Chapter 35 Rafael
Nighttime any day of the week was a busy day at Silver Dreams. I moved around the bar, filling drink orders left and right. I’d spent the majority of my day finding out information. Talking to various workers about what they heard and shouldn’t have heard.
"Hey, Rafael, you can take your break." Memphis jogged behind the bar, his dreadlocks pulled up and away from his face.
"You finished taking clients for the night?"
Most people weren't willing to give up the potential money to man the bar. It was why I'd been manning it alone for the last few hours. Granted, it was better than being held up in my room, clinging to the sheets that smelled like me and Cesare.
"Yeah, it's slow as shit on the floor. Plus I have a guarantee coming tomorrow morning. She's consistent,” he said.
I nodded, taking the black apron off and taking the chance for what it was. I needed a break.
"Send someone to my room if you need me."
In my room, the music stopped and the low hum of chatter disappeared. Peace filled the space until I heard it.
Meow.
The fur devil wound himself around my ankles, and I had to fight a smile.
"Were you excited to see Daddy? Think he will be back soon?"
Cesare's promise to come back was a threat any sane person would have taken to heart. All it meant to me was I was going to see him again.
I scratched behind the cat's ear before I grabbed a can of cat food and fed him. I took care of his litter box before cleaning everything up. I left my bed the way it was.
Hours had passed, and I could still make out Cesare's cologne. I face-planted into the bed and let out a groan. I wished he'd stayed.
There was no mistaking his want for me, so why did he have to constantly push me away? I sighed, knowing that Cesare Vitale was a hard man to love, but I loved him nonetheless.
I twisted over, staring at the wall, mentally still trying to come up with a plan to get back into his bed.
There was burning his place down, but instead of coming here, he'd probably go to a hotel.
There was also sneaking in, but I'd have to get past all his cameras and guards.
There was only so much flirting could do.
I grabbed my phone and clicked on the locator app.
Checking it became somewhat of a ritual. I did it anytime I had a free moment. Maybe it was stalkerish tracking Cesare's movements, but it brought me peace. Right about this time, he was either at home, at a bar, or close to the docks.
His little blue dot was blinking, but it wasn’t anywhere I expected it to be. It was headed up north.
"What the fuck is up there?" I sat up, zooming in and out of the map.
Maybe it was mafia business, but even as I thought it, my instincts said it wasn't. I stared at the dot as it moved further and further away.
I got out of the bed, slipped some shoes on, and put my hair in a ponytail. Couldn't hurt to get some practice in on my stalking. If I was going to integrate myself back into Cesare's life, why not start now?
"Furball, don't you dare chew any of my clothes while I'm gone, and remember, you're a fugitive here so stay quiet." I closed the door behind me and headed toward the elevator.
I checked the app again and the dot was slowing down. Something was wrong, and if by chance everything was okay, I'd suck Cesare's cock for forgiveness.
My throat had gotten me out of a lot of trouble when it came to that man.
The elevator dinged, and I scanned the open floor with its couches and people scattered about. It was more of a sexual vibe compared to the downstairs floor. I spotted who I was looking for, thankful that she wasn't with a client.
"Samantha."
The redhead lifted her head and met my gaze. She whispered to the guy she was sitting on and headed over to me.
"What's up, Rafael, and be fast."
"You still see that one guy who works for big C?"
She tilted her head. "Yeah." She rolled her eyes. "He was here earlier, but he got called away. That's why I'm here."
"Do you know where?"
Her face scrunched up as she tilted her head. "I think he said he wasn't going to make it back ’cause he was going to the Bronx."
That was nowhere near where Cesare's dot was. "Shit, okay."
"You good, babe?" Samantha asked.
No, yes? I don't fucking know. I was probably thinking too hard about all of this. And yet I couldn't ignore it. Something more was going on. Benito and his brothers were having shit happen to them that had nothing to do with Cesare. And the same was happening to Cesare.
"You got a car?"
Her eyes widened. "Uh, you can drive?"
Not good. "Yeah, I got my license." I haven't driven a car since then, but how hard could it be?
"Fine, but you scratch it, you're paying for repairs." Samantha ran off and was back with a set of keys. "I'm serious, Rafael."
"Thanks." I twisted around and headed for the elevator. I checked the dot again and it was stagnant.
Rafael: We need to talk. Now.
The cool air hit me full force, but I ignored it in favor of finding Samantha's Honda Civic. I slipped behind the wheel and started the car.
