“You are the son of Leonardo Moretti, another suspected consortium member.” She slowly removed her hand, taking a step back. “What are you trying to tell me, Wrath? What the hell is going on here?”
Wrath cupped her face, rubbing his thumb across her mouth. “I adore you, sweet Sophia. You are my life, my very salvation. I will give you everything you’ve ever desired, but there’s a deal I’m going to offer. You must trust me.”
“A deal. Trust.” She shivered from his touch.
“Will you be able to do that?”
The tenderness in his voice was seductive, the urgency terrifying. Trusting him would take everything out of her, but there was nothing left for her there, nothing that held any meaning. “Yes.”
He seemed relieved. “Nicolo is a… friend of mine. We grew up together. Yes, his father is on the consortium and a supporter of both my father and me. Fortunately, no one is aware that we can even tolerate each other.”
“It is difficult to stomach your certain proclivities,” Nicolo teased, his face immediately hardening. “Wrath is a natural born leader. He will change the course of the old ways of the consortium in time. That is much needed. The brutal ways must end.”
“Nicolo is right. However, defying the consortium wasn’t in my best interest, Sophia. Killing my brother only added fuel to the fire. I need to disappear for a while and the only way you’re going to be safe is if you do as well,” Wrath further explained.
“What are you suggesting?” she asked. “A trip until things calm down?”
Wrath looked at the skyline, shaking his head. “I love the vibrancy of this city; the beautiful people, the music, and the amazing food.”
“Cut to the chase, Wrath.”
He pulled her closer, staring into her eyes. “We need to die in order to live.”
“Die? I don’t…” It dawned on her what he was getting at—faking their own deaths. “You’re serious. Pretend we’re dead.”
“It is the only way. There is already infighting amongst the other members. They will…how do you say, burn themselves out in time. I will have the glory of announcing your deaths and their spiral toward hell. They will soon need young blood to take their places.” Nicolo’s tone had turned serious.
“How long do we need to stay in hiding?” she asked, trying to rationalize the idea. That could be the only way to get Wrath… to get them both off the radar and safe.
“You can never return to your life, but we will begin one together,” Wrath stated, his finger brushing aimlessly across her arm. “If you can trust me enough. I will learn of the right time to take my rightful place. In the meantime, we will indulge in our every fantasy.”
Sophia held her breath, her mind reeling.
“Will you come with me? Do you accept the deal?” Wrath asked.
“We should go, my friend. We have little time to make this work.” Nicolo stepped closer. “Another assassin will arrive soon enough.”
Wrath gave her a longing look.
Sophia stole a glance over her shoulder, studying the Miami skyline. Yes, this she could do. No, this she wanted more than anything. “Accepted.”
Leaning down, he kissed her lips. “Then come with me. We have an island to explore. Fiji is beautiful this time of year.”
She was leaving everything behind. Her career. Her few friends. All her belongings. As he led her up the stairs and to the beginning of a new life, she stopped only once before going inside the plane.
Six weeks later
The Islands…
A home.
Sophia rarely talked about a home or family, but Wrath knew it remained on her mind. He would give her the world if possible. For now, the lovely home only steps away from the ocean would have to do.
He stood in the doorway, the warm breezes allowing the sweet scent of jasmine to float into the room. There was no way the lovely fragrance was able to mask Sophia’s natural perfume, even though subtle in nature. Perhaps his skin was permanently stained with her lovely essence. The sun had just broken through the clouds, shimmering down on her copper strands of hair, creating a bronze halo surrounding her head.
Love. Who would have ever thought he could capture the emotion, reveling in every day he spent with her.
He’d never expected to be this happy. He certainly didn’t deserve his good fortune. The devil himself should have dragged him into the very depths of hell.
