The Foiled Plan (War of Sins Book 2)

I‘m going crazy.

There’s no other explanation for the fact that I’ve been pacing around the room for the last five minutes.

Five minutes since Noelle walked out the door, taking almost all the stationed guards with her for her therapy appointment. Five minutes since I assured myself it will all be fine.

It isn’t.

In my bid to show her I’m not some raging caveman, I’ve tried to keep myself from smothering her with my obsessive tendencies—like the fact that imagining her alone in the world is enough to make me break out in a sweat.

It has been particularly harder after Cisco and Yuyu moved out, leaving us alone in the entire house. Suddenly, I was able to let loose and stop having my guard up. But that also meant having Noelle next to me at all times, which in itself is dangerous.

If I were to recap how the last two days have gone by, I would list our fun activities—watching movies, playing video games and composing music—while adding the grim fact that I’ve been going to the bathroom every hour or so, either for a cold shower, or to jack off.

I’ve also learned the meaning of blue balls for the first time ever. They fucking hurt.

Noelle is too hot for her own good, and my dick approves too much, fact being the raging erection I have every time she’s near. It doesn’t help that she’s been extremely generous in opening her legs for me for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the mere taste of her making me come in my pants—another fact that she’s not aware of.

At this point, I wonder if she considers me a saint, since I haven’t as much as let her touch my dick. But fuck… My self-restraint only goes so far.

The moment she puts those tiny hands on me, she’s either going to end up with my cock down her throat, or fucked in every hole until she can’t walk anymore…

‘Fuck,’ I curse out loud.

My thoughts are not helping.

Especially now that I know she’s out of my reach. Why the fuck did I have to listen to my brain when I decided to behave normally and not smother her?

What the fuck am I still doing here?

There’s no point in fighting a losing battle, so I just put my coat on and grab the keys of the car. If I break a speed limit or two, I might be able to catch up with her.

My adrenaline is pumping, but a few close calls later and I find myself behind her car as it turns towards the parking lot of the building.

Following closely behind, I park next to the other cars, taking a bag with me as I exit the car.

‘Oh,’ she frowns when she sees me.

I paint a smile on my face to hide my harsh breathing or the fact that I might appear on the afternoon news as a prime example for reckless driving.

Am I the same person who could have recited the driving manual and who always preached safe driving?

I’ve always prided myself on being a prudent person, carefully weighing each argument before reaching a conclusion and never diving head first into danger.

Well, screw that. And while I’m at it, screw sanity too.

‘What are you doing here?’ She comes towards me, her hips swaying from side to side.

She doesn’t even realize how sexy she is with that determined walk of hers, and my overheated brain—not the evolved one—is already at its limit as it starts imagining how she’d look pinned to the hood of my car while I take her from behind, work my cock inside of her…

‘Raf,’ she waves her hand in front of me and I swallow, suddenly aware of the setting we’re in or the fact that my pants have dents in them.

Damn it.

‘You forgot this,’ I mumble an excuse as I shove the bag in her hands.

Her brows scrunched together, she peers inside the bag, fishing a hoodie from it.

‘What…’

‘It will be cold tonight. I checked the weather.’ I continue to put my foot in my mouth, cringing internally at my own words.

‘But I’ll be in the car,’ she looks up at me, puzzled. ‘We have heating.’

‘That can break down any time. Technology isn’t as reliable as old fashion planning,’ I add confidently, lest she smell the bullshit on me.

And to stop her from talking further, I simply take the hoodie and slip it over her head.

‘Arms,’ I command.

Her eyes are two huge orbs as she stares at me in confusion. Still, she obeys, placing her arms through the sleeves of the hoodie.

Dragging it down her body, I realize it is a size—or two—too big. Almost reaching her knees, it makes her look even smaller.

‘Well, thanks.’ She blinks before she turns on her heel, heading towards the entrance.

Two guards follow suit, keeping a modest distance.

Shaking my head and muttering a string of curses, I follow too.

