Page 3 of Raphael

“Right again,” I offered calmly. “Because you won’t have a chance to fuck me over anymore.”

He knew the rules. He knew my reputation. He stuck his hand in my pocket and helped himself to my money. If he had come to me and asked for a loan, that would have been one thing. But stealing from me would never be tolerated.

“Please, Señor Santos,” he pleaded, his knees bouncing frantically. “I’ll pay it all back.”

I hated being called Señor Santos. That was my father.

I pulled out my gun, screwed down the silencer, and shot him.

It was the only mercy he’d get.

“Clean up this mess,” I ordered my men and left the enclosed space.

Fuck, nothing ruined your mood faster than this kind of shit.

Pulling out my phone, I made my way upstairs to my office. It was then that I heard a throaty laugh. It had my head turning in its direction and my steps faltered. The first thing I spotted was the long, silvery blonde hair that glowed under the lights of the dance floor. It reflected the changing colors of the lights - red, blue, green, orange.

Jesus, that hair color! Even from here I could see it was the most unusual color. Like a freshly fallen snow, but with the hint of warmth to it. It made me want to wrap my hands around those long silky strands and see if they were as soft as they looked.

I’d stake my life that they were.

And her body… fucking centerfold-worthy. And the girl knew it. She wore a black corset with a long colorful dress. Blue with large pink flowers. Something I’d seen women wear in Colombia - loud, colorful, and different.

And that hair! Madre de Dios. I could wrap it around my fist. Twice. I didn’t particularly care for blondes, but her hair was unlike any I had ever seen. So light, it almost appeared silver. Like some fairy. She only needed the damn wings and you’d think she’d fly through the air of my new club.

Another laugh rang through. There was no way of missing the girl. And yes, she had to be a young girl, maybe eighteen.

I’d watched her smile at her friends, oblivious that all the male attention was on her. Well, her and her friends, but fuck, she was breathtaking.

She wasn’t alone, giggling with two other girlfriends. The three of them hung out around the bar, peeking at the dance floor that was slowly getting crowded. It was only seven at night so too early for the full blown nightclub atmosphere.

“Oh, come on,” she exclaimed. “It’s our first time away from home. No parents. No brothers. We’re here to paaaarty.”

My lips curved up into a smile. It has been a while since I’d heard such enthusiasm.

The three of them hustled toward the center of the dance floor together, everyone parting for them and ogling them with hunger in their eyes.

Not that I could blame them. All three were gorgeous. But it was something about the blonde one that had me captivated. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her face. She was young, and I’d bet she wasn’t old enough to be in my club. It was twenty-one and older. There was no way she was twenty-one. She barely looked eighteen.

Her friend whispered something in her ear. Whatever she said to her had the silvery blonde throwing her head back and laughing. I had never heard a melodious laugh like hers. The kind that made you want to bask in its happiness.

I just wished I could see her eyes. Were they glittering like diamonds, reflecting her happiness?

I walked closer, taking in every inch of her curved body that accentuated her perfect ass. She swayed her hips to the rhythm, rotating and twisting, and men surrounded her.

One of the girls pointed back to the bar, and the two of them nodded their heads, while the silvery blonde just shook hers. The two scurried through the crowd, leaving their friend dancing alone.

Getting nearer with each step, I stopped right behind her. She must have sensed me because she glanced over her slim, tan shoulder. As her eyes lifted, ever so slowly, I felt her gaze like a touch. It made no fucking sense.

Then our gazes connected. Her eyes were electrifying.Blue.Beautiful.

But there were no traces of the carefree happiness in her ocean blue depths. There were secrets in those eyes. Pain. Sorrow. And then a smile that masked it all.

What did I have to base this on? Absolutely nothing.

“Care to dance?” I asked her.

Up close, she seemed even younger than I originally thought. Even more stunning. One day, she’d be a gorgeous woman that would steal men’s attention with just a smile. In our world, that was dangerous.