Page 19 of Dead Set on You
Rafael doesn’t look intrigued. He doesn’t look at me at all.
Guess he wants to do things the hard way.
I close the distance between us, making it impossible for him to look anywhere but at me. “All right then, it’s your funeral, Raffy Taffy.”
“Enough!” Rafael snaps, hands thrown into the air, startling the panic out of me.
Violet gasps.
“Why won’t you leave me alone?” He closes his eyes and presses the heels of his palms into them with an anguished groan.
I tilt my head, examining him. Something is off.
I’ve never seen Rafael lose his cool like this, no matter how many times I had his work badge deactivated or his dry cleaning canceled. I’d never admit it, but it throws me off. Because I thought I had him figured out.
“What the hell?” Violet squeaks, her eyes saucers. She’s clearly never seen this side of him either. Hasn’t seenanyside of him, apparently.
“Yes, Raffy Taffy. What the hell?” I add.
“Dios, why me?” Rafael looks up at his ceiling again.
Violet grabs a magazine from the table and begins to inch forward, eyeing the hallway behind us.
I’m not sure which of them needs more help.
“You know what …” she starts, holding the magazine across her chest like a shield. “I don’t need my phone.”
“Don’t—” Rafael says, cutting off her escape route. “I’m not yelling at you.” He smiles, as if to show he’s to be trusted.
A part of me can’t help but enjoy his discomfort. Violet stalls. Her freckled face is tense and her hands shaky around the magazine. Like she might actually be afraid of him. I should letthis play out, but she shouldn’t be giving herself a panic attack on his account. Despite his many shortcomings, Rafael wouldn’t harm a spider.
“His bark is louder than his bite,” I offer, feeling icky about defending Rafael. But crazier things have happened today. “If anyone should be afraid, it’s him.”
“Fuck.” Rafael’s cheek throbs.
Violet hesitates, her eyes darting between Rafael and the door. “I don’t even use my phone,” she says, her laugh watery.
“Please, I wasn’t … I haven’t slept well,” Rafael says, his hand scrubbing down his face. “I’m not myself. Not last night. Not now.”
“I … just … would really like to go.” Her eyes finally move from Rafael to me. She takes a tentative step forward, eyeing the distance to her escape. I step aside and gesture for her to keep moving. She stalls halfway down the hallway, her lip between her teeth.
“Do you have this effect on all women?” I glare at Rafael.
His nostrils flare.
“It’s both shocking and unsurprising.”
“Please, stop.”
“Maybeyoushould stop.”
“What will it take to make you go away?” he asks icily.
My chest caves at his meanness, making me angry. With him. With myself.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I plant my hands on my hips, glaring at Rafael.
“It means get the hell out of here already!” Rafael snaps, whipping his head in my direction. His chest heaves with frustrated breaths, and his eyes burn with misplaced anger.
