Chapter 11: The Storm After the Vows
The wedding had ended in a blur of emotions.
Raven stood at the grand entrance of the Valenti estate, her fingers clenched around the folds of her wedding gown. The scent of roses still lingered on her skin, a reminder of the ceremony she had never asked for but had endured with grace.
The moment she turned, her eyes met her family's.
Her best friends, Julian and Valentina, had tears in their eyes. Julian was barely holding it together, biting his lip as he sniffled. Valentina, on the other hand, had given in to the emotions, her cheeks streaked with silent tears.
"You're really leaving," Julian whispered, his voice thick with pain.
Raven's throat tightened, but she forced herself to nod. "I'll be fine."
Valentina shook her head. "That's not the point. We won't be there to protect you."
Before Raven could answer, her father stepped forward.
Victor Castillo was not a man who apologized often, but tonight, there was something vulnerable in his eyes. As they shared their last dance, his voice wavered.
"I was too harsh, piccola," he murmured. "But you're strong. You'll make the best of this. And if he ever mistreats you… you don't even have to ask. I'll be the first to put a bullet in his head."
Raven swallowed hard. Her father wasn't the type to show weakness, but tonight, he was just a man saying goodbye to his daughter.
She hugged him tightly.
Then, her brothers—Luca and Enzo—stepped up.
They didn't waste time with soft words.
"We don't care if you're the mafia king," Luca told Kai directly, his expression cold and unyielding. "If you ever hurt her, you'll have to answer to us."
"And we don't fight fair," Enzo added. "Remember that."
Kai's smirk was unreadable. "Duly noted."
And just like that, Raven was in the car with Kai, leaving behind everything she had ever known.
The ride was quiet, the only sound the hum of the engine and the rain tapping against the windows.
Raven's fingers twitched against her dress. She could still feel the weight of her family's stares, the silent prayers in their eyes.
Kai drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting lazily against the console. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp, reflecting the streetlights as they passed.
After a few minutes, he glanced at her. "Regretting it already?"
Raven scoffed. "I never agreed to this in the first place."
Kai chuckled, low and smooth. "True. But you still walked down that aisle."
She turned away, watching the raindrops race down the window. "Did I have a choice?"
Kai didn't answer.
When they arrived at the mansion, Maria was waiting at the door.
Maria Bianchi had been the Valenti family's housekeeper for years. She was in her late forties, with kind eyes that always carried warmth. Unlike most of the staff, Maria didn't seem intimidated by Kai.
Her gaze softened when she saw Raven.
"Benvenuta, signora," she greeted with a small smile. "I'll take care of everything for you."
Raven returned the smile, feeling a rare moment of comfort. "Thank you, Maria."
Kai handed his suit jacket to a passing staff member before turning to Maria. "You should rest. The storm's getting worse."
Maria waved him off. "I've seen worse storms than this, ragazzo."
But Raven noticed the exhaustion in Maria's face.
"You don't have to worry about me," Raven told her gently. "Go to bed, Maria."
The woman hesitated but nodded. "If you need anything, just call me."
As Maria disappeared down the hall, Kai gave Raven an amused glance. "That's the first time I've seen you be nice to someone tonight."
Raven rolled her eyes. "Not everyone deserves my attitude. You, on the other hand…"
Kai smirked. "You wound me, cara mia."
Just then, the power went out.
The entire mansion plunged into darkness, and the only light came from the occasional flashes of lightning.
Raven sighed. "Perfect."
Kai grabbed a candle and a flashlight, his movements smooth and practiced. "Let's get upstairs before you trip over that dress."
Raven was about to snap at him, but her stomach grumbled loudly.
Kai paused, amused. "Hungry?"
She crossed her arms. "No."
His smirk widened. "Liar."
Ignoring him, Raven made her way toward the kitchen, using the flashlight to guide herself. She had barely eaten anything at the wedding, and now, the hunger was impossible to ignore.
Kai followed, watching as she rummaged through the cabinets. "Need help?"
She shot him a glare. "No."
Still, he didn't leave.
Using the small gas burner, Raven started cooking. The warm scent of food filled the kitchen despite the storm raging outside. Kai leaned against the counter, his arms crossed as he watched.
"You're good at this."
She rolled her eyes. "What, did you expect me to burn the place down?"
Kai smirked. "The thought did cross my mind."
When the food was ready, they sat on the floor—the only spot with decent light from the candle.
Kai took a bite. His eyes flickered with surprise.
"This is… really good," he admitted.
Raven smirked. "I know."
They ate in silence, the tension between them shifting into something less hostile, more natural.
When they finished, Raven leaned back against the bed, stretching. The warmth of the meal settled in her stomach, making her eyelids heavy.
Kai watched her, his gaze unreadable.
"You should sleep," he murmured.
She didn't respond.
The day had drained her, and despite everything, the storm outside felt oddly comforting.
Kai sighed, then stood up.
Without warning, he bent down and scooped her up.
Raven gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. "Kai! Put me down!"
He didn't.
Instead, he carried her toward the bed and gently set her down.
"You're exhausted," he said simply.
She glared at him, sitting up. "I can take care of myself."
Kai exhaled through his nose, clearly trying to be patient. "I know. But tonight, just rest."
He grabbed a pillow and moved toward the sofa.
Raven hesitated. She wasn't sure if it was the exhaustion, the warmth of the room, or the fact that—despite everything—Kai had been… decent.
Before she could think too much about it, she whispered, "Stay."
Kai paused, turning to look at her.
Her heart pounded. She didn't even know why she had said it.
But instead of teasing her, he nodded once and walked back to the bed.
He slid in beside her, keeping a respectful distance.
The rain softened outside, and the candle flickered lower.
Then, his arm moved, resting lightly against her waist.
A slow warmth spread through her.
For the first time since the wedding, she let herself relax.
Kai's voice was low, almost a whisper.
"Thank you for dinner."
She closed her eyes.
"…Goodnight, Kai."
He didn't respond. But the way his fingers curled slightly against her hip told her everything she needed to know.
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End of Chapter.