Page 18 of Rafi

“I don’t,” I admit, and his thick arms immediately cross over each other against his chest as he looks at me defiantly, wordlessly telling him there’s no way I’m getting through him today. “Tell her it’s Rafi Gatti-she’ll want to see me.”

He frowns, and something flickers in his eyes, before he throws a nod in his friend’s direction and the other man walks away before he scans a finger on an access pad and gains entry through the sliding door. Mr. Thick Muscles steps into the center of the doorway, obstructing my path. It dawns on me that the glass is one-way, leaving me unable to see anything beyond it.

It's a few minutes before the guard comes back, and to my surprise, he indicates for me to follow him, which I do. We meander down a long hallway until we get to a door that he pushes open. He growls - literally growls in warning - before he shoves me into the room and disappears behind the closed door. I don’t even have a chance to respond to him manhandling me before I realize I’m in an office, and Tayana is standing near the far wall, her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail, clipboard in hand. Even in the middle of my interruption, she carries herself with a quiet confidence, her movements efficient, purposeful as she sets the clipboard down slowly and looks at me.

Her expression is hard, her body tense, as though she’s preparing for war. She doesn’t look away, though. Instead, she steps toward me, her gaze sharp and unyielding.

For a moment, I’m rooted in place, observing her. She’s stripped of the usual armor—no makeup, no flashy dress, no wall of bodyguards to buffer her presence. Yet she’s still undeniably her, a fierce, uncontainable fire radiating from every inch of her as she closes the distance between us.

“So, you’re a love ‘em and leave ‘em type of girl, then.”I try for amused, but she’s not impressed and doesn’t crack a smile.

“So, you finally found me,”she responds.

“You have no idea how hard that was,” I tell her.

“There’s a reason for that.”

“What are you hiding from, Tayana Kamarov? Or more precisely,who?”

“Don’t mistake my allowing you in here for anything more than an obligation to squash the bug you’ve become,” she says, her words cutting through the charged air like a whip.

My eyebrows rise at her blunt hostility. Point taken. She’s made it abundantly clear where I stand in this dynamic. Even after I fucked her raw and silly.

“What are you doing here?” she demands, her voice low enough not to echo but firm enough to leave no doubt about her displeasure.

“I might ask you the same question,” I reply smoothly, keeping my tone calm, measured. My eyes drift around the room, deliberately casual, taking in my surroundings. I know it’s a cocky move, but I can’t help it. Something about her brings out the smart-ass in me.

Her eyes narrow, suspicion flickering in their depths. “Dare I say that’s none of your business!” she snaps. “What do you want from me?”

I let my gaze fall back to her, studying her intently. She’s a beautiful little spitfire, and I can admit it. It’s not often that someone catches my attention and holds it, but this woman… she’s a rare exception.

“You keep disappearing on me.”

“Usually, that means a person’snot interested. Know what that is, Rafi, or do you need me to spell it out for you?”

“You wound me.” I place a hand on my heart, feigning injury, just for the sake of it. Just to be more of a smart ass.

“You’re crossing into dangerous territory now, Gatti.” It’s a warning more than anything else. “You shouldn’t be here.”

It irritates me that she’s put up a boulder between us and is now calling me by my surname.“I shouldn’t be many things. And yet, here I am.”

“What do you want?” She shoots me a bored look, a far cry from the lust-filled one she directed my way a few days ago.

“I need some information,” I say finally, my voice steady. The tension in her posture eases slightly, a flicker of curiosity crossing her face as my intentions come into focus. But the reprieve is short-lived. Her expression hardens again, irritation replacing curiosity.

“Do I look like I’m in the business of selling information?” she counters, crossing her arms.

“Just hear me out,” I urge, taking a small step closer. “You should know I’m not leaving until we have this conversation and I get what I want.”

“Oh, so you didn’t get what you want the other night?” Now it’s her turn to play the smart ass. She stares at me, the battle waging visibly behind her eyes. For a moment, I’m not sure whether she’ll throw me out or relent. Then she exhales a sharp sigh, her shoulders dropping slightly as if signaling a reluctant truce.

“Fine. Tell me what you’re after. But I can’t promise you anything.”Her eyes flick toward the door, the subtle gesture betraying her wariness. Whatever lies beyond it clearly weighs on her mind.

I lean against the edge of the nearest table, folding my arms. “I’m looking for someone,” I say, keeping my tone even. “And you’re the only one who might know where I need to look.”

Her lips press into a thin line as she considers my words. “What makes you thinkIcan help?” she asks, her tone sharp.

“Maybe you can. Maybe you can’t. You can at least try.”

---