Chapter 27 Rafael #3
"You liked it?" Cesare asked as we stood up.
"Loved it. Did you see that one piece inspired by the spider lily? It was gorgeous."
Cesare nodded, and we made our way back to the lobby area.
People were moving about and as if it were normal, they started to mingle.
Working at Silver Dreams meant I got a little glimpse of this life when I was taken out by a client, but this felt different.
Cesare was doing this for me. He didn’t purchase my time for an event.
"I have to go to the restroom, be right back,” I said.
"Okay, I'll be right here. I need a smoke. An entire hour is a long time to show a few clothes."
"This designer is known for breaking the norm plus there were little breaks. Not to mention some of his apprentices got to slip in some of their work."
"Hurry up, we can go get dinner after this."
I squeezed his hand before spotting the bathroom. I headed that way. Washing my hands, I checked myself out in the mirror before I dried away the water and adjusted my outfit so everything was perfect once more.
I couldn't believe Cesare took me to a fashion show.
He had to like me at this point, right? But I didn't just want him to like me, no, I wanted him obsessed with me.
I blew out a breath and headed back out, spotting Cesare with ease.
However, when the person in front of me moved slightly, he wasn't the only one I spotted.
Standing too close to him was Gabriela, his ex-wife. My world seemed to stop all at once. I slipped behind one of the pillars in the lobby area.
Watching them made my chest hurt. The familiarity in the way they moved around each other.
Cesare grinned at Gabriela as if she was entertaining.
My nails bit into my flesh to the point of pain.
She was no better, leaning into him. They had years of on and off again relationships.
As far as I knew, out of all of Cesare's partners, Gabriela had been one that was a constant repeat.
Out of all the people we could have run into.
I wanted to go out there and pull him away, but if I did, she'd out me, and I couldn't let that happen.
Not yet. Her hand went to his chest, and I nearly said fuck it and stormed over there to break her damn wrist. Cesare didn't remove it.
In fact, he smirked, grabbed her upper arm, and dragged her closer.
Fuck, this hurts.
I pulled my phone out, ready to message or call him. But what the fuck would I say? He should be focused on me and yet he was talking to her. What if he ignored me in favor of her? With every rushed thought, my stomach soured. Why couldn’t he be all mine?
Just as quickly as he'd pulled her in, he took a step back.
Her smile was still plastered on her face.
Someone else joined their conversation before Gabriela finally walked away.
I twisted around the column I was standing behind and made my way over to her, checking to make sure Cesare hadn't noticed me yet.
He was engrossed in some conversation, and I hoped it lasted for a few more seconds.
I slipped through the crowd of people with ease, seeing her a few feet away.
I reached out and wrapped my hand around her wrist.
"Have lost your mind? Get your disgusting hands off me," Gabriela shrieked. "Do you know this is Vicuna wool?"
Of course it was. I rolled my eyes and released her. She was always the same. "Sorry, I had to grab you before he saw."
"Who?" She finally looked at me, her gaze dragging up and down my body.
Although she was wearing heels, she still only came up to my shoulder.
"Rafael?" She studied me for another second.
"Why are you here—" Her head tilted and a sly smile came over her beautiful face.
"Oh, you finally did it, huh?" She shook her head, a look of boredom taking over her face.
"No wonder he turned me down this time. Never thought it would happen. "
He turned her down, but they'd looked like they were getting so close. "What did you talk about?"
"Nothing of importance."
It was taking everything I had not to strangle her. “You were smiling and touching for a whole lot of nothing.”
She stared at me like I bored her on a good day. “Does it matter?”
Yes.
“You really want his attention? You should sleep with one of his men in his bed. Never fails to piss him off.”
What was wrong with her?
“Or was that at the place in the Bahamas?” She shook her head, her thick, long black hair swaying around her.
“Anyway, it was the usual conversation, the good times we had and could have, but he stepped back at the last minute. Said he was busy.” She looked at her nails as if they interested her more than the conversation. “Never knew Cesare to be too busy."
He turned her down? I wanted to shout and dance all at once. Right now, I was nothing more than his paid whore, but still, Cesare chose me.
"Gabriela."
"Hmm?" She was already moving on to better things, no doubt over me.
"He's mine now."
