Page 41 of Raphael (Belles & Mobsters 5)

“Kept him from you?” I hissed, suddenly his mesmerizing features were non-relevant. “He’s not yours. He’s mine.” I leaned forward and my finger pushed against his hard chest. “Mine.”

Realizing what I was doing, my body jerked away from him, our eyes locked in a battle of wills. That full mouth curved into a harsh smile.

“He’s my brother. He's a Santos.”

“He’s a kid,” I spat out. “My kid! And I’ll be damned if I let you pull him into your shitshow.” I held his gaze, hoping he’d see in my eyes I meant those words. “Now tell me where we are going,” I demanded.

“I have an island,” he explained. “Right off the coast of Florida and only my most trusted men stay there with me.”

Island? Jesus, there’d be no leaving that unnoticed.

“So like a prison but without bars,” I snickered.

He smiled, unperturbed by my tone. “Like an island that is safe.”

“How did you find out about us anyhow?” I questioned him.

“I have my ways,” he drawled.

I stared at him. He was handsome, something wicked, dark and dangerous dancing in his eyes. I’d be an idiot not to recognize how competent he handled himself during the attack. Both times.

The question was whether he’d try to kill me in the end.

* * *

Gabriel came back from the bathroom and resumed sitting in his spot. His eyes flicked my way, then to Raphael and back to me.

I smiled reassuringly. “You okay?”

He nodded. “Mom, are the bad guys going to come back?”

I pulled him into a hug, while meeting Raphael’s gaze over his head. I pondered what to say. Today was a shock to both of us. I didn’t want to lie to him and say we were safe, but I didn’t want to worry him either.

“If they do come back, I’ll be here to protect you,” Raphael assured. “Both you and your mother,” he added.

I watched in fascination as relief washed across my son’s face.He trusts Raphael, I realized. Whether it was misplaced or not remained to be seen.

“We won’t let anything happen to you, buddy,” I said, pressing a kiss on Gabriel’s forehead. “No matter what.”

Because I love you. Because I made a promise. Because your mother did the same for me.

My chest squeezed in that familiar way and something fierce burned in the back of my throat as it tightened. Emotions - love, fear, apprehension.

Relieved and assured, Gabriel dug out one of his comics and started reading, his eyes darting to the cabin window to look at the clouds every so often. When he had that dreamy look in his eyes, he reminded me so much of Anya. Sometimes, when we were still kids, she’d have that wistful look in her eyes. When she still hoped for a better life.

“Is something else the matter, Gabriel?” I asked him, worried I was doing something wrong. That he wasn’t happy.

“What about my school?” His brows furrowed. “I don’t want to be in trouble for missing school.”

A smile touched my lips. My little worrier. I ruffled his hair, brushing my hands over his soft dark curls. “I’ll talk to your teacher. Don’t worry about that.”

This time he grinned. “Thanks, Mom.”

I chuckled. “No problem, buddy. That’s what moms do. It’s our job.”

“You’re the best at it.”

Truthfully, half of the time I didn’t know what I was doing. But if he thought I was good at it, that was all that mattered.

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