Serendipity

Chapter 27

Raffaele

My anxiety reaches an all-time high as I watch the news of the dismembered, brutalized and unidentifiable female body they found in the woods nearby over two hours ago. She has Dubois' signature written all over her with the way she's been assembled in her death.

With shaky hands, I call Elodie's number again, equal parts sickening dread and blinding anger coursing through me. Anger at myself for feeling so scared over what's just another employee as well as at her for not picking up her damn phone. I last saw her yesterday in my office. It's now the next evening, which means enough time has passed for Dubois to have done all that to her.

I curse when her voicemail picks up again, leaving a very vulgar message in case she ever decides to check her phone. I've already searched my hotel and went to The Blue. She's nowhere to be found.

I'm being ridiculous. Of course, she's fine. She's probably just hiding somewhere again, taking advantage of her freedom.

But the frame of the body seems similar enough and since there's no head in sight, I can't be sure it's not her. The uncertainty is driving me crazy. My treacherous mind keeps making up worst-case scenarios. Scenarios in which Dubois figured out she was playing him, captured her, and turned her into the creature I see on my TV.

My phone rings, the sudden sound startling me enough to flinch. I get even angrier. So help me god if I ever get my hands on Elodie. She's turning me into a jumpy, anxious little boy all over again.

I answer the phone, dreading to hear Dubois' deep, gloating voice only to release a breath when it's not. "Sir, just wanted to let you know Ms. Chevalier has returned," Luigi tells me. Relief crashes over me, followed closely by agitation. I end the call without a word and before I know it, I'm rushing through the halls towards Elodie's room.

I don't bother knocking, too fucking angry and anxious. Getting in using my master key, I stop dead in my tracks once I see her. She yelps as the door slams shut, turning to me with wide eyes and a hand over her chest.

"Jesus Christ, what the hell is your problem!" she exclaims. But I'm too busy to answer, my eyes frantically running over her face and body to scan for any injuries. When I'm reassured she's fine and really here, I feel my shoulders drop a little. Fuck, I didn't even realize how fucking tense I was up to now.

"Where the fuck is your phone?" I grit, walking closer to her. She crosses her arms over her chest and rolls her eyes.

"In my bag," she replies, staring up at me defiantly. God, this woman.

"Then why didn't you fucking pick it up?" I demand, not bothering to soften my tone.

"It's dead. What's with the swearing?"

I huff. "What's with the- where the hell have you been?"

"Out," she replies curtly, eyeing me. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong is that a body has been found and I couldn't find you!" I yell. Do I sound like an obsessive psycho? Maybe. Do I care? Not at all.

There's a beat of silence before she does the most infuriating thing. She smirks. "Were you worried about me?" she teases me, stepping a slow step closer.

I grit my teeth, unable to even speak at this point. Was I worried about her? No, of course not. Worrying means I care and I don't. I was just mad that she was completely off the maps once again. We have a deal and she keeps messing this shit up.

But then she touches my arm gently, sending the same warmth through me as always and her face softens. "I'm fine. I just got a new tattoo." My anger wanes a little, even though I'm still pissed. "I didn't see the news. Dubois?" she asks, her voice softer than I ever thought possible for her.

It's kind of soothing.

"Yeah. Victim was completely unrecognizable. I thought maybe-" I break off, hating how silly I sound. But Elodie seems to understand.

"Thought maybe we were caught," she finishes my sentence. I nod.

Then, since this is starting to feel too vulnerable and I need to change the subject, I ask, "Can I see it?"

That has her face lighting up in such a bright smile the sun couldn't do it justice. Something weird happens to my chest. She takes a step away from me and lifts her shirt, revealing the fresh ink on her ribs. It's still wrapped but through the clear material, I can see the simple one-line bird on the side of her ribs, beak turned downwards and wings close at its sides to make it look like it's in the middle of a dive.

It's delicate and the only one of her tattoos that doesn't have any shading. As far as I can tell, that is. I wonder why the sudden change of style.

"You like it?" Elodie asks, her bottom lip in between her teeth as she holds back a grin. I refrain from telling her it does nothing to hide her excitement. She's smiling with her whole face right now.

"I do. Why a bird?" I ask genuinely as I take a step closer again and reach out to touch it. Not sure what compelled me to do it but it just seemed right. And, fuck, if I don't get a kick out of her little shiver when my cool fingertips brush against her warm skin.

"Well, it's less about the bird than the fall. I've been dreaming about bungee jumping on my nineteenth birthday since I was a little girl. Figured this was the next best thing," she explains, gazing down at my fingers which are playing with the edges of the wrap, brushing against her skin more than necessary as they do.

Fuck but even though we're a mere foot apart, she feels too far away. I can't get enough of her so while she watches my hands, I watch her.

"And you got it now because," I trail off, catching on to her words.

"It's my birthday, yeah," she finishes, meeting my eyes once more. My movement stutters, the urge to take hold of her waist to pull her against me nearly unstoppable as the air around us changes. And I know she feels it too because a bright shade of pink blooms on her cheeks and her breathing changes, her eyes become a little more hooded and she licks her lips.

My own lips suddenly feel parched while my mouth waters at the prospect of tasting hers again. My hold on her changes before I realize it, my hand no longer playing with the wrap but splayed against her waist instead. And fuck, if my heart doesn't start pounding at the feel of her in my hand again.

Memories of our night in the dressing room start playing in my mind and I nearly give in to the temptation. But then I remember the days after that time and I falter, not wanting to return to that weird radio silence where god-knows-what went through her head until she cried in my arms.

If she couldn't stop herself from being that vulnerable with me then it must've been bad so no matter how great she felt- really fucking perfect- I won't go there again. Not unless she's with me.

And that's when she closes the distance between us and slams her lips on mine.

————————
All I'll say to this is I can't wait to see ur reactions to the next chapter...

Have a lovely day and don't forget to vote and comment ur thoughts<3