જ⁀➴୨ৎ જ⁀➴
After Sunday service, I hurried over to the table where people usually gathered for tea and coffee. I turned on the hot water dispenser.
It had been two weeks since what happened at Santera. Amilio had grown more frantic about his debt to Arnold, and he took out all that stress on me. He even forced me to sign a document stating that he would become the heir if I died. I could only shake my head. Did he really think I was that stupid, that I would sign my own death warrant?
The moment I signed it, he would get rid of me. Amilio only wanted my inheritance, and he would not hesitate to kill me for it. The threats grew heavier every day. I honestly was not sure I could survive another two years. But I also had no idea what else I could do.
If I ran to Aunt Susan's house, Amilio would find me there. That would only drag Aunt Susan and her family into serious trouble, since they also lived under Marunda's rules. Even asking her for money to escape would cause problems. In this world, nothing ever slipped past Marunda's watchful eyes.
"Did you bring three?" Rissa asked as she came up behind me at the table.
I forced a smile. "Yeah, but it looks like there are more people than usual today."
"Save a slice for Pastor Yeskil," she said.
I nodded, opened the pie box, and placed a slice onto a plate. While Rissa prepared tea for the pastor, I started serving the people already lining up at the table.
A few minutes passed.
When it finally slowed down, I poured myself a cup of coffee. My head was still lowered when that deep voice reached me. "Good morning, Rainn."
My eyes flew open. The cup in my hand trembled, and hot water spilled onto my skin. "Ow!!!"
"Are you okay?" Rissa panicked.
And just like that, Remy Arnold, the man who terrified me the most, was already walking toward me from across the table.
My heart went wild, my mouth instantly dry. Rissa quickly stepped back to the far end of the table, clearly not wanting to be anywhere near him. No one here would ever dare challenge Remy Arnold.
He grabbed a cloth from the table, pulled my hand toward him, and gently rinsed my reddened skin. I just stared at him, lips parted.
His voice stayed low and heavy as he murmured, "It doesn't look too bad. Be careful next time."
Was he insane?
Did he really care about my hand?
I quickly pulled my hand back, swallowed hard, and asked, "Tea or coffee, sir?"
His eyes narrowed. He stayed silent for a few seconds, making my nerves stretch even tighter. Then he shook his head slowly. "Come with me."
"What?" I blurted out. "Where?"
He didn't answer. He just walked out of the building. Benny and Big Jonny followed behind him.
Once again, I stood there frozen. I had never seen Arnold come to church before. This could not be a good sign. Everyone inside the church was watching me, but I knew not a single one of them would dare help. With my feelings tangled in confusion and fear, I had no choice but to follow him.
The churchyard had a small green garden. Behind it lay an old cemetery. My stomach turned. I kept my distance when Arnold stopped, his eyes sweeping over the moss covered gravestones. A sudden gust of wind lifted my dress, and I quickly grabbed the hem to keep it down.
He stayed silent. Finally, I spoke. "Why. Why did you tell me to come with you?"
One hand slipped into his pocket, the other rubbed his chin. His gaze narrowed as it settled on me. His brow creased. "You look tired."
Wow.
That was a polite way to say I looked awful.
I pouted without thinking and shook my head. "Honestly, this is stressing me out. Can you just tell me why you brought me here?"
God, Rainn.
Shut your mouth.
Maybe because I had been trapped in fear for too long, it all spilled out before I could stop myself.
His lips almost lifted, like he was about to smile. Just for a split second, before his face returned to its cold default.
Remy stepped closer and stopped right in front of me. "Your brother came to see me yesterday."
"Stepbrother," I corrected instantly. I hated it when people acted like Amilio was my real brother.
Remy's brow lifted. I hurried to apologize. "I mean, sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt, sir."
"You can call me Remy."
I blinked, nearly in disbelief. I had never heard of anyone daring to call him by that name.
He crossed his arms over his chest. And damn, it made him look even more intimidating. "Amilio said you're still a virgin."
What?
Damn it.
Heat rushed to my face in a wave of embarrassment.
I couldn't really be offended. In Marunda, the Bosses had the right to know the condition of women who were old enough to marry. They were usually the ones who gave approval for marriages too. So this kind of conversation was not strange for Remy. Still, I felt like I was burning from my toes to my hair.
I nodded slowly, praying inside. God, please. Don't let that bastard marry me off to this man.
Remy's eyes narrowed further. "Is it true? You're still a virgin?"
Damn.
I nodded again.
"You've never dated?"
My cheeks burned even redder. I nodded for the third time.
Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed my hair. I startled on instinct, trauma from Amilio's abuse taking over, and stepped back.
Remy paused, his eyes steady on my face. Then he gently twisted a strand of my hair around his finger. "You're shaking like you're afraid of being hit," he commented.
"You scare me."
He released my hair, his voice low. "Relax. I don't get pleasure from hitting women."
And yet, somehow, that didn't make me feel safe at all.