She paused, looking at me seriously. "Normally, I would say he will never be done with me. You can claim him all you want, but Cesare always comes back."
I didn't hate my sister. Unlike our father, her true nature was just who she was. But right now, her death would have been welcomed.
"Wow, you've been around him too long. You’re making the murdery face.” She turned on her heels. "He's all yours. I have more interesting routes to go." She stopped short of leaving. "Does he know who you are?"
"No."
She nodded. "Didn't think so.” She smirked. “This is good for him. Someone needs to knock him off his high horse, and I'm just not into it anymore."
A short, masculine woman came over, and Gabriela's attention went right to her. I didn't stick around to try to figure out what was going on with her now. No thanks.
We sat on the terrace once more. I brought two liquor bottles out along with the salt and a bowl of freshly cut limes.
"What is that for?" Cesare asked. His cigar was in hand, the cherry lighting up as he puffed on it.
"For us."
"Not happening."
I placed two glasses down. "Are you scared I'll out drink you?"
"You really think that childish dare shit is gonna work on me?” he mused. “My sons were doing it to each other when they were barely out of diapers.”
I shrugged. "Didn't know the badass Cesare Vitale was afraid of tequila and a man half his age."
"Watch it." Cesare was behind me, hand wrapped around my throat in an instant. His hand should always be there. I bit my tongue to keep the smile off my face.
"Choke me harder, Daddy."
His fingers tightened, and I moaned. How else was I supposed to respond?
"Whore."
I nodded. "Yes, yours." I poured us both a glass. "Well, are you going to make me drink alone?"
He let me go, and I wanted to desperately beg for his hand back around my throat. Instead, the warmth of the alcohol would have to do.
I licked the back of my hand and sprinkled some salt on. I locked eyes with Cesare and smiled at him as I downed the drink in one go.
"We're on vacation," I reminded him. He drank whiskey at home all the time. Tequila seemed to give him pause every single time though.
"Fine." He followed suit, not showing an ounce of discomfort he'd been displaying prior to drinking.
"Another." I poured us another one. Normally, talking or doing something would happen while drinking, but as the heat of the alcohol soaked in, I sat back and stared out at the beautiful city with its twinkling lights.
We did a few more shots in silence. Cesare said nothing, his phone forgotten as we sat there staring at the world. I both wanted to say something and nothing, wanted the moment to go on forever.
It felt like we were in our own little bubble and nothing could touch us here. No bullets, resentful sons, or annoying exes. The thought of Gabriela had me pouring Cesare a triple instead of the singles I'd been pouring us. He either didn't notice or didn't care. He swallowed it in two gulps.
His lips dipped in a frown around the lime. I took another shot to hide my smile. I was still feeling a little annoyed that he stopped to talk to Gabriela. Maybe next time he’d ignore her.
Time seemed to stand still, and I was happy to let it stay that way.
"Shit, we finished a bottle." I went to grab the other one, loving the buzz.
Cesare stared at the glass and groaned. "How are you able to sit up straight?"
I chuckled as I licked the salt, tossed the liquor back, and sucked on the lime. Tequila was the one alcohol that didn't really do much to me besides make my body feel warm. I licked my lips.
"Want another?"
Cesare groaned and stood up. He stumbled, and I put the glass down and moved to his side. I helped steady him, and my playfulness was gone. He hadn't really let on that the alcohol was getting to him.
That damn poker face of his was a double-edged sword. I would have stopped pushing a while back if I'd known just how drunk he was.
"You smell good," Cesare said. "Hai sempre un profumo così invitante. Mia bellissima gattino, ho voglia di divorarti." You always smell so enticing. My pretty kitten, I want to devour you.
"What? You said that way too fast and your accent is thicker when you're drunk." I led him toward the bedroom and deposited him on the bed. I groaned as I dropped down and unlaced his boots, taking them off one at a time.
"You confuse me."
"Me?" I asked as I helped him get out of his clothes.
His torso was littered with scars; bullet wounds, some from a knife, and now that I knew how he grew up, the smaller, perfectly round scars made sense.
My stomach tightened, and my fingers lightly grazed over one in the middle of his chest. How fucked up did you have to be to put out a cigarette on your own kid?
"Yes, you. Who are you?"