Sometimes I feel bad for him. Other times, I feel guilty for leading him on. But Raphael's all I have now. My best friend and my confidant, besides my therapist, of course. He's helped me heal so much and for that, I'll always be grateful. And to be fair, he hasn't pushed to sleep with me at all. So why should tonight be any different?
As much as I tell myself not to worry, there's no denying the special glint in Raphael's eyes when he asked me to come to his place. He's planning something and I'm not sure I'm going to like it. But it's too late to back out now. I can't be so scared all the time, anyway. I have to try to be open to new opportunities.
With that thought in mind, I grab my purse, lock up and get into the Uber that's waiting for me outside. The entire ride to Raphael's, I stare out the window, nervously chewing my bottom lip. By the time we arrive, my lipstick is gone.
I pay the driver and ring Raphael's doorbell. He answers in his calming, kind voice and lets me in. The elevator ride up is too short for my frayed nerves, but I do my best to keep it together. I tell myself it's nothing. Probably just a nice dinner he cooked for me. He's not going to hurt me. He's not... Nox.
The elevator dings and the doors slide open.
I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I've been holding back for nothing, because Nox is a thing of the past, and I'm going to make him stay there. On an exhale, I open my eyes and walk into Raphael's penthouse apartment.
"Hey," I call out, surprised he hasn't greeted me at the door.
"In the kitchen," he calls out. I hear the sound of clinking glasses and smile to myself, my fear dissipating. But then another voice joins Raphael's. A woman's.
Instantly, my smile fades. I walk into the kitchen to find Raphael pouring wine for himself and Elise, who's sitting on one of the barstools at his kitchen island.
"Hi, Dove!" She jumps up and comes closer, air-kissing my cheeks. Pepper is nowhere in sight and I'm relieved. But the fact that Elise is here concerns me. Did Raphael invite her? Why, after he was so dismissive of her that time we ran into her? "It's so good to see you again!"
I nod robotically. Even though I'm scared to admit it, it's nice to see Elise, too. She reminds me of a time I can never go back to. She reminds me of Robin.
"Would you like a glass of wine, Dove?" Raphael asks as I sit on one of the barstools.
"Sure." He passes me a glass and I wait for one of them to explain whatever the hell is happening here. "So..."
"So, Elise is going to help us with a little something today," he goes on. "Would you mind coming with us to the lounge?"
I grab my glass and follow them. My eyes dance between Elise and Raphael who seem to be in some sort of silent agreement over something I'm not privy to. I don't know what's happening, but I don't fucking like it.
Once I enter the lounge, the glass falls from my hand. The deep-pile carpet beneath my feet absorbs the spilled wine and the glass lies on its side, slowly leaking the last of its blood red liquid.
But none of us pay it any mind. I'm too focused on the set up in front of me. And before I have enough of a chance to react, Raphael grabs me by the waist. I struggle against him but he ignores my screaming, handcuffing my hands together. My resistance is of no use. He drags me to a chair in the middle of the room with added restraints and straps me in. My heart races. I stop screaming. Instead, I focus my eyes on the figure before me – Raphael. The only man I thought I could trust.
And he's just betrayed me.
"Don't scream," he tells me in a low, threatening voice. "You know nobody's going to hear you, right?"
I stare at him with pure contempt. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because, Dove," he says, his kind voice accented with toxicity. "I've waited long fucking enough."
Before I can answer, he pulls off his tie and ties it around me so I'm silenced, my mouth covered and my nose inhaling his scent coming off the fabric.
"Come here, Elise."
I remember the other woman then, just as she offers me a smug smile and saunters up to Raphael. She hooks her leg around his waist and he lifts her up in a movie-like kiss. I want to fucking scratch her eyes out, but I fight those urges and keep staring at the scene unfolding in front of me.