Page 97 of Raphael

We started walking down a wide path, bypassing a driveway that housed luxurious vehicles. Black Jeep, black Ferrari, black Lamborghini.

Yes, the devil loved black.

Too bad the elegant manor was made out of white marble. Black marble would suit Diablo so much better. The perfectly manicured green lawn ruined the image too.

But the lookout towers that surrounded the house and overlooked each corner of the island fit the image of the gilded cage perfectly.

Gabriel and Bruno ran ahead of us, uncaring of the tension and ghosts that lurked between Raphael and me. Our joined ghosts gave Gabriel his life.

“He’s not ready to hear it.” I finally broke the silence. Tears of helpless rage stung the corners of my eyes. “I can’t tell him.”

“We have to.” He pulled me into the warmth of his body, his hooded gaze offering comfort and lust. I’d take the lust, but taking the offered comfort was far more scary. “We don’t have to tell him everything.”

“Everything?” I swallowed. We never really went into the gruesome details of how Gabriel came to be. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, we can just say that you adopted him when your sister passed away. If he asks about his father, we’ll tell him he died and it made sense you took him in.”

“And when he asks about you?” I rasped.

“You tell him that you didn’t know me.”

I took a deep breath in and then slowly exhaled. “That might work.”

“It will.” He seemed certain. “Children are resilient. It’s better he learns now than when he’s sixteen and teenage hormones are raging.”

“Speaking from experience?” I questioned, side-eyeing him.

He chuckled. “Throwing fits wasn’t a luxury I was afforded.”

“Ditto,” I muttered.

Gabriel’s laughter interrupted and it was a welcomed sound.

“We should go swimming,” Gabriel suggested, just as we stepped onto the sand. I slipped off my shoes and dug my bare toes into the warm sand.

“Not today, buddy,” Raphael answered. “Your mom and I want to talk to you.”

My heart drummed against my ribs. This was my kid we were talking about. I didn’t want to see shadows of doubt in his eyes. I never wanted him to learn of the ghosts that haunted me. I never wanted him to experience anything that Anya and I went through.

Gabriel’s eyes darted between Raphael and I curiously. “Okay.”

Folding my dress under me, I sat down in the sand and patted a spot next to me. “Here, come sit next to me.”

Bruno jumped onto my lap and Gabriel lowered next to me, while Raphael took his other side.

My eyes flickered to my husband over Gabriel’s head. A nod and I exhaled a deep breath.

“I have to tell you something, Gab,” I started softly. “But I want you to know that I love you. I loved you from the moment the nurse put you in my arms.”

Gabriel grinned. “I know, Mom. I love you too.”

Hesitancy slithered through my veins. I wished there was a handbook with directions on how to raise a kid. From the moment I held Gabriel, I’ve been going on instinct. Hope. Love.

I gulped, uttered a silent prayer and words spilled from my lips. “Remember all the stories about my sister. Anya?”

Gabriel nodded. “Yes, my Aunt Anya.”

I chewed my bottom lip. “She’s not your aunt.” Gabriel gave me a confused look and my eyes stung. “She’s your mother.”