Page 52 of Raphael

Fuck, it hurt so fucking bad to let her go. I couldn’t muster the will to move. An elaborate arrangement full of red primroses rested on top of the white casket. It fit the scenario. Blood stained Anya’s innocence.Hestained her innocence.

My heart bled, each shuddering breath I took like shredded glass cutting me on the inside. The wind picked up, the soft howl of it swirled the snow around us. A storm was coming. It was time to go even if I didn’t want to.

“I’m going to make him pay, Anya,” I whispered into the wind, my eyes locked on her resting place. “And I’ll keep Gabriel safe.”

A howl of wind was my answer.

And I swore I could hear her soft voice in it. “Be happy, Sail.”

A shudder rolled down my spine with those memories. I hadn’t been to the grave in the last six months. It had been the longest I’d gone without visiting her.

Our parents hated Gabriel. That much I knew. But would they go as far as hurting him?

They hurt Anya, my mind whispered. If they hurt Anya, they’d hurt Gabriel. God, our family was so broken for as long as I could remember. She protected me, but nobody protected her.

Glancing around, I regretted not seeing a couch or a chair. Anything, so I could sleep in the same room as my son. As if I sensed something was about to happen. To him. To me.To us.

With a sigh, I headed out of Gabriel’s room, leaving his door wide open so I could hear him if he called out to me. Not that he ever did. It was more for my benefit than his.

Just as I turned the corner from Gabriel’s room, I collided with a hard, warm chest. I braced my hand on a set of muscled abs to steady myself. A breath hitched in my throat realizing who I had run into.Raphael.

My palm stilled, resting on his white t-shirt and heat burned through it and straight to my core. Like a kindled flame it flickered and spread through my bloodstream. The house was so quiet, I heard my own heartbeat and the warning screamed. Yet, I remained glued to my spot.

I took a step back and raised my eyes to meet his towering frame. He regarded me with that hooded blue gaze, his presence taking all the air and space in the hallway.

He had a phone in one hand at his side, watching me with curiosity.

“Can’t sleep?” he finally asked. I shook my head. “You’re safe here,” he assured, yet it did nothing to make me feel better.

“Thanks,” I muttered.

A long pause followed. “About your suggestion-” I started hesitantly. “If we went through with it, what is your plan? What will happen to Gabriel and me after you end the Tijuana Cartel?”

I worried about our safety. The island was supposed to be safe but so was the Ashford’s cabin. Yet we were found.

“Is Gabriel sound asleep?” he asked instead, evading my question. It wouldn’t do me any good to pressure him. Not on my first night here, but I’d have to get at least some answers.

“Yes.”

“Good,” he drawled. His eyes fell to my cheeks, the darkness dancing in his gaze. Full of promises. Consuming. Lustful.

“You didn’t answer my question,” I pointed out.

“You and Gabriel will always be safe with me,” he declared. “I have many enemies roaming this world.

“You should go to sleep too. Unless you’re looking for some fun.”

The criminal. The devil with wicked gleam dancing in his eyes. The way he watched me promised a way to forget all the hurts. At least for a little bit.

It was tempting. Oh so tempting to give in to the ache that throbbed between my legs.

Instead, I bolted away from him and towards my room like the devil was at my heel. His soft chuckle followed me all the way to my bedroom.

ChapterTwenty-Four

RAPHAEL

Shutting the door to my bedroom, which was in the opposite wing of the manor, I found myself back at my desk and powered up my computer. The file Nico sent was thick and up until now, I only focused on information about Sailor.