Page 47 of Raphael (Belles & Mobsters 5)

“It’s fucking leveled to the ground. You must have led them there,” Byron said, his annoyance evident even over the phone.

“I wasn’t followed,” I said dryly.

“Are you sure?” He was baiting me.

“Yes, I’m fucking sure,” I answered, not taking his bait. “Maybe you need to upgrade your system.”

He snickered. The fucker knew he had one of the best systems in the world. He even rivaled that of Nico’s.

“Fat chance, unless-” He paused and I waited for him to finish his thought.

When he didn’t, I prompted, “Unless?”

For a moment, I thought he wouldn’t answer.

“Unless her parents let the location leak,” he hissed.

Sailor’s question flickered in my mind. She assumed I was followed too. I wondered if she came to the same conclusion as Byron. That her parents might have led the Tijuana to them. But that would mean the old McHale worked with Santiago Tijuana.

“I want to talk to Sailor,” Byron demanded. I normally liked him but his request annoyed the fuck out of me. “I want to hear from her that she and Gabriel are okay.”

“She’s sleeping,” I grumbled, jealousy gnawing at me. It was clear Byron had a close relationship with them. “Both she and Gabriel are. They had a rough morning.”

Silence followed. “She’s sleeping in front of you?”

He seemed surprised and hesitant to believe me. “I’m not in the habit of lying about shit like that.”

“Sailorneversleeps in front of strangers.” His statement hit me right in the chest. Maybe she remembered me after all. “Are you sure?”

“Would you like me to snap a photo and send it to you?” I spat back sarcastically.

A long pause.

“No need for a photo. But Raphael?”

“What?”

“Keep them safe,” he grunted. Byron’s voice held the slightest clench of his teeth. “I took responsibility for both of them that day in the hospital when the old McHale disinherited her for choosing the boy over him. And don’t trust her parents.”

Another few words were exchanged. I hung up and tossed the phone on the table next to me and my eyes returned to the young woman that I had never forgotten. With that hair of freshly fallen snow.

The moment I saw her, the world started turning for me. The moment my hands touched her body during our dance, my heart started beating.

I just couldn’t overlook that. I couldn’t let her go. I’d marry her and keep her safe with me.

Sailor jolted up, her dream-full eyes darting left and right. Still confusing reality and dreams. I watched her chest rise and fall, ghosts lurking in those eyes that reminded me of clear blue skies.

If there was heaven, it was in her eyes.

She flicked a gaze at Gabriel who still slept next to her, his head on her chest. I watched as her hand brushed the strands off of his forehead, a slight tremor to her fingers. It made me even more curious about this young woman. Peel all her layers and get to the bottom of her essence.

She was strong and fragile. Vulnerable and resilient.

So unlike my own mother, or any other woman I had ever met.

“We need to talk,” I said.

She released a shaky breath then rolled her eyes. “Wearetalking.”

---