Page 31 of Hidden Raphael
“Kimberly, let me in.” She lowered the Taser, and her hands shook. Her legs wobbled, but she dropped the Taser to the floor. At the last second, she stared back at her only weapon. Was this all a lie?
The door swung open, and she jumped back.
Raphael was soaked through, and his jeans and t-shirt clung to every part of him. Water dripped down his cheeks but she didn’t see any injuries. "Are you all right?”
“Fine.” He stepped into her room, and her entire body tensed. Then she reached out and brushed the lock of hair in Raphael's face away. Raphael stared hard at her, and she shivered.
Her knees buckled and she grabbed him for support. Without a thought, she kissed his lips. He wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. The world faded away in his arms.
Her heart pounded in a different way, and she sighed as he stepped backward.
Breathing hard, he asked, "Are you okay?"
She hadn't meant to kiss him. It just happened. She should ask him about Meg, but then he said, "I'm fine."
“You’re soaking wet again. Let me get you a towel." She ran to the bathroom, picked up what she needed, and offered the white sheet to Raphael. His green eyes matched the shadows all around him. "What happened?"
"Roger is dead," he answered, but stared past her as he turned on her lights. "You're safe now."
Death was final.
This was too fast. Kimberly pushed her shoulders against the door and stared at the ceiling. Overwhelmed by what might have happened to Raphael while he’d protected her from a killer brought tears.
"Don't cry." Raphael's hand traced her shoulder and moved her away from the door to massage her back. "Everything will be fine. You're safe."
"I feel like crap." She shook violently, but stared into his eyes. Then she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. She was safe, though so many people died for no reason. "I don't want to cry on your shoulder."
He held her close. "Don't worry. Take your time. I have to go take care of the details. I just wanted you to know. Everything is different now."
She swallowed back her tears as he unlocked himself from her embrace.
She hadn't said a word. She couldn't. She let him go.
A moment later, Raphael disappeared back into the shadows of the hall. She stared into the darkness, and then she clutched the necklace. Everything would be fine.
She closed her eyes and said a prayer for Eileen, for Ali, for Roger. They all deserved forgiveness in the afterlife. And then her thoughts turned to Raphael. He needed to forgive himself. She opened her eyes and shivered from the coldness.
Raphael had saved her. Everything would be fine from now on.