‘Warm now?’ I ask as I reach her side, calling the elevator down and helping her inside.

She gives a small nod, but doesn’t attempt to make small talk—not a surprise since my attempts seem to be abysmal.

‘You can go now,’ she tells me when the elevator door pings at her therapist’s office.

‘I might as well say hello to your therapist,’ I say casually, already thinking of asking Gianna to come to the house from now on—to minimize danger, of course.

A few steps out of the elevator, and I notice that Noelle hasn’t moved from the door.

She has an inscrutable look on her face, her eyes on the floor as her small hands are balled into fists by her side.

‘Noelle?’ I call out, frowning as I see her slowly look up at me.

‘You promised,’ she whispers.

‘What?’

‘You promised you’d never look at another woman,’ she grits out, moving towards me with determination. Aggression is rolling off her as she reaches my side, her pointer jabbed in my chest.

She’s small—appearing smaller still dressed like this—and though she barely reaches the middle of my chest, she has the stance of a warrior ready to go to war.

It’s only then that I realize that I’m a fucking idiot—again. It had slipped my mind that I’d taunted her with Gianna, never telling her that she is, in fact, my sister.

‘Worry not, pretty girl. I happen to share DNA with that particular woman, and incest isn’t my thing,’ I wink at her, but she doesn’t laugh at my joke.

‘What are you talking about?’ She asks, more confused than before.

Grabbing her hand, I simply lead her towards the office, knocking before stepping inside.

‘Raf,’ Gianna stands up, frowning as she takes us both in. ‘I didn’t expect you here,’ she comes towards us, ready to give me a hug.

‘You’re his sister?’ Noelle’s tone is still suspicious as she looks between the two of us.

Gianna purses her lips.

‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. But I didn’t want you to think there was a conflict of interests. In fact, I hadn’t seen Raf in more than a decade until recently,’ she says apologetically.

Noelle is silent for a moment as she mulls over the revelation.

‘She’s your sister,’ she repeats, turning to me. Just as I prepare myself for her anger, she surprises me by exhaling in relief. ‘Good, good,’ she nods to herself.

‘You’re not mad at us for keeping this from you?’ I ask tentatively, but she just waves her hand dismissively.

‘If you had told me she was anyone else, maybe,’ she shrugs. ‘But I’ll trust that incest isn’t your thing.’ She grins at me, looking entirely too happy by the whole reveal.

My sister is still confused by the whole exchange, and taking advantage of that, I plop myself into a seat, patting the spot next to me for Noelle. She obeys, like the good girl she is, sporting a big smile still on her face.

And as she peers up at me, I note the adoring look in her eyes.

She’s…happy. And like a direct reaction, I find my own mouth spreading in a wide smile.

She looks so fucking gorgeous, I don’t think I ever want to see her unhappy again.

We’re so lost in each other’s eyes that it takes a loud cough for us to break that connection.

‘If that’s all, you can leave, Raf,’ Gianna gives me a tight nod, motioning towards the door.

‘Actually,’ I start as I lean back, ‘I wanted to ask you if it was possible to schedule the next visit at our place. It’s not entirely safe for Noelle to be out and about now,’ I add as I look back to my pretty girl.

She’s almost swallowed by the hoodie as she draws her legs to her chest, making herself comfortable in the plush chair.

She merely nods at my suggestion, not putting up a fight—surprising.

‘Is that so…’ my sister trails off. ‘Fine. I’m sure that could be arranged,’ she mumbles before motioning me to the door once more.

‘I’ll be waiting for you in the lobby,’ I lean to whisper in Noelle’s ear and she regales me with a soft giggle.

‘Ok,’ she breathes out, her eyes practically eating me up.

Fuck. And here I thought I could control myself. But one of her sweet smiles and I’m already hard and ready to burst.

‘Raf?’ Gianna’s voice filters through my head—just barely—and I realize I should go.

‘Fine, fine,’ I roll my eyes, finally exiting the room.

