Page 92 of Explode
“Thanks.”
As we walked around the side of the house, the grounds opened uprevealing a beautiful, huge garden. Every hedge was neatly trimmed, the bright green lawn had stripes mown into it, and flowers in every vibrant color were in bloom.
“Wow, this place is impressive,” I said, taking in the stunning grounds.
“Yeah, my mother always loved her gardens, and father makes surethey are maintained all year round in her honor,” Rafe said sadly.
I squeezed his hand, knowing how hard it was to lose a parent.“That’s sweet of your dad.”
“Yeah. He’s an asshole most of the time, but he loved our mother.”Rafe paused, and for a minute, we stood, looking out at the grounds.
Clearing his throat, Rafe dropped my hand. “I’ve got some stuff totake care of. Sofia’s waiting at the fountain, follow that path, and it’ll take you to her.” He pointed to a stone path that led through the garden and disappeared between two thick hedges. “Catch you later, Riley.”
I watched him disappear the way we’d just come before headingdown the path he’d pointed out, enjoying a moment of peace. The sun was warm on my face, and the fragrant flowers that lined the path surrounded me. Even with all its over-the-top grandeur, the Bianchi mansion was a beautiful place to live.
As I neared the hedges, arguing voices loomed in the distance. I wastoo far away to make out what they were saying, but one was definitely male, and the other was undeniably Sofia. Upping my pace as the argument became more heated, I briefly wondered if I should go back to get Rafe, but when Sofia screamed in pain, I broke into a run.
Bursting through the hedges, I paused for a split second to take in thescene. A man, no older than mid-twenties, and dressed in the Bianchi guards uniform had Sofia by the throat, his snarling face inches away from hers as her delicate fingers desperately tried to rip his hand away. Tears streamed down her beautiful face as she struggled for breath.
“You’re a little cock-tease!” the man spat in Sofia’s face, evidently nothearing my entrance.
I didn’t hesitate. I sprinted to where they were and grabbing his arm,I dug my nails into his exposed skin, drawing blood. I’d caught him off-guard, and in the second he was distracted, I ripped his hand off Sofia’s throat and shoved him back before standing in front of her.
What I thought I could do to protect her, I didn’t know. Now I was infront of the dickhead, I realized just what a unit he was, but there was no way I was going to stand back and let him put his hands on Sofia.
Sofia stumbled backward, and behind me, I heard her gasp for air.
“You must be the Wolfe bitch,” the man hissed at me, spittle flyingfrom his mouth, his eyes wide with fury.
I held back the shock that he knew who I was. “Yeah, I am. And if youknow who I am, then you should know you’re in a ton of shit for hurting my friend,” I replied, holding my nerve.
“Oh yeah, what are you going to do about it?” he taunted, smirking atme as he looked me up and down.
I took a step closer, not giving a shit he had a gun and I didn’t. I’dfaced bigger assholes than this dickhead and lived to tell the tale.
“I’m not going to do anything about it. But her fiancè,” I nodded toSofia who was now quietly crying behind me, “he won’t like knowing that some cunt hurt his fiancèe, and I’ve seen what damage he can do when he’s angry. Tell me, do you like your intestines inside your body?” Using the same deadly tone Kai used when he told his enemies they were about to die, I held the fucker’s eye, letting him know how serious I was.
His face paled as he stared at me, before taking a step back andlooking over my shoulder to Sofia.
“You’re going to regret this,” he said after a beat, although I wasn’tsure if he was talking to me or Sofia. It didn’t matter, as soon as Miles, Georgio, or Rafe got wind a guard had hurt Sofia, he was a dead man.
Giving us one last menacing glare, the asshole spun and stormedaway. As soon as he disappeared through the hedges, I let out a sigh of relief. Miles may have taught me how to look after myself, but it didn’t mean I was happy to pick fights.
Turning in time to find Sofia’s knees about to give out, I helped herover to a stone bench and sat down next to her.
“Are you okay?” I asked, moving some of her long, brown hair to oneside to find red fingerprint marks on her throat.
“I’m okay,” she replied tearfully.
“Who was that?”
Despite her cheeks already flushed from her tears, they turned adeeper shade of red, and she couldn’t meet my eye. “Owen. He…we…we were kinda dating.”
Oh fuck.
I stared at her until she lifted her head, her gorgeous blue eyes filledwith tears. “It wasn’t serious. At least, not on my part. We were just having some fun, but he wanted to take it further. He wanted to tell my father.”
“I can’t imagine that would go down well?”
