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We chat amiably during the ride to Vlad's place, and once we reach there I'm surprised at the size of the grounds. Though the house is located in Brighton Beach, it's probably the biggest one in the area, having its own private beach, too.
"So it's just the two of them here?" I ask Raf as he pulls into the parking lot.
"No. They've taken in some kids they rescued from this awful experiment," he starts, explaining that they'd opened up an academy for the kids who had spent their entire lives in captivity, aiming to reeducate them about the world and give them a new purpose.
"I think they have about ten living with them now," Raf mentions.
I nod appreciatively. That's very kind of them, and I can't help but be impressed that they'd dedicated themselves to helping the poor kids.
"Oh, one more thing," he stops me right before we're about to go to the door.
"Hm?"
"Remember the scandal with Sisi's sister? They invited Venezia to stay with them for a while. Don't mention anything about her and Michele. I want to approach her first and get her side before everything blows up."
"Why don't I talk to her?" I offer. "She'd be more willing to open up to a woman, don't you think?"
He mulls it over, eventually agreeing.
"Ok, we'll do that. Just…make sure Vlad doesn't hear of it. The last thing I want is for him to get involved and…" Raf groans as he shakes his head.
"Easy, Blue. If anyone heard you they might think you're protecting your brother," I tease.
"Noelle, not you too," he bemoans, and I chuckle.
Yet at the same time I store one more bit of information away. It seems I'm not the only one who thinks Raf isn't exactly…revenge-focused anymore. Not that I mind it, since I don't want him putting himself in danger by going up against Michele, who, by all intents and purposes, is capable ofanything.
Yet something isn't sitting right with me.
Maybe it's the fact that, though Raf denies it, he doesn't want to harm his brother—regardless of what Michele might have done to him.
Therein lies the source of my frustration.
Just thinking about the hell Raf went throughbecauseof Michele puts me in a very murderous mood. It's not fair that he should get away just like that when Raf will have those awful memories forever.
Maybe Michele had gained a few sympathy points with me after I'd found out some of his past, but that doesn't erase everything else.
At the end of the day, I'll always put Raf first.
We barely make it to the door when it opens, Vlad's form filling the entire frame, his eyes scanning us from head to toe before closing the door in our faces.
I blink, giving Raf an amused look
"Is Raf here already?" Sisi's voice echoes from the hall.
"Just the post," Vlad calls back, but not a second after the door is opened again, this time by Sisi.
"You're in big trouble, Vlad," she tells him, shaking her head. "I'm sorry about that. You know how he can get," she turns to us, beckoning us inside. "He's like a big territorial dog that won't let anyone come too close."
"Hey, I heard that," Vlad's incensed voice resounds as he comes back. "You're not being fair, hell girl."
"And you," she points her finger to his chest, "need to remember what we agreed on. Now be a good boy and don't scare our guests off."
Vlad mumbles something under his breath before he gives Sisi a dazzling smile.
"Of course. Where are my manners. Welcome," he addresses us with so much fake enthusiasm we all start laughing.
"Let's move to the living room," Sisi motions to her right. "The house is a little quiet today since the kids are out on a trip with their teacher, so it's only going to be us."
