CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
RAFAELLE
Istand at the edge of the warehouse floor, watching men move around us. Tension permeates the air, the scent of violence clinging. It feels like we’re all holding our breaths. Waiting for an eventuality that ends with death.
This exchange has been planned down to the second. There are snipers positioned with a clear view into the room where the meeting will happen. Vehicles have been checked and all the exit routes are secured.
Every possible scenario is accounted for. And yet something feels very wrong. I just can’t put my finger on it.
There’s a table in the middle of the room so the conversations between the organizations can happen in a civilized manner.
Not that anyone of us actually holds that sentiment.
Civilization feels like a joke to me most of the time.
But right now with tensions running high, all I really want to do is lash out.
But I can’t do that. Now with Liliana standing twenty feet away.
She’s close enough to see but too far away to touch.
I shouldn’t be looking at her. I was specially told not to jeopardize the mission by showing my personal emotions towards her.
And that meant staying away until this shit show is over.
Although every part of me itches to get her the fuck out of here.
If I’m feeling the high tensions so acutely, she must be drowning in it.
Discomfort bleeds through her posture. I watch every small movement she makes.
The way she folds her arms, barely listening as Matteo says something to her.
He’s probably telling her exactly how to act when the tearful reunion starts.
She keeps glancing towards the doors and has steadfastly refused to look at me since we arrived here thirty minutes ago. I know we were told to keep our distance, but it bothers me.
In the time we’ve spent together, I’ve become so accustomed to those amber eyes and there’s a heaviness in my chest in their absence.
“Relax, Rafaelle,” I mutter.
This will be over soon enough. And then it’ll all be mine. Liliana’s eyes. Her smile. Her laughter. Her curiosity. It’ll all be fucking mine.
I pull my phone from my pocket, a frown on my face as I send her a text. I’ve never had any reason to do that before but I watch as she pulls out the buzzing phone from the pockets of the pants she has on.
Me: As soon as this is all over. I’m taking you out on a date. We can even go to one of those diners and I’ll join you in stuffing your face with unhealthy carbs. You can reward me by sucking my cock when we get home. After I’ve made you come thrice.
As soon as she reads it, she looks up at me. The contact should fill me with comfort but the blatant sadness and despair in them, has me feeling dread. She offers me a small smile that’s fake and entirely disingenuous. She doesn’t reply my text though. My fingers ball into fists.
She’s been acting weird since she got back from meeting Carlos. But I thought it was just nerves over this impending meeting. Now I’m starting to think there’s something else going on.
Just when I’m about to fuck it all and go to her, Matteo approaches, blocking my line of sight.
“Everything’s ready,” he says to me unnecessarily.
I make a disinterested hum, my mind filled with thoughts of the woman I’d rather have in my arms and far away from here.
Matteo scratches the scruff of his jaw, his eyes studious and intent, “You’ve got a scary as fuck look on your face right now, Raf.”
“What look?”
“The one you get right before you do something stupid.”
“I’ll behave,” I say dismissively.
But my brother isn’t exactly wrong. Every inch of me itches to stop this trade right now.
“The Don will arrive in a couple of minutes. Ignacio Navarro won’t be far behind him,” Matteo continues speaking.
“The trade won’t take long. He’s already aware about our terms. He just needs to see his daughter, sign the documents and then hopefully all hell doesn’t break loose when we tell him that she’s still going to continue staying with us. ”
I scoff, “Yeah, that’ll happen.”
Everyone, especially our men are poised for a men. I just hope I can get Liliana out of here before the bloodbath ensues. The Don arrives soon enough, Elio right behind him, with his guards in tow.
He nods towards I and Matteo, who immediately moves to stand at his side. I stay put, doing my best to keep my cool as I watch over everything from the corner of the room. I watch as Salvatore introduces himself to Liliana and offers her a light comforting smile.
My brother takes a seat at the table and gestures for Liliana to take the one beside him. She does so hesitantly. Almost immediately she does, the warehouse grows quieter and the air seems to chill even further.
Ignacio Navarro steps through the doors of the warehouse.
Sliver streaks cut through dark hair at his temples and deep lines bracket his mouth.
His face is weather but strong, his expression unreadable.
Despite the fact that he’s been fucking with me all these years, I’ve only ever seen the old man two or three times.
