Page 12 of Raphael
That explains some things, but not the subtle threat assessment I'd felt during our conversation. Not the way all three men carry themselves like people accustomed to violence.
"I understand," I say, though I'm not sure I do. "Family is important."
Chapter 5 - Raphael
"Family is important."
In our world, family isn't just important. It's everything. The reason we fight, kill, protect. The justification for all the blood on our hands.
But looking at Annie now, with her amber eyes wide and sincere, her soft curves barely concealed by that oversized t-shirt, I'm struck by how different she is from anyone else in my life. Twenty-one, but with a wisdom in her eyes that speaks of someone who's seen her share of hardship.
"I should let you get some sleep," I say, forcing myself to step back from her doorway. The scent of her, vanilla, is making it hard to think clearly.
"Actually," she says, surprising me, "I'm not that tired. If you wanted to talk or..." She trails off, looking suddenly uncertain.
I should say no. I should walk away, maintain professional boundaries, and not complicate an already precarious situation.
"I could use a drink," I find myself saying instead. "Join me?"
Her smile is immediate and genuine. "I'd like that."
The house feels different now that Dante and Franco have left. Less like a potential crime scene and more like a home again.
"Wine?" I offer, opening a cabinet that holds a selection of bottles from Dante's import business. "Or I have whiskey, if you prefer."
"Wine would be nice," she says, perching on one of the barstools at the kitchen island. "Though I wouldn't say no to trying whiskey sometime. I've only had the cheap stuff at college parties."
I laugh, selecting a smooth Cabernet that I know is good. "We'll save the good whiskey for another night, then. This is a nice introduction to proper wine, at least."
"I'll take your word for it," she says, accepting the glass I hand her. Our fingers brush briefly, and I'm not imagining the slight intake of breath from her at the contact. "I'm more of a 'whatever's being served at the campus bar' kind of girl."
"The joys of college," I say dryly, pouring myself a more substantial glass. After the night I've had, I need it.
"So," she says as I move to stand across from her, "was your meeting productive?"
"Very," I say, leaning against the counter opposite her. "We resolved a significant... business issue tonight."
Her eyes meet mine over the rim of her glass as she takes a sip. "That's good."
We fall silent for a moment. I find myself studying the delicate line of her throat as she swallows, the way the kitchen light catches in her short hair, the curve of her lips against the glass. Dangerous thoughts. Inappropriate thoughts.
"Marco mentioned his mother tonight," she says suddenly, setting her glass down. "When he had his nightmare."
My grip tightens on my glass. "What did he say?"
"Not much. Just that 'she went away' and 'couldn't handle your life.' But he was quick to add that you never leave him."
The tightness in my chest eases slightly. "That's accurate, as far as it goes."
"You don't have to explain," Annie says quickly. "It's not my business."
"No, it's okay." I take a long drink of my wine. "Alicia and I were never married. She got pregnant unexpectedly, and we tried to make it work. When Marco was three, she decided she couldn't handle... my work schedule. The unpredictability." What I don't say: the night she found me washing blood off my hands at 3 AM, the questions I couldn't answer, the fear in her eyes when she realized how the rest of her life would be.
Annie nods, her expression thoughtful. "That must have been hard on all of you."
"On Marco, mostly," I admit. "She left without saying goodbye to him. Just packed her things while we were at the park and disappeared. Left a note saying she was done trying to pretend we could be normal."
The familiar anger rises in me at the memory. Not because Alicia left me. Our relationship was already fractured beyond repair, but because she abandoned our son without a backward glance.
