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When I open my mouth to ask a question, he turns up the radio and I shut up, shifting my gaze out the window, trying to calm my heartbeat as I keep pressure on the cut to stop the bleeding.
I spend the rest of the ride watching the sun set, then the sky darken. He takes a different road home and it takes us longer to get back. We finally pull through the gates of Stefan’s house two long, silent hours later. Well, silent except for when Rafa was making angry phone calls.
I never thought I’d be glad to be back here, and I can feel the panic quelled just beneath the surface. I need to process what just happened because the longer I sit here, the more I know those guys weren’t just punks. They meant business. And they did target us.
When we pull up to the front doors, Rafa kills the engine, but when I reach to open my door, he captures my arm.
His grip is surprisingly hard. He must realize it when I meet his gaze because he softens his hold.
“Gabriela,” he says, looking like he did that first morning when he’d taken me jogging.
I don’t say anything but wait for him to continue.
“I need you to do something for me. Or, more precisely, not do something.”
“What?”
“I need you to not mention what happened to Stefan.”
I study him, wonder about his motives, wonder how I can not mention this to Stefan.
“Actually,” he laughs almost nervously. “It may be better not to tell him I took you at all.”
“You want me to lie to him?”
“Just don’t talk about it. You won’t have to lie.”
“Why?”
“Because he’ll be pissed I took you without protection. And he’d be right.” He gestures to my forehead.
I touch it, feel how some tissue has stuck to the dried blood.
“And he probably won’t let you out of his sight. Or at least not with me.”
“He’ll want to know how I got this.”
“You tripped. Walked into a wall maybe.” He touches it gently. “It’s not too bad. Once you clean it, it’ll barely be noticeable.”
“He doesn’t miss anything, Rafa. Don’t you know that about him?”
“Listen, it’s up to you. I’m just asking for both our sakes.”
Is he afraid of Stefan? Do I care? I know I don’t want to be a prisoner here. And I could use an ally even if that ally is Rafa. My options are limited.
“I won’t say anything.”
He smiles, seeming relaxed again. “Thank you. I’ll see you later.”
“See you,” I say, and climb out of the car to head inside.24StefanAlex Romano was more forthcoming than I thought he would be. But I guess if you don’t have anything to hide, it’s not that hard.
I understand now why he did what he did for Gabriela. Why he was willing to risk his life for her. I get why he felt he owed her and believe fully that they’re like brother and sister.
What I don’t understand is why Marchese didn’t kill him outright when he caught him helping Gabriela run away. I wonder how much Gabriela had to do with that. Maybe he couldn’t afford to lose another kid.
It’s early evening when I arrive back at the house from my trip to Rome. I have a message to call Matt Lawrence back. He’s apparently dug up a little more information on Gabriela’s mother’s drowning.
A smiling Millie approaches as I take off my suit jacket. I hand it to her when she stretches her arm out for it.
“Welcome home, Stefan,” she says.
“Thanks, Millie.” I look beyond her out to the patio but it’s empty. “How are things here?”
“Oh, fine,” she starts telling me about something in the kitchen but I interrupt.
“Where’s Gabriela?” I ask. I don’t care about anything else.
“In her room. She was out by the pool earlier though.”
“Swimming?”
“No. Reading.”
“What else did she do?”
“Not much. I think she’s bored, actually. It may be a good idea to get her out.”
I nod. I agree, actually. “That is a good idea. I have to make a call but have her get dressed to go to Palermo for dinner.”
Millie smiles. “I know she’ll love that, Stefan.”
I nod. “Thank you, Millie.” I turn to walk away but stop. “Oh, has she been in the library?” I realized the door was unlocked and guess it was Millie who’d innocently let her in, not thinking about the phone.
“Yes. She sits there when it’s too hot outside and reads. I hope that was okay. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“It’s not a problem.” I know she’s not reading in there but calling her brother and that’s fine. I think I may even have a solution for the problem Marchese created. But that will take some doing.
Millie heads upstairs and I make my way to the study, dialing Matt on my way.
“Stefan, thanks for calling me back.”
