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"Cino is proving to be trickier. I need to have some sleep, but Lola, my expert in this sort of job, will be on it," Medusa said, rubbing her hands through her wild curls. "Be careful, all of you. I know you're big, tough war gods, but I've experienced what humans can do when properly motivated. And considering you basically went and told Rita to back away from your man, I'd say she's motivated."
"She's very protective of her clients," Rafael said fondly.
"Client. Is that what the kids are calling it these days? Interesting. I'm going to bed because my sugar just wore off. Be good, and if you can't be good, don't get caught," Medusa said and hung up on them.
"I like her." Rafael moved away from Bellona, and she took in a shaky breath.
Set fixed Bellona with his amber stare. "How do you want to play this?"
"As Medusa said, I think we should pay Tirone a house call. He might squeal on Cino and save us some time." Bellona chewed the inside of her cheek, hating what she was about to say next. "We need to take Rafael with us. Tirone will open the door for him at least, and their history might work in our favor."
"So glad you think so because I was going to see him with or without your permission." Rafael crossed his arms stubbornly. "Him being bankrupt weakens my company, and I need to shake the bastard to find out why he would do something so dumb."
"I'm just going to get my stuff from the apartment next door. The code still the same, Bells?" Set asked, already leaving because he knew the fight was about to start.
"Yes," she ground out through her teeth.
"Don't kill each other while I'm gone." Set gave them both a warning look before he shut the apartment door behind him.
Bellona clenched her hands into fists a few times and tried to keep her voice steady.
She said, "I'm trying my best not to tie you up or ship you off to the middle of nowhere right now. I need to keep you safe, not just for your sake, but for mine."
"Why? You seemed like you didn't give a shit about me this morning. You barely even looked at me," Rafael replied.
"Because it's hard to look at you and think straight, that's why!" Bellona said, rising to her feet. "It's like you learned nothing from your trip to the Catacombs. People want to kill you, and I was lucky yesterday that it was Laverna who got you and not someone else. You should be more concerned about me keeping you alive than me looking at you."
It sounded ridiculous. She was such a fool to have thought that she could do this job and remain cold and calculating.
Rafael's warm hands rested on her shoulders. "I don't want to make it harder for you, but I won't sit back and do nothing while my company crumbles right before my eyes. I'm mad at him, but Tirone could be a victim of Rita's machinations as well. You can't go in and hurt him without reason."
Bellona scowled. "Oh yes, I can."
Rafael turned her slowly and lifted her chin so she was forced to look at him. "Please don't hurt him until we need to. He's an old man, Bellona. There's no honor in beating him up."
"There's no honor in agreeing to put a hit out on you either. He doesn't care if you die, Rafael. I don't give a fuck that he's old," she growled.
"I do. Please, let me take the lead on this. If it doesn't work, then we can do it your way. Please?" Rafael brushed his lips over hers, sending bright sparks through her ichor. "Please, mia bella dea."
"Begging is better on your knees," she said, the antsy feeling under her skin settling because he was touching her.
Rafael stroked her cheek with his thumb. "I think we both know what will happen if I get on my knees for you again."
"You think I'm going to let that happen again, do you? That's bold of you."
Rafael smiled and kissed her. It was gentle enough that she could have pulled away at any moment but aggressive enough to tell her that maybe she wasn't the only one who had been thinking about spending a day in bed. His tongue languidly stroked against hers, and she groaned before taking a step back.
"Okay, fine, we will do it your way. But I swear if he even looks at you funny, I'll hang him up by his balls."
Rafael kissed her hand and the inside of her wrist. "Thank you, most wonderful and benevolent of goddesses."
Bellona laughed and rested her forehead against his chest. "You're such a pain in my ass."
Rafael hummed thoughtfully, his head tilting to one side. "If you're into it, I can make it so it doesn't hurt —"
"Don't start flirting with me. It's hard enough for me to think straight today," Bellona said, exasperated and turned on at the same time.
Rafael gestured to the telling bulge in his jeans. "Take comfort in the fact we are suffering together."
