Curse of the Fallen by Eve Archer

Chapter Sixteen

Ella

I moved as if in a dream, barely registering the flight from Morocco to Spain. It hadn’t taken long, but it still gave me plenty of time to think about what Jaya had said.

I pressed my forehead against the tinted window of the sedan as we drove from the small, private airport into the coastal city of Marbella. Even though I’d barely traveled and had never been to Spain, I’d heard about the resort town on the country’s Costa del Sol. It was famous for beaches, celebrities, and posh nightclubs.

I sighed. Another place where I’d feel totally out of my element. I ached for the familiarity of my compact apartment in New York, or even the quiet of Dominick’s yacht. Any place that wasn’t known for glitz and glamour. That wasn’t me.

Closing my eyes, I breathed in the salt-tinged air that came through the car’s open front windows and ruffled my loose hair. Then again, if what Jaya said was true, I didn’t know much about myself anyway.

Impossible. No way do I carry some kind of angelic mark.

I shook my head. If I hadn’t already seen Dominick’s angel wings and been convinced of his outlandish story, I wouldn’t have entertained Jaya’s assertion for a second. But I’d seen firsthand that angels—fallen ones, at least—existed, as well as demons. Was it that much of a stretch to believe that humans could have traces of angels on them from celestial interventions?

I’d heard of people who claimed to have been saved by angels, but I’d always assumed they were crazy. The only place angels talked to humans or interfered in their lives were in crusty, old Bible stories, and all that happened a few thousand years ago. Besides, I’d never heard of people being marked by the experience, although maybe it was only something that other celestials would have any way of noticing—and angels and demons didn’t record the religious stories.

What bothered me most of all about Jaya’s claim was that Dominick would have known the moment he met me. I thought back to that night on the rooftop of his hotel in Istanbul. I’d felt instant attraction, an almost inexplicable attraction, but I’d assumed it was because he was so gorgeous and charming, and I’d been starved for any genuine romance and affection.

Now that I searched my memories, I recalled him being equally drawn to me, despite the other stunning women on the rooftop who’d cast him eager and willing glances. Dominick could have taken any of those women back to his hotel room, but he’d chosen me. He’d also encouraged me to both dump my boyfriend and quit my job, making it possible for me to accept his offer. At the time, I’d thought his offer to pay off all my debts in exchange for my company for the summer was insane. Now—if what Jaya said was true—it made sense.

Tears burned the backs of my eyes, and I pressed them closed harder. The thought of Dominick using me because I had some sort of angel marking made my chest constrict. I’d thought what we’d had was real, but if I held some key to him and his fellow fallen angels being redeemed, then I was only a pawn in some massively long angel game.

A single tear slipped from beneath my lashes, snaking down my cheek. I flicked it away with my fingers and opened my eyes, blinking rapidly so I wouldn’t start crying harder. Even if Dominick had been playing with me, I’d loved him. My feelings had never been fake. Thinking about him—despite knowing what I now did—made my heart squeeze.

Even if Jaya was telling the truth, I needed to hear it from Dominick’s own lips. I had to know if our relationship was built on some ancient prophecy, or if the demon had been manipulating me to drive a wedge between us.

The car swerved up a circular drive, stopping in front of a massive villa that shone white against the blue sky. While the luxurious house in Marrakesh had been exotic, this one was boxy and modern. Made of bright-white stucco, it was all glass and sharp edges.

The driver hopped out and opened my door while Anthony walked around from his side of the car. He offered me his arm. “I hope the drive wasn’t too long. I think you’ll agree it’s worth it for the view.”

I glared at him and refused his arm, still steamed over the kiss he’d forced on me. “Why are we in Spain?” I walked beside him into the villa as the wide double doors were opened by a man in a black uniform.

“It’s too risky to return to Italy right now.” He frowned. “My father will just have to wait to talk to me when I’m good and ready.”

