Page 112 of Raphael (Belles & Mobsters 5)

“Yeah, a Hispanic average Joe. Miguel was his name, if I remember right. A construction worker, renovating our future home.” And his hate for the Hispanics finally explained. Not that I gave a shit. I wanted to see my father dead.

Then his words filtered through. He said ‘was’. “What do you mean Miguelwashis name? He’s no longer around?”

He chuckled, in the creepy kind of way. “Yes, he was my first kill. He’s the reason I hired Benito King. To get rid of him. The man had no scruples. Since Miguel ran to hide here in Miami, Benito arranged with the old Santos to hunt him down and have him killed.” I swallowed hard. Raphael’s father killed Anya’s father. Raphael’s father raped Anya. Where did it end? “There was an irony in the way Anya ended up under him, isn’t there?”

A sickening feeling grew in my stomach with each second.

The smirk on his face gave me the answer. “Poetic, right? Father and daughter destroyed by the same man. Me. The old Santos was just my tool. And the best part was that the payment was Anya. Not even my kid.”

“You sick son of a bitch,” I hissed, taking a step forward, ready to tackle him and strike him down. My father’s expression turned feral and produced a knife out of somewhere, then flicked his knife.

A single cut. I pressed my hand against it, warm liquid staining my fingers.Blood.The color of blood was red. Just as my hate for this man.

“Temper, Sailor,” Father taunted. “Haven’t I taught you that controlling your temper is everything? Teach her a lesson, Santiago,” he instructed, his eyes flickering to my side. Another strike on my cheek and I bit down on my tongue so hard, I could taste the metallic flavor of blood.

“You haven’t taught me shit,” I rasped, holding my cheek and blinking my tears away. I’d be damned if I’d cry in front of him. “Unless you want to count ‘what not to be’ as part of your teachings. Rapist. Molester. Child predator.”

He tsked, clicking his tongue. “You want to know the best part?” he asked, ignoring my accusations.

“Not really.”

“I’m going to tell you anyway,” he drawled with satisfaction. Father took off his glasses, then cleaned them as if we were discussing today’s news. Not his sins. “When your husband came to visit, he brought up the contract I failed to fulfill with the old Santos.” My heart iced over and I just knew that his next words would break me. I could see it in his self-satisfied feral expression. “He demanded I fulfill it by giving you to him. He knew Anya wasn’t mine and I cheated the Santos family out of the contract. I guess the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. Your husband is just like his father. Raphael Santos wanted to buy you.”

Bum-bum. Bum-bum. There went my heart.

ChapterForty-Eight

RAPHAEL

“Send all you have.”

Caine ended the call, his mouth stretched into a grim line.

It had been two full days since I’d seen my wife and it fucking felt like two years. I was itching to go back home. To her and Gabriel. Yet, all I was doing was chasing my own goddamn tail here in Miami.

But it was important I visited the families of my dead employees. I owed them that much at least. I was finishing the visit to the last family of my deceased employees. But the moment Caine’s eyes found mine, I instantly went on high alert.

It took all my mamma’s upbringing to remain immobile and continue offering comfort. Then I sought out the youngest brother of the Colombian family. The boy was fifteen. “Raul?”

He stepped forward. “Yes, Señor.”

“Take your mother inside,” I ordered him. “You tell the funeral home to send all expenses to me. I’m going to establish a monthly trust for your family.”

His spine stiffened and the young man straightened to his full height. “We don’t want charity.”

“It’s not charity,” I told him. “It’s a debt owed.”

He shook his head. “I’m going to get a job and-”

“You will finish school,” I cut him off, seeing the shattered expression on his mother’s face. She lost one son today, she didn’t have to fear losing another. “Then you’ll go to college. You nor your mother will go without. I’ll make sure of it.” When he opened his mouth to protest, I continued, “Then after you finish college, if you still want to work, you come and find me. Understood?”

I watched as mother and son walked into the little row home, then strode over to Caine.

“What is it?” I demanded, as cold dread washed over me.

I could have them brought here but the threat was greater here than on the island.

“Sailor’s gone.” Simple words. A rippled effect. “Nobody knows where she is.”

---