Rapine 3: Retrieved by the Billionaire

by Charlotte Rose

  Julian squeezes my hand as we stand side by side in peaceful silence, watching the colors slowly weave and twist and reflect against the lake, creating a dramatic double effect. To see the northern lights is breathtaking, but to see it as a mirror reflection is truly unforgettable.

  I turn to examine Julian’s profile for a brief moment. His eyes meet mine. The colors around us have infused themselves into us. I feel so alive.

  The hues are so vibrant that they emanate toward us, permeating the environment. I see all the bright colors of the northern lights reflected in Julian’s eyes.

  “Thank you for this,” I breathe before I lock lips with him. Powerful electric waves move through my body as we exchange a kiss. The cold air bites at our faces, but we barely notice.

  Unwillingly, we break away from the kiss and continue admiring the colors. Julian wraps his arm around me, but after a while the cold is oppressive. The air I inhale burns my lungs, and my face is so frigid that it loses any sense of feeling. The temperature threatens to cut through even my warm jacket.

  I brave the wind so that I can enjoy the light’s beauty, but eventually the air leaving my nose turns to vapor. I begin trembling. When Julian notices, he insists that we return to the car. The driver blasts the heat and our leather seats warm us as we head home.

  While Julian and I shower and change into comfortable clothing, one of the house maids prepares a romantic setting for us in the living room. We sit on the couch beside a crackling fire and drink hot chocolate. The room is lit only by the fire and the hundreds of candles scattered around us.

  We cuddle by the fireplace late into the night, but we have no desire to sleep. We are simply enjoying each other’s company. The “brief break” has strengthened our love and appreciation for each other. I cherish every second I spend with Julian.

  He has his arm wrapped around me, and we talk for hours. It’s like we can’t get enough of each other’s company. We talk about our future—the baby, my painting career, our main residence, our day-to-day routine, future celebrations and holidays. Julian informs me that his parents insist on us having a traditional ceremony in a church. As real and meaningful as our private wedding was to us, we’ll make another ceremony happen, if only to satisfy our families.

  We’re in the midst of wedding plans when the maid startles me. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I know I was told not to disturb you, but you have a very important phone call, Mr. Stone.”

  Julian frowns. “Not now,” he says.

  “May I add that it’s very urgent,” the maid responds.

  Julian pauses. “I’ll take it in my office.”

  “Yes, Mr. Stone.” The maid scurries away.

  “I’m sorry, Cheryl. I hope I won’t be long, but you can go to bed if you don’t feel like waiting.” Julian rushes toward his office.

  I stay by the fire, remembering the beautiful memories that Julian and I have created. I touch my belly and smile. Everything is perfect.

  When Julian doesn’t return right away, I sense that something is wrong. He’s been gone for about half an hour, if not longer.

  He finally comes back and looks surprised to see that I’m still in the living room. I notice anger emanating from his eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask, standing up.

  “Sit down, Cheryl, I have something to tell you,” he says calmly, like the quiet before a storm.

  I sit down, alarmed.

  He sits beside me, but avoids eye contact. He focuses his attention on the blazing fire. I sense a fire ablaze inside him as well.

  “First of all, despite what I’m about to tell you, know that you have nothing to worry about,” he begins. “Still, I don’t want to keep you in the dark about important issues. That’s why I am choosing to tell you. I will protect you. I have unlimited resources at my disposal. I will use any and all weapons if I have to. I will hire fucking soldiers if I need to so that I can keep you and my family safe.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  With each word, I become tenser. Julian still has not faced me. I watch as he tosses another log of wood into the fireplace to keep the flames burning.

  “I was just informed that four of my residences have been broken into and that maids at each of the residences have been killed,” he says. “The killer has been identified as Josh Harem, although I doubt that is his real name. The security team and informants who work for me have discovered some startling information. Derek’s brother is an international hitman. He’s involved in contract killing, but is not hired to kill regular people. He’s hired to kill very important people so he’s very good at what he does. He is one of the highest-paid killers in the world.”

  A chill passes through me. The fire’s heat is not enough to keep me warm.

  “To retaliate for Derek’s death, he’s threatened to kill all the people who are important to me, including the people who work for me.”

  “How is this even possible?” I croak, my throat and mouth parched, my body stiff with fear. “I had no idea Derek had a brother.”

  “Derek’s brother has no public records. It’s like he doesn’t exist. Even I had no way of knowing. My informant team quickly discovered who he is and what he wants,” Julian explains. “Derek never talked about his brother because Josh needs to remain invisible. Derek could also have had personal reasons for not talking about his brother. Derek and his family may have estranged him due to his career.”

  The air around me feels cold and I am reeling. I feel like I’ve been dropped into the middle of a motion-picture thriller. I stand up, suddenly unable to sit still. Julian shoots up after me. He notices my fear, kisses my forehead, and pulls me into his warm embrace.

  “I will kill him,” he whispers.

  “Don’t leave me,” I whimper.

  “I’m not leaving you,” he says, his exhale of breath blowing a few strands of hair on the top of my head. The heat of his body provides a stark contrast to the chill in my own.

