Page 81 of Raphael

Caine’s eyes flickered past me, then returned to me. “We followed them back to Miami. They docked in Sunset Harbor Yacht Club. But both disappeared.”

“Have them keep looking,” I gritted. “Did you sink the boat?”

A terse confirmation nod.

I was an idiot to give Beatrice a chance. She had a rough childhood and I thought she deserved a break. Fucking wrong. It took all my self-control not to shoot up to my feet and go hunt her down. Teach that fucking bitch a lesson.

“Ensure that the article is published tomorrow,” I told him, switching subjects. “It’s imperative it’s in the D.C. paper as well as all our local papers.”

From the corner of my eyes, I caught Sailor stiffen again and annoyance flared inside me.

“Why are we putting it in the papers?” she questioned. I’d have to make sure to keep my conversations private. After all, I wouldn’t want my wife to publish an article about my business.

“So there’s no mistake whose wrath they’ll have to endure if they touch a single hair on your or Gabriel’s head.”

She tilted her head as if she was considering my words. It wouldn’t matter whether she agreed or not. I’d do what was needed to keep her and Gabriel protected. No matter what.

During our dinner, I continued to watch her. She and her friends threw around some jokes, Gabriel right in the midst of it all, and the four of them would throw their heads back and laugh. Alexei lurked around his wife, as if we were in the middle of a battlefield, adamant not to let her out of his sight.

After dinner, the backyard was open for dancing. Considering this was put together in a matter of days, the wedding planner outdid himself. The whole backyard was lit, the breeze swept from the ocean, and the atmosphere was relaxed. Although the music was slightly questionable. Some rap music blasted through the speakers and the three girls danced like it was going out of style.

This time I stood with Nico, Cassio, Vasili, and Alexei on the furthest end of the makeshift dance floor. My wife and her friends whispered among each other. Whatever they were discussing had Aurora and Willow confused. The three of them glanced at us, frowned and then continued whispering amongst each other.

I met Alexei’s arctic eyes on me. “I talked to Aurora about her girls’ night at La Reina eight years ago,” he deadpanned. I waited, sensing his next words wouldn’t be something I liked. “Anya, Sailor’s sister, had an invite from your old man. The four of them went to his house after clubbing. When nobody opened the door, they snuck in and went skinny dipping in the pool.”

“Fuck,” I muttered, rage bitter on my tongue. No woman should be around my father, never mind young girls. I should have killed my father a long time ago.

“Your father showed up and dragged them all in. He raped Anya with the girls in the room.”

Fury, red and violent, swept through me. It demanded vengeance.

“It impacted Sailor the worst,” Alexei continued. “It fucked up her memory. Aurora said it was the only thing she remembered from that spring break”

“Did he touch them?” I gritted. If he had touched Sailor, I’d dig out his bones and burn them.

Alexei shook his head. “Just Anya.”

I let relief wash over me, soothing out the burning rage. Today wasn’t the day to be pissed off and the last thing I wanted was to scare my wife.

My wife.The two words that sounded fucking perfect.

Nico’s, Cassio’s, and Vasili’s wives stood a few feet apart from us. The little ones ran around wild and carefree, so unlike our own childhoods. It was a promise of a new and better generation.

“Well, you’re the last one,” Cassio slapped me on my back.

I raised my eyebrow. “As far as I know, there are two others still not married.” Sasha and Luca were the last ones. A silvery laugh peeled through the air, drawing my eyes towards the source.

My gaze darkened seeing who she was dancing with.Sasha Nikolaev.

“Though he might be dead before he has a chance to step in front of a priest.”

The fucker was a smooth dancer, and I fucking hated seeing his hands on my wife.

“If you're going to kill him, give me a heads up,” Alexei said in his cold, monotone voice. “I’ll remove Aurora from that area.”

“I noticed she’s not drinking,” I remarked dryly.

He didn’t answer but he didn’t have to. The fucker’s lip twitched, which was the most emotion I had ever seen on his face.