Chapter 4 #2
With an annoyed grunt, I turned my attention back to Rafa.
He’d also been observing the crowd, and when our eyes met, I could see his matching frustration.
There would be no sneaking Oswald and his guys out any exit.
We didn’t want to take a chance of anyone seeing our guns, or worse, one of the thugs using a kid as a shield or a bargaining chip to go free.
Rafa rubbed a hand over his face, then pushed to his feet and shoved the chair away with his foot. I stepped back to give him more room, but not so much that it exposed him.
He turned to face Oswald, then placed both palms on the table and leaned in until their heads were inches apart.
Suddenly, Oswald was staring into the face of the devil.
“It’s your lucky fucking day, pezzo di merda.
If I never see you again, you’ll keep breathing.
But if I catch a glimpse of you, no matter where or when it is, if it’s an accident or on purpose, I will not give you another chance. ”
Rafa’s eyes darted up to Dante for just a second before locking with Oswald’s again. He waited until Dante’s knife was poised at Oswald’s throat, making sure it was fully blocked from any onlookers.
“If I so much as dream that you’re considering harming my sister or any of my family, your blood will paint the walls of whatever dark place I decide is the perfect spot to dispose of your body. Do I make myself clear?”
Oswald’s face had drained of all color, and he looked around wildly, unable to move because Dante’s blade was pressed against his neck, over his carotid artery.
“Yes,” he finally hissed.
“Excellent,” Rafa said smoothly as he stood upright, his face unreadable once again.
His ability to be so closed off that there was no way to predict what was coming was one of the most frightening traits Rafa possessed.
He could be standing in silence, simply watching you, and then slice your throat, all without changing his expression.
It was chilling to watch, even for someone who knew him as well as I did.
Then he canted his head toward the door and said, “Levati dal cazzo.”
“That means ‘get the fuck out,’” Caterina deadpanned as she released the little one’s shoulders.
All three men scrambled from the table and rushed over to the door. But before he left, Oswald turned back for a last look. His expression didn’t hide anything, and with all the vicious emotions boiling inside him, I knew he wouldn’t make the smart choice.
“Idiot isn’t going to back off, is he?” Alec muttered.
I shook my head.
“Now we wait for him to make a move,” Dario chimed in as he walked up to the table from where he’d been watching in the shadows. He rubbed the back of his neck and blew out a breath. “You got Gabriella handled?” he asked his brother.
I bit my tongue to stop myself from demanding that he use the shortened version of her name.
I hated when anyone besides me called her Gabriella.
But it would give too much away. It was common in our family for men to show their possessiveness over their women by only allowing others to call them by a nickname.
“Domenico will handle her security personally,” Rafa confirmed.
Dario nodded. “Marco and I will keep a closer eye on Lucia and Chiara. Gavin will spread the word to the rest of The Family’s kids in their schools.”
“I have people who will step in as substitutes,” I informed them. “There won’t be anywhere the girls can go that they won’t have eyes on them.”
Rafa raised an eyebrow. “I hadn’t realized you set that up. I should have thought of it.”
“It’s my job, boss,” I said dryly.
One corner of his mouth twitched—his version of a laugh.
I looked back to Dario and advised, “Let me know if you think they need a permanent shadow.”
The noise in the restaurant was slowly increasing to an obnoxious level, so we saved any more conversation until we were in the back parking lot. After another fifteen minutes of discussion, we went our separate ways.
Rafa held his hand out for the keys to the car, and I scowled in silent protest.
“Keys, Domenico,” he said in a steel tone. It was my boss’s demand, not my friend’s.
I tossed them over to him and grudgingly got into the passenger side once he unlocked the SUV.
We drove in silence for a few minutes, then he said, “I was serious about you handling Gabbi’s security personally.”
“I’ll make sure she has the best of—”
“You are the best, Domenico,” Rafa interrupted. “She will be your personal responsibility until I put Oswald in the ground.”
Once again, I had to bite my tongue. I wanted to shout that it was my right to take out anyone posing a threat to my woman. Except Gabriella wasn’t mine.
Hold up…
“You want me to be her personal bodyguard?” I asked, keeping my face and voice completely neutral.
“I don’t trust anyone else to protect her more than you, fratello. Dante can step in as my bodyman. Until this is resolved, you will be her fucking shadow.”
In a shocking twist, my emotions bubbled up inside me.
Staying close to her meant I would know without a doubt that she was adequately protected and not be distracted by worries about her safety.
But being so close to Gabriella all the time would test my control, and I wasn’t certain that my desire for her wouldn’t crush it.
Protecting Gabriella was my duty. Wanting her was a betrayal.