  “I’ve hired a team of very skilled men to track and kill him. I will be in constant contact with them all day, every day, to ensure the issue is handled. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “I can’t believe this is happening,” I whisper.

  “I know, Cheryl, it caught me off-guard as well.”

  “I really thought after Derek was gone—”

  “I want you to get some sleep,” Julian interrupts. “I’m going to give you a pregnancy-safe sleeping pill.”

  “No, I don’t want to—”

  “Shhh.” Julian touches my lips to silence me. “I need to keep you and the baby healthy and happy regardless of the unexpected situation at hand.”

  I take a sleeping pill and we get into bed. Julian and I lay in each other’s arms in silence, deep in thought. My heart is racing and fear grips me as my mind runs through the possibilities this situation could produce.

  I resist the urge to sleep but the pill works its magic. Unwillingly I close my eyes and drift into a deep slumber.

  I awake to the feel of the sun’s rays pleasantly warming my bare skin. Bright light pours into the bedroom, falsely suggesting the arrival of a new day with no worries. I feel rested and wonder whether last night was just a dream.

  I stretch and touch my belly. Every day I feel the bump subtly increasing in size. I shower and head downstairs.

  The maid greets me with a warm smile as I settle at the kitchen island.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Stone. I hope you slept well.”

  “Yes, I did, actually.” I wonder if she has any clue that we are both in danger.

  She takes a glass of green smoothie from the fridge and hands it to me. “Mr. Stone prepared it for you this morning. He insists you drink it.”

  I gulp it down as I watch her move about the kitchen.

  She places plates of pancakes, freshly-baked bread, eggs, sausage, and fruit on the dining room table. There is enough food for ten people.

  “Mr. Stone should be here any minute.” She smiles. “He’s bee
n working in his office since early this morning.”

  I take a seat at the table and wait for Julian. My stomach grumbles as the smells fill my nose and tempt my palate.

  Julian appears and smiles when he sees me. He looks strikingly handsome and more edible than the breakfast before me. He is wearing a sharp, tailored black suit, a crisp black shirt, a black silk tie, and black pants. His short, black hair is slightly spiked in front.

  “Good morning, beautiful.” His blue eyes shine and his bright white smile gleams against his tanned complexion. His model good looks still make me blush.

  He leans down and kisses me softly on the lips. He pulls away and examines me, lightly tracing my jawline with his finger as though he were observing a delicate, rare piece of art. His eyes bear no hint of anger or anxiety. He appears calm and self-assured, and his confidence puts me at ease. I wonder if last night truly was just a dream. It felt so real.

  “Last night—”

  “Shhh.” Julian silences me. “Let’s have breakfast.”

  He takes a seat across from me and generously heaps his plate with food. I do the same while watching him and waiting for him to bring up the topic.

  He knows that I want to discuss the events of the previous night, but makes no effort to bring them up. He begins eating and I follow suit. The food is delicious and we eat in silence for a while.

  “You were hungry.” He chuckles when I clean everything off my plate. “Help yourself to more.”

  “I think I’ve had enough.”

  He takes my plate, fills it, and places it back in front of me. “Eat. Don’t be shy.” He smiles and sits down to resume his meal.

  I giggle. Although I feel full, the aromas tempt me and I vacuum up another plate of food.

  We move into the living room and sit on the couch by the fireplace. Someone from the house staff has cleaned it and arranged new stacks of wood around it.

  “If you haven’t already noticed, there are eight armed security guards in various sensitive locations of the home. Eight more are outside. They work in shifts throughout the day and night. They are the toughest of the tough, and I have employed them to protect us.” Julian studies my reaction, then continues.

  “The rest of the home has powerful security features—alarms, motion sensors, advanced warning devices—that will not let anyone approach the property without notice. Of course, like all my other homes, every window is bulletproof. The walls are one-hundred-percent impermeable. The doors contain one-inch steel plates with a titanium core, custom-made, and their locks are industrial grade.”

  My eyes widen and I contemplate how I feel about living in a fortress with armed security guards, as though I were the wife of some drug lord.

  Julian stands and leads me to various parts of the home. Near every door a security guard stands on duty. Every guard nods his head when he sees us. Their eyes display a fearlessness and confidence I’ve rarely seen. The one man who rivals their fearlessness is Julian.

  We stop near the final security guard, who stands by the main entrance, and Julian shows me the man’s gun. “There is nothing like this gun on the market. It will kill a man in an instant. It’s the same gun I’m carrying with me now.” He raises the hem of his suit jacket to reveal the gun he’s tucked into a pocket holster.

  Julian nods at the man, and we walk through the marble foyer and into the living room.

  “After the situation with Derek, I’ve learned that there is no room for error. I’ve upgraded my weaponry to include poison-filled bullets,” Julian says. He explains how the bullets work. “They penetrate deep into the flesh and fill the system with a lethal toxin that kills a person within thirty seconds.”

  I gasp as I contemplate the imminent fate of any man seeking to kill us. He doesn’t stand a chance against Julian.

  “I only regret not having protected you better from Derek,” Julian whispers.

  “Derek knew he didn’t stand a chance against you and reached for his gun at the last minute. But it was partially my fault because I wanted you to leave him unconscious. I knew that it was part of your plan to kill him with your bare hands. I ran up to you to stop that from happening,” I say.

