Rapine 3: Retrieved by the Billionaire

by Charlotte Rose

  I throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his waist and immediately a loud, messy explosion of my tears and despair burst forth.

  He presses me against his chest. “You’re safe now,” he murmurs into my ear. I weep loudly—an unending stream of tears.

  “Shhhh.” He strokes my hair and cradles my head against his chest, holding me tight.

  We stand for a while, holding each other. Julian is patient, letting me cry loudly and uncontrollably.

  He continues stroking my hair, then pulls away. “I was so lost without you. You mean so much to me,” he whispers as he traces my features gently with one finger. It’s as though he is admiring a rare and valuable piece of art.

  I push myself into Julian’s warm embrace and continue weeping hysterically, emotions whirling through me—pain, relief, anger, fear, shock, distress. Still, love overcomes all these emotions as I hold Julian tight. I never want to let go.

  I pull away to gaze at him. He fondly wipes the tears from my face. We silently and hungrily gaze at each other, trying to process the emotions we feel at being together again.

  “Why didn’t you come sooner?” I murmur.

  “I was recovering, Cheryl.” Julian looks disappointed with himself. “That gun could have killed me, but it didn’t.” He glances away for a moment, then his strained eyes return to my face. “I’m sorry for not protecting you better, and for being overconfident, and….”

  I place a finger on his lips. “I’m just happy you are here.”

  “I will never make that mistake again,” he says as he places my hand on his suit so that I can feel the fabric. “Bulletproof.”

  I grip the material. “A bulletproof suit?”

  “Yes, Cheryl. I will never again underestimate others.”

  I realize how safe I feel in Julian’s presence. I’ve never felt safer. This joyful reunion has blurred the surroundings, but suddenly I’m aware that we are still in Derek’s home.

  “Please, let’s go,” I plead.

  “You need to get dressed,” he instructs.

  Once I am dressed, he grabs my hand and leads me into the living room.

  “I need to defeat him once and for all,” he says.

  “Please….” I start to say but at that moment, I hear Derek walk into the foyer, his footsteps echoing throughout the penthouse.

  I freeze. I know what’s coming. There’s no stopping it.

  Derek enters the living room. I watch, fascinated, as his eyes widen and his face pales. It’s as though he’s seen a ghost.

  Julian’s body stiffens when his eyes meet Derek’s. Julian turns to me and asks, “Did he hurt you?”

  “Yes, he hurt me.”

  Julian steps in front of me, blocking my view of Derek. “For what you have done to her, I will kill you.”

  Julian intends on killing Derek just for me, for everything that Derek has done to hurt me. My heart beats so rapidly that I feel lightheaded. Am I dreaming? I grip Julian’s arm to assure myself that this is real, and that Derek will die if he doesn’t kill Julian first. Adrenaline pumps through me, energizing me, and I grab Julian’s arm tighter. I’ve never felt happier to hold on to him.

  Derek shoots forward, approaching Julian with a grimace. “I thought you were fucking dead,” he says in a bear growl.

  “I don’t want you to watch this, Cheryl. Go into another room,” Julian whispers before he strides forward to meet Derek face-to-face.

  I can’t look away. I must be sure that Julian defeats Derek and doesn’t get hurt in the process. I must know that Julian will be okay.

  “I made a mistake when I didn’t chop you into pieces. Now I’ll make sure to do it right,” Derek booms, fixing Julian with an intense, deadly stare.

  “I’ll be the one to chop you the fuck up,” Julian hisses.

  Both men are motionless, staring at each. I am tense as I gaze at the man I love and the man I hate.

  I gasp as Derek aims a punch, but Julian sidesteps it. Julian then lands a kick that disorients Derek. Just as Julian aims another kick, Derek steps away.

  The two testosterone-fueled men jab and kick at each other. They are moving so fast, they seem superhuman. Both men are fit, strong, and virile, and have fighting skills that I’ve seen only in the movies.

  Derek’s rage energizes him. I can see in his eyes that if he overcomes Julian, he will kill him.

