Chapter 35
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ZENA (31YRS)
Watching Rayden give way to emotions I had a hand at provoking, left my heart in a tailspin. But watching Lorenzo offer him the comfort I should’ve been giving him, left me out of sorts. A feeling, I’d felt once, years ago. Lorenzo kidnapped us both back then, yet somehow the relationship he’d developed with Rayden was not only surprising but inexplicable. It was the first and only time they met and spent almost a month together but the way he consoled Rayden today, one would think they knew each other for years.
“Excuse me, Senorita, the baby is almost asleep, would you like to say goodnight,” Nina walked into the kitchen, pulling me from my thoughts.
I smiled at her. “I’ll be up in a minute.”
“Si, Senorita.” Nodding, she left the kitchen.
I rinsed out my teacup, set it on the dryer and was on my way upstairs when Lorenzo stopped me.
“Zena.”
We hadn’t had a chance to finish our conversation and I balked at the idea of discussing it now. Slowly, I turned on the fourth stair to look at him. “Yes.”
The hard set of his face didn’t change even when I smiled. He waited for me to descend then moved closer until we stood toe to toe. My eyes fell to his clenched jaw and I internally flinched. Something had him chomping at the bit.
“Go to Rayden,” it was a demand, not a request. I opened my mouth to speak but he silenced it with a look. “Do whatever it takes to pacify him.”
Even though I knew Rayden needed to be placated, Lorenzo’s orders got my hackles up. I was so tired of being treated like shit by these Rossi men. Something in me didn’t just snap, it ruptured. And just for a second, I forgot who I was speaking to when I said, “why the fuck can’t you do it?” My tone was a lot harder than I expected.
A cold chill sluiced through my bloodstream as he glared at me, impatience marring his perfect features into a deadly scowl before his hand shot out and he gripped my neck, squeezing until I gasped.
“Because you’re the fucking reason he’s in that state,” he sneered. “If he’s not smiling when he walks out that room tomorrow morning, I’ll let my men have their way with you and trust me, my soldiers would easily fuck a dead woman.” He released my neck and I inhaled harshly. “Go.” Nodding, I turned to walk away. “Zena,” the steel encased word stalled my movements. He neared me, pressing his body into my back and I flinched thinking he wanted me sexually until his next words sliced through the notion like an axe through a block of ice. “Tell him the truth and I’ll make sure you get off this island as fish food.” Every nerve in me froze. “Do you understand me, girl.”
Swallowing against the bile lining my throat, I nodded.You will not cry. I silently reproached, blinking back the tears. While Rayden had finally come for me, Lorenzo’s appearance twisted the knife stuck in my spine until I battled to breathe. I wished he would leave, I didn’t want to finish the conversation he’d started before Rayden appeared.
In the nursery, I let my gaze run over Jardin’s sleeping form, my one source of comfort. I’d named him after a man who’d taught me life was unfair and that if you wanted something, you had to reach out and grab it, otherwise people would take advantage of you. My grandfather, a man I’d only known for a week before he met his untimely death. If those were his teachings, how then did I survive Lorenzo Rossi and Rayden Princeton, who now seemed to hate me just as much as the other man.
I dropped a soft kiss to Jardin’s head and as I straightened, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror that stood to one side in the room. Moving closer, I turned from side to side, admiring my body. The pale lemon sundress with its sweetheart neckline, gathers cinched at the waist and mid-thigh flared skirt, hugged my curves in all the right places. My pregnancy had been good to my body. And while my shape was more defined, somehow, the whole package fit together perfectly.
Perhaps, I could find a way to appease Rayden. If using my body didn’t help, then I’d have one pissed of mafia head on my ass. If only I could use my body to sway his mind too. Something told me I’d have a better chance of surviving a knife in my spine than getting that man to bend to my will.
Suddenly, desperate to see Rayden, I stepped away from the mirror and left the nursery. My sandaled footfalls, soft against the stone floors, I crossed the darkened hall, to his room. I tapped gently on his door. He didn’t answer. I pushed his door open slowly. The spicy scent of his cologne flooded my nostrils and I inhaled deeply, the familiarity bringing with it a flash of happy memories, making me smile.
In the semi darkness created by the silver moonlight through the open window, I let my eyes adjust to the dimness. He lay on his side, with his back to me, facing the window. Cream satin sheets covered the lower half of his body up to his waist, leaving his naked upper body open for my admiration. Remembering Lorenzo’s words, I slipped off my dress and in just my underwear, I climbed onto the bed and crawled to him.
“Rayden,” I whispered, lying down next to him.
“What do you want, Zena?”
Wincing at the hard tone, I inched closer and slid a hand over his waist. He didn’t react. “I’m sorry, Rayden. I should’ve mentioned the pregnancy that day but I was scared, I guess.” Still no response. “I’m so sorry.” I dropped soft kisses from his shoulder down to his elbow. His breathing turned into a slow, quiet pace telling me he’d fallen asleep. Withdrawing my hand, I rolled onto my back and stared up at the ceiling, wondering where it had all gone wrong. I glanced at Rayden one more time then closing my eyes, I let his familiar scent comfort me and slowly drifted into a peaceful sleep.
“Zena, stop.” Rayden’s deep voice cut through my sleep induced brain.
I opened my eyes on a squint. Rayden’s body was curled around mine, his mouth close to my ear.His fingers a tight grip on my thigh and his hard cock pressed up between the crease of my ass.