  “There is one thing I need from you right now,” Julian says, his eyes scanning me protectively. “I need you to call your mother and invite her to stay with us. Don’t give her any details just yet. That is the only way I can protect her.”

  “Okay, whatever you say.”

  “I’ve already put both my sisters on a flight. They will arrive via private jet. I informed my father, but he told me he is perfectly capable of protecting himself and his wife.” Julian frowns.

  “I’m so glad I’ll be meeting your sisters,” I say, genuinely excited to find some light in the situation regardless of the danger we are in.

  I call my mother and she gladly accepts the invitation to stay with us. Julian arranges her flight. We expect her to arrive shortly after Julian’s sisters do. Julian has arranged for his sisters and my mother to sleep in the bedrooms on the home’s top floor.

  The next morning, Julian’s sisters arrive. We greet them in the foyer. Both women are strikingly beautiful, like female versions of Julian. The younger one, Layla, is especially gorgeous, with jet black hair, full lips, and bold, bright blue eyes. Michelle has chestnut brown hair with caramel highlights and light brown eyes.

  Layla approaches me first and hugs me as though we’d known each other a long time. “I’m so happy to meet you. I can’t believe how gorgeous you are.” She turns to Julian. “She’s beautiful,” she tells him cheerfully.

  Julian bear-hugs Layla and they hold each other for a while.

  Michelle approaches more cautiously and offers her hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” I smile and shake her hand.

  Michelle hugs Julian and a maid takes the sisters’ luggage upstairs. Julian and I give them a tour of the home. Then we head to the dining room, where lunch is waiting for us.

  Julian sits at the head of the dark wood dining table that seats twenty and I sit across from him. The sisters marvel at the beautiful décor and the impressive table decorations, with their gold and silver accents, white candles, and enormous bouquets of white roses.

  Julian clears his throat. “As you know, I’ve invited you to stay here because of an unexpected occurrence. There appears to be a threat to anyone close to me. However, in this home I am able to protect you, and there is nothing to worry about.”

  “Julian, I’m still scared. I mean, are you really going to kill this man?” Layla asks, fear evident in her eyes.

  “I’m not going to personally kill him, but I’m going to make sure someone does.”

  “But Julian—”

  “Layla, no more questions. I already told you this over the phone,” Julian says. “Let’s eat. Do not bring up the issue again.”

  Layla looks down while Michelle fills her plate. Then Michelle and Julian discuss his business and real estate portfolio. Michelle comes across as well educated; she speaks eloquently and carries herself with poise. I learn that she’s a clinical laboratory technologist.

  I speak with Layla, who is twenty-one and studying to be a dentist. She is witty and entertaining, and within minutes has me laughing, nearly forgetting what brought us together. Layla tells me that she considered several careers, including psychiatry. Julian interrupts, saying that she couldn’t make up her mind about a career, so he told her to pursue dentistry.

  Michelle is cold and aloof with me, and the more effort I put into talking with her, the more she brushes me off. I learn that she’s been married to her husband since she was twenty-two and he also works in the medical field. He was unable to join us because he couldn’t get off work.

  Julian tells them about our first prenatal appointment. Layla is excited and mentions that she once considered becoming a pediatrician.

  After lunch, we relax in the living room and I learn more about Layla and Michelle
. Michelle is thirty-four, the oldest of the three siblings.

  Julian invites Layla to the library so that she can see his collection of books. When they leave, a tense silence fills the air. Michelle scrutinizes me.

  “What attracted you to Julian?” she asks suddenly.

  “I’ll admit, at first it was his looks,” I say, trying to give an honest answer. “However, it was his determination that really got me. He never gave up pursuing me, even though I brushed him off several times. It’s like he knew we were meant to be together. I finally realized the same thing.”

  Michelle looks surprised. “I guess I haven’t heard the entire story. Julian just gave me a brief description of where you two met.”

  She smiles, looking thoughtful. Instantly her demeanor changes. We talk for a while, and I learn more about her. It’s like her icy veil melts and she warms up to me.

  “I have to admit I judged you prematurely,” Michelle says. “I thought you were a gold digger who married Julian for his money. I may have also misjudged you because Julian told me you were an artist, which I never really considered a career.”

  “I understand your concern, but I reassure you that I love Julian."

  “I know you love him. I can see by the way you look at him and by the way he looks at you. You mean the world to him.”

  Layla and Julian return and join us in the living room. A few hours later, my mother arrives. We introduce her to Julian’s sisters. She still has no clue why we have asked her to stay with us, but she seems to appreciate the invitation.

  She mentions that, throughout the past few months, she’s been packing her belongings and throwing out things she doesn’t need. She’s preparing for her move out of New York.

  Julian has offered to buy her a home, but we have yet to find one that she approves of. It’s wonderful to be married to a man I adore who is also extraordinarily wealthy, generous, and capable of caring for me and my family. It’s a biological urge for a woman to be attracted to a man with the ability to provide. Michelle has every right to be concerned that I am with Julian for the money. However, unlike many women, I was already with a wealthy man when Julian pursued me.