  Derek lands a series of fast jabs to Julian’s side, but Julian seems unaffected. Derek tries to tackle Julian, but Julian throws a fast and effective blow to Derek’s head. Derek loses his footing while Julian continues to jab, his punches making whooshing sounds as they land. Derek tries to escape, but Julian has incredible speed and skill.

  Julian spins and lands a powerful kick that crushes Derek’s ribs with a loud, crackling sound. I flinch when Derek lands an incredibly fast kick to Julian’s head.

  Julian is unscathed, and unleashes a vicious series of jabs and kicks that causes Derek to falter and groan in agony. Internally I cheer as I remember all the nasty things that Derek has done to me. I don’t care how drug-possessed Derek’s brain is or how resentful he is that I was unfaithful; no man should treat a woman the way Derek has treated me.

  Julian kicks Derek so hard that he tumbles back a few feet. I watch as Julian corners him and presses Derek against the wall, his arm squeezing Derek’s neck, choking him.

  Derek appears helpless against Julian’s power. His arms flail in an effort to push away Julian. He grunts as he tries to defend himself. Derek’s face turns bright red then pale blue as Julian’s bulky arm increases its firm pressure on his neck.

  With each second, Derek’s slow and steady suffocation causes him to weaken. His eyes droop and his hands fall limply at his sides.

  Suddenly, as if by some miraculous power, Derek’s eyes open wide. A renewed burst of energy overtakes him and he fights back.

  Julian struggles to keep his arm over Derek’s neck. Derek manages to grab Julian’s face, and with his other hand he sends numerous jabs into Julian’s chest and stomach.

  Derek pushes Julian off him and begins lashing out several potent kicks and punches. Excitement flows through me as Julian grabs and throws Derek back so hard that he topples to the floor, landing on his back.

  Julian throws himself on top of Derek, grabs his head, and twists it back so far that I must look away. It’s like something from a horror movie. I hear a loud crack as the bones in Derek’s neck break.

  I look back and watch as Derek’s body thrashes pathetically, then stills. Julian pulls a blade from his suit pocket and slashes Derek’s throat. Bright, cherry-red blood gushes from Derek’s neck, spattering across the white quartz floor.

  A deathly silence fills the penthouse. I reel, gazing numbly at Derek’s dead body on the floor.

  Suddenly, bile climbs my throat, forcing me to cover my mouth and run to the nearest bathroom. I crouch over the toilet and release my sickness.

  I feel Julian’s presence and turn to see him standing in the bathroom doorway. His face is strained and his hands are stained with blood.

  “I didn’t want you to see that,” he says. “I asked you to go into another room.”

  The ability to speak has left me.

  “I’m going to clean up, then I’ll be back,” he says, returning to the living room.

  I collect myself, take a few deep breaths, and wait for him to come back. I am reeling. Seeing a brutal massacre on film is one thing, but seeing it in real life is completely different. I take off Derek’s engagement ring and fling it into the metal trash can in the corner of the bathroom. I close my eyes, trying to wipe the vicious scene from my mind.

  “It’s okay. I’m here now.”

  I look up to see Julian approaching me. He looks and smells clean like lemons; there is no evidence of blood on his skin or clothing.

  He takes me in his warm, caring embrace and holds me for a while, stroking my hair, comforting me. As violent as I saw he can be, he is incredibly tender and loving
with me. I feel completely safe now.

  “What will you do with his body?” I whisper.

  “I’ll leave him here to rot. Let’s get going, Cheryl.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  We exit the building into pouring rain. It’s dark and the streets of Manhattan are wet, with numerous puddles illuminated by yellow street lamps. The rain comes down so hard that we’re soon drenched. We move to the middle of the empty street and Julian takes hold of me, locking me into the most intense kiss of my life. My body feels as though electricity has hit it. Julian’s kiss and the sensation of his body against mine feel like ecstasy, like nothing I’ve experienced before. Words cannot describe how alive I feel.

