Page 69 of Raphael (Belles & Mobsters 5)

“I heard one of the men say that we can’t go back home until Grandma and Grandpa McHale are dead.” I froze. “Because they want us dead.”

Fucking people and their big mouths.

“I don’t want you to worry about Grandma and Grandpa,” I told him firmly. “We have Willow and Aurora, and her brothers.”

“And Raphael,” he added.

Ugh. He’d only known him for a few days and the kid was already in love with the man.

“Yeah,” I muttered vaguely, unwilling to confirm nor deny.

I was still unsure whether marrying him was wise. It almost felt like jumping from the proverbial frying pan into a fire. So damn appropriate since hell was ablaze with fires and Raphael was definitely a devil. A handsome, charismatic, gorgeous fucking devil.

“What about my dad?” My head whipped to him. He had never asked about his father. Not once.

“What do you mean?” I asked, my own voice sounding strange to my own ears.

“Could he help?”

Goosebumps ran down my arms. Anything about his father had my skin crawling with disgust.

“No,” I told him, keeping my voice even.

“Why not? Aren’t dads supposed to help?”

I swallowed. He was right. Fathers were supposed to help. Except mine didn’t. Neither did my mother. And his father was dead; not that I thought he’d help.

“Yes, they are,” I finally answered. “Raphael will help us.”

Suddenly Bruno jumped, something resembling a bark vibrated through the air, distracting us both and the two of us burst into a fit of giggles.

“That’s such girlish bark, Bruno. I never heard one like it,” I teased him.

“Watch it, lady,” a deep familiar sound found us and my head shot up. “He might take that personally.”

Sure as hell, Raphael strode towards us, wearing a white t-shirt and black shorts that hung low off those mouthwatering hips. Good God, no man should look that good in shorts. Forcing my eyes to his face, I noted a five o’clock shadow grazing his jaw. He’d left yesterday and whatever he did, he didn’t get much sleep.

Maybe he hooked up and there was no sleep involved,I mused silently, though the bitterness of my tone didn’t escape me. I didn’t care. I really didn’t; it was just the principle of it. If he couldn’t keep his word about something like that, then he wouldn’t keep any of his other promises.

“Raphael!” Gabriel shot up, his eyes lit up and ran towards his brother then threw himself into his arms. Raphael caught him and swung him around, while his blue eyes met mine and a feral hunger like lust reflected in his hard gaze. All the air swished out of my lungs, both of us staring at each other and neither one of us willing to look away first.

He held my gaze, something urgent shifting like a breeze between us. The question was whether it was heading in the wrong direction.

“Sailor,” he greeted me and my eyes shifted away from him, scared I’d drown in those blue flames and forget to breathe.

I nodded.

“We missed you,” Gabriel exclaimed.

“I missed you all too.” He put Gabriel down before lowering to the ground and rubbing Bruno’s head. “Hey Bruno. Yeah, you too buddy.”

Gabriel giggled. “He’s still learning his name.”

“But you like it?” Raphael asked him and Gabriel nodded eagerly.

“Mom picked a good name.”

“She sure did,” Raphael agreed. Both their gazes, filled with mischief, flickered my way. Something pierced through my chest seeing them like that. It had never been more evident that Gabriel looked just like his brother. There was no denying it.

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