Chapter Eleven.

Raul is puffing my inhaler into my mouth and my chest starts to open up. I take a deep breath and I finally manage to calm down. Raul then helps me up and I sit on one of the benches. Mother Superior is pacing back and forth while Father Agustus is trying to comfort the other sisters. All of a sudden, Wallace takes a stand and says,

"Don't worry, we will bring Juan back. Just let us go home and sort things out."

"Till tomorrow. That's how long you have." Mother Superior replies.

"I promise Mary. By tomorrow, we personally will bring her back. I give you my word." Stefano says.

Mother Superior takes his word for it and nods at us. She and Father Agustus take the others inside and leave us there. I for one, am very scared. Raul notices and sits down with me.

"Hey, Iris calm down. When I am with you , then nobody will ever hurt you. Do you trust me?" he asks.

"With my life. " I reply.

"Then let's go to bed."

His voice calms me down and I head out tho the car with him. During the journey, I lay on his chest as he runs his hands through my hair.

We arrive at the house and he takes me to my room right away. It's already late so we head directly to his room. I immediately jump into his bed and cover myself. Raul cuddles with me. His bed is so comfortable I purr despite the situation. Raul kisses me on the forehead and whispers a "good night" amidst yawns. He almost instantly falls asleep as I stay up for a while. As I was lost in thought...

Untill I looked at the celling, there was a big portrait, of Raul and his dead wife. That sparked up a certain emotion in me that I didn't like at all.

I turned away, but I was met with another picture, of Katarina and Raul, when he was still a child. I thought it was cute, until I looked again and saw that despite this being Raul and Marie's room, it was full of Katarina's pictures. that deeply disturbed me, so I wake up and slowly walk to the bathroom, there I am so shocked, it takes me a huge amount of strength to prevent myself from getting an attack. He had carved her on the wall so perfectly, I thought it was a photo. Why was he so obsessed with her?

Just then, I hear a whisper,

"You're going to be next." Raul tells me, wrapping his arms around my waist as he slowly breaths on my neck.

"You're going to be my next obsession Iris. I know for sure."

Although I am supposed to be scared, I feel satisfied. Trapped, but satisfied.

" I would love to." I reply.

He then carries me into his arms and places me back on the bed. He hugs me tightly and I finally ask,

"Did you love Marie?"

"No, but mom did so I had to."

"Oh. Did you have feelings for her?"

"No but mom loved her. I had to marry her, but then I don't know how love feels like, because I have never loved."

Just then, Wallace comes in and tells Raul something in Italian. Raul responds, and Wallace leaves with a reassuring smile.

"What was that about?"

"Juan."

"Then I should be there..."

"No principessa, if anything happens to you then I will lose the last of sanity I have left. I need you alive. With me. Okay"

I nod and he cuddles me until I fall asleep.

**********************************************

My body screams for water so I wake up and head down stairs for water. Just then, I hear the Accardi discussion.

"We are supposed to get Juan by tomorrow. They asked for Iris. So who do we give up?" Stefano asks. " Business, or a strong love." he adds.

Wait.

Business?

What did he mean with that statement?

"None. As much as I am supposed to put the syndicate ahead of everything, Iris is my fucking wife. And nobody will ever sniff her scent as long as I'm alive. So taking her to that lunatic is out of question. Think of something else." He hisses.

"Son, listen, we are not going to give her to that lunatic, we are just pretending to. The plan is full proof. I promise." Stefano says.

Before he could add on, I interrupt.

"Whatever it is, I agree. I accept." I say.

"Do you know what you're getting yourself into?" Raul asks, obviously concerned and pissed.

"I trust you. All of you. That is enough for me." I say.

He hesitates, but then nods. They tell me that they have already arrayed their men, who will surround the premises and as soon as Drew gets his hands on me, they will shoot him down.

*********************************************

I crack my knuckles and pray every three minutes since I am very scared.

"Don't worry Iris, the plan is full proof." Wallace says.

"It better be." Raul says.

I command myself to calm down for Raul's sake, and somehow, that does the trick. Just then Drew arrives with Juan. Her state hurts me and I feel angry tears sting my eyes. She had tattered clothes, and wounds and scars, but what triggered me most was that she was holding on to her private.

"How dare you? She's just nineteen!" I yell at Drew.

"Well, I guess you taste way better." He replied with a smirk.

I feel anger crossing through my veins and if I had a weapon he would have been dead. But Raul pressed my hand and I calmed down.

He then let me go, and Drew let Juan go. Juan came towards Raul as I headed to Drew. Immediately we arrived, there was a serious gunfire, which I wasn't expecting. Just then, everyone had everyone on gun point, but Drew clearly new the terrain so he got the upper hand.

"Well, now, you will watch me as I eat out your wife." Drew says as he pressed me against him. I felt disgust rush through my veins and I was twitching continuously. I could feel his erection on my butt as he pulled me back by my hair and started roughly kissing my neck. Raul was so angry he was turning red, but he was at gun point and I signaled him not to do anything. After a split second, he roughly grabbed my breasts and pressed them so hard I thought he wanted to rip them apart.

I felt adrenaline rush through me and my eyes scanned quickly, spotting a gun on his hip. As I was about to take it, he pushed me down and whispered lustfully,

"I can't imagine how strong Raul is, if he hasn't touched you."

That was it.

Before he could do anything, I grabbed his gun and aimed it at his member. He immediately lifts his hands and gulps. This distracts his men and immediately, our men gained the advantage.

"Clever girl." Drew says standing up.

I stand up and he laughs, drawing out another gun.

"But not smart enough to know not to play with toys you can't use." he says arrogantly.

"Excuse me?" I say, pissed.

I cork my gun and shoot him on the leg, making him fall to his knees.

Everyone except Juan is shocked, especially Drew.

"I was trained to handle guns and was an expert by age five. So don't underestimate me." I say.

Drew finally retreats and so do his men. For a while, I just sit by myself to think about what I just did. Raul comes to join me.

" You probably don't like me as much knowing that I am not an innocent angel...." I start, but he smiles.

"Well, it's a complete fucking turn on. Where did you learn that?"

"Well my father was Don of a certain syndicate, but he was murdered, and my mom taken hostage, when I was thirteen. My brother and I ran away and found refuge in a church. But my brother was still a baby, hence he was easily adopted. I on the other hand, kept on sharpening my skills, hell bend on revenge, however, Mother Superior helped me to use my skills for others rather than my own benefit. So then, I decided to take God's path. And now I'm here." I say, getting lost in my story.

"Do you know who killed them?"

" Spanish. I don't know who exactly, but all I really want is to find my brother."

"I promise you,. we will find him." Raul says, kissing my hand. Just then, I hear sobs. I turn to see Juan crying.

"What is the problem Juan?"

"They.....th...they ..ra....raped me." She sobs.

I hug her tightly and she cries on me. I take her to the car, and we head to the hospital.