Page 77 of The Den of Sin
The car came to a stop. Our meeting spot was an abandoned warehouse, fifty miles out of the city. Some days I really felt too old for this shit. Isabella’s words of having children and a beach home played in my mind. I could see her teaching our children to surf, walking around barefoot on the tile floor, the sounds of the waves washing ashore carrying through the house.
Maybe I could convince Alexei to take over? He was more involved than Sasha and had a niche for it. I wanted to enjoy the rest of my life with the woman I loved by my side and raising our children together.
“Ready?” Adrian asked.
I could see Raphael Santos from here, in his white suit. His dark hair was a stark contrast against it, and I almost hated that it was the same shade as Isabella’s hair. It was a reminder that if shit hits the fan, I would be attempting to kill her half-brother. Our parents really did a good job of fucking things up.
“Yes.”
We both exited the vehicle and strode to Raphael without any words. Stopping ten feet away from him, I unbuttoned my blazer just in case I needed to access my weapon fast. Raphael followed the movement and knew exactly the reason behind it.
“Thank you for meeting me.”
“Welcome.”
“Isabella Taylor is my sister.” Well, he didn’t beat around the bush, that’s for sure.
“Half-sister.”
“She is a Santos. She should have grown up under our protection.”
“No offense, Raphael,” I gritted, trying to control my anger. “Your father and your brother weren’t exactly the protective kind. Her mother hid from your father to protect her daughter.”
“Her mother hid from your father too,” he hissed. “Your parents started this shit.”
The worst part was I couldn’t even dispute it. My father fell for a young, beautiful woman and took her to bed, regardless of the fact that he was married. Then my mother stole her son and had him put through a nightmare of a life. That pushed Marietta Taylor into Lombardo Santos’ clutches.
“Did we come here to discuss the past, and who fucked it up the worst?”
“I want her in my life.”
“Not going to happen.” I wasn’t even sure Isabella would accept my criminal connection.
“I could protect her.” He tried really hard to keep his cool but his accent grew thicker as he got angrier. “Dios mío, Vasili. Benito King knows about her. He has his minions after her.”
“I will protect her.” He was pissing me off, but it was good to know he wasn’t willing to let Benito King get his clutches on his half-sister. I wasn’t so sure that Lombardo or Vincent Santos would have done the same.
“Does she know?” Raphael switched the subject. “Does she know about me?”
“Santos, what the fuck do you want?”
“I want to be part of my sister’s life.”
“I repeat. Not. Happening.”
“It is not your decision,” he growled, anger finally resurfacing. “She is my last blood sibling. Familia.” I said nothing, both of us staring at each other with our jaws pressed tight. I was pissed; he was pissed. I couldn’t even say I blamed him. I would have wanted the same thing. After all, I was in his shoes when I found out about Alexei. Yes, I had Sasha and Tatiana but blood was blood.
“I am giving you a courtesy warning, Vasili,” Raphael finally broke the silence. “I saw yesterday that she cares about you. I regret the way we met, but I want to make it right. I have other wars to fight. I don’t need to escalate the one between us, but I will. We could end this war now. You’re choice. I want Isabella in my life. I want to apologize for hurting her and have the chance to start over. ”
“And if she doesn’t want to?” It was a strong possibility, after yesterday, Isabella would want nothing to do with him.
A flash of regret passed his face, but he quickly masked his expression. “I’ll respect it. But I want to be the one to explain. I want to meet her when you tell her. Today.”
He was eager. It might play to my benefit. There were still bruises on Isabella’s neck from last night’s encounter with her half-brother. Yes, half-brother. I’d emphasize that half for the rest of my life. Alexei would be her brother. Raphael would be her half-brother.
“Fine,” I told him and surprise flashed on his face. “We’ll meet in the home you raided last night. In two hours. You should be familiar with the address.”
“Thank you.”
