SCARLET VOWS

Scarlet Vows

A Romance of Love, Betrayal, and Revenge

-----

1. Running from Shadows

Celeste's lungs burned as she ran, Rafael's grip tight on her wrist. The cold night air bit at her skin, but she couldn't stop.

Behind them, gunfire echoed in the distance.

The city streets were nearly empty, the streetlights flickering ominously.

Rafael pulled her into a narrow alley, pressing her against the wall as he checked behind them.

"Did we lose them?" she panted.

He exhaled, chest heaving. "For now."

Her pulse pounded. "Dante—"

"Forget him." Rafael's voice was sharp. "He's playing his own game."

Celeste bit her lip. She knew Rafael was right. Dante wasn't their ally. But the way he had looked at her before they escaped—

It felt like a promise.

A dangerous one.

---

2. The Moment That Shouldn't Have Happened

Rafael turned to her, his hands still on her shoulders. "Are you hurt?"

Celeste shook her head. "No. Just… shaken."

His fingers brushed against her cheek, his touch warm despite the cold night. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Her breath hitched.

She had always known Rafael was dangerous. Ruthless. But here, in the dim light, his concern felt real.

Too real.

"Why do you care so much?" she whispered.

His eyes darkened. "Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to."

Celeste's heart pounded. "Try me."

Rafael exhaled. His hand slid to the back of her neck, his touch firm, possessive. "Because from the moment I saw you, I knew…"

He leaned in.

Celeste didn't move.

Couldn't move.

Then—

Their lips met.

It was slow at first, uncertain. But then Rafael's grip tightened, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss.

Celeste's fingers curled into his shirt, her body betraying her.

She shouldn't want this.

But she did.

Desperately.

---

3. A Love Written in Blood

The moment shattered.

A sharp whistle cut through the night air.

Rafael pulled away instantly, his gun drawn. "They found us."

Celeste's heart raced. "What do we do?"

He scanned the alley. "We fight."

Her blood turned cold. "We're outnumbered—"

He smirked. "Since when did that stop me?"

Footsteps approached. Shadows stretched against the alley walls.

Then—

The first shot rang out.

Rafael fired back, shoving Celeste behind him. "Stay low!"

She crouched, heart slamming against her ribs.

The next few moments blurred into chaos—

Gunfire. Shouting. The scent of gunpowder thick in the air.

Celeste's fingers closed around a discarded metal pipe.

If she was going to survive this, she had to fight too.

---

4. A Betrayal in the Dark

Rafael took down the last man with a brutal strike. Blood stained his shirt, but he barely seemed fazed.

He turned to Celeste. "We need to move."

She nodded, adrenaline still coursing through her veins.

They slipped through the backstreets, heading for the only safe place they had left—

An abandoned safehouse Rafael had set up years ago.

The moment they stepped inside, Celeste collapsed onto the couch, breathing heavily. "That was too close."

Rafael locked the door behind them. "We'll be safe here. For now."

Celeste glanced at him. His expression was unreadable. "You don't trust Dante, do you?"

Rafael scoffed. "I don't trust anyone."

She hesitated. "Not even me?"

His gaze locked onto hers. "Especially not you."

The words stung.

But before she could respond, her phone buzzed.

A single message flashed on the screen—

"You left me behind, love. But don't worry… I always catch up. - Dante"

Her blood ran cold.

Rafael saw the message. His jaw clenched.

"We're not safe. Not even here."

Celeste swallowed hard.

She had a terrible feeling Dante wasn't just watching them.

He was planning something.

And the worst part?

She wasn't sure she wanted to run.

---

End of Chapter Sixteen