Page 26 of Raphael

“Everything is fine,” I assured him. “Gabriel and I just need a little weekend getaway.”

“It’s Wednesday,” he remarked.

“A long weekend getaway,” I muttered.

Two heartbeats of silence.

“Okay,” he caved. “If you say so, but if something comes up and you need help, you call me immediately.”

“Of course,” I promised, although I knew I’d break that vow. “And thank you so much, Royce.”

“You got it, blondie.”

I ended the call just as the cab driver approached my building on the Northwest side of the city. I dug cash out of my purse, shoved a twenty into his palm, and jumped out of the cab.

Thank God I had been paranoid for weeks. I had Gabriel’s and my bag packed in case of an emergency. Well, newsflash. This was a goddamn emergency.

I quickly walked up the path to the building’s entrance where a porter opened the door for me.

“Miss Sailor,” he greeted me.

I smiled, despite the stress and worry swarming every fiber of my being. “Hello, Nigel.”

“You’re home early,” he remarked, his eyes lingering on my clothes that were a mess.

I nodded and rushed into the elevator that just opened. No sense in giving him any pitiful excuse why. He’d repeat it to any Ashford brother that decided to interrogate him.

Once in the condo, I rushed to my room and grabbed the two bags, then strode to the bathroom I shared with my son, and swiped the toiletries into my largest toiletry bag in one swift move.

“And this is how you pack efficiently,” I whispered to myself.

It took me exactly two minutes to change into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, and slip on my chucks, before I was out the door and out of the building with Nigel’s sharp eyes on me.

Yeah, he’d call the Ashfords.

* * *

“Where are we going, Mom?” Gabriel’s excitement shone through his beautiful eyes. The very same shade as Raphael Santos’. I still couldn’t decide how I felt about it. Of course, I was thankful he wasn’t my father’s son, but was it really so much better being a Santos.

“We’re going on an extended weekend vacation,” I told him, hiding my worries behind my smile. I didn’t want him to grow up like Anya and me. Our only carefree moments were when we were away from our parents. “Surprise!” I exclaimed.

His smile turned into a grin. He loved our weekend getaways. Of course, usually they were exactly that. A weekend getaway. Not an actual getaway, but a ‘hide from the mobsters’ kind of vacation.

I got behind the wheel and just as I put the key in ignition, my cell beeped.

I checked the name.

It was Willow.*Are you okay?*

I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. She was three hours behind me, currently in California. She was supposed to be back today or tomorrow. I was so looking forward to seeing her. Gabriel too. And yet, here we were on the run. From the Santos and Tijuana Cartel.

Talk about shitty luck.

*Yes, perfect. You?*

Unlike me, Willow had dark chestnut hair that shone with auburn highlights under the sun. She was petite, only five foot three, but her personality made her appear bigger. With her parents’ heritage, she picked up the best traits from both her mother who was Portuguese and her father who was French. The best part was her heart of gold.

*Royce said you might be in trouble.*