CHAPTER 7 #2
“Fine,” Dio nodded, but he looked a little tense about the whole thing.
“We did invite you and Rafe,” I spoke up, wondering if that was the issue. “Rafe said you had a meeting with some resort in Hawaii you’re trying to buy though.”
“We do,” he nodded. “It’s late because of the time difference.
It’s fine. Have fun, but make sure you listen to Dante and Arran, okay?
” he told me as he cupped his hand around my cheek and stared into my eyes.
I nodded, just once, not wanting to break eye contact with him, or the odd, strangely warm and comforting feeling I felt as he seemed to study me.
“Call me right away if you have any concerns. And I do mean anything, Arran,” he added, breaking the moment between us as his eyes snapped up to Arran with a look that was decidedly less warm.
“Aye. The boss said the same thing. Will do,” Arran nodded. “Why don’t ye head up and rest for a wee while before we get ready for dinner, lass? Ye look shattered,” Arran went on as he tightened his arm around me.
“What time does Cal get back?” I asked.
“Another hour yet. Ye’ve plenty of time.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll be ready for six.”
I left them both in the gym and started up the mammoth staircase to my room.
We’d only done thirty minutes of very light training and I was completely exhausted.
Weak, I reminded myself. I knew I was being hard on myself, since I’d been knocked around a lot in the last few weeks, and the hit to my head seemed to have lasting effects so far.
I also wasn’t sleeping well, but I had to be hard on myself.
Nobody else there would be. They all coddled me – not that I didn’t love that – but I couldn’t afford to give into it for too long.
I had to be hard on myself until I knew I wasn’t weak anymore.
If I was going to except the kindness and coddling of the men in my life, I had to make sure I still kicked myself into shape in between.
Because weakness was something someone like me wasn’t able to ignore.
Weakness would get me killed. It almost had, several times already.
I faltered as I hit the first landing, looking to Rafe’s office door.
It was closed, but I hadn’t seen him since breakfast the previous morning, since he’d worked late the night before and been gone by the time I woke for breakfast that morning.
I knew it was likely he was working, but I decided to pop my head in the door and say hello.
I wanted to take advantage of seeing him more while I could.
Gia had left for her school trip, to Germany, five days ago, and she’d be gone for five more, but once she got back I had already decided I would take a step back from life in the house.
I didn’t want her to think I was stealing attention from her, when everyone there was much more her family than mine.
I hoped it would be a temporary measure, and that Gia and I would find some peace between us eventually, but I also knew that was likely wishful thinking.
“Hey,” I whispered as I opened Rafe’s office door and literally just poked my head inside. “Are you busy?”
Rafe was sat behind his desk, in the pressed navy shirt that he’d worn to the office earlier. His suit jacket was hanging on the back of his chair, and he had abandoned his tie somewhere. He looked tired, but I was learning Rafe always seemed to look that way. He worked too hard.
“No, Tesorino. Never too busy for you. Come in,” he told me as a smile spread across his face, instantly making him look younger. “Everything okay?”
I stepped in and closed the door behind me, then turned to him with a smile of my own.
“All good,” I replied. “I just finished training with Dio and Arran. We didn’t do much, but I enjoyed it.”
“Good. We don’t want you doing much right now. You have to let all of your injuries heal.”
“They’re mostly healed, Rafe. My ribs barely even hurt anymore,” I argued.
“Maybe, but you can’t move that shoulder correctly, and you’re still dealing with headaches and dizzy spells from the concussion,” he pointed out, with a lift of his eyebrows, as if daring me to argue.
“I’ll be fine,” I sighed as I walked over to the leather sofa that sat under the picture window and slumped down onto it tiredly.
It was the most comfortable sofa in the house.
I knew because I had sat in there with Rafe several times, and once with Dio, just reading a book as they were working.
They didn’t seem to mind, and I needed to not be alone sometimes, not that I had told them that.
“Yes you will, because Dario and Arran are under strict instructions not to allow you to push yourself too hard,” he said with some satisfaction.
“Sometimes having a protective older brother is a real pain in the arse, you know?” I groaned, with a roll of my eyes.