It’s with the greatest hardship that I manage to occupy my time until Noelle is done with her appointment, but as I see her exit the elevator, a huge smile on her face, I immediately light up.

I take one step towards her, but she beats me to it as she runs towards me, jumping in my arms and placing her lips on mine in the sweetest, most intoxicating kiss.

‘How come you’re so lively?’ I chuckle, though my own heart is doing weird movements in my chest at the sight of her.

‘Because she’s your sister. I don’t have to worry about her,’ she murmurs against my mouth, her arms tight around my head.

I lean back, searching her eyes.

‘You don’t have to worry about anyone.‘ I tell her in a stern tone.

Biting her lip, she looks at me unconvinced.

‘Noelle, we talked about this before.’

‘I know,’ she sighs. ‘It’s just…’ she takes a deep breath. ‘I’ve seen how men in this life behave. Funnily enough, my brother is an exception because he’s only a human being with Yuyu. But everyone else…’ she trails off, ‘there’s no such thing as fidelity.’

‘Don’t,’ I cut her off. ‘I know you’ve seen the worst there is,’ I tell her, because I’d heard the rumors about Sergio and his harem. ‘But I would never cheat on you. I’m not that type of man. I’ll just have to prove it to you,’ I bring my lips to her temple. ‘Even if I have to do it for the rest of my life.’

She gives a brisk nod, tightening her arms around my neck.

Wrapping my arms around her, I take her to the car, driving home with the guards closely on our trails.

But as the days pass, I realize that my attempt at keeping her safe might not be the best.

‘I’m not sure this is the best alternative,’ Gianna takes me aside after her third session at the house. ‘She’s getting restless. You’re barely going out anymore.’

‘What else can I do?’ I purse my lips. ‘We’re vulnerable right now.’

I’d put her up to speed with everything that had happened and why I was afraid for Noelle’s safety outside the house. Not that inside we were completely safe, but at least Cisco’s safety mechanisms could buy us time until reinforcements arrived. There was also his panic room, which, should an attack happen, could keep us going for a few days.

‘God,’ she sighs. ‘I’m not supposed to tell you this. Actually, I’m not supposed to tell you anything,’ she rolls her eyes at me. ‘But take the girl out on a date, will you? How do you think she feels locked in here twenty-four seven?’

‘But we have fun,’ I argue in my defense.

And we do.

We already have an established routine of late night movies and cuddling.

I’ve never been a cuddler, and memories of Armand’s arms around me always threaten to make me ill.

But with her? I just wrap my arms around her, holding her close to me, my head on her shoulder as I listen to her soft breathing. Her mere presence deletes everything that came before—she has the power to quiet my nightmares.

‘Really?’ My sister crosses her arms over her chest as she raises a brow at me. ‘She thinks you’re embarrassed to be seen out with her, Raf. I’m already saying too much, but if you hurt her, I’m going to personally kick your ass.’

My brows shoot up at her vehemence.

‘Wow, I didn’t realize you two bonded so much.’

‘I’m not joking,’ she sighs. ‘Just don’t screw this up, ok? You’ve already done much better than I ever thought you would, so don’t you dare break that girl’s heart.’ She waves her finger at me in a motherly fashion and I can’t help the smile that spreads over my lips.

‘I wouldn’t. She’s special,’ I grin. ‘I’ll do my best to make her happy,’ I try to appease my sister.

‘You better,’ she says right before she leaves.

Opening the main entrance, though, it’s to see a huge man waiting for her. A deep scar runs from his brow to his chin, making him look dangerous.

‘There you are,’ she breathes out, throwing herself in his arms and kissing his cheek. ‘Bass, meet my brother, Raf,’ she says, and I suddenly remember who he is.

Her former bodyguard. The one she’d supposedly run away with. Now, her husband.

‘Pleased to see you again,’ I shake his hand.

He narrows his eyes at me before his mouth tugs up in an amiable smile.

