Page 73 of Raphael (Belles & Mobsters 5)

“Nice time at the beach?” Diego asked, his expression blank, but I knew him well enough to know the fucker probably got a glimpse of Sailor in that goddamn bikini I’d never be able to forget.

“Is it a good time to kill you?” I retorted back dryly.

“What? I didn’t see a goddamn thing,” he muttered.

Caine and Diego sat at one table, while the other three men sat at the other table. My team was always on guard. Ever since I ended the agreement with the men my father dealt with, I had been prepared for any occurrence.

You never knew where and when the attack would be launched. It was a little past lunchtime and like the true Colombians they were, they preferred to drink warm coffee. No matter the temperature.

I lowered myself into the chair, my thoughts still lingering on the last conversation I had with Sailor. There was a piece of the puzzle missing and I meant to uncover it. The evidence stared back at me in the panic and terror that marred her face when she spoke of her parents.

It reminded me of the night I met her when I found that fucker feeling her up.

She still didn’t remember me. Eight years and the girl left a lasting impression on me and she didn’t even remember me.

It’d be funny if it wasn’t me.

After we spent time on the beach, Gabriel went back to work on his homework and Sailor had some editorial work to do. With Bruno settled in her arms.

“How is it going with the lady?” Caine broke the silence first.

I shrugged. Sailor was hard to read. She kept herself reserved. Almost as if she hid her feelings her entire life and didn’t know how to open up.

“Diego, I need you to keep tabs on what Sailor’s doing. Monitor everything she does on her phone and on the laptop. I want to make sure she cannot be traced. Keep her IP constantly changing, in case someone is attempting to track her down.”

I didn’t trust her parents at all. And I suspected Sailor might still be chasing her leads, adamant to put men like me behind bars. She wasn’t the type to give-up. The stubbornness lingered in those blue eyes and was set in her chin.

Diego nodded. “Nico has her IP address hidden so nobody can trace it.”

“Good.”

I turned to Caine. “I need you to dig more into Mr. and Mrs. McHale,” I told him. “There is something that nobody knows. Something that Sailor is scared of and I need to know what.”

Caine’s brow was furrowed and the way he looked at me, I could tell he had something on his mind.

“Spit it out, Caine.”

“Don’t you think you should tell the girl about the contract between her father and yours? The Belles and Mobsters agreement.”

It crossed my mind, but how in the fuck did one broach that subject? It was clear Sailor wasn’t close to her parents, but she loved her sister. To break news like that would shatter anyone.

I shook my head. It wasn’t the right time to tell her. She and her sister were close. Sailor gave everything up and adopted Gabriel. It would be cruel to tell her that Anya was given to my father to impregnate and then break her in as a whore.

“Does she remember you?” Diego’s voice was low and nobody could hear us, but I wished we were having this conversation in a more private location.

“No.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way,” Caine muttered. “You don’t exactly have a face that a woman forgets. I’ve witnessed it enough times.” Diego snickered. “All I’m saying is that it’s odd.”

“I agree,” Diego chimed in. “It’s extremely strange she doesn’t remember you. After all, you killed a man for her.”

An idea popped in my head. “Secure men to meet us in Miami. I’m going to take Sailor on a date.”

Both of their blank stares met my gaze. I couldn’t blame them. I didn’t really date. Yes, I fucked women but there was no room for dating and relationships in my line of work. And a blonde young woman from eight years ago always lurking in the corner of my mind didn’t help.

“Date?” Caine finally asked. “Like what kind?”

“I’ll take her to the fundraiser we are hosting for the Mayor at La Reina.”

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