CHAPTER SEVEN

Rafael

I heard the pitty patter of her feet against the marble floor as she sprinted towards me.

I didn't know why I was helping her but I felt like I had to. She was now orphaned just like I was and even though her situation was totally different, it still made me feel the same way; troubled, when it came to her.

She reached me just as I was entering my alpha Romeo.

As soon as she settled into the passenger seat, I started the ignition and the car roared to life.

I pulled out of the drive way and onto the road as we headed to the gates.

"Can you be still?" I asked irritated at her consistent shuffling around in the seats.

"It's really boring in here, can you play some music"

"No" I said, feeling her glare at me with disdain but I paid her no attention. "You can't be a beggar and a chooser at the same time" I said, reminding her that she would owe me for what I was doing.

The ride to the house up on the hill was silent.

"My dad didn't have a will" she suddenly said out of the blue as I pulled up Infront of the house. "So what will happen to the house, his business?, she paused for a moment, "considering I won't be allowed to take it" she finished with a certain disgust in her voice.

"The Capos", I hesitated. "The Capos will take it. Whoever deems themselves fit to and is quick and cunning will take over the house and the business".

I could see her face drop and her eyes seems like they died. I looked at her now, intently, and for the first time, I really saw her. Her jet black hair , thick eyebrows and her long lashes. She was... beautiful. And I looked at her full lips that now seemed much more.... kissable.

I immediately, shook my head slightly, shaking the thought away.

"They haven't done that yet. So everything is still in place. The maids were paid off". She lifted her face and looked at me. "And the butler, so you can go in".

She hesitated so I stepped out of the car and helped her out.

We walked together into the house. It was different from what every other Capo owned, much smaller. I guess I kind of liked it that way.

Elena dug around inside a flower pot in the foyer and removed the key.

On entering, I could hear her sniffle Infront of me.

As we entered deep into the house, she started caressing the walls. With every step she took, she caressed a piece of furniture like her most beautiful memories hung to them, running the ends of her fingers on them.

"I can wait down here if you want", I said noticing that she was going upstairs.

"No, I'm fine", she sniffled and blew air from her mouth. With that came a dry smile, the kind that didn't reach her eyes.

"Come on", she beckoned to me.

"It's fine", you should go there by yourself.

She nodded and went up the stairs and disappeared from my line of sight. True to her word, she didn't take long. She was out in less than five minutes.

But she was holding a lot more than just her credit card.

"I also had to get a few things" she said, grinning from ear to ear.

"A makeup kit is a few things?"

"A girls gotta be pretty", she said and tapped me on my shoulder. "Let's go"

The nerve.

I rolled by eyes so far back they could almost disappear, but then followed the cheeky woman to the car.

"You seem different", I said as I settled into the driver's seat.

"Different, how?"

"For one, I didn't know you are this"... I paused looking for the word to complete it "weird, but in a good way"

"Explain"

"Well", I started the car and wheeled it out of the driveway, "you console yourself a lot", I said with a knowing look, like she would know what I meant by that and suppress your feelings and you seem carefree" I said my voice dropping a bit.

"Why are you saying that like it's a bad thing to be carefree?"

"It's not, but in the world you are now in, it's not the best option". My eyes were on the road to avoid seeing the look on her face.

"Well, it's better than worrying about what I can't fix" This time I glanced at her.

"Or trying to find who wants me dead when I obviously can't do that". She let out a small laugh. "So I'd rather live like I have no tomorrow. Because, maybe I don't". She finished.

Her last words ticked something in me and I stepped on the brake pedal much more harder than I intended and the car came to a screeching halt.

"What happened?", She asked worry etched into her face, obviously startled by my actions.

"I..." I glanced downwards and noticed the ring on her finger.

"Nothing" I said getting myself together.

'She's Alex's wife, I can't be this close to her.'

'I must be stupid to even feel this way with her.'

I thought to myself.

"So why did you stop like that? Do you want to be the one to kill me?". She asked cheekily.

"You know, you should watch your mouth", I said as I revved the engine and got back on the road.

She chuckled but ignored me the entire ride until we reached the manor and I did same.

I wasn't ready to indulge in any conversation with her especially when her cheeky nature riled me up in ways I couldn't explain.

I stopped the car Infront of the manor and she stepped out, taking the things she brought from the house with her.

"It's already late", I said looking at the night sky.

"Yeah, bye"

I said nothing and slid back into the car seat and drove away.

My car was too quiet for me as I drove back to the my apartment.

Her small voice echoed through the leather coating of my car interior and soothed my ears. I didn't know when I let out a small smile, recalling her silly question.

Upon reaching my apartment, I freshened up and prepared some coffee for myself.

Taking a bottle of water, I headed to my basement.

Walking down the stairs, I could hear the muffled grunts of the man in there.

As the floorboard cleared out of my face, I saw him.

Lying on the floor at the edge of the room by the iron shelf, sawing his wound up hands against it. The cemented floor was red and pink all over from drops of his blood and his faced almost disfigured.

As he saw me, he began to move more ferociously, as if it would free him from the rope around his wrists.

"Come on now I thought we were friends" I said mockingly to the man who had stopped his movements and was looking at me like he would cry.

I grabbed him and lifted him alongside the chair he was tied to.

"I brought some water for you" I said to him as I slowly removed the duck tape from his mouth.

"Please, please I don't know anything" he said and he started sobbing again immediately I removed the tape.

"Have some water first", I said smiling as I took up the bottle of water.

"Please I don't know anything, please, just let me go", he continued tears streaming down his face.

"You don't want the water?", I asked, ignoring his pleas.

"Umm..." The man gasped now aware of the carrot I was dangling in his face.

"I... I want the water, he said quietly" as he stopped sobbing.

"I didn't hear you", I smirked.

"I want the water please", he said louder.

"Okay okay I hear you", I mocked and squatted to his level.

He slightly opened his mouth, salivating when I opened the bottle.

Looking into his eyes, I turned the bottle on to the floor and let it's content spill onto the cemented floor that had his blood all over it.

"No no no", the man yanked, screamed and cried in the chair. The chair shook and creaked under his movements.

I stopped pouring the water, stood up and punched him, snapping his head to the side.

"Who hired Loras?", I said grabbing the collar of his shirt

"I don't know, I don't..."

"Who was the man with him?"

"I said I don't... "He couldn't complete his sentence as I punched his already disfigured face again.

"I don't know, I swear", he choked up blood, crying.

"Okay, let's try something different", I said and brought another chair in the room and sat opposite him.

"You know, I'm an orphan", I started and he looked intently at me. "And you can only imagine how I had to grow up", I folded my arms.

"So I don't like to see other kids suffer the way I did". I paused looking at his every expression.

"But for Kyle and James, I think I'll make an exception".

"No, no ,no" he started crying again. "Don't hurt them please, please, I beg of you".

"Do you think their nanny will be able to protect them from a man like me?", I ignored his cries.

"Please don't, please don't.", he wailed.

"And Tiny bird elementary school is not..."

"No no", he shook and cried violently like he would launch himself to attack me. "Don't do it".

"Then tell me what the fuck I need to know!", I yelled, standing up.

"Please, please" he cried quietly.

"Okay, I'll make sure to send them your regards" I resolved and made my way up the stairs.

"Please man, don't do this they're just kids" he called after me. "No please", I ignored him and continued walking up the stairs.

"I know the other man", he silently said amidst sobs. I stopped walking and without looking back, I asked;

"Who?"