that moved like a snake's one. The split at the tip showed that he half turned to his actual demonic from.
Isabella glanced at Rafael's gaze. He'd found out things about her more than she wanted him to know. Fuck. She'd never been so at the mercy of her former targets as she was at this moment. Her gaze shifted uneasily back and forth between his eyes as she tried to come up with something to satisfy his curiosity without telling the truth. "What made you curious to know about my father?" She weighed every word she uttered to him.
A grin flitted across his handsome face. For a moment, Bella was stunned by his beauty. His intense eyes darkened with desire. He leaned closer to her and whispered, "I can see how much you want me to continue what we started in the bar."
She tilted her head to the side and bared her neck, "I told you I don't like small talk during business." She closed her eyes and waited for his next move.
If anything, Rafael loved to tease her. He'd to know how much she wanted him. "Too bad, I like to say what I want to do with my prey before I hunt her." He growled as he gently sucked on her earlobe.
Bella bit her lips as she held back a moan. "You talk what you can't do, Valdez." Teasing games weren't new to her, and she knew damn well how to win this one.
In the blink of an eye, he'd settled back on top of her. He placed himself between her legs. His hand wrapped around her neck as his eyes locked on her plump cherry lips. Fuck. He needed to get a taste of them. His tongue caressed her lips before his lips claimed hers. The kiss deepened with passion and desire. His tongue danced along hers, searching for something she didn't know. All she could feel was the burning flame between her legs, demanding his erection. The bulge under his pants grew larger and bumped ungently against her lap. He broke off, "How could you do this to me? What kind of drug are you?"
"The deadly poison you'll take willingly."
He knew she wasn't lying or exaggerating. He was obsessed with her. Something about Isabella's beauty and poise made him addicted to this woman in every possible way. He didn't just want her to satisfy his erection. He wanted to know if he'd stood a chance with the Slayer Princess. She was the first woman who'd left him hanging. She could make him chase her to the ends of the earth if she decided to run away, not to mention how easily she could kill him.
Rafael Valdez, you need to focus on one damn thing; getting information about her father. Right. He reminded himself. It didn't look like she wanted to talk anyway. She tempted him to change the subject. "Looks like your father isn't a pleasant topic of conversation for you." He said as he stood back up and tried to regain his composure.
Bella cleared her throat. "It's just... I never got to know him. I assume he was one of Mother's random one-night stands."
"If he wasn't so important, why would Salvador sacrifice Meredith to death because she'd a child by him?" He tilted his head to the side and looked at her with narrowed eyes.
Shit. whispered Bella in her head. He knew almost everything about her. It was far too much, to the point where she felt as exposed as if she were naked in front of him. She'd never been occurred in such awful interrogation, where he knew everything about her and yet questioned her for a purpose she couldn't anticipate. "Demons like Salvador don't need a reason to torture someone to death. They thrive on the pain of other creatures." She pulled a grin and feigned confidence. They say you've to fake it till you make it, she thought to herself.
Rafael shook his head, "You know how much I hate liars, Bonita." He looked at her impatiently. His gaze demanded an explanation.
"Fuck you."
"Say that one more time, and I'll grant your wish in the most dreadful way you can imagine." He reached a hand toward her face, and she flinched away, but he wasn't actually going for her face.
His fingers flexed around her throat, and he dug the pads into the flesh of her neck while his other hand pulled a small remote from his suit jacket to lock the door. But she didn't focus on that. She couldn't. Not as all her blood rushed to where his hand was on the sides of her throat. He didn't squeeze with the intention of taking her breath away, but it was firm enough to trigger memories of the night they shared in the bar.
Memories of him touching Bella, immobilizing her, and setting her ablaze in a blast of smithereens. Those thoughts were plaguing her. They tore her to pieces, setting her on fire, ripping through her bones. She couldn't stop the images or the full-blown heat that invaded her nerve endings. Specifically, the ones he was touching.
"So, you feel it too..." he finally said, glaring at her.
"I've no feelings for lost immortal puppies. Don't flatter yourself."
"You don't know me, Isabella. So, this is my first and final piece of advice to you. Don't fuck with me. Not only will you be the one fucked over, but I'll also take pleasure in tearing you apart and feasting on the remains."
