Chapter 21 Raffaele #2
Alessandro hesitated, then stepped forward. “I’d like to join your team,” he said, his voice steady despite the nerves I could see in his posture. “I’m skilled in reconnaissance and tactical planning. I think I could be an asset.”
Camilla shot him a look, and I saw a trace of concern flicker across her face. Ah, so that’s what this was about. He didn’t want to join my team; he wanted to stay close to her.
I let the silence stretch, watching as Alessandro’s confidence wavered. Finally, I leaned back in my chair. “Absolutely not.”
Alessandro’s face fell, but before he could argue, I continued. “I’m not taking in two orphans from Vincenzo’s territory. One is enough.”
“Orphans?” Camilla asked, her tone sharp.
“You’re going to be here without your master, aren’t you?”
She glared at me, but Vincenzo stepped in before the situation could escalate. “If that’s your decision, I’ll respect it,” he said, though his tone suggested otherwise. He turned to Alessandro, his expression softening. “You still have a place on my team.”
Alessandro nodded reluctantly, and Camilla reached out to hug him. They exchanged a few quiet words, their bond evident in the way they clung to each other. It would be touching if I cared about such things.
When they pulled away, Camilla turned back to me, her expression guarded. “When do I start?”
“Now,” I said as I stood. “You’ll be briefed on your assignment tonight. Until then, stay out of my way.”
She nodded once, her eyes narrowing slightly. She wasn’t afraid of me, and I couldn’t decide if that was admirable or irritating.
Vincenzo gave me a long look before turning to leave, Alessandro trailing behind him. “Don’t waste her talents,” Vincenzo said over his shoulder. “She’s worth more than you know.”
I didn’t respond as they disappeared through the door. When it closed, I turned back to Camilla. “If you think you’re here to make friends or play nice, let me disabuse you of that notion right now. You work for me. You answer to me. And you follow my orders without question. Understood?”
“Crystal clear, boss.”
“Good. Welcome to hell.”
The soft clacking of keys filled the space as I walked into Vivian’s room. She didn’t look up, too engrossed in whatever she was doing on her computer. The glow from the screen lit her face, her features drawn in focus, her lips pressed into a thin line.
“You are always on that fucking thing,” I said.
She startled, her head snapping around to look at me. Her gaze flicked to me briefly before landing on the figure beside me. Her eyes went wide, and her bright excitement thrummed through the bond like electricity. I had to clench my jaw to keep my own expression neutral.
Behind me, Camilla stood with her arms crossed.
“Raffaele,” Vivian said, her voice rising slightly as her gaze darted between the two of us. “What’s going on?”
I stepped aside, gesturing to Camilla. “Camilla is my newest staff member. She no longer works for Vincenzo.”
Vivian’s excitement exploded into pure joy, and it was damn near blinding. She leapt from her chair, closing the distance between her and Camilla in seconds.
“Camilla!” Vivian threw her arms around the shifter’s neck. The hug was unrestrained, genuine, and it hit me harder than it should have.
Camilla looked slightly taken aback for a moment before returning the embrace, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It’s good to see you, Viv.”
I cleared my throat. “Don’t get too attached. Camilla has her first assignment tonight. She won’t be here long.”
Vivian pulled back, her smile faltering for a moment before she schooled her features. “Well, then we’ll make the most of the time we have,” she said, her tone light but her emotions betraying a hint of disappointment.
“Fine,” I said. “Catch up. I’m not leaving.”
Her gaze flicked to me, and I could feel her irritation. I smirked, moving to a chair in the corner of the room and sitting down.
“Don’t mind me,” I said, gesturing for them to continue.
Vivian rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. She turned back to Camilla, her earlier joy returning. “How are things in Vincenzo’s territory?” she asked, motioning for Camilla to sit on the edge of the bed.
“Same old,” Camilla said with a shrug. “Celeste is… Celeste. Managing the chaos as always.”
Vivian laughed softly, and I felt a flicker of affection thread through the bond. “How is she getting along with the men?”
“She’s got them wrapped around her finger, as usual,” Camilla said. “Alessandro included.”
At the mention of his name, Vivian’s expression softened. “How is Alessandro?”
“He’s fine,” Camilla said, though there was a flicker of unease in her tone that even I noticed. “He’s still Alessandro. Overprotective and a little reckless, but that’s nothing new.”
They continued talking, and I relaxed in the chair. Vivian’s laughter rang out occasionally, soft and genuine, and I found myself drawn to the sound despite myself. It was rare to see her so unguarded. So happy.
And damn if it didn’t make me want to protect it.
When Camilla and I finally stood to leave, Vivian’s emotions shifted—anticipation, nerves. “Wait,” she said, her gaze darting to me. “Raffaele, can I talk to you for a moment?”
Camilla glanced between us, her expression unreadable. “I’ll wait outside.”
When the door closed behind her, Vivian turned to me, her emotions swirling. “I need to ask you something.”
I raised an eyebrow, gesturing for her to continue.
“It’s about my vision,” she said hesitantly. “I don’t need my glasses anymore.”
That caught me off guard, and it was only then that I realized she wasn’t wearing her glasses. Her confidence had been so radiant that I hadn’t even noticed. “How long has it been like that?”
“Since this afternoon,” she said. “I thought maybe my glasses were just dirty, but then I realized…” She trailed off, her hand brushing against the diamond choker at her throat.
I let out a slow breath and leaned against her desk. “It’s the bond. My magic is repairing any flaws in your body. It’s not uncommon for this to happen after the binding ritual.”
“So, what? I’m just going to keep changing? Becoming less human?”
I didn’t have an answer for her, and the silence stretched between us. Finally, I pushed off the desk. “Don’t overthink it. Focus on staying healthy.
She scoffed and crossed her arms. “I don’t need reminding to take care of myself.”
“Fair enough. But seriously, don’t hole up in here with that computer of yours. And don’t be late for dinner.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Why?”
“I have a surprise for you.”
She watched me carefully, her emotions a mix of suspicion and curiosity. “A good surprise or one of your twisted, sadistic ones?”
I chuckled as I turned to the door. “Guess you’ll have to find out.”
As I left her room, I couldn’t help but glance back. She was already seated at her desk again, her fingers hovering over the keys, but her thoughts were far away. I could feel her confusion, her unease, and beneath it all, a flicker of something softer.
I didn’t have time to unpack it. Whatever it was, it would have to wait.