Page 38 of Rafi

Scar leans back in his chair, his sharp gaze slicing through the tension in the room. “If Igor Aslanov is here to reclaim something he thinks he’s owed,” he says, his voice calm but heavy with authority. “He’s not going to back off easily.”

“Objectives?” Brando prompts, always eager to cut to the chase.

“Recover Maxine,” Scar answers, his tone decisive. “And not a word about this to Mia until we’ve got her. I won’t have her hopes raised only to be dashed again.”

“And Aslanov?” Lucky asks, already anticipating the answer.

Scar nods in his direction. “We start at the docks. Find out if he or anyone else is running their business there without our knowledge. If he’s forgotten who controls this city, it’s time we remind him. Nothing moves in or out without our approval.”

Lucky gives a tight smile, leaning forward. “Consider it done. What about the girl?” Lucky adds, his tone taking on an edge of mischief.

“Her name is Tayana,” I snap, my voice cutting through the exchange. “Say it.Tayana.”

Lucky chuckles, brushing me off with an easy wave of his hand before turning his attention back to Scar. “I’ll head to the docks,” he says, standing.

Scar glances my way, his tone softening slightly as he continues, “Tayana is under the protection of the Gatti name for as long as she needs it.” His words carry a finality that leaves no room for debate, and I feel an odd sense of gratitude for my brother’s diplomacy.

“What about Seattle?” Mason asks, speaking for the first time. He steps forward, his presence commanding attention.

Scar’s gaze grows distant as he considers the question, the weight of Seattle’s involvement looming in the air. Though Scar was given free rein to run the city with the backing of the five families, he still defers to Dante Accardi out of respect.

“I’ll keep Seattle informed,” Scar finally says, his voice measured. “But I don’t see a reason for them to step in right now. Let’s show this city what the Gattis are made of.”

22

TAYANA

Rafi’s family is unlike any I’ve met before. It’s as if they’re all instruments in a symphony, each playing a part, never missing a beat. They’re loud and chaotic and happy, a perfect harmony that combines all the right notes to make spectacular music. The love and unity here are palpable, a stark contrast to the cold, calculating dynamics of my own family. Watching them, I feel like an outsider—a duck floundering in a sea of swans, struggling to keep up with their effortless rhythm.

Thursday night dinners are a tradition, I’m told, and tonight, I’m seated at the long dining table with all of them. Each brother has his significant other across from him, and I find myself directly opposite Rafi. It’s a coincidence—I think—but the curious glances cast in our direction from time to time suggest otherwise.

The table is overflowing with food, laughter, and inside jokes. Allegra, Scar’s wife, keeps the conversation lively, her wit sharp but never cruel. Lucky and Jacklyn exchange barbs that teeter between playful and flirtatious, their chemistry undeniable. Brando’s partner, Mia, has a quiet grace about her, but she holdsher own in the banter, earning smiles of approval from everyone, including Rafi.

I sit stiffly, unsure of where I fit into all of this. I’ve been around powerful men and dangerous alliances my whole life, but this—this feels different. It’s not about dominance or control. It’s about family. Real family. You’d never know that these same men control a whole city and aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Or stained. With blood.

Rafi catches my eye across the table, and for a moment, his intense gaze softens. He doesn’t say anything, but there’s something in his expression—a quiet assurance that I belong here, even if I don’t believe it myself. I quickly look away, pretending to focus on my plate, but my heart betrays me with its quickened pace.

“So, Tayana,” Allegra says, pulling me into the conversation. “How did you and Rafi meet?”

The question catches me off guard, and I stammer for a moment before responding. “Uh, well, he’s…um...” I glance at Rafi, whose lips twitch with the hint of a smile. “The first time I saw him was at a club.”

“Where she shut me down so quick, I thought I’d walked into a freezer,” Rafi interjects smoothly, leaning back in his chair with a lazy grin that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

The table erupts in laughter, but I can’t help the heat that rushes to my face. “That’s not exactly how it happened,” I mutter, glaring at him.

“Oh, no? Please, enlighten us,” Lucky chimes in, smirking as he rests his elbows on the table, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

“He caught me at a bad time,” I say, lifting my chin. “And I didn’t have time for distractions.”

Rafi’s grin widens. “Distractions, huh? So that’s what I was?”

“You still are,” I shoot back, surprising even myself with the boldness of my tone. The table goes silent for a beat beforeerupting again, Allegra nearly choking on her wine as Lucky slaps the table in amusement.

“You two are going to be fun to watch,” Jacklyn says, shaking her head with a knowing smile.

“Oh no, we’re not actually together,” I reply, indicating the space between us, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably as a smile tugs at the corner of my lips.

Lucky leans forward again, his voice low and teasing, as though to relay a long held secret, before he grins and tells me, “Every woman sitting at this table thought the exact same thing the first time she took her seat. Now look at them.”

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