Page 77 of The Sins That Bleed
I don’t think this is from Rai.
The door closes behind Sunny and I open it up, polaroids fall into my lap, but I gather them and place them on my desk. My eyes scan the letter. I read and re-read it before I look at the photos that were included.
Dear Valeska,
Or should I call you Lilith?
How wonderful it is to finally make your acquaintance, even if it’s only via this letter. I’ve heard so much about you. Your reputation precedes you.
I should have known you were involved somehow, after all, you are cunning and smart, not to mention beautiful beyond compare, so when I started connecting the dots of where my assets were going, I couldn’t help but be impressed that you had evaded my notice for so long.
I bet you are curious to know where you went wrong, what tipped you off to me. It’s simple, really, it was love. You and that agent, Rai Moreau. I would have never believed it if you weren’t seen by one of my men at his apartment.
You know the night him and his partner’s apartments were broken into? The ones that did it never left; they watched the whole thing. You should have been more careful with your heart, dear.
I wonder if he knows the truth, that you harbour his sister under the same roof. You see, I don’t think he does. If he did, he would never forgive you and you’ll do anything to keep him. It would be an awful shame for you to lose both of them, wouldn’t it?
I have a proposition for you, call it a gesture of goodwill since I’m feeling generous. I won’t tear your empire down to dust or touch a single hair on your friends’ heads, on one condition.
You will become my wife.
You’ll hand over the keys to your kingdom, but don’t worry that pretty little head of yours, I’ll happily let you rule over it. You’ll cut everyone you know from your life, and we’ll slowly dominate this world together.
What do you say?
I’ve reserved a table for us at the Eden restaurant Friday, meet me there at seven p.m. sharp for dinner. Wear your best cocktail dress. You have a wonderful figure and I’d love to show you off.
Who knows, maybe we’ll get on like a house on fire. There’s so many ways I can pleasure you. Riches, jewels, and in the bedroom.
If you’re unable to make it for any reason, I’m afraid that’s not good enough, and if you care at all about the people around you, you will be on time.
If you don’t believe me, the polaroids should help convince you.
I assume you know to keep this affair to yourself; you know how rumours can ruin a reputation.
Yours sincerely,
Alaric Vonbarro
An unnerving calmrolls over my body as I pick up the polaroids on my desk, I thumb through them until I vibrate with rage and something I’ve not felt for a long time.Fear. I shove the contents into a drawer in my desk before moving to the large window overlooking the city,mycity, and I pace.
I need to think. The only way he can know so much about me is to have someone on the inside. How else did he get photos of all my staff, the background clearly indicating backrooms, storage, and private floors. The ones of Sunny and Rai are a carousel of nightmares in my mind, but it’s because of me—the way I look at them is telling.
I look at them like they’re my family.
“Putain, fuck!” I shout, my fingernails tearing into my scalp in frustration.
“Is everything okay?” I whip around at the sound of Rai’s voice.
I am at war with myself, one half of me wanting to spill everything out on the floor between us, but the other half wants to protect him and say nothing. I can’t speak, I open my mouth, but the words don’t come out.
Rai crosses the room to me in a few long strides, his hands cupping my face as he looks down at me. His eyes search mine for answers that won’t come, like my mouth has been stuffed with cotton and sewn shut.
“Talk to me, Valeska, are you hurt? Did something happen to Sunny? Fuck, I’ll call Nico.” He drops a hand to pull out his phone, but I grip his wrist and halt his movements.
“Nothing has happened to Sunny and I’m not hurt.” Yet.
He breathes a sigh of relief before pressing a kiss to my forehead and pulling me in for a hug. I let him and squeeze him back. I’ve grown to crave his comfort and I’m no longer able to convince myself I should pull away even though it’s what got us into this mess in the first place.
