Page 33 of Bellona

"Oh, Bells." Set put a big arm around her, and for once, Bellona accepted the hug. "You are overwhelmed and freaking out about it now, but this is a good thing. I know the idea of peace is confusing for us. Who says we can't change the roles that were assigned to us? You don't have to be just a god of war."

"I wasn't a protector like you. I was always this."

Set hummed. "You were born from the cries of women caught up in a war. You came from their blood and longing for a champion. So be a champion who women need and can trust."

"It's that easy, huh?" Bellona said, tears in her throat.

"You already are a champion for them. Ask all the women you've saved in trafficking alone. You saved those women two days ago in Tangier. You are doing everything you can to protect Rafael right now because you know he's a good man."

"Too good for the likes of me," Bellona pointed out.

"He doesn't feel that way. You should have seen his face when Thoth told him that gold you put on him was your divine blessing," Set said, and then, seeing her confused face, he told her what had happened.

Bellona covered her burning face with her hands. "Fucking Fates, this can't be happening. That's what it is? Kema is never going to shut up about this."

Set started laughing. "Rafael looked like he was ready to start shouting it from the rooftops too. He loved the idea that you had claimed him like that."

Bellona uncovered her face. "Really?"

"Yeah, Bells. He wants you and would tell it straight to your face if you let him."

Bellona smiled a little, her heart throbbing with all the new emotions Rafael had caused in her. "I want him to be happy and safe, which means I'm going to see Cino Ferroni tonight while Rafael's asleep."

"Fucking and running is a bit cold, but I get why you have to. He's got you wrapped around his little finger."

"His big dick, actually," Bellona clarified with a smirk, making Set roar with laughter.

"Go on, get out of here, and do what you need to do. With any luck, you'll be back before he wakes up, so I don't have to deal with his sad little puppy face," Set said and pulled her to her feet.

"Text me if Medusa gives you an update. I trust her to find the dirt we need on Cino, but I can't wait for it anymore."

Set patted her shoulder. "Try not to get too fucked up, okay? You got Rafael now, which means you have something to live for. Remember that."

Bellona gave him her best fuck you smile. "How about I do my best not to leave pieces of the Costa family from one end of Rome to the other?"

"Good enough. I'm going to text Rom and give him a heads-up anyway," Set replied. He pointed to a large duffle bag of weapons on the kitchen table. "Help yourself."

Bellona rubbed her hands together. "Don't mind if I do."

After changing the license plates on the black Audi, Bellona made her way through Rome to where Cino Ferroni's estate was located near the old port city of Ostia.

Bellona tried not to let her old memories of the area overwhelm her. She could still smell the sea and the soldiers if she let her mind drift for a moment. Now, the streets she used to walk were archaeological dig sites or still buried under layers of silt and soil.

Bellona had gotten Cino's address from Medusa with a thumbs up. It was good to have friends to support her nefarious deeds. She mentally promised Rafael that she wouldn't rough up Cino unless she really had to. Bellona tried not to flinch at the thought of Rafael's feelings impacting her actions. She didn't want to disappoint him, and that was a whole new experience for her.

"How did this happen?" she muttered. She was annoyed that some man had power over her. She laughed to keep herself from crying. "In love with a mortal. Just what in all the hells are the Fates playing at."

She blew out a long breath and tried to focus on the road. None of her grumblings really mattered because Bellona knew deep down that Rafael belonged to her, and she wasn't going to give him up without a fight. She also needed time to think about what Set had said about being a goddess who saved women.

When it all was said and done, who could stop her from changing her divine purview? Was it really changing at all, or was it only her perspective on it that needed to change? For a moment, she thought about calling her friend Magdalena. She had been pushing Bellona to check in on Rafael since Bellona had told her about him years ago.

Somewhere out there, Magdalena was laughing her ass off about being right. Maybe Bellona would hold off on that particular call.

Ten minutes later, Bellona pulled up two streets away from Cino's waterfront property at Tibidabo Beach.

There wasn't any movement on the streets or the surrounding buildings, so if Cino was being watched by Rita's men or other bounty hunters, they were doing a better job of it than earlier in the day.

Bellona slipped over the stone fence like a shadow and dropped into the garden. There were enough trees and shrubs surrounding the house that Bellona managed to avoid the cameras that were placed around the property. Cino was already smarter than Tirone just by being paranoid enough to have them.

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