Page 15 of Legacy
His reply is instant.
He wants to see me again.
I stare at the message, chewing my lip. With Luciano watching me now, it’s not exactly smart. But I don’t want to stay away. I shoot off aquick reply, something vague, flirty, and then open a new message for Rafael.
‘Can you drop me at a café around six?’
He responds with a thumbs-up two seconds later.
I knew he would.
Rafael’s my brother’s best friend, he’s supposed to be my guard, but he’s more like a ghost who shows up when I need him and vanishes the rest of the time—usually off with someone, living a double life I don’t ask questions about. And in return, he doesn’t ask about mine. He doesn’t report what I don’t want reported.
He keeps my secrets.
And I keep his.
Rolling onto my stomach, I bury my face in the pillow and exhale.
It’s perfect, He’ll drop me off and I’ll walk the rest of the way to Angelo’s.
And maybe I’ll pretend, for just one more night, that I’m not Adriana Castillo.
That I’m just Scarlet.
And maybe that’ll be enough.
I close my eyes and let myself drift.
***
Rafael drops me off at the café, and I immediately start fidgeting with my outfit. I went casual instead of sexy, tight jeans and a fitted tee, and now I’m regretting it. My thighs always feel louder in jeans. Like they’re making an announcement I didn’t agree to.
“You look beautiful, as usual,” Rafael says as I step out of the car. His voice is smooth, the kind that makes every compliment sound like poetry. He gives me a wink, one he’s used a thousand times, but somehow it still makes me blush.
“Thank you, Rafe. I’ll be back before—”
“No, you won’t,” he cuts in, already reaching into the back seat. He pulls out my backpack.
The go bag.
The one I use back home when I’m spending the weekend at Rafael’s“watching movies with friends.”Which is code for: Rafael disappears with his latest conquest and I throw parties at his place without my father ever finding out.
I raise an eyebrow as I take the bag. A smirk tugs at Rafael’s lips.
“What areyoudoing, Rafe?”
“Me?” he asks innocently. “I’ll be joining a few friends for the rest of the week… for a groupsession.” His grin widens like he knows exactly how much he’s not telling me.
“But my Pa—”
“Thinks you’re with me. I’m taking you and your friends sightseeing,” he says easily, pressing a set of keys to his apartment into my palm. “Just in case things go south with the boy, call me if you need me.”
God, I love him.
I press a kiss to his cheek, squeezing his hand. “You’re the best.”
He hums smugly as I shut the door, and within seconds, his car disappears around the corner.