He’s in his late fifties, perhaps sixties, but age has done nothing to diminish him. The opposite actually. He looks sharp in a well-tailored dark charcoal suit. A dozen armed men trail behind him. There are more outside I’m sure, ready and waiting for the first signs of trouble.
Navarro moves with the confidence of someone accustomed to being obeyed. He glances around the warehouse, cataloguing every inch of it. For a brief movement, his eyes find mine and a faint smile touches his mouth. It’s not friendly, but assessing. I scowl back at him in reply.
He looks away from me and refocuses on the Don who hasn’t stood up at his entrance. And the woman beside him, shifting under the weight of all the attention.
Looking at them so close, it’s pretty clear that they share a familial relationship. Navarro’s eyes are softer as he takes in his daughter, then the look clears and his attention returns to the Don.
“Salvatore Vitale,” he says in a voice that carries, not loud but powerful. “A pleasure.”
My brother gets to his feet to grasp the hand stretched towards him.
“Careful, Navarro. You almost seem happy to be losing so much of what you’ve built.”
The terms of the agreement are simple. Navarro hands over a major shipping route from Russia to the US.
He provides us with intelligence on some of the smaller groups that have been causing trouble with our empire.
And finally, a non-aggression pact. Navarro agrees that there will be no more attacks, interference, or expansion into the Vitale territory.
The terms are reasonable but will effectively cripple his carefully maintained power within the city for a certain period of time. The first two terms are simple. The last one requires us to trust that he won’t break his word.
But the old man isn’t exactly known for being a man of honor.
He shrugs, “What is fortune in the face of parental responsibility?”
My hackles are raised. He’s being way too chill about this and I can’t help but wonder what he has up his sleeve. He’s maintaining a facade of doting father that wants his daughter back. But I know that’s bullshit.
The two heads of the organizations sit at the table. Negotiations don’t take very long, although Salvatore does agree to some concessions where Navarro raises arguments. I stay as still as possible while all of this goes on, my eyes trained on the back of Liliana’s head.
When it’s finally time to sign the papers, I tense. Navarro holds the pen in his hand, but then he cocks his head to the side and looks up at Salvatore with a glint in his eyes.
“I’d like to speak to my daughter first,” he announces.
My feet start to move but Raul places a hand on my shoulder, stopping me. Salvatore clenches his jaw.
“Fine,” he states.
And I’ve never wanted to punch him in the fucking face more. This is a bad idea. But we’re on the cusp of a successful trade and I know he’s only doing that not to antagonize the old man.
“Liliana, would you like to speak to him?” Salvatore turns to her.
I like that he gives her the choice and she nods once, her head lowering. Ignacio stands and she does too. I watch as he leads her towards a corner where they can speak privately. I don’t blink the entire time.
Everyone is tense. My brothers are probably wondering if Liliana will say anything to jeopardize the negotiations. I’m waiting to see if he’ll do or say something to hurt her.
Father and daughter speak quietly. I watch as Navarro says somethings to her that have her shaking her head.
Then he sighs before listening to her as well.
There’s not a lot of warmth on her face as she talks.
More trepidation and anxiety. I’ve never wanted to listen in on a conversation more.
Something twists unpleasantly in my chest when he places a hand on her shoulder and offers her a small smile.
When they finally separate, she still won’t look at me. The irritation and worry I’ve been fighting all day sharpens even further. Her shoulders are tense as she and her father reapproach the table.
My eyes are narrowed on to the smile Navarro continues to sport. He looks happy, too damn happy. Liliana remains at his side as he takes his seat once again.
He reaches for the papers and appends his signature before handing them over to my brother. Matteo visibly relaxes, reaching for the documents to inspect it all.
Salvatore cocks his head, “That was surprisingly easier than I expected.”
“It’s just business, Vitale.”
I’m moving as soon as Matteo offers me a subtle nod, stepping away from the wall.
“Liliana.”
Her shoulders tense and I expect her to return to my side but she doesn’t move. The silence stretches. I stare at her, waiting.
Something cold settles inside me.
“Come here, little siren.”
This time my voice is harder, more demanding. I don’t give a fuck that there are several people in the room staring at us. Including her father who has no clue that we have a relationship.
She remains exactly where she is. Navarro slowly rises to his feet, fixing the cuffs of his suit jacket.
“I believe we’re done here.”
He steps in front of her, blocking my view. My temper snaps.
