Chapter Twelve

Raphael



I had to leave the house; I couldn't stay for few reasons, not least of all that I found I wanted Sophie as I had never wanted any other woman. My need for her was violent. The problem was, she was staying in my bedroom, in my bed. And I didn't know how to handle that because no matter what happens or how I felt. She was staying with me.

I passed by Bruno's bedroom to check whether he wanted to go to the vault with me, but he wasn't there, so I decided to check on Romano. Same thing, not there.

Where the hell were they?

It was almost midnight, and though it was still early to go to bed, nothing major was happening that should keep us awake unless you were me and had the epitome of temptation in bed.

As I walked out through the kitchen, I heard murmurs and then laughter. What the hell was there to laugh about? I walked in on them sitting side by side eating.

Romano had his elbows on the table looking at Bruno, who seem to be regaling him with what appeared to be an amusing story because Romano chuckled, which was in itself a novelty.

Romano rarely laughed or chuckled. The nearest to a smile he can do is a smirk.

"What is so funny that you got him laughing?" I asked

"I wasn't laughing," he contradicted. Like it was a crime to be heard laughing.

"How is she?" Romano asks me

"She hates my guts," I said as I sat beside both of them. I noticed for the first time that we only had three dining chairs.

"Besides that!" Bruno glares at me like hating me should be obvious.

"She is hanging in there," I said. "But I think I should find a way for her to meet with Gabriella," I continued.

"Why?" Romano asks

"Because she is her best friend, and lying to her will not suffice for long."

"So, what was so funny?" I asked, strategically changing the subject.

I wanted to forget about Sophie for a while, to wipe out her face and body entirely from my mind.

But no such luck. I still thought about her. How she smiled or how she tried not to smile by yawning while covering her mouth with her hand.

I shouldn't be attracted to her. I loved tall blond and experienced women. I abhorred innocence; maybe it's because I lost mine before I could experience it.

But I have always found innocence to be such a task, naive and downright unattractive. But here I am, attracted to a petite red-haired woman who had a tendency to shout at me. Me!

Nobody shouts at me unless they wanted my gun or fist on their face. But it was also refreshing. To her, I'm not a don, or mafia, or a killer. I'm a man. A man who just unstabilized her life. I knew she was going to hate me for what I was about to do.

Her life will never be the same again. She'll never go anywhere without a bodyguard; her face was about to be distributed if it hasn't already to various mafia families, from the American families to Italians, Mexicans, and Chinese. I bet Alberto thought he found my Achilles heel.

I looked around. We needed a bigger dining table and more chairs.

"We are moving out so we can have that in the new house," Romano said as he gazed at me. I didn't know I had said that out loud.

"Is she the reason why we need to change our dining furniture?" Bruno asked, raising his eyebrows.

"No, I just think we need more just in case we have dinner guests."

"Since when do we ever have guests for dinner?"

"We have dinner guests all the time!"

"Yes, but in hotels!"

"Maybe we should start hosting some of our friends for dinner when we move to the new place," I said

"Do you really need to host some of our 'friends' with her around? Bruno said the word friends with a drag and sarcasm.

Oh shit! He was right. I couldn't have anyone in my business close to her except a few of them. I wasn't very trusting. The only people I trusted in the world were all in this room.

"Can we now go down and have some work done?" I asked

"Sorry, boss. Can't, I'm tired and in need of some rest," Romano said, taking out his phone.

"Can't either; I haven't slept well in a while," Bruno said, his attention shifting to me.

"Why are you so interested in going to the vault at this hour" Bruno like a dog with a bone again

"What is new in that?" We do it t all the time.

"Yeah, but you have a woman in your room. So what gives" Ramano asks

"Has nothing to do with her!"

"Really?" Bruno smirks at me

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid of shit!" I shouted at them angrily.

"Then prove it. Go to bed," Bruno said. Using his hands to cover his face and looking at me between the spaces on the fingers.

You're such a child sometimes, and I don't have to prove shit to any of you."

"Fine! Then go down to the vault alone because I sure as hell not going with you."

I shrugged my shoulders and turned towards my bedroom. I needed to check on Sophie before heading out anyway.

I knocked. Damn! I have become one of those men who knock on their bedroom doors.

Do married men do the same?

God! Where the hell did that come from?

I pushed the door when I heard a small voice.

Oh my god!

There she was, lying in my bed, in my shirt and boxers. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I stared, I stared until she became uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, I don't have anything of mine to wear, and I needed to shower. I figured you wouldn't mind."

She spoke too fast, fidgeting. Her eyes focused on my eyes. She was nervous. But not afraid.

Hell yeah!

Progress. I thought

I couldn't stop the smile. This woman was going to take me on a rollercoaster. Part of me was eager; another was scared shitless.

"It's okay, help yourself; God knows I have more than enough."

She nodded.

"You said this was your room. Do you mind directing me to a guest room? I'm feeling the weight of the day I have had."

Taking a deep breath, I walked to the other side of the bed, stood in between her and the bed.

"You're sleeping with me."

"No, I'm not!" she said vehemently; I had this feeling she wanted to stump her foot like a child for emphasis."

"It's a huge bed; we'll fit in perfectly well without either of us crowding the other. Nothing will happen; you have my word."

I realized it was important for her to trust me. I wanted her to trust me.

"You ask a lot of me. I don't know you," she said—her voice breaking.

"I won't hurt you; I promised I would never hurt you, and believe me having you with me is the only way I'm gonna sleep in peace." I pleaded with her.

She stood there, in front of me, so small, dressed in my clothes. Looking sexy and I wondered why God would allow such an innocent woman to cross my path.

The last time I met such an innocent was five years ago, and I couldn't stand her. I almost shot her because she bored me to death.

Yet this one, I claimed. I could kill for her. God really must have a sense of humor.