Page 71 of Hidden Raphael
"At my engagement party. Where it was announced my groom married Raphael's fiancée an hour earlier." Mica's nose curled like she was a princess. "Someone thought I influenced Prince Ali, and poisoned me instead."
"Ali?" Kimberly glanced at Raphael, her heart aching. No wonder he had all those comments about her friend. He knew her. Was going to marry her. "As in Ali and Eileen?"
Raphael paced in front of the fire. He clearly didn't wish to discuss this. "Ali intended to tell the doctors exactly what the assassins from his country used to poison my sister. He didn’t want to imply anything someone might read in an email."
Kimberly didn’t understand. Roger and Harry wanted to kill them all to keep a certain type of poison secret? "You don't know what kind?"
"Not exactly," Michaela answered. "There are government-laboratory-created poisons. If the drug was to simulate a heart attack only, then I'll be fine. But my doctors are concerned that since we don’t know the source, my life is at risk."
Kimberly couldn't quite focus on what Michaela and Raphael had told her. Her mind felt numb. “Were Harry and Roger from Ali’s country?”
Raphael sat straighter, and his green eyes held a blaze in them. “Yes, they were assassins. I don't understand why you were there."
Kimberly crossed her arms. She stood to ensure he heard every word. On this topic, she had clarity. "Harry had saved my life on the plane. I was shocked to find him in the dungeon.” She had felt betrayed with who she thought was another woman too, but she’d not say that. She lifted her chin. “I believed every word he said to me, that you'd locked him in the dungeon. Why wouldn't I? You were both my heroes, or so I thought."
Raphael's scrutiny was intense as his broad shoulders tightened. "Why were you there?"
"Is there something going on between you two that I don't know?" Michaela's question interrupted their stare-down, piercing the heaviness in the room.
Raphael snapped, "Yes."
At the same time, Kimberly shook her head. "No."
Michaela covered her lips, and Kimberly was sure she covered a smile. Mica asked, "Which is it?"
Raphael had never said they were in any relationship. In fact, he’d clearly not wanted one. Had he changed his mind? Kimberly shuffled on her feet and then said, "It’s clearly complicated."
Again at the same time, Raphael tightened his shoulders and said, "No."
"Oh, this is clear now." Michaela pointed at both of them. "Do Gabriel or Erica know you two are spending the winter together, alone in the Haunted Keep?"
Raphael turned to his sister. "We're not alone."
"I just showed up." His sister tilted her head. "You do like Kimberly."
Kimberly stepped away. She didn't understand either of them, and she hadn't thought about Erica's permission at all. Her own sister had every reason to hate her for leaving the house at age eighteen.
Michaela then turned to her. "If my brother did something stupid and you're mad at him, forgive him. He's been hurt a lot in the past and sometimes he's over the top. He always means well." Michaela finished with a huge cough.
Raphael jumped into his former seat and placed his hand on his sister's back. Kimberly watched her face go white and knelt beside her. "Are you okay?"
"I think so." Michaela nodded, though she seemed weak. "I'll need my medicine."
"Where is it?" Kimberly took her hand and tried to calm the woman's trembles. Raphael's sister and her helicopter meant they'd all go home soon. "Let me help."
Michaela gazed past Kimberly to Raphael. "My bag was in the helicopter."
The shot-down, full-of-men-who-wanted-to-kill-them helicopter. Her skin felt clammy. They’d have to go get it.
He towered over both of them as his huge muscles blocked any view of the room. "I'll get it."
"No." Michaela tried to stand up, but she almost collapsed. Kimberly helped her sit down as Mica said, "Raphael, don't search out trouble. We need a plan."
"You need your medicine." His muscles flexed, though his shoulders stayed tense. "I didn't start this war, but I got this."
War? “What are you talking about? The two men who killed Ali and Eileen also tried to kill me and your sister. I get it, but this isn't a war. You are one man. Raphael, don’t run off to confront anyone alone. My Taser can shoot close up."
The words flew out of her mouth as if she was sure of everything. Her mind was still unclear on so many details, but he couldn’t risk himself, not again. "The defensive plan sounds reasonable. Make them come to us."