“Like hell we are.”
His smile is sharp enough to cut as he faces me, “Rafaelle, it’s always a pleasure to speak to you. Did you enjoy the message I had delivered? I took care of your problem to show that I was serious about this truce between our families.”
My vision turns red. I know exactly what he’s talking about.
A 15 year old kid turned up drowned and with his fingers cut on our turf two days ago.
I knew he was fucking responsible. What’s worse is that I’m sure he was the one behind the kid in the first place.
He sent him to cause trouble and when he had no use for him, he fucking killed him.
I lunge towards Navarro but Elio is immediately there, holding me back.
“Calm down, Rafaelle,” my brother murmurs.
I exhale a soft breath, counting numbers in my head. The kid is dead. He’s not important right now.
“I want to speak to Liliana,” I state, my voice as calm as I can make it.
“And what would you have to say to my daughter? From my perspective, she was your hostage and you demanded a ransom from me that I’ve paid. You have no business with her anymore.”
I ignore him, looking over his shoulder at the dark haired woman staring down at the floor.
“Liliana, look at me.”
Finally, she lifts her head, amber eyes meeting mine and the effect has my heart clenching.
“What’s going on, siren?” I question.
“This is how it’s meant to be, Rafaelle,” she says softly, voice tinged with heartbreak. “I’m going to go with m-my father.”
A muscle jumps in my jaw. I can’t believe the words that are leaving her lips right now.
“What the fuck are you saying to me right now?” I snap.
“You got what you wanted, Rafaelle,” she says, a visible tremor passing through her body.
Her eyes are red with unshed tears. I’m so fucking confused right now. This wasn’t the plan.
She knows very well that I don’t give a fuck about the contract or the deal with Navarro.
What I want is her.
“Right,” Navarro clears his throat. “If you don’t mind, I’ll be taking my daughter home now.”
He places a hand on her shoulder, the gesture possessive. I want to break the limb. But it’s that word, home that really pushes me over the edge. I reach into my jacket and pull my gun out, aiming it at his smug face.
Navarro doesn’t even blink. The room bursts into a blur of motions, weapons are pulled out. His guards are immediately in front of him, protecting him, their guns pointed on me. Our guards move into position as well.
It’s a terse situation that’s a hair trigger away from becoming deadly for everyone involved. I don’t give a fuck and I don’t move. My gun is still pointed at Navarro but my eyes are on the woman at his side.
“This isn’t fucking funny, Liliana,” I growl.
The fear in her eyes makes my chest hurt.
Just come back to me, baby. Come back and I’ll make sure you’re safe.
“Please, Rafaelle,” she says shakily. “Just let me go.”
My fingers tighten around the gun. My breaths are harsh as they escape my mouth.
“You want to leave with him?” I ask her.
“Yes,” she whispers, staring at a spot above my head.
“Look at me and answer the question,” I grit out.
She flinches at my tone. It takes her a second but slowly, her eyes meet mine and I find nothing. None of the warmth or affection. No trace of the woman that kissed my darkness away. The woman that strayed into the shadows to be at my side.
All I see is ice.
“I’m leaving, Rafaelle.”
The first thing I think is that I want to shoot her for daring to say those words to me. How dare she think she can leave me? She’s na?ve if she thinks I’m going to let her walk through those doors.
I feel a presence at my side, before a hand slides up my arm.
“Enough, Rafaelle,” Matteo says, his tone composed. “Think about what you’re jeopardizing.”
I wrench my eyes away from Liliana to look at my brother. And then I take in the men surrounding me, ready to lay down their lives. Salvatore stands beside the desk, his expression rigid.
My heart starts to race and then I feel a crash before a chill washes over me.
“She made her choice,” my brother tells me.
And I know he’s right. Slowly, I lower the gun unable to even look at her. Disgust wells in me, the betrayal causing my stomach to roil.
“Pleasure doing business with you, gentlemen,” Navarro states.
My eyes fall shut and I turn my back on them, running an agitated hand through my hear. I can hear footsteps. His men begin to pull out. When I open my eyes, Matteo’s standing in front of me and they’re gone. Sympathy well in my brother’s expression.
“Rafaelle…” he starts.
“Don’t fucking speak to me.”
I leave the warehouse, feeling something fracture within me.
I start to question my obsession with knives.
Getting one in the back hurts so fucking much. I wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone else.