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Some of Giavanni’s men were not to be trusted. They doubted the path their leader was going on. During her time there, she’d seen many a man killed. She often wondered what kind of excuse he’d give for the death of one of their capos. If Giavanni found out about Raphael’s betrayal, he’d kill his own son, she had no doubt. Raphael would never be safe, not while his father led.
“It’s dinner time,” Raphael said. “Don’t be too long.”
She switched off the shower, grabbed a towel, and quickly patted herself dry as she padded back into his bedroom. She found a silk negligee she liked. The moment she tried it on, she loved the feel of the silk against her body.
After running a brush through her long locks, she made her way toward the dining room. Raphael had turned down off the lights and a couple of candles took their place. He opened his arms up and without a second thought, she stepped into them.
Resting her head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes. “What about food?”
“It’ll still be warm.”
“This is nice.” She’d never been held like this before. “Raphael, what will happen if your father finds out what you’re trying to do?”
He tensed up. “You know what he’ll do if I react too late. Son or not, I’ll be dead.”
She lifted up.
The thought of him not being alive, of never seeing him again, she hated the very thought of it. “You can’t do that. You can’t allow that to happen.”
“I won’t.”
“Please, Raphael? Maybe we can run away together? Would that work?” She didn’t want him to die.
“Elenore, what has brought this on?”
“He’s evil. He’ll kill you. I’ve seen him do it to anyone who doesn’t agree with him. If you get caught, he’ll hurt you, and I can’t bear that to happen. Please, Raphael, don’t do this.” She pressed her face against his chest, unable to look at him in case he saw her tears as weak.
He held her tightly. “You saw my father kill?”
“Yes. It was horrible.”
“When?”
She told him about the two capos she watched murdered.
“They were doing dirty deals,” Raphael said after she described them. She remembered their names because they had wives and children.
“No, they didn’t. Your father got one of the soldiers to plant evidence to make it look like they were doing dirty deals.” She sniffed. “He will kill you if he gets the chance. Please, Raphael, don’t do this. He needs to keep his secrets.”
He cupped her face. “I’m not going to run but I can put you somewhere safe until all of this is over. You won’t ever have to fear for your life again?”
“No. I don’t want to leave you. I don’t care about me. You don’t deserve to die.”
“You don’t know how wrong that is. I’ve done a lot of terrible things. You know this. I’ve been honest with you.” He stroked her cheek. His thumb grazed across her lips. “Damn it, you’re beautiful and I want to do everything in my power to deserve you.”
“You do. This is … it’s wrong,” she said. She couldn’t find the right words.
“Trust me,” he said. “Can you do that?”
“You know I can.”
“Good.” He held her close. “Now, let’s have some food.”
He made no other move to touch her as he took the lead toward the food. She nibbled on her lip, hating her own physical reaction to him. She couldn’t let anything happen to him. Even though she didn’t know the full extent of what he had planned, whatever it was, she knew it increased the risk of his death. She hoped his father wouldn’t retaliate and kill him. She didn’t want him to die.
Eating her food, she knew she would help him.
If Raphael ended up being killed, then she would gladly follow him. He’d taken her out of hell and showed her some of what heaven could be. Her life wasn’t perfect, it never had been, but for a short time at least, she was able to forget who she was.
Chapter Eight
“This is good,” Raphael said, staring down at the new passport and driver’s license with Elenore’s name on them.
Timothy had placed her age at twenty-three. “I only do the best work. It’s more than good. You know that.”
He chuckled. “What payment for these?”
“The same.”
“What happened to the molester?” he asked.
“Do you really want to know?” Timothy asked.
“You’re right. A new one so soon?”
“I like to keep busy. Word on the street is your boy Antonio is causing a little fuss.”
“Antonio’s too busy with his woman. Marrying her, getting her pregnant.”
“Your father, Romeo Giavanni, is using him to send a message, Raphael. He’s got a new shipment of drugs coming on. Now some believe this drug has the ability to incapacitate any girl, like the date rape drug, only this one knocks them out for days at a time,” Timothy said.
