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“And why is that?” The guy starts to drag me backward. He stinks of body odor and cheap alcohol. If he doesn’t kill me, his repugnant smell will.
“Because—” Raph’s icy voice comes from behind me, sending a current of electricity and relief down my body.
In the next moment, I hear the guy’s painful scream and I’m released from his hold. When I turn, he’s on the dirty ground. His arm is at a weird angle, Raph is holding the knife, and his heavy boot is pressed against the guy’s throat, making him gargle.
“You hurt what’s mine. Soon, you’ll be wishing you were dead,” Raph growls. He lifts his foot and furiously kicks the guy’s side, making him cough and whimper. Then, with the heel of his heavy boot, he hits the guy’s face, knocking him out.
I gasp in shock at his show of fury.
“Wow!” Rague claps his hands next to me, like he’s enjoying a great show. I’m not sorry for the piece of shit on the floor; I’m kind of liking the payback he’s getting. But I’m not encouraging it either. “Well done foster brother. Haven’t seen that kind of passion in years.”
Thick, dark blood trails out of the unconscious piece of shit’s nose, but he’s still breathing.
“Holy shit!” I stroke a hand over my face, not surprised to feel it trembling. Raph steps in front of me. He grabs my chin and turns my head to one side and then the other. When I wince, he frowns at me.
“I hit my head on the bricks,” I explain and then look down at my chest. There’s a little blood on the fabric where the blade dug into my skin.
“Motherfucker!” Raph growls, staring at the red stain.
“It’s nothing. I’m okay,” I say, trying to calm him down. But seeing how he pummeled the guy, I don’t think it’s going to work right now.
My eyes fall on Rague, who’s turned the guy on his stomach and is wrapping his hands with a cable tie. His arm is definitely broken, with an open fracture on the humerus.
“Who’s this dick, anyway?” Rague asks me.
“He’s Mr. Coleman's nephew. He wants a ring that’s in the vault at the morgue. Apparently, it’s worth a fortune.” I exhale, wrapping my arms around myself and dropping my forehead on Raph’s shoulder. His hand runs through my hair, comfortingly massaging my scalp and making me shiver.
“He’s the fucker who tried to rob the convenience store. He’s got the same geometrical tattoo on his wrist,” my boyfriend says.
“But why rob the store? Did he intend to kidnap you and make it look like you were a hostage or something?” Rague asks.
“He wanted Michael’s keys to the vault. That’s why he tried to rob the store after stealing the gun from his late uncle’s cleaning lady, Ms. Scalini. He must have been desperate trying to open the safe without the keys when he broke into the morgue,” Raph explains.
“Failing again.”
“I think he’s under the influence of some kind of drug,” I tell them.
“This guy is a drug addict and an idiot. Dangerous combination.” Rague shakes his head, kicking the guy’s shoe.
“He was about to cut my fingers, so I guess you’re right.” I let out a hysterical short laugh, realizing I blurted out the wrong thing as soon as it came out. Because Raph’s body stiffens, and his hand halts the soothing circles on my head. A low, scary growl vibrates through his chest; I can feel it against my palm.
“I’ll bring the van to the end of the alley. Can’t back it in here; it’s too narrow,” Rague says before walking away.
“Van?” I ask Raph.
“You could have died, Michael,” he snarls, tilting my head back with force, so his blazing eyes are piercing mine.
I fist his t-shirt while trying to find the right words. “I know. I…”
“Why did you leave without telling me? You left your phone,” he hisses back without letting me talk.
“I forgot the phone. And you were clearly busy. You closed yourself in the bedroom, not wanting me to hear whatever Rami was telling you,” I retort. But I quickly avoid his angry eyes, feeling suddenly petty and annoyed. Mostly at myself.
He sighs and lets go of me, turning his head toward the ground. When he looks at me again, his expression is blank.
“He called to tell me about Mr. Coleman's nephew, Robert Barring. He owns money to a lot of people and fit the robber's body description. I believe this is him.” He waves at the body on the ground. “Jesus, Michael. You were already shaken up after the phone call and I didn't want you to get even more overwhelmed. Now go back to the penthouse and wait for Rami there.” His voice sounds detached.
“Where are you going?” I grab his arm before he can turn away.
