Semua Bab RUINED BY MY BROTHER'S MAFIA BESTFRIEND: Bab 41 - Bab 50

~~Sofia~~I blink at the rapidly narrowing shape in front of my eyes. I sit up fast to find Rafael half-dressed or undressed, depending on how you want to see it."What are you doing?" I whisper, blowing a puff of air into the room to check if my mouth has any bad smell.Rafael clocks the movement and gives me a smile. "I don't know really, but for once in a long while, I've got a free day." He stops and peers at me uncertainly. "Thought I'd take Nico to the park. And maybe the gym later?"For once, I'm glad it's the weekend, glad my mouth doesn't stink, and glad he's half undressed, I guess. I enjoy a leisurely stroll down his body with my eyes, land on his cock, and then trail my eyes back up. "Am I invited? Or is it just for the boys?""Could we leave you behind if we wanted to?" He prowls towards me, and I crawl slowly towards him on the bed, one knee after the other, till I'm close enough that my eye is level with his already awakeni

~~Sofia~~The low strains of jazz playing from my phone lull me into a false sense of security. Nico runs around the kitchen beside me while I prepare him a meal. He's just returned from my father's with Francesca, who is rattling around somewhere upstairs.Rafael's chef could get him something to eat, but cooking the meal relaxes me even though it also tires me out. The aroma of pasta and meatballs hanging in the air makes my stomach queasy.Bad enough that I am almost considering inviting Hailey in to continue the meal when Nico skids to a stop beside me and hugs himself to my waist.I bend towards him to sink my nose into his hair. I inhale deeply, the smell of his shampoo calming me a bit. I nod at his chair. "Go sit."He gives me a long look before sliding into the chair. "Can I have pizza today, Mama? Please?"He always asks. I wonder if his brother or sister inside me will love the meal as much as he does.My stom

~~Sofia~~"Why are we going? I want to stay here with you. This isn't repeating itself!"Rafael's shirt is open at the throat, dark hair peeping at me through the gap, a packed box beside him that Carla had filled with my clothes. I've just returned from De Luca Corp to find him at the door, a car idling on the curb.He's trying to convince me Cabo is a good idea. I don't believe it is. He jerks me into him. "I didn't say I'm staying here."Oh. That's a different story then. I sidle up against him. "So we're taking a vacation?""Yes. To Cabo. You need the rest, and I could use the breather. Things are rolling here too fast."He hasn't spoken about work in a few days. Which is either an indication that things are so terrible he doesn't want to scare me, or he's back to hiding the facts of the business from me."You should've started with that. I thought you'd be sending me away." I make air quotes. "For my protection."

~~Sofia~~If looks could kill, I'd be a melted puddle dripping down the stairs to the pool by his feet.Rafael stills just for a second by the bottom of the stairs, and I keep my eyes on him, reading the look of anger just as he wishes me to.There's a reason he'd left me in Cabo. There's a reason I'd heard about his father's death from my own father. That reason is staring me in the face right now.I curl my fingers around the rails as I slowly head down the stairs, the sudden quiet in the room very loud.Rafael heads towards Father as he's about to before clocking me on the stairs, a strained smile on his face that slams my heart into my chest.I head towards him slowly, hoping for some sort of reaction from him, praying he doesn't snap at me for wanting to help. Hoping he isn't so hurt he's already shut down.The room is filled with the men of the Famiglia, a few whom I've seen before, most whom I've never before seen

~~Sofia~~Rafael's mother, a figure draped in black, moves with a grace that belies the pain etched across her features. She acknowledges condolences with a nod, her eyes betraying the depths of her grief yet remaining steadfast in the face of the funeral traditions that envelop us.The burial ceremony unfolds with a solemnity that echoes through the space. A priest in rich vestments intones prayers in Latin, the ancient language weaving an aura of reverence for the departed soul.Incense wafts through the air, carrying with it the aroma of centuries-old traditions that bind us to our heritage.Rafael stands beside me, his eyes straight ahead while the priest blesses his father's soul.The cemetery is a sea of dark attire and muted whispers, each mourner bearing the weight of grief as they gather to pay their respects.The air is thick with the heavy scent of lilies and the sorrow that clings to the atmosphere as if the very heav