  The rain pours on us, dripping down our backs, soaking our clothing, but we’re oblivious. Despite the harsh weather, Julian’s embrace is warm and secure. I hear a strike of thunder, and rain pounds the cement, but all I care about is Julian’s lips. He is all that matters. It’s like I’ve been transported to a world where only he and I exist.

  I pull away for a breath and look at him. His azure blue eyes shine with the same self-assurance that I had seen the day we met. It takes my breath away.

  The rain pours down my eyelids and into my eyes, blurring my vision. Julian pulls me into his arms again, pressing me against his chest, and we lock into another deep kiss that sends a current through me. He runs both of his hands through my dripping wet hair as he explores my mouth with his delicious tongue. He grips the back of my head tightly, fucking my mouth. I have never been kissed like this before, and I know no one in the world could kiss me the way Julian does.

  He pulls away and dominates me with his penetrating blue eyes. His lips part slightly as though he’s about to say something, but I speak first.

  “I love you desperately,” I say loud enough for Julian to hear me over the rain.

  “Shhhh.” Julian puts his finger to my lips. His eyes lock with mine. “I love you even more desperately,” he says.

  We gape at each other, overpowering emotions coursing through us. The torrential rain continues. Julian looks incredibly handsome with his wet jet-black hair. Beads of water collect on his long eyelashes and trail down onto his sculpted face.

  I hear a splash of water as a black limo stops in front of us. Julian opens the door. I slide in and make myself comfortable, settling onto the heated black leather seat. I notice the window glass is unusually thick—must be bulletproof. I sigh with relief as I watch as the rain patter against the window.

  Julian slides in beside me and slams the door. The limo takes off, and he pulls me closer to him. I bury my face in the crook of his neck, and inhale his comforting, familiar scent.

  He wraps his arm around me. I glance out the window, glad to be leaving behind an area of New York I never want to see again. Julian and I will remain together forever and Derek can no longer interfere.

  Julian’s spicy, exotic, delicious-smelling cologne surrounds me and puts me at ease. I still can’t believe that I am really here with him. It feels like a dream; I dread the thought of waking up and finding myself still with Derek.

  Julian smiles when he catches me looking at him. He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses every knuckle softly, lingering as though he is enjoying the moment. He raises my hand to his face and squeezes it tightly. He leans in to kiss me, but stops before his lips reach mine. We are nose-to-nose, breath-to-breath, and I’ve never felt closer to him. We exchange a knowing look—an unspeakably strong emotion of love.

  Julian kisses me, a long, deep kiss that causes my head to spin more powerfully than if I had consumed several glasses of wine.

  I nuzzle my head onto his shoulder and fall asleep, comforted by the intense happiness of being with him again. I don’t care about or wonder where we are headed.

  Julian wakes me and informs me that we’re boarding a plane. He steps from the limo and offers his hand to help me out. We walk the short distance from the limo to a private plane. Once we settle into our cream-colored leather seats, the plane accelerates down the runway.

  Julian twines his hands with mine and gazes at me. I tighten my grip on his hand as the plane shoots into the air.

  I look through the window at the glowing city, which gets steadily smaller the higher we ascend into the night sky. I shudder as I remember my time with Derek. Julian lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it lovingly. It’s an old-fashioned, alluringly romantic, and tenderly sweet gesture.

  Julian looks up to see my response but keeps his lips locked to the back of my hand. I smile—a radiant, beaming smile.

  He places my hand back in my lap, then slides his hand onto my belly. “How is he doing?” Julian whispers.

  “I’m not sure.”

  “I’ll schedule an appointment as soon as we land.”

  “Wait, you said ‘he.’ How do you know it’s a he?” I ask.

  Julian smiles. “I don’t. I had a dream that it was a boy, but I’d be happy either way—boy or girl.”

  I smile again and we kiss. I nestle at Julian’s side, lean my head on his shoulder, and sleep for the rest of the flight.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The next morning we land at a private airport in Norway. It’s early November and air is crisp and cool. We have breakfast at a top-rated restaurant in Oslo, then take a helicopter to our final destination—Bergen.

