Chapter 27 #2
Instead, I turned my gaze to the skyline and the city sprawling endlessly beyond the glass. I focused on the view, the beauty of a world that felt so far removed from the one I’d been thrust into.
But even as I tried to lose myself in the moment, I couldn’t ignore the man sitting across from me, his presence as inescapable as the bond that tied us together.
“Let’s sit on the terrace,” Raffaele said. “You’ll have a better view from there.”
The terrace was breathtaking. The Manhattan skyline stretched before us, a sea of glowing lights and towering skyscrapers.
It was the kind of view I could never afford, and I didn’t want to miss out on a second of it.
The cool air carried the scents of the city below, and for the first time in weeks, I felt peace.
Raffaele stepped out behind me, a bottle of wine in one hand and two glasses in the other, the smell of whiskey wafting from his breath.
He looked utterly relaxed, which only made him more dangerous.
The tight, black T-shirt clung to his frame, emphasizing the breadth of his shoulders and the tattoos that wound around his arms. And those damn gray sweatpants? They were a crime against my sanity.
I swallowed hard, forcing my gaze back to the view. I wasn’t doing myself any favors by ogling the man who looked like he had stepped out of some devilishly sexy cologne ad.
He set the glasses down on the small outdoor table and filled them, the deep red liquid glinting in the sunlight. “You’re quiet.” He handed me a glass and gestured for me to sit.
I settled into the chair across from him, wrapping my fingers around the stem of the glass. “Just taking it all in,” I replied, my gaze darting between him and the city. “It’s stunning out here.”
He nodded, leaning back in his chair with a casual grace. He sipped his wine, studying me for a moment before saying, “I assume you have questions.”
A short laugh escaped me. “That’s an understatement.” I took a small sip of wine, letting its warmth spread through me. “Why do you have an apartment in New York City? You don’t exactly strike me as someone who enjoys Broadway musicals and overpriced cocktails.”
He snorted. “This place serves a purpose. It’s an escape—a way to get out of my territory and away from my father.” He glanced out at the skyline. “And I like to see Eva.”
I hesitated, studying him. “So, about Eva. Why does she live here? I thought anyone related to you would…” I trailed off, unsure of how to phrase it.
Raffaele’s jaw tightened, and I was sure he wouldn’t answer me.
But then he sighed. “Thirty years ago, my father had a child with a human prostitute. He didn’t know about Eva until her mother showed up, demanding money, when Eva was in high school.
My father killed her mother without hesitation and would’ve killed Eva too. ”
My stomach churned at the coldness of his words, though I could feel the weight behind them through the bond. He wasn’t just recounting events—he was reliving them.
“I saved her. Got her out of his reach and set her up here. A nice apartment, enough money to live on forever. She took it upon herself to go to law school and has since become one of the most renowned attorneys in New York. I’m so fucking proud of her.
She’s… the best friend I never knew I needed. My only friend, really.”
The tenderness in his voice caught me off guard. My heart twisted, and I quickly masked the emotion, taking another sip of wine to steady myself. “That’s… a lot. But you’re a good brother for doing that.”
His eyes met mine, something unreadable flickering in their depths. “Good isn’t a word I’d use to describe myself.”
I didn’t argue, but the pang in my chest told me otherwise. Clearing my throat, I pressed on. “If you love it here so much, why not just stay? Why not leave it all behind—your father, your territory, all of it?”
He shook his head, a bitter smile curving his lips. “I can’t. I’m in too deep. And I can’t leave the people in my territory at the mercy of my father. The magistrate won’t protect them. They never have. It’s up to me.”
The conviction in his voice silenced me for a moment. I stared at him, trying to reconcile the ruthless mafia lord with the man who spoke so fiercely about protecting his people.
I took another sip of wine, the question tumbling out before I could stop it. “What was so important that you felt compelled to force me to marry you? And to endure that painful binding ritual?”
His expression darkened, his fingers tightening around his glass. “Vivian…”
“Don’t Vivian me. You can trust me with this, Raffaele. I think I’ve earned that.”
I was sure he’d lash out at me for that, but he exhaled sharply and set his glass down.
“There’s a woman,” he began, his voice rough.
“Someone my father abuses regularly. She’s like a mother to me.
She willingly bound herself to him decades ago to save someone she cared about.
