Page 129 of Raphael (Belles & Mobsters 5)

“That cabrón is hiding,” he hissed. “He won’t come for you, but I’ll find him. I promise you, Reina. He won’t come near you. Ever again.”

The hint of vehemence vibrated through his every word, and I believed him. His darkness surrounded me in a protective bubble. Who would have ever thought that the devil would be my savior?

“Look at me, Sailor.” His fingers came to my chin and lifted it so our gazes met. “El amor todo lo puede.” Love can do it all. His soft words in Spanish had my heart fluttering.

“You and I will end your parents,” he vowed. “I’d rather die than let anyone hurt you or Gabriel.”

I swallowed hard, a lone tear rolling down my cheek. That was exactly the problem. I didn’t want him to die. He swept it away with his thumb, then ran it over my bottom lip. My tongue swept over it, licking the taste and sweeping over his finger.

His gaze dropped to my lips, that dark desire I came to know so well, lingering deep in those blues. There was possessive heat sizzling in his eyes, offering to consume me.

And I’d let him.

I came to a realization that the devil's colors weren’t red. They were blue - the color of his eyes.

ChapterFifty-Five

SAILOR

Raphael and I walked back from the beach, hand in hand.

I didn’t want to put distance between us. His strength and warmth soaked into my bones, and I found comfort in his touch.

As we stepped into the elevator to take us to the penthouse, I remained close to him. His hands came to my hips and pulled me closer. It wasn’t sexual, but more possessive. Like he needed to feel me close to him as much as I needed to feel him close to me.

My heart drummed. My blood burned through my veins. And my skin buzzed with the need. But I wasn’t ready. I knew it deep down in my heart.

Too many nightmares. Too many questions. Too many things left unresolved.

I was lucky that Raphael came when he did. Santiago Tijuana might not have raped me, but he was close to breaking me. The damage, mental more so than physical, lingered deep in my mind and my soul.

The elevator dinged, signaling we were on the top floor and Raphael pressed his palm against the security device. It opened directly to my floor, two of Raphael’s men standing in the hallway.

A brief acknowledgement and the two of us proceeded into the penthouse through another secured door that only Raphael’s and my palm opened.

The lock clicked and Raphael opened the door for me.

I walked through the door and the large view of Miami’s crystal blue water stretched through the windows that covered the entire south wall. The view got me every single time. It was breathtaking.

“You sure know how to pick homes with the most gorgeous views,” I murmured, breaking the silence.

There was a tremor to my fingers, nervous energy buzzing through my veins.

“Umm, want something to drink?” I offered. This was his home so it felt odd playing hostess.

“Sailor, don’t be nervous.” Raphael’s voice came from behind me, but not too close, as if he sensed I needed space.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly turned around and faced him. I still thought him to be the most handsome devil I had ever met.

“I’m not nervous,” I muttered. His eyes lowered to my hand, twisting and gripping my wrist so hard that my knuckles turned white. “Okay, maybe a bit,” I admitted.

“We’re just talking,” he assured. “Think of it as a visit.”

It was damn stupid that I needed his reassurance. It wasn’t that I didn’t want him. I really did. Except that fear still lingered somewhere deep down and I couldn’t shake it off.

“Water then?” I offered. “I don’t think there is any alcohol.”

Despite the fact I’d been here almost a month, it wasn’t a home. Not without Gabriel and Raphael here. So it had become just a place to linger in until I could come to terms with everything that had happened.

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