“I dare say, but better get used to it,” he teased back, making me smile. “Are you still going out to dinner later?”
“Yeah, but not until six. Arran suggested I get some rest, but I can’t face all of the stairs. Can I sleep here for a while?” I asked.
Rafe knew as well as I did, that my excuse was bullshit, but he didn’t question it.
“Of course, sweetheart. You can sleep in here whenever you need or want to. I know I’m not home much, but I like having you close when I am. I feel better if I glance over and see for myself you really are here and safe,” he admitted.
“You shouldn’t worry about me so much, Rafe,” I sighed.
“I’ll always worry about you Gioia. It’s my job as your pain in the arse big brother,” he chuckled as he got to his feet and opened the bottom drawer of the fancy sideboard beside his desk.
“I bought something for you the other day. You looked chilled the last time you sat in here with me.” Rafe pulled out a thick knitted blanket.
It was a deep shade of red and looked soft and warm.
He also pulled out two large decorative, but soft looking cushions.
The covers were grey to match the colours of the office, but they had red piping around the edge which matched the blanket perfectly.
He’d obviously put so much thought into picking them, and realising that choked me up.
“You didn’t need to do that,” I sputtered.
“I want you to be comfortable, wherever you are. Plus, I was hoping if I made it more comfortable in here for you, you might keep me company a little more often,” he explained. I just sat staring at him as he came over and set the pillows down beside the arm of the sofa. “Lie down, sweetheart.”
“I’m a little sweaty from the gym. I don’t want to ruin the things you bought,” I argued.
“They’ll wash,” he chuckled. “Just lie down and stop arguing with me.”
I kicked off my sneakers, then lowered down onto my side, resting my head against the fluffy, soft pillows with a sigh as I felt my body relax a little.
“That feels good,” I sighed, closing my eyes and settling in.
Rafe draped the thick blanket over me, and I’d been right – it was wonderfully soft and smooth. The weight of it surrounded me and felt oddly comforting.
“Just sleep now. I’ll be at my desk the whole time.
I won’t leave you alone,” Rafe whispered.
I opened my eyes, ready to argue that he could leave me alone, that I’d be fine, but when my eyes met his, I knew any argument would be pointless.
He knew the truth of my fear of sleeping, even if I hadn’t openly mentioned it to him.
I didn’t know what to say, and I was feeling emotional, so opening my mouth seemed like a bad idea anyway. It would likely lead to tears. Instead I just smiled tremulously, then closed my eyes. I felt him softly kiss the top of my head, then he moved away, back to his desk.
By the time the sound of Rafe leafing through some pages reached my ears, my eyes were already heavy, and moments later I was out, knowing Rafe would keep his promise to stay with me.
***
I couldn’t hold in my smile as I walked hand in hand down the street with Cal. I was feeling a ton better after getting a couple of hours of sleep in Rafe’s office, and I was just excited and feeling amped up to be out of the house.
Arran and Dante were walking together in front of us, the both of them on the look out all around them, even as they laughed and joked between themselves.
Dante had wanted us to drive one of the armour plated cars, but the restaurant was less than a ten minute stroll from the house, and Arran had suggested we walk so I could get some fresh air.
I wholeheartedly agreed, especially since it was a pleasant evening.
The rain was holding off and the air was crisp with the icy chill of winter.
Wrapped up as I was in my coat, hat and gloves, and feeling secure and happy with the others surrounding me, I embraced it.
The main street in Kensington that we were ambling down was bustling.
It was lit up with bars, pubs, and restaurants.
People were spilling in and out of brightly lit takeaways and late night convenience stores.
I faltered as I saw the well known symbol of the London underground, then marvelled at the historic building that was Kensington Tube station.
It was housed beneath an ornately decorated historic building that I wanted to stand and admire for hours, just so I could take in every little detail.
All around it were other old looking buildings, and outside the entrance a busker was playing guitar and singing a version of a Sam Smith song with which I was familiar.
All around us were couples, groups, and families, smiling and having fun, mixed in between people in work clothes or uniforms, hustling to and from the tube, likely after long shifts.