Page 6 of Hidden Rocco
“You need to protect yourself from the storm, sis.”
“I promise.”
Her brother huffed. “Mom said you and Jacob arenotokay, and that you should go home.”
Their mother thought a woman needed a man to survive. She’d made Mica wear dresses and dream about fairy tales.
The illusion hadn’t included poison and near-death in a foreign country.
Her will to live was what had saved her and Jacob, and no one was going to steal that fire from her.
In fact, she was here to let the flames grow stronger. She would do anything to protect her son. Mica settled on the edge of her bed as night darkened. “I’m not going to live in their New York penthouse. Ali’s family would find us in a second there.”
Just saying that man’s name made her heart twist and her hands go into fists.
If she’d been a man, she’d have punched him.
But because she was a woman, he’d used her, almost married her, tried to murder her, and take her stock holdings while he wed another.
His evil countenance was now the face of every horror movie she’d ever seen, and the center of every bullseye she’d taken a shot at since.
Raphael would have fought back just as hard and yet he said, “Ali’s dead. The assassins are dead. You’ll be fine in New York.”
The need to scream hit her hard. At least here, in the middle of nowhere, she’d get her chance to heal without drama, or expectations.
Then she’d be ready to reclaim her life and introduce Jacob to the fast pace of the city. She snorted. “No. It will be worse. They’ll want to take care of me and find me a husband, like I need a man.”
“You’re still bitter about them introducing you to Ali,” her brother said.
Give the man the Understatement of the Year award. Perhaps thatwasbitter. She sighed and ignored the pang in her heart. “He poisoned me and tried to stop me from having my son.”
Her voice went more high-pitched at the end, giving her emotion away.
Drat. She stood and checked on her baby boy in his crib in her luxury suite but he slept still.
Good. She’d never let him feel anything but loved. It was all he deserved.
Mica would ensure that Jacob had everything he ever needed. He was already heir to her majority shares in the family company. One day he’d be richer than anyone else he’d ever meet. She would raise Jacob to be strong and smart and confident.
Her brother said, “Ali is dead, so fear of him is no longer a reason to hide.”
Her body ticked like he’d struck her over the phone. She lifted her chin and said, “You and Gabriel have zero right to say a word about me not being in New York right now. I was running the family business while you were both… brooding.”
Raphael didn’t argue. He gave another direct hit when he said, “We miss you, Mica.”
And she missed them. She’d missed them for years when they’d left her alone to handle everything. She returned to her perch on the edge of her mattress. I’ll be back soon. I need to gather my strength, just me and Jacob.”
Her oldest brother Gabriel’s wife had seduced Raphael, and then tried to kill Gabriel. Both her brothers had gone into hiding for years. Neither of them spoke until they’d married good women and forgave their past. “And I can’t fault that. Gabriel and I took off, leaving all the responsibilities on your shoulders.”
They’d left her with controlling interest in their hotel empire, but taking up the slack had empowered her and she’d enjoyed running the business. “I liked working. I still do, but after Ali… I need to rest.”
Maybe, if they hadn’t disappeared for years on end, she’d have never fallen for Ali or almost gotten herself killed, but who knew?
“That’s why I support you,” Raphael said. “My castle has wings you can have to yourself, but I’d be here to protect you if something happened.”
She stood from the bed and looked out the fogged glass windows, the darkness shadowing her spring-green lawn about to disappear in the coming snow storm. “You and your wife need time alone in your castle. Besides, I prefer amenities like WIFI, but I appreciate the offer. My son and I are happy here.”
The drop in temperature meant she’d have to turn up the heater.
