7 wine cellar

✨Yuri✨

I've been in this place before and I know my way around here. She must be headed to the kitchen or employees quarters. I searched for her but I couldn't find her. I'm positive it's Angel I saw. Her hair is black but her eyes are still hers.

I turned around and my mind must be playing tricks on me. I looked at the winery and studied it for a few seconds. This will be a good hiding spot if you ask me, hell I can hide in there for a week if I want to.

The door was unlocked and I twisted it barging inside. There were two shelves in the middle of the room filled with expensive wines and on the side were whiskey, scotch, and bourbon. Bourbon was her drink and I found what I was looking for.

She was seated on the floor with a half-full bottle of bourbon in one hand. She looked up to me and our eyes met but there was a foreign feeling in her hazel orbs that is hard to decipher.

''Angel'' I called her but she didn't gazed at me again. She was in deep thoughts crossing her legs. I sat beside her and took the bottle from her hand. ''What are you doing here?''

She took the bourbon from me and emptied the bottle. We sat there for a minute before she broke the silence. ''You like her?''

I turned to look at her ''Alice?'' she nods. ''No. I was dancing with her for formality.''

She looked at me, studying me, as if I was some kind of experiment. ''You look good together.''

''I don't like her, Rian'' was the first time I called her by that name. I know it's not her real name though.

She leaned her head on my shoulders. ''I wish I was someone else, Yuri'' she said those words like it was a real prayer. There was something in her voice that bothers me but I was afraid to ask. If I ask her what she means by that, will I like what I learn about her? Will I still want her the way I do now?

I held her hand and intertwined our fingers resting it above my lap. We stayed like that for a while. I liked being this close to her. To my Angel.

She stiffened when we heard loud voices coming from the kitchen. The winery door was about to latch open when Angel pulled me up and guided me to the small door to my right. The space is like the janitor's closet that could neither fit one much less two persons. I was about to let out a laugh when she placed her hand to cover my mouth.

We were so close that I could feel her heartbeat on my chest. Her heart was perfectly calm compared to mine. Our proximity makes me uncomfortable but in a good way. We waited there until the clatter of wine bottles died down and we heard the door closing.

She removed her hand from my mouth and opened the locker door. She peeked her head out before holding my hand and guiding me out of that little space.

I let out the laugh I was holding and she lightly laughed with me. I feel like we were kids afraid to be caught stealing the cookie jar.

She shake her head ''you're crazy.''

''Me?'' I shake my head ''you were the one who pulled me into that locker, Angel.''

She rolled her eyes. ''Yeah, whatever.'' She tried to pull her hands from mine but I held her tighter. ''Let go. I have a job to finish.''

''No one will miss us'' I remove the space between us in one step. She took a step backward as I took a step closer to her until her back hit the door.

''I have to go'' she avoided my gaze. I let her hand go and cupped her beautiful face. I was forcing her to look at me as my thumb gently caressing her lower lip.

No words were spoken between us anymore as our eyes said it all. I wanted her and it was clear she wanted me the same way. I lowered my face to meet her lips, this time she didn't stiffen. Her lips were so soft and she tasted heavenly, just like how I remember it.

Her small delicate hands reached up to my chest, gripping the collar of my dress shirt, pulling me closer to her body. My hold on her waist tightened when she parted her lips willingly. There was no going back for me when I tasted every nook of her sweet mouth like she was my last meal before I die, our tongue dueling for dominance, giving in to our body's desire.

Her hands snaked on my shoulder to the back of my neck, fisting my hair in such a way that had me aroused even more. There was nothing I wanted at this moment but to be balls deep buried inside her.

Pinning her on the door, my hands found the buttons of her blouse and she let out a quiet moan when she felt how hard I was for her. Letting my hands wander inside her now open top, I traced every curve of her body, her perfect sculpted waist up to the side of her breast. Her skin was so soft, so delicate against my calloused hands. A groan left my mouth when I felt the warmth of her hands inside my clothes, feeling my body the same way I'm doing with her. My heart rate was skyrocketing with her fiery touch, skin to skin, making me surrender fully to the primal need of my body. This was not how I wanted our first time to be, I was getting out of control and willing to do it in this fucking wine cellar, we were in the heat of the moment when I felt her lower her head on my chest.

