Taming Rafe Animals MC book 7

Chapter Two.

If it works photo is of Tess. 

Raphael tossed another long on the roaring fire he had in the fireplace and stared into the growing flames.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes, she was going to be a hard captive and he didn't blame her but every time she tried to escape she risked injuring or killing herself the Colorado mountains were a dangerous place for a woman like her.

He wasn't sure what he was thinking of bringing her with him, he could have killed her in that parking lot, except she was innocent. He had killed women before, tortured some but only the hardened and the cold. Only when he had no choice and never one who was an innocent bystander.

After returning her to the bedroom he stood outside for a few long minutes listening to her sob and almost feeling guilty for using scare tactics to control her.

He didn't want to hurt or scare her but he had to keep her contained for now, whoever had put the hit on Harold wouldn't be happy to know there was a living witness.

He mentally ran through the events of the night before as he chopped vegetables, what went wrong?

His information guaranteed him that Harold would be alone, they never even mentioned a woman he didn't understand how he had missed her. He was so prepared for everything in and out a clean getaway, he never made mistakes.

Now there was one giant mistake in his bedroom crying her eyes out and he had no idea how to handle it.

He ran a hand over his eyes, he was so tired of running and being on edge. He purchased this cabin with the intention of taking a few years off from killing and just learning to be a man again instead of a mutilating machine.

Shit, she was young too. Probably had parents going nuts looking for her wondering if she was hurt or safe.

He fixed a hearty beef stew for dinner hoping that maybe the comfort food would help her feel a little better.

He knocked on the bedroom door but she didn't answer, he opened it and stepped inside she was laying on the bed with her back to the door curled into the fetal position.

"I made some dinner," He offered.

"No thank you."

"You have to eat."

"Why? You're going to kill me anyway"

"I know you must be starving...there's no point being hungry." He pointed out.

"There's no point in eating." She replied still not looking at him.

"I'm not going to poison you," He said.

She rolled over to look at him, her blue eyes filled with tears, her nose and cheeks were red from crying. She angrily swiped at a stray tear.

"I don't know yet what I'm going to do with you but right now I'm trying to at least make you somewhat comfortable."

"Nothing is going to make me comfortable, you murdered a man, you kidnapped me...I'm so scared."

"I wish you would at least eat something."

She wiped her eyes and then sat up in the bed climbing out of it. She walked to the doorway where he stood, keeping a few feet between them.

He stepped back and motioned her towards the table and with a heavy sigh she moved to the vacant chair and sat down.

He walked slowly to the stew and scooped some into two bowls setting hers in front of her carefully. Every time he moved to quick she would flinch as if expecting a blow at any minute.

He settled across from her but she refused to even glance up at him.

"I don't hit women," He said gently.

She gave a small nod and continued to push her meat around in her bowl not taking a single bite.

He glanced around the lodge, wanting a conversation starter but finding nothing.

"Why are you doing this to me?" She asked softly.

"I told you, you weren't supposed to be there."

She gave another small nod and went back to pushing the food around in her bowl.

"After you eat....I can arrange a shower and some clothes," He said, instantly wondering why he was offering.

He didn't owe her anything, odds were he would end up killing her with in the next few days once he made contact with who hired him but he wanted her to be comfortable. He didn't want her to be afraid of him.

She didn't glance up at him but he saw her lower lip start to tremble and several tears run down her cheeks, dripping off her chin.

"Hey...hey...I...look, I..."He fell silent unsure of what to say.

"I'm sorry...."She said with a broken sob.

"Why are you sorry?"

"I shouldn't have been there, I should have gone home hours ago but Harold...he..." She shook her head and didn't finish.

"He what?"

"He....insisted I stay."

"You don't seem to upset about what happened to him, in fact, you didn't scream or cry or anything when you saw it."

She stayed silent, staring into her stew still not eating a single bite. He could feel the tension rolling off of her, she was hiding something.

"Why did he insist you stay late?" He pushed.

"He....he's been asking me to for...awhile."

"Why?" He asked.

"Why do you care?! You don't know me, you don't know anything about me! You don't even know my name! You're just some guy who murdered my boss and is holding me hostage until he decides it's convenient to kill me! Don't act like you care what that....bastard did to me."

She was right, he shouldn't care but something about her soft blue eyes filled with tear was tugging at his heart. He felt bad for her.

"I'm sorry, you're right. What is your name?" He asked.

She finally forced herself to look up at him, only for a minute then she quickly looked away. He could only assume it was the scar running down the left side of his face and that made him a little uneasy.

"Tess," She said softly, barely a whisper.

"Okay, Tess....tell me about yourself."

She looked up at him and he relaxed back into his chair, waiting for her to start talking and surprised with how interested her really was.

"Why?"

"Why not?"

"My name is Tess Black...I'm from Missouri and I moved here to start into journalism. I wanted to be a news anchor but...it doesn't look like that will happen now. I have to wonderful parents who...are going to miss me like crazy."

"Eat," He said motioning at her bowl.

She glanced down and pushed more meat around.

"I promise you it's not poisoned, I don't hit women and if I decide to....you know...I promise it will be quick and painless."

She bit her lip obviously debating what he said and then finally she took one small bite of her stew. It was a small victory but he couldn't help feeling relieved.

He couldn't remember the last time he was completely alone with a woman like this, years...before he was a scarred killer. Of course, he had feelings for Jennifer for awhile but it never went far.

When he made contact with who hired him he had no doubt what they would say, they would want Tess dead but he wasn't sure he had it in him anymore