And he’s… he’s broken her in every way imaginable over the years.
I want my father dead. And I think the Crimson Dominion may hold the keys to me achieving that goal. ”
My throat tightened, and I had to blink back a tear. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve helped you. Willingly.”
He looked at me then, and the raw vulnerability in his eyes made my heart ache. “You didn’t even know me. I didn’t think you’d believe me. And I couldn’t risk you saying no.”
I reached across the table without thinking and put my hand on his. “I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I’m sorry your father is what he is.”
Raffaele’s gaze dropped to our hands, and for a moment, I felt the walls around him crack. “I’ve survived,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Still, it doesn’t make it right.”
A heavy silence settled over us. After a moment, he cleared his throat. “What about your parents?”
The question caught me off guard. I chewed the inside of my cheek. He’d given me a glimpse of his life, it was only fair that I did the same. “My mom was really great when she was clean. I never knew my dad.”
Raffaele studied me over the rim of his wineglass. “Tell me more about your mom.”
“She did the best she could in the face of addiction. Her behavior was erratic. Inconsistent. Now that I’m an adult, I realize she had mental health issues on top of the drug addiction.
She killed herself when I was little,” I said quietly.
“Left me to figure out the rest of my childhood on my own. I always blamed myself, thinking that if I’d been a better daughter, more obedient and less of a handful, she would’ve stayed around. ”
The pain in his eyes mirrored the ache in my chest. He didn’t say anything, but his sorrow, anger, and guilt rushed through the bond, nearly overwhelming me.
Why would someone so evil feel such things over me losing my mom?
It was hard to reconcile the man Raffaele painted himself to be and the man I was learning about.
We fell into silence again, the city alive far below us. I stared out at the skyline, breathing in the oxygen of the human world. For once, I didn’t feel trapped or suffocated. I felt strangely free.
Yet, deep in the recesses of my mind, guilt bloomed.
It was small, almost unnoticeable, but it was there, taking root.
I had allowed Izo to kiss me. It wasn’t my idea, and I hadn’t wanted him to.
Nevertheless, the siren’s kiss had transferred to Raffaele because I had gone back to his room and chosen to kiss him.
What would become of him? He was already a victim of his father’s abuse. Maybe I’d made the worst mistake of my life. Or, perhaps I’d finally taste freedom like this again. And not just for a day or two. I’d get my life back.
We finished our wine in comfortable quiet. I glanced at Raffaele, suddenly seeing him as something other than a monster. And that realization was both comforting and terrifying.
The day had been indulgent—too much wine, too much lounging. The nap I’d taken on Raffaele’s plush leather couch left me feeling both relaxed and slightly off-kilter. So, when Raffaele stood in the middle of the living room and announced, “We’re going out,” I blinked at him in confusion.
“Out? Like… where?” I asked, still curled up with a blanket on the couch.
“Out on the town. Dinner and a Broadway show.”
My mouth fell open. Of all the things I expected to hear from The Shadow, a man who thrived on secrecy and intimidation, dinner and a Broadway show wasn’t even on the list. “You’re kidding.”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
I sat up, studying him. He didn’t look like he was joking, but then again, Raffaele always had this way of keeping me on edge, never quite sure what his next move would be. “Why?”
His lips quirked into a half-smile. “Because we both need a distraction. You’ve been cooped up with your computers, and I’ve been... dealing with too much bullshit in The Below. Humor me.”
I frowned. “I don’t exactly have anything to wear for dinner and a show.”
He waved a hand dismissively. “Eva will lend you a dress. She has an entire department store in her closet.”
Before I could protest, he pulled out his phone, texting with rapid-fire precision. A moment later, he looked up. “She says to come over. She’s in the penthouse across the hall.”
I stood, smoothing down the rumpled fabric of my T-shirt. “This feels ridiculous.”
“Good,” he said, holding the door open for me. “Go with it.”
Eva opened the door with a wide smile, her excitement radiating from her in waves. “Vivian! Come in, come in!”
I couldn’t help but giggle at her enthusiasm.
Eva’s energy was almost infectious, the complete opposite of her brooding brother.
I stepped inside and immediately felt like I’d walked into a different world.
Where Raffaele’s apartment was sleek and modern, Eva’s was all soft elegance.
Fresh flowers in vases adorned nearly every surface, scenting the air with a rich perfume.