Page 35 of Raphael

“Or what?” I breathed.

My sanity was officially in the gutter. I shouldn’t be challenging him.

He pressed his face into my neck from behind and a tremble rocked through every inch of my body.

“Or I’ll have to spank you until you see things my way.” Something between a gasp and moan slipped through my lips and a languid sensation pulled on my muscles. His lips pressed against my ear. Good God, I wasn’t into spanking.Was I?“Nothing else to say?”

Confusion battled within me at my own arousal. I hated being manhandled. Most of the time, I hated being touched. And here I was, panting, hyper aware of his every breath and every spot where his body touched mine.

“I despise you,” I spat out. It was all I had.

He was a cold-blooded criminal.Lethal.His family was known for their ruthlessness. A long list of killings and human trafficking. I’d heard that they no longer dealt in human trafficking, but I wasn’t sure. Unlike the Tijuana Cartel, the Santos Cartel were notorious for their anonymous and faceless presence among the criminal organizations.

It was the reason I never recognized Lombardo Santos. Anya kept secrets, trying to protect me. Father sold her to Lombardo Santos. To this day, I couldn’t understand why. He had plenty of money.

Anya was so scared of Father that she agreed to follow through with his orders. From a thousand miles away. We were in Miami, Father was in D.C. and he still controlled Anya. He terrified her so much that she walked willingly to Lombardo Santos. Aurora, Willow, and I followed right along, not knowing what we walked into.

I just wished she’d told me. We could have run away together. We could have done something. Instead, we witnessed cruelty until Lombardo Santos learned Aurora’s last name was Ashford. After he destroyed my sister, he called up her father and like best buddies, those two laughed and joked while the four of us were led out, forever changed.

So yes, I had a vested interest in tearing down all criminals. Including those that hid behind their name and family legacies. I’d worked on tearing them all down, piece by fucking piece. I’d destroy my father for what he did to my sister. He thought he was untouchable. But I’d get him. I refused to perish from this Earth until that bastard paid for his sins.

Our bodies were flush together, his chest to my back and sparks lit beneath my skin each time he shifted. It was like being electrified and relishing in the sensation.

“You don’t despise me,” he drawled. “You might despise what I represent, but certainly not me.”

“Someone is delusional,” I snickered. I had no idea when I got this brave. Maybe all I needed was some sleep.

“Then why do I smell your arousal, Reina?” he mocked, his deep voice too close for comfort.

“You smell my disgust,cariño,” I spat out.

My fingers twitched, eager for a knife to stab through the devil’s black heart.

Except that something about hurting this devil didn’t sit that well with me.

ChapterEighteen

RAPHAEL

Change of plans.

This woman had too much fire to talk things through reasonably. So I’d scare her a bit and give her no alternative but to see things my way.

“Let’s establish some rules, shall we?” I drawled in a lazy tone. She could lie to herself all she wanted, but the beautiful reporter was attracted to me. Her body’s response to me confused her and she hated it.

I was careful not to let my cock brush against her backside or I risked losing my control. Just like the first night I had seen her, everything about her compelled me. Her scent reminded me of heaven and the devil was rarely given a glimpse of heaven. So I’d hold on to it this time.

There was no disappearing on me this time.

“Fuck you and your rules.”

I shook my head amused. There’d be no reasoning with this woman. Not in her state. Her hate for me outweighed her smarts.

“Here’s how this will go,” I started, ignoring her outburst. “You’ll come with us willingly, and I’ll protect you and my brother.”

“Not. Your. Brother.” Her teeth clenched, her sapphires flashing with blue lightning. She was determined, I’d give her that.

One only had to look at Gabriel and they’d know he was a Santos. He looked nothing like his biological mother nor his aunt.