‘Good to see you,’ he says before he draws me in a hug. ‘Gianna told me about you but damn,’ he shakes his head. ‘You’ve sure grown up,’ he chuckles.

We spend a few minutes catching up and making small talk before my sister is off with her husband, once more extending an invitation to come meet their children.

With a heavy heart, though, I tell her that maybe in the future. As it stands, it’s too dangerous for us to go anywhere. And I certainly wouldn’t want to invite danger into their home.

But as I close the door and head back to Noelle, Gianna’s words keep playing in my head.

Have I been too harsh on her?

It’s true that we haven’t been out in a while. But I thought she was happy to just spend time together, away from everyone else.

We’d certainly managed to get to know each other better. Late at night, we’d share a glass of wine and have random conversations, baring our souls to one another. We’ve tackled a wide range of topics, from light ones like entertainment and sports, to deeper, more philosophical ones. And to my greatest surprise, I realized that we had more in common than I’d previously thought.

For all her restricted education, Noelle has a bright and inquisitive mind, and she’s forged her own path by availing herself to resources on the internet. We’ve discussed movies and TV shows, and I was quite baffled to find out that we like the exact same things.

Her favorite movie is The Mummy. So is mine. Her favorite TV show is Buffy The Vampire Slayer. So is mine. But it goes beyond that. If we get into an in-depth conversation about pop culture, our tastes match almost to perfection. It’s a bit scary to see someone so similar to me in most ways, but still so different. And that only made me gain a new appreciation for her and for our budding relationship.

But Gianna’s words echo in my mind, and knowing what an idiot I can be when it comes to her feelings, I decide to get the answer straight from the source.

She’s in our room, propped on the bed, pen in hand as she’s trying to solve an anagram. She barely spares me a glance before she’s back at work.

‘I was wondering something,’ I start, clearing my voice.

‘Hm?’ She raises her head.

‘Would you like to go on a date?’

She blinks, surprise written all over her face.

‘A date?’ she repeats, her small brows drawn together in concentration. ‘But it’s not safe to go out, is it?’

‘We could manage one outing,’ I assure her.

‘I’m not sure,’ she whispers, shifting so she’s sitting with her legs dangling off the bed. ‘I like it at home.’ She forces a smile, but I catch the tremor in her voice.

Fuck, but in my tunnel vision, I’d only thought about keeping her safe and away from the outside world. I hadn’t realized that I was harming her by isolating her.

Her family has been doing it from the beginning, and now, I’m guilty of it too.

‘I’m a fucking idiot,’ I mutter to myself.

She raises her eyebrows in question.

I plaster a smile on my face as I turn to her.

‘We’re going on a date,’ I state resolutely, not missing the way her whole face lights up.

She doesn’t dare show her happiness, but I can spot it, nonetheless. And it makes me feel like the biggest imbecile once more, because she didn’t trust me enough to tell me what she wanted.

‘Do you have anywhere you’d like to go?’ I probe gently. I want to make sure I’m not screwing this up any more by taking her somewhere she doesn’t like.

‘Hmm,’ she takes a moment to think, swinging her legs around. She looks so fucking cute I get the urge to bring her to my chest for a really tight hug.

But I quench it.

Last time I did that, I almost forgot my strength and smothered her.

Fuck me… I close my eyes as I take a deep breath.

I need a dating manual.

Something along the lines of how to avoid killing your partner with love.

‘I think…’ she starts in an unsure tone, ‘I think I’d like to go to the amusement park.’ She immediately drops her gaze to the floor.

‘Then that’s where we’ll go!’ I declare, and she whips up her head, surprised.

A big smile spreads over her face and she jumps on me, wounding her arms around my neck and peppering my face with kisses.

‘I’ve always wanted to go,’ she whispers. ‘I’ve seen it on TV and it looks so fun,’ she releases a dreamy sigh. ‘But I didn’t know if you’d find it too…juvenile.’

‘Why would I when I’ve never been? We’re going,’ I kiss her cheek.