All Chapters of RUINED BY MY BROTHER'S MAFIA BESTFRIEND: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

~~Rafael~~There's nothing I hate more than working with guys who are shady as hell.The one in front of me? The shadiest I'm willing to work with.I know how it seems. Being the leader of an organized crime family myself, I'm not exactly one to talk. However, I have to say, there's just something about a man who sticks to a moral code.And one who doesn't.The man I'm waiting for?He wouldn't know morals if they bit him in the ass.Rafe hitches his pants up and looks up at the cloudy sky. He rolls his eyes when a muffled clap of thunder rolls towards us. I tug my shirt away from my neck and wonder how long we'll need to stand around here before I lose my patience.This is business, and I do not like to get involved with tawdry men."How much longer before you feel the need to hit something?" Rafe grunts."Do not say a word to me, Rafe."Rafe swivels towards me and drags his feet over to the fence. "Why do I have a feeling you're pissed about something entirely different?"I puff out

~~Sophia~~I tap in my heels to the door and follow him to the table where Rafael is already seated.He lifted his head to meet my eyes, pulled his phone from his ears, hung up without taking his eyes off me and did a deliberate sweep of the champagne silk dress I'd finally decided on.I could almost feel him undressing the silky drape of the fabric off my hips, the sheer panels along the side allowing a glimpse of skin, which his eyes seemed to particularly enjoy.Then, his eyes go dark. "Who saw you in this?""Oh, people. Anyone on the street. Carla. Silvio."Rafael's eyes flash. "Who on the street, Sofia?""Literally anyone with eyes. I can't stop them from looking at me."He looks at the wait staff, who look pretty nervous to see Rafael glaring at them."Leave them alone, Rafael," I say softly, my instincts kicking in. "I'm here with you."He nods stiffly, then goes to pull out the chair. I walk over to him, my heels clicking on the floor. I sit, gently, and he pushes the chair in

~~Rafael~~I jerk awake suddenly. There's a bang at the door, and I freeze, listening, my heart constricting in my chest. It's oddly silent after the bang and my first reaction is making sure Sofia is safe.She isn't in bed, but there's the sound of water rushing in the bathroom to let me know where she is. The sheets are slightly warm when I pat around, which means she's just been out of bed.I groan and decide the flush of anger I'm feeling really isn't her fault, but after our night together, I'd at least expected to wake up to her in my arms. Not already washing away evidence of the night in the cold light of the morning.I push my feet out of bed and ignore the voices at the door. I can hear Rafe's husky baritone already. Silvio won't let them up here, not with Sofia up here with me.I pull a robe off the bedpost and slip my arms into the holes. I pad over to the bathroom door and push it open as slowly as possible. Sofia is in the shower stall, her hair wet as she washes her sca

~~Rafael~~My gut clenches. One clean drop like a roller coaster, making the tough drop with humans in its bowels. She'll be here in a few minutes.Emil is standing by the window, a reflective stoop to the drop of his shoulders. I pace my way across the length of the house, grateful it's just the two of us here.My heart thunders like a stallion in my chest, and I tighten my jaw. This isn't the first time Sofia will be spending the night here.But this feels different. This time, there will be no leaving and no running away when things get tough. I wonder if she knows what that means.Emil walks over to me, dressed as always a little better than a juvenile."You can stop pacing. It's not a good look.""Why the fuck are you here, Emil?""Sofia needs a certain level of familiarity. I'm here to provide that."I glower at him, turning away so he doesn't see the way my guts twist, and I grimace. If he's going to be some sort of familiarity, then what the fuck does that make me? And I don't

~~Rafael~~The drive over to the house was long. By the time I arrive, Enzo is standing by the door, starched and straight as always.He opens the door and places his folded hands behind his back again."Good evening, Rafael." He greets.I nod and pass him by. He follows behind me. "Where's Father?""In his study. Although your mother has asked that you stop by the garden to speak to her."I stop and glare at him, my head buzzing with something more than anger. I know it's pain, but I refuse to give it voice. "What did you say?""Your father's worried. He knows you're angry, and you know his condition. Therefore, your mother has asked that you speak to her first."Enzo has his hand behind his back, as I've always seen him, but today is the first time that there's been a challenge in his voice when speaking to me."Tell her I'll speak to her after speaking to Father. Do you understand?" I bark at him, then turn and walk away, taking the steps up to my father's bedroom, where I find him