  As we fly over Bergen, I admire the lovely snow-covered cliffs and the houses of red, blue, orange, and yellow that surround a lake where tiny boats and yachts bobble.

  Our helicopter descends through a beautiful landscape with snowy mountains on all sides. A winding lake flows through the middle. A modern yet homey timber mansion sits on the shore, its wood-and-glass construction creating the appearance of an open wood frame. It’s a stunning mansion that strikes a perfect balance between modernism and traditional Norwegian style.

  The mansion has three levels, each with a large glass terrace. An outdoor pool and hot tub offer views of the mountains looming in the distance.

  To gain admittance, Julian performs a fingerprint and eye scan. The mansion’s decor makes me feel right at home. It’s a sophisticated mix of country chic and urban cool. Julian gives me a tour and I meet the full-time staff of twelve people. Julian informs me that we will live here until the baby arrives.

  Julian shows me through the ground floor, which has an enormous living room with a wood-burning fireplace, a den with an electric fireplace, a library with thousands of hardcover books, a dining room, and a kitchen.

  On the second floor a glass wall faces the mountains with doors that provide a walk-out to the glass terrace. This floor contains bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and walk-in closets. Julian’s home office is also on this floor as is a master bedroom with two walk-in closets—one for Julian and one for me.

  I’m happy to see all my clothing and jewelry neatly arranged in my walk-in closets. Julian explains that before he came for me, he had made sure to fill the closet with all my clothing and jewelry that he’d purchased for me during our honeymoon. I’m glad to have plenty of clothing to wear during our stay here.

  The third floor contains additional bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. The home has a total of sixteen bedrooms. Julian also shows me the basement, which offers a guest unit, a thirty-seat movie theatre, a massage room, a spa, a yoga studio, a wine cellar, and a wellness area with an indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and martial arts gym. The home also contains a garage with room for thirty cars.

  “How do you like it?” he asks. It’s as though my approval is all that matters to him.

  “Julian, it’s magnificent,” I breathe.

  He introduces me to the maid in charge of cooking. I’m also introduced to the private instructor who will be leading me through yoga poses every morning.

  The maid prepares lunch and coffee. Julian and I eat in silence, gazing lovingly at each other. Even though the past is fresh in our minds, we don’t discuss it. I want to put everything behind us and move forward, living a happy l
ife together.

  After we’ve eaten, Julian pulls me into his arms and hugs me tight. “I have somewhere special I’d like to take you this afternoon,” he whispers into my ear.

  We are picked up by a helicopter, and I admire the beautiful views as we fly over mountains, lakes, and lush green pastures. The helicopter drops us off near the peak of a high mountain.

  Julian takes my hand and leads me up slowly to the peak of the mountain. We reach the edge of the cliff and I’m suddenly speechless and breathless as I realize where we are. We’re at Trolltunga, a rock jutting horizontally out of the mountain like something out of The Lion King. It’s about 700 meters above the north side of a beautiful lake.

  My heart flutters with elation. I’m at one of the most spectacular locations in the world. The view is breathtaking, and I hungrily take it all in: the long, winding blue lake; the soaring, snow-peaked mountains. I want to take as many mental snapshots as possible so that I will always remember this special moment.

  Julian drops onto one knee and extends his hand, which I eagerly take. His face conveys earnest, deep, and intense love.

  “Even though we’ve been married for less than a year, I kneel before you to renew my vows to you,” Julian says as he pulls out an engagement ring similar to the one with which he proposed before. He presents it to me. “After that, shall we say ‘interruption,’ I’d like to ask, would you continue spending the rest of your life with me?”

  I smile. “Yes!” I burst out loudly.

  Julian slips the ring on my finger, stands, and locks me into a long, deep kiss. My heart pounds; I feel as though it will explode with the joy I feel.

  We stay lip-locked until I pull away for a breath. Julian gets behind me and holds me tightly, sheltering me with his back. We admire the natural beauty around us. I couldn’t have asked for a more magical moment.