I drew in a deep breath as I prepared to make what felt like the biggest mistake of my life. Unlocking and pulling the door open, I accepted that it was the only choice I could make under the circumstances.
Even if it broke me.
Rafe caught my arm at the last possible moment, drawing me back into a kiss. His lips crashed against mine, his teeth bruising me as he devoured me brutally. The anger behind the contact faded quickly as I returned his passion, letting me coax him into a sweeter embrace that shocked me. I hadn’t expected him to allow such a meaningful contact in our goodbye, as if he would truly miss me. But if this was my last kiss with Rafe, I wanted to look back on it and feel loved for even just a moment.
I wanted to remember everything he gave me, and I had a feeling I'd never be able to forget it.
When I pulled away, he let me step through the door. It stayed open as I made my way across the hall and tears ran in rivulets down my face and soaked the front of my dress.
He didn’t stop me. He didn't chase me.
He didn’t call out to me or do anything as I pushed the button on the elevator. He didn’t even try.
27
Rafael
I stared out the open door, watching as she pressed the call button on the elevator. She turned to face me once she stepped inside, pressing the floor for the lobby.
She froze mid-motion, her hand hovering in the air as her teary eyes landed on mine. Seeing the cold fury on my face as I narrowed my gaze on her and twisted my mouth into a scowl, she swallowed visibly and paled. I watched as recognition slithered up her spine, her body convulsing as she tasted my rage in the air. She leapt into action as her lungs heaved, pushing the button to close the doors quickly as the sadness faded from her face to be replaced with absolute terror.
For the first time since mi princesa had met me, she stared in the face of the nightmare who had promised to hunt her down, and saw me for exactly what I was.
The elevator doors closed, cutting her from my view as I moved back into the suite and put on my suit. I grabbed my phone off the nightstand, bringing up Joaquin's number. He answered on the first ring, waiting for the signal from me as I pulled on my suit jacket. I'd leave most of my belongings for my employees to deal with, sending them back to El Infierno.
I had more important matters to deal with.
"Follow her," I ordered.
He paused, then obeyed my command as was expected despite his own hesitation. "Yes, Boss." The line went dead, and I tucked my phone into my pocket. I grabbed some of the chess pieces off the board on the coffee table, tucking five of them into my suit pockets. Then I turned and strode for the door.
Isa had her five-minute head start.
I turned to face the room that felt filled with lies in the aftermath of her departure. It was where I'd thought Isa had fallen in love with me. Where I'd thought she'd see that what we had was enough to forgive my sins that had nothing to do with her, and accept that her future was by my side and not working to fix her family.
It was nothing but a lie, and I pressed the lobby button on the elevator as I turned my eyes away from what could have been. She'd had the chance to have a loving and doting husband.
She'd chosen the nightmare instead.
As the elevator descended, I counted out the number of days we should’ve had left. If it hadn't been for Chloe's interference, Isa would be waking up in my arms in a few hours. Instead, Isa would fear for her life, as the consequence of trying to take away what was mine. The elevator doors opened into the empty lobby as I strode through and walked out the front.
The streets were devoid of life. Not a single person walked along them, even at the busiest time of night in Ibiza. When El Diablo ordered them emptied, the streets fucking emptied. Isa might not be very familiar with Ibiza, but she knew enough to know it was unusual.
She knew enough to be afraid.
Gabriel pulled up at the curb, shoving open the passenger side door as I climbed into the SUV. He turned the vehicle in the direction of Hugo and Chloe's hotel, taking the back roads Isa would never have dared to take on her own. She'd stick to the safety of the main blocks, even in their abandoned state, when she realized that she couldn't grab a taxi.
When she remembered that she didn't have a cell phone to call anyone.
There was no one for her to turn to in the moment when she realized I would come for her. Nothing to stop me from chasing her into the night. From making her hurt the way she'd hurt me by leaving. “Leave the SUV, and go get my fucking car,” I snapped as my own misery consumed me.
I jumped out of the car as Gabriel pulled into the lot at the hotel. My long strides marched in the direction of Isa, closing the distance between us while she headed unknowingly in my direction while she thought she ran from me and towards safety. But there was no safety for Isa.
Not anymore.
Reaching into the pocket of my suit as I ducked down the side alley where it would all end, I stroked a thumb over the black King from the chess set. Setting it in the middle of the roadway, I backed away and walked back to the main road.
With the Queen in hand, I went to hunt
