THE DEVIL'S MISTRESS

Chapter Six - House Call?

ROXANNE POV

It had been a few days since Raphaël left my apartment with Angelina and everything felt so eerily quiet now.

I hadn’t seen Raphaël, Kendrick or even my stepfather during this time.

I knew Ken was still out there, tirelessly hunting for me. It seemed absurd that I could be that important to them, which made me think there must be another reason why my stepfather is so determined to keep me under his control.

My recent run-in with Ken rattled me. When he said Garry needed me to come home, it struck me how easily they could have found someone else to patch up their gang's wounds.

My skills weren’t anything special, certainly not enough to make me irreplaceable.

That realization set something off inside me, making me want to finally uncover the truth about my past.

I knew my stepfather never really cared about me, though somehow, I’ve managed to hold onto my sanity and my dignity.

Garry had always made sure no one from the gang laid a hand on me and those who tried paid dearly for it. It was the only time he ever acted like a father.

But that all changed the day he crossed the line himself. That’s when I fought back, leaving him with a scar he'll never forget and escaped.

My childhood memories felt like scattered fragments, hazy pieces of a puzzle desperately waiting to be completed, even if some parts remained blank and unsure of where they fit.

I sighed.

In the meantime, I had been scouring the town for job opportunities, trying to find something new while steering clear of their territory.

"I've got bills to pay and rent coming up soon." I muttered to myself as I continued preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

Just a few minutes later, a knock on my apartment door startled me, causing me to freeze. I glanced towards the door.

Taking off my apron, I approached it with cautious steps. Inhaling deeply, I looked through the peephole to see who it was then I cracked it open, revealing…

"Raphaël?" I watched as he slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside. I stepped aside, staring at him. "Why are you here?"

Then, I quickly glanced into the hallway before closing the door behind me, relieved to see he had come alone.

"I just came to see if you were still around, kitten." He said as we both stood in the foyer. I rolled my eyes and headed back to the kitchen.

"Of course, I have nowhere else to go." I retorted, pouring myself a cup of coffee.

He followed me into the kitchen, his movements slow and deliberate as his eyes curiously roamed over me.

At that moment, I suddenly realized I was wearing nothing but a pair of panties beneath my oversized t-shirt, the hem grazing mid-thigh and accentuating the contours of my body.

As his gaze locked onto mine, a wave of discomfort washed over me, his attention then shifting to the coffee kettle.

"Isn't coffee a bit mature for you?" He teased, slipping off his jacket.