“He doesn’t know that…you’re traveling with me?” I wanted to ask if his father knew he’d kidnapped a rival’s girlfriend but, at the moment, I didn’t want to antagonize the guy. That, and I was weary from everything I’d learned.

Anthony glanced at me, once we’d stepped inside the villa and the doors had closed behind us. “That’s something I’ll need to tell him in person. But it can wait.” He spread his arms wide. “This cannot.”

I followed his gaze across the open-plan house, which featured more white walls and shiny, white floors. A few steps away was a massive sunken living room that extended to a wall of glass overlooking a long pool that glistened blue. Although the sun was beginning to set, the Mediterranean light was bright as it bounced off the white-stone pool deck surrounded by teakwood tables with market umbrellas and cushioned loungers. The glass walls slid back, opening the house directly to the outdoors and giving a sense of sumptuous space.

“It’s beautiful,” I said with little enthusiasm. I was becoming inured to luxurious homes, and this one felt cold and impersonal, compared to the long history of Dominick’s Venetian villa. Even his sumptuous yacht didn’t feel as showy as the perfectly styled pale furniture in the Marbella villa, accented with gray pillows and knick-knacks that I was sure I’d seen in issues of Architectural Digest.

“My family owns this villa.” Anthony walked forward, descending into the living area and sitting down on one of the long armless sofas. “Unlike the house in Marrakesh. That was obtained only to use as a safe house.”

I was overcome with weariness as I followed him, taking a seat on the sofa across from him and sinking into the cushions. I could have fallen asleep right there if the sunlight hadn’t been so glaring.

“You’re upset,” Anthony said, his frown returning. “Because we left Marrakesh, and Dominick couldn’t save you.”

“I don’t want Dominick to save me,” I said, the lie tripping easily off my tongue because it wasn’t a complete lie. I wanted to get away from Anthony, but I didn’t know what to feel about Dominick. I was torn between what I’d been so sure of when I’d been with him and the secret that could unravel the truth of our connection.

Anthony leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “You don’t? Then why did you contact him?”

“That was before I knew,” I hesitated. “About his relationship with Jaya. He lied to me about her.” Also technically true, but I’d also never wanted to know what I’d suspected.

“Dominick Vicario was involved with Jaya?” He looked genuinely surprised.

“I think we both got caught up in a lovers’ quarrel.”

His expression darkened, pink splotches flaming his cheeks. “She should have told me she had a personal stake in this.”

I gave him a small smile. “We were both played, Anthony.”

It was clear he didn’t like the idea of that. “I wanted to strike a blow against the Vicario family. Jaya was right that this was the best way to do it.”

I shrugged. “But she’s left you holding the bag, while she confronts Dominick. What happens after he dispatches her, and he finally tracks us down? Jaya and her team aren’t here to provide extra protection anymore.”

A vein throbbed on the side of his neck. “He won’t find us here.” He leveled a gaze at me. “Unless you plan to reveal our location again.”

“I want the same thing you do, to be free of Dominick Vicario.”

He stared at me. “I thought you were his girl.”

“That was before he lied to me.”

Anthony choked back a laugh. “You haven’t dated many men in organized crime, have you? Lies aren’t considered a deal breaker.”

“I guess I’m different.” I kicked off my sandals and tucked my feet under me. “Why don’t you let me go? I’ll head back to New York, and you can tell Dominick that it was all Jaya. I’ll even deny that you had anything to do with it.”

He eyed me. “Why would you do that?

“Neither of us deserve to be caught up in whatever mess is between Dominick and Jaya.” I blew out a breath. “All I want to do is go home.”

“You aren’t honestly buying this, are you?”

A voice from above made us both start. We turned in unison as a dark-haired man walked slowly down the floating staircase that stretched up one wall. Recognition tickled the back of my brain and then fear. It was the man Dominick had thrown from his palazzo.

“Mateo.” Anthony leapt to his feet. “What are you doing here?”

Mateo Solano gave me a slick smile, his eyes cold as they slid to Anthony. “Apparently, I’m helping you, little brother.”