He nodded fervently. "Yes, El Diablo."
I smirked. "His next man will go back as a head in a box. If you're smart, you'll make sure it's not you." I shoved through the swinging doors, glancing at my arms to make sure there was no blood on my suit before I made my way toward the elevator to return to Isa. My body hummed with the thirst for more blood.
For death.
I would need to find a method of release over the next week that didn't end in me covered in blood or fucking out my violence on Isa's body. I'd already been too rough with her when I took her virginity, and then again in the shower that morning, and I'd need to refrain for her sake, or she wouldn't be able to walk during her time in Ibiza. It would be difficult to seduce her and show her the beauty of her new home if she never left the bed.
And for obvious reasons, she couldn't know that I was almost as thirsty for blood as I was for her. Given her hesitations as soon as my hands left her body, there was more at stake than I would have liked. Especially considering my reaction to her.
I'd known I was inexplicably drawn to her. I'd known that I wanted to possess her.
But I didn't know I would crave her company and her smile as much as I did. I hadn't known that her happiness would matter to me so quickly. I would take her without it, but I preferred her to be a willing victim in my game, rather than one trapped on a private island, who could never leave.
Stepping into the elevator, I dialed Alejandro. He answered on the first ring. "I know."
"I thought I told you to fucking handle Pavel," I growled.
"I relayed your message, Rafael. I'm uncertain why you think I can control a Pakhan who is an idiota under the best circumstances. He has no sense of self-preservation," he explained.
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped into the hallway outside the penthouse and dropped my voice low. "I want more security brought in. I won't endanger Isa because of negligence. Nobody gets near her without my knowledge. You understand me, Alejandro? This is not something you wish to test me on."
"Of course, Rafael," he said, disconnecting the call to do my bidding.
Just as it should have been.
10
Isa
I lost track of time as I stood and stared at the space where Rafe had been. The suite felt strangely empty, quiet, as though it was a crime to exist in the abandoned space. It wasn't so much that it felt cold, because it was decorated lavishly.
I just didn't belong here.
I snagged my phone off the table and made my way onto the balcony. One of the cushioned chairs called my name, and I dropped into it gracelessly as I scrolled through my recent calls until I found Chloe's number.
"You bitch!" she squealed when she answered, and I pulled the phone away from my ear while I waited for the sound to disappear. "Please tell me you are no longer a virgin."
"I'm no longer a virgin," I confirmed, rolling my eyes to the bright blue sky above my head.
"How was it? Was he as good as he was beautiful?" she sighed, and I could imagine her fanning herself mockingly.
"Can we talk about that later? He had to run downstairs, but I don't think I have much time before he gets back, and I need your opinion," I said, glancing back at the doors. The last thing I wanted was for him to come back and hear my girl talk and let it go to his head.
I had a feeling his ego was already inflated enough.
"That sounds ominous."
"Not really," I said. "He's asked me to spend my vacation with him. He offered to show me the real Ibiza. Which is great in theory, but—"
"Don't you dare 'in theory' me!" she warned. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. If you do not spend the rest of the trip mounting that Spanish stud until you can't feel your ass, then I will," she laughed.
The only thing that kept the unnatural jealousy at bay was the fact that I knew she was kidding. Chloe was the only person in the world I trusted not to screw a man I'd slept with. "But what about you? We probably won't get to spend much time together. Oh, but I could ask him if you two can tag along."
"Nope. You are not asking him if you can bring your friends along to cockblock him when he seems to have a mind to keep you all to himself. I have Hugo to entertain me, and I want you to enjoy the time with him. Just forget about all the shit waiting for you back home. For once, just have fun Isa, please," she begged, and the sound of it made the uncertainty inside me cave.
I could experience something great, and when I went home, I'd go right back to being responsible and no one would be the wiser. Nobody even had to know about my adventure with Rafael Ibarra.
"You don't think that's a mistake?" I asked. "This was meant to be one night, and now it's over a week. What if I develop feelings
