Page 305 of From Rakes to Riches

“The extra days will serve us well,” Raphael continued. “It gives me time to make the arrangements to have Mathilde’s ashes go with us. We can spread them from the Brooklyn Bridge. She’d like that, I think.”

Gabriel’s gait changed, which was how Raphael knew he was about to say something that made him uncomfortable. “I know she was difficult... but I am sorry Mathilde is gone.”

“As am I.”

They fell silent as they stopped at the back-garden gate of the mansion no one knew they occupied. Their fountain tinkled in the background, mingling with the sounds of an approaching couple.

Raphael thought back to the day when his father had told them that the only way to escape their destiny was death.

Well...turned out the bastard had been right.

As the couple approached, the man deftly moved his lady to the opposite side of the walk, placing himself between Gabriel’s bulk and her body.

Though they were in the part of the West End that was well patrolled, and where street ruffians rarely dared to venture, it was Gabriel’s bulk and general air of menace that ignited the man’s protective instinct.

Besides that move, the pair paid them little mind as they swished by, chattering as if nothing could touch them in the infatuated world they’d created.

Raphael would not have even marked them, if not for his brother.

Gabriel watched them with undue intensity. His fingers twitched as the man ran his hand along the woman’s face.

Shifting uncomfortably, Raphael second-guessed his own plans for the evening.

All he’d desired in the hours since he’d left Mercy’s side, was to return to it. Once the sun had gone down, he’d been nearly vibrating out of his skin with anticipation.

Walking around half hard at the thought of having her, hoping no one would notice.

Especially his brother, who had never so much as touched a woman.

He’d been born and bred a machine of violence. And nothing more.

Where would Gabriel fit in this world when they were through? He knew nothing else.

Hewasnothing else.

Raphael thumped Gabriel’s chest to catch his attention. “Don’t be worried, yeah? The doctor said that big dolts like you don’t die in surgery often.”

“I’m not nervous.”

“Then what is wrong with you?”

His neck swiveled back to the woman. “Nothing.”

Raphael took in a gigantic breath, bracing himself for extreme disappointment. He wanted Mercy with an ache he’d never known, but on an evening as momentous as this, he should be there for his brother.

“Do you want company?” he asked. “Let’s get a round, yeah?”

“Not tonight.” Gabriel fished his pipe out of his pocket and packed it with an expensive tobacco he was fond of. “I’m going to check a few things.”

That brought Raphael to attention. “What things?”

“Never you mind.”

Raphael rolled his eyes. There was no talking to him when he was like this. “Well, I’ll be off then.”

He pointed his shoes in the direction of Cresthaven Place.

“What are you about tonight?” Gabriel asked, as if it had only just occurred to him to do so.

---