''This can't happen'' she whispered silently with her hands still resting around my waist.

I rested my head above hers ''it can Angel. I can make it happen'' I answered her vague question to the best of my understanding. ''If you are worried about my Father, don't be.''

I felt her shaking her head. ''I'm sorry Yuri'' was all she said before quickly fixing herself and walking out of the winery.

I was left alone. Unsure of what just happened. Did she not like the way I kissed her and touched her? Does she know about our family business? Why did she run away from me again? I felt angry... lost... I took deep breaths in and out and fixed myself.

A shining thing caught my eye before I walked out of the winery. I picked it up. It was a ring on a necklace chain. I studied it in the lights of the kitchen closing the winery behind me. It's like one of our family rings. Only this one has the letter A above it with a small old green gem around it. Inside the ring was the name Arianna engraved on it.

Arianna. Is that Angel's name? It sounds so odd but nice.

I was alerted when the sound of alarms from the house flared off. Alejandro's guards were armed and alert when I ran towards the ballroom. There were screams and gunshots from everywhere and I needed to find Dad and Angel.

I called Kolya and he informed me that Dad is safe with him and on their way back to the mansion. I found Gregory and he wanted to escort me outside of the palace. I need to find Angel first. With a Colt on my hand and Greg on my heel, we searched for the possible whereabouts of the servants.

There was smoke coming from everywhere and it's making it hard to see anything. I shouted her name as loud as I could. If that is even her name. I covered my mouth and nose with my sleeve but it's no use.

''Angel!'' I called her one more time and I felt her hands on mine.

''Why are you still inside?'' she shouted through the sounds of people's yells. I took her hand and guided her outside of the palace. ''Are you out of your mind? You could have died in there and-'' I cut her cries by kissing her.

''I'm fine Angel'' I cupped her face and kissed her forehead. ''I'm here. I'm okay. You're okay.'' I embraced her tightly and I felt her strength squeezing me tightly back. She was stronger than she looks. ''I'll take you home with me Angel. You'll be safe-'' I stopped speaking when she turned around to look for someone. ''Who is it?'' I asked.

She shake her head ''I'm looking for a friend.'' she held my hand and pulled them from cupping her face. ''I have to go Yuri.''

I tried to stop her from running but she was out of my grasp like the wind. My eyes followed her silhouette until she was gone out of my sight. I stood there frozen until Gregory dragged me inside our car.

My mind was still filled with memories of Angel until we came home that night and the next morning.

Dad, Kolya, Natalie, Faith, and I are having breakfast but my mind was still clouded with questions about last night. Not about the attack on Alejandro's palace but with Angel.

''Yuri'' I heard Dad calling my name and that snapped me out of my thoughts.

''Da Papa?'' I answered him but four eyes were fixed on me including my four-year-old niece's Faith. But her eyes were not judging unlike Kolya and Natalie's.

''What is your opinion about Black Rose? '' Dad asked nonchalantly.

''Black what?'' I was confused.

Kolya was shaking his head ''Angel is still in that tiny mind of yours, yes?''

''Who's Angel?'' Natalie asked.

Kolya was about to answer her but I asked again. ''Black what Dad?''

''Black Rose brother. The one who killed Antonio last night.'' Natalie explained. Antonio is Alejandro's brother who is much crueler than him. Antonio kills innocent people with no valid reason and I'm somehow glad that he is gone in the face of the planet.

''Who gave you this information?'' I asked again.

''Zion called me this morning about that. The killer left a black rose above his body.'' Kolya said.

''How did he die anyway?''

''Let's'' Natalie raised her hand ''finish breakfast first guys. Please.''

We agreed with her on that notion. It is best not to talk about people's death over food and in front of Faith. She might not be speaking but her ears and understanding works perfectly.

Kolya showed me the photos sent by Zion regarding Antonio's death. Whoever that Black Rose is, he must be really angry at him. He was killed with bare hands and not by any weapons. I grew up in a cruel world but never have I ever seen a death like this. His throat was ripped apart from his body by the killer using his hand.

I lost my appetite that day. I don't know if it was by Antonio's death or the zero news about Angel.

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