Semua Bab RUINED BY MY BROTHER'S MAFIA BESTFRIEND: Bab 31 - Bab 40

~~Rafael~~The morning dawns clear and new, and when I wake up, my chest isn't tight and I don't feel immediately angry at the world. The light streaming in through the open windows feels warm across my face, and I shade my eyes and sit up with a stretch.The window is never open. It's too much of a hazard. But I find Sofia at the vanity, dressed in a gown made of a soft blue fabric that has me thinking of clear days.My head must really still be hazy with sleep because I don't immediately feel like slipping my hands around her neck.She turns to me with a smile. "I've called Enzo. He's on his way here with Nico. I thought you might like to meet him finally."And without warning, a nervous sweep of emotions makes its way through me. He's my son, and I shouldn't be worried about meeting him. But I am. "What does he know about me?"I swing my feet out of bed and feel a surge of lust when Sofia slides her eyes slowly over my skin. I take a step towards her and then stop when I remember I

~~Sofia~~Francesca's return is as unexpected as it is welcome. I mean, I've been expecting her to call any day now to meet her at the airport.But when I wake up from a small nap to the sound of voices coming from the living room as I head downstairs, I'm not expecting to see her sitting on the sofa with Nico giggling in her arms.They both scream, "Surprise!" Then she walks over to me and hugs me so tight, and I sink into her arms."Oh, my goodness. What is this?" I whisper-scream against her neck. I pull away and stare into her eyes to assure myself she really is here, hair tied up in a whimsy little bun, clad in a blazer and pants that are way bigger than her."A surprise. I know you're surprised. Enzo dropped me off." I pull her into my arms again and smother her and myself with how tight we're hugging."I'm shocked. I love it. Come sit." I usher her into a sofa and swing Nico into my lap, where he wraps his hand around my n

~~Rafael~~I feel her body change. Her hands leave me first, and I feel the withdrawal like a body part gone, as though she's already an extension of me."Why do you need protection from me?"I point at my side. "Did you see this?" I rumble out of my too-tight chest."The tattoos?" She asks, confusion leaking into her voice. Her fingers land on the tattoo of a black light with the sun shading it.The larger the dark light, the smaller the sun until it dims away almost completely at the other side of my back in just a small sliver of light and a very dark light.She's the sunlight. I'm the darkness. And all six tattoos represent all six years she was gone.The first year, I hoped she'd return. Hoped it was a joke. Until by last year, I'd nearly given up. And now she's back, I'm not certain if I'll need more tattoos or not.Now the fucking Russians are encroaching on my territory, war is certain to break out, and

~~Rafael~~It's a fucking upheaval. Silvio has his hand fisted so hard I'm certain the nails are biting grooves into his palm.His guilt is clear, as is the fact that it's unnecessary. He's blaming himself for something that really isn't his fault.It's no one's but mine. The walls around us are the grotesque gray of an underground building, which we currently are. A man hangs upside down from a chain hitched to a pole, his face about as colorful as a bleached bone in a desert.Well. I guess it would be, considering how much blood has been taken from him. The floor is coated with it, a vicious dark pool that seems far too long."How much longer does he have?" I snap at Silvio."About an hour. Should be dead in less than that if his weak lungs don't hold up." Silvio walks over to the man and sinks a solid punch into his stomach, his shoulders snapping back under his leather jacket.The crunch of bones and the loud wail th

~~Rafael~~"Jesus. Can you please sit down?" I grumble from across the room.Rafe rolls his eyes and clambers over my feet to stride over to Emil, who is standing by the windows, watching the men outside.It's a cloudy day, which is perfect, really. It matches my mood perfectly. Because enough has quite literally become enough. We're having a meeting with Santoro, and he's running late as usual."Let's bet he arrives an hour late." Dario holds out his hand, thumb facing me. I run a hand through my hair and glare at him.I glower at him. "Is this a fucking joke to you, Dario? You choose this one moment to fucking laugh?"It's not his fault I'm pissed. It's Santoro's, and today, I'll teach him a lesson. I've been waiting twenty minutes already."I'm interested in the bet." Emil turns towards us and walks to the table where he takes his seat and, as always, pours me a glass of whiskey along with his."Good. Five hu