When he didn’t respond to the message, I sent another.
Rafael: You left something behind.
Rafael: You don't mind if I bring it to you, right?
My left foot bounced as I stared at our message screen. Even if he didn't want to talk to me, reading it at least would let me know he was okay. Seconds passed, and I felt like I was losing my mind.
I scrolled through my phone until I found Andrew's contact. I dialed it as I pulled out of the parking lot. Fuck it.
"Why are you calling me?"
"Wow, you go from puppy dog to Doberman fast,” I said.
"You fucked up—"
"Yeah, tell me something I don't know. Where is Cesare?"
"That's none of your business."
"So you don't know or you're with him and refusing to tell me?"
Someone shouted, and I could make out a lot of noise in the background but it gave me no information.
"No, he’s not with me.” He blew out a breath. “I shouldn’t be telling you anything. I'm hanging up. Stay away from the boss."
He hung up before I could ask another question. Fuck, that was my last way of figuring out what was happening. I checked the messages as I wove around a car. Then I put both hands on the steering wheel as my life flashed before my eyes.
Horns blared at me, and I flipped them all off. Fuck them, I was the one risking everything. I followed the directions to Cesare.
The city disappeared and the road became wider the further I drove. The city lights were a distant glow.
"Why the fuck are you out here?"
I slowed down as I grew closer to the dot. I leaned forward, squinting, trying to find him. If that asshole was dead in a ditch somewhere, I was going to host a séance just to curse him the fuck out.
"Be okay, you fucker. I still need you."
I slammed on the brakes as I passed a driveway. I glanced at the screen and swore as I reversed the car in the middle of the road. My fucks for driving safely flew out the window the moment I decided to do this.
I turned on the dirt road, and I flipped the high beams on, creeping up slowly. Every bump made me flinch. To the left of me was a familiar black sedan. I parked behind it and got out. I ran over and groaned. There on the seat was his fucking phone.
Now where in the hell was the man? I twisted around, my mouth opened to call out his name when a resounding crack pierced the air.
I hit the ground and pressed my back against the car. A gunshot was unmistakable. I'd heard it more times than I wanted to.
Goddamn it.
I glanced around the car and shoved my fear to the back. The shot had been pretty far away, but still close enough for me to make it out. My legs shook, refusing to budge under me.
Come on, what if Cesare's hurt.
The thought of him injured did the trick. I shoved off the ground and moved toward where I thought I heard it coming from. A cabin came into view, and I stopped short. There was another car there.
Did I think to bring a weapon? No. Am I stupid? Yes. I shook my head and went around the back of the cabin, but there was no movement inside. The lights were on but that was it. I tried the doorknob, and before I could step inside, another shot went off.
I flinched and swore under my breath as my heart threatened to rip out of my chest. I headed back down the steps and moved. My legs burned as I sprinted through the unfamiliar woods. Trees whipped against my flesh and rocks made my footing uneven.
Air sawed in and out of my lungs as I stopped in the middle of the woods. Blood rushing and adrenaline pumping, I tried to get my breathing under control to catch any kind of sound.
"Fuck you. You're just mad we ain’t your fucking puppets anymore."
I know that voice. I turned left and started to run again. There were more voices, and they were all laced with anger and resentment. Rapid-fire Italian was added to the mix. I couldn't make out what was being said, but all I knew was I needed to get there now.
What if I'm too late?
"Stop!" A bullet hit the tree next to me, wood splintered, and I dropped down with a shout.
"Who the fuck was that?" Gin asked.
"Me! It's me,” I shouted.
"Rafael?" Benito and Cesare said in unison.
"What the fuck is the whore doing here?"
"Watch it, Paolo," Cesare warned.
If I was shaking before, it had nothing on me now. I was practically vibrating. Hearing Cesare's voice, I crawled past the large mound of dirt and stopped short. There was a fucking grave dug out, and Cesare was standing in it. Blood was on his face, but other than that, he seemed okay.
"Oh, thank fuck you're alive."
"What are you doing here?" Cesare being angry made me smile.
He could be frustrated with me all he wanted as long as he was still breathing.
"He's lucky Gin is the one aiming. He's the worst shooter out of all of us,” Enzo said matter-of-factly, as if me nearly getting my brains blown out was nothing more than the morning news to him.
"Hey now, I'm not the worst. What about Blake?"
"Fuck you, asshole. I'm a good shot," Blake argued.