Isabella had grown accustomed to living under threats. Being offered an ultimatum and never actually having a choice. But his way of doing it with cold calm slashed through the fairies in her stomach. They'd gone black now which was a signal to get the hell out. But she couldn't. Not with his fierce grip around her throat.
"Now tell me who your father is and what was the story behind his disappearance. The actual one."
"I don't.. Know... " She tried not to stutter, but she did, and he must've heard it because his hold tightened on her throat.
"I don't appreciate liars, Bonita. Especially not deceitful ones."
"I'm not... a... liar..." He had to believe her. Otherwise, the new beginning she'd worked on for ten years would be null and void. He couldn't know her past. No one can.
She tapped his arm, choking on her nonexistent inhales, but I didn't fight him. If she did, she'd give herself away. Besides, it wasn't like she needed him to release her because he was hurting her. It was more because her reaction to his hold was scaring the shit out of her. It scares her more than the fact that he became her new devilish master. He released her slowly, and she grabbed the assaulted spot, breathing harshly, the sound ugly in the silence of the room.
This man had some unknown power that she'd not seen in any other species. He didn't seem comfortable either. He looked at her with widened eyes while holding the same spot on his neck. The place where his fingers rigged on her neck. Bella stared at him in confusion. Did he feel her pain? Surely that couldn't be possible.
His face frowned briefly, and the blank stare was back in his eyes. He heaved a frustrated sigh and left. Bella's brain tried to find a logical explanation for what had just happened. The mafia king, Rafael Valdez, could not be sympathetic to her. Especially toward her.
"Valentino, why the fuck do I feel her pain?! You said it was a possibility!" shouted Rafael, pressing the ice pack into his neck.
Valentino clicked his mouse several times and scrolled through his computer. He was not sure if werewolves were capable of mating with humans. Not that he had ever heard of such a condition. "Did you get any useful information from her?"
Rafael turned his head away. The furious flame in his eyes was enough to answer the question.
"She's as stubborn as you are. But a potential." He chuckled.
"Do you realize this is a deadly serious matter that could risk the existence of our pack?"
"I can't be of any use to you as long as you don't bring me the needed information, or else I'll have to slice her body in half and look through her organs," Val smirked as he continued, "But by the time I figure it out she'll be no more with us. Case closed."
Rafael slammed his hand on the polished wooden desk, "No one touches a single piece of hair on her head unless they wish to leave this world soon."
It did not do Isabella any good to be locked in that room. She lost count of time and was not sure if it was day or night. She wondered why he was touching the same spot that hurt her. He can't be feeling her pain. Something about him, his aura and presence, was different from the men she had encountered so far. Indeed, he was an asshole, just like the others, but something about him made her body ache for his touch. Disappointment swirled in her guts as she reminded herself that she must get rid of the slight attraction Bella was beginning to develop for him, as she would soon have to slaughter him. Shaking her head, she asked herself why she even cared. The little sleep she had been getting lately was messing with her head, or at least she thought it was.
As soon as Rafael entered his office, he locked the door on himself and his thoughts. The slayer can't be a half-breed. She must not. That would change everything and make his worst nightmares come true. A nightmare from which he'd be only too happy not to wake up from.
She was certainly his type. Her bravery and strength made her outstanding of all the females he had ever banged. Except for one fact, he had not done it with her yet. He had not rushed it the first time, taking his time manipulating her, setting her on fire, and making her body long for him. Or maybe it was the other way around. But something made him back away from her whenever he intended to do it. As if fate, for some hidden reason, was keeping him from doing it at that moment. He looked through the security camera in his office at her heart-shaped face. She was lying in her bed, sleeping peacefully. Her plumped pink lips were slightly parted in the view of the hidden camera, and he wished he had those lips sucking on his length. A twitch between his legs urged him to go claim her, but he paused at the knock at his door.
His phone flushed an unread text message from Valentino, 'you have an unpleasant guest. It's Oliver, Antonio's little lost puppy.'
The corners of his lips puckered as he typed, 'They are already surrendering.'
Shortly after, another text from Val popped up, 'I do not think that's the case. The kid looked like he had his balls chopped off and fed to him willingly out of fear.'
Ouch. That was a hell of an explanation. 'He's at my door. I'll have the conversation recorded and sent to you.'
Rafael turned on the recorder as he let Oliver and another unexpected guest in. The last man Rafael wanted to mess with. Salvador, the soul shredder.