004

RAINEY

The dining room was silent except for the clinking of cutlery against china.

I wasn't eating or doing anything except stabbing the pork with my fork.

I could feel his eyes on me, and it made my blood boil. He didn’t seem disturbed by the anger written on my face; instead, he took pleasure in watching me bend, twist, and finally break in front of him.

“The meat is so soft,” he said, “why are you stabbing it like it’s leather?”

I looked up to meet his gaze, and my heart thudded—not out of fear, but because of a feeling I couldn’t quite place.

“Last night was hell,” I said, setting my fork down. “I thought I could finally have my peace, but even at midnight, you didn’t let me have that. You watched me all night and…”

“And you liked it?” he asked, grinning from ear to ear.

I picked the fork back up, gripping it tightly. My gaze was stern, and I ground my teeth together, as if I might murder him soon.

“One thing I’d never do in my life, Silas Valetti,” I said, pausing to watch the amusement in his eyes, “is find joy in the sight of the monster who murdered my father.”

He chuckled, clasping his hands together as he watched me, one brow arched. “You know what, Ney—”

“Don’t call me Ney,” I cut in through gritted teeth.

“Piccolo.”

“Don’t… call me that.” Goosebumps rose on my skin. I didn’t know why I felt this way when he called me that irritating nickname.

Everything he did always seemed to get to me, and I was scared I might be losing myself to him sooner than I had ever expected.

“Your face and mouth say different things, Piccolo.” He stood behind me now, one hand resting on my shoulder, caressing it gently.

“S…Stop…” I stuttered, but I didn’t push him away.

His other hand moved slowly, sliding along my collarbone.

“Tell me to stop, and I will, my love.”

This time, I managed to grab his arm, but when our eyes met, I lost it.

I let go of his arm, allowing him to go further beneath my dress.

“S…Silas…” I breathed as he traced invisible circles along my skin, causing me to moan softly.

Only one word could make him halt, a single word: “stop.” Yet, I couldn’t say it; it felt so hard to get out.

“See?” His baritone voice whispered in my ear, breaking through my confusion, “You’re losing yourself to me, Rainey. Even when I don’t try to push.”

My brow widened.

What was wrong with me?!

I pushed him away, brushing my curls aside as I stood from the chair.

“Whatever game you’re playing, Silas Valetti, I’m sorry to break it to you, but you’re going to lose. I, Rainey Wyatt, will never give you a chance to see through me.”

He grabbed my arm before I could walk away.

I gasped as he pulled me closer, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body. “W…what?”

“You just moaned my name over pork, and now you’re running away after causing so much chaos.”

“Wh…what chaos?” I stuttered, blinking rapidly, pretending not to notice his arousal pressing against my dress.

“Will you continue to pretend you hate me? That I don’t make you feel like stripping before me?” He slowly guided my hand down to touch his bulge.

I shivered. What on earth was this?!

“H…how dare you?” I wanted to pull my hand away, but I found myself rubbing him more.

Jesus, please save me. I’m losing myself to this monster.

“Follow me to my room, Tequila, and I’ll show you the great things you could earn tonight if you’d just be a good girl for me, a good girl for…” he leaned in close to nibble at my earlobe, “…for Daddy.”

My body ached for his touch. I wanted to see what he had in store for me. The way he spoke made it all sound so tempting.

I snapped back to reality as he parted my thighs.

“What are you doing, Silas?”

“Showing you what I’m capable of. This is me fulfilling your quest, Rainey.”

I took a step back. “What… what quest?”

“You asked for it.”

“I never said anything.”

He scoffed, shaking his head. “You don’t have to. Your body language says it all. Even when your tongue is tied, your whole body echoes a hymn that cannot be ignored. I’m sorry, but even when I want to turn a deaf ear, the tonic Sol-fa keeps humming.”

“You’re mine, Rainey,” he whispered gently in my ear. “Just watch me claim you.”

“God forbid!” I screamed at him before running away.

The rest of the day, I stayed locked in my room, refusing to step out.

I didn’t want to see him, even though the scent of his cologne clung to the air and messed with my head.

I ignored the door knocks when the maids came to serve me lunch.

I would do anything to avoid that son of a gun.

Soon, night came, and as I watched the moonlight flicker through the window, it reminded me of someone I cherished so much—my dad.

I thought of the good times we shared; the way we would ride happily on his bicycle, smiles plastered on our faces without a care in the world.

Maybe he had something troubling him that he chose to keep to himself. Maybe Silas had been haunting his life for so long…

“Rainey.” Silas' voice came from the door. I wanted to ask how he got in, then I remembered he had the keys to this room, which he called ‘mine.’

“What do you want?” I shot back at him, moving away as if he were some kind of virus.

“Are you going to stay in that dress forever?”

I looked away, avoiding his gaze. “I have nothing to change into. Besides, I would appreciate it if you stopped barging into my room. Even if this mansion is yours, I beg you to allow me a little privacy.”

He grinned and took a seat on the couch a few steps from the door.

“I see,” he said, pausing as his eyes locked onto mine. “Are you saying you want me out of your room?”

“Yes.” I nodded, biting my lower lip. “Please leave. Seeing you makes me…”

“Wet?”

“What?” My brows shot up as I glared at him.

“What then?”

“I want to kill you so badly.”

“You don't have the power to do that, Rainey. But… maybe you could if you allowed me to fall head over heels for you. That could be a bait; give me your body, let me own you, and you might have my head later on.”

My body trembled. Was he really saying all of this? He wanted me to be the death of him?

With just a snap of his fingers, two maids walked in—one carrying a dress and the other holding a makeup kit.

“What’s… what’s this?” I frowned at him.

“There’s an occasion tonight, piccolo, and you have to be there—with me,” he added.