Page 9 of Raphael (Belles & Mobsters 5)

But now, I had to explain to my friends that we had to get out of here. My eyes roamed over them and just as quickly asDiabloentered my mind, he also left when I noticed Anya was missing.

“Where is Anya?” I questioned, alarmed. As if she anticipated my return, my older sister sauntered toward us, and I rushed to her. “Where were you?”

The smile I had come to know, the one that hid everything - her pain, secrets, and ghosts - played around her lips. I hated it. I wished we’d just pack it up and leave everything behind. Mom, Dad, their fucked up world, everyone.

Well, not Aurora and Willow. I’d miss them terribly. But for my sister, I’d do it. I’d do anything for Anya. My sister had been protecting me for too long.

Years of hiding the family secrets. Lies had become too natural. I wasn’t sure who we were anymore. Carefree hadn’t been in our vocabulary since I was five. The black cloud had been following me ever since knowing that something was wrong. I just didn’t know what it was until I was old enough to understand.

“I got invited to a party,” Anya announced.

My brows scrunched. “In a bathroom?”

The look she gave me was void of all emotion. The one that happened after she’d been hurt. After Father hurt her. But he wasn’t here.Right?My eyes roamed the crowded room. Not a single familiar face in sight.

“It’s an important party,” she remarked in a monotone voice. I hated it when she was like that. Broken. Hurt. Shattered.

“Does it have a pool?” Aurora questioned her.

Anya just shrugged.

“Every house has a pool in this area,” Willow reasoned. “We could go skinny dipping.”

The music blasted through the space, drowning out some of my thoughts. But not my worry. My sixth sense warned me that something wasn’t right. Except, the main reason for all our troubles was miles away.

“Where is the party?” Willow asked curiously.

“Two blocks away,” Anya explained.

“Let’s do it,” Willow exclaimed, jumping up and down. “This place is boring anyhow.”

I glanced around again. I wanted to thank the stranger for saving me. I wanted to make sure he was alright.

“I’m game,” Aurora chimed in.

Come to find out, the devil had many faces.

* * *

When we arrived at an old colonial home, it was clear there was no party. Alarms sounded in my head.

“I don’t know–” I started but was immediately interrupted.

“We’re going in,” Anya cut me off, that stubborn look on her face. She raised her hand and banged on the grand entrance gate. “Hello,” she yelled. “We have an invitation.”

Willow peeked through marble columns that surrounded the house.

“It has a pool,” she exclaimed victoriously.

“We don’t have bathing suits,” I protested weakly.

Both Aurora and Willow started stripping. “We’ll use our undergarments as bathing suits,” Aurora reasoned.

We’d been doing stupid things lately. Reckless things. It was fun, but in the back of my mind, I kept worrying about the consequences.

“We should really go back to the hotel,” I told them all. “All of us, Anya.”

The three of them didn’t pay me any attention as they discarded their clothes and climbed the stone fence.

---