“Was the kid there?”
“No clue.”
“We still have a man on him?”
“Yeah. He’s not going anywhere. There’s one more thing, Stef,” he says.
“Don’t leave me hanging.”
“Your girl called her brother yesterday.”
“What?”
How?
Rafa nods. “Promised to call him in a few days.”
“Did she?” My tricky little fiancée.
“You want me to put on a man on the brother?”
“Yes. And get the jet ready. I’m going to Rome. I need to revisit my fiancée’s friend.”
“Now?”
“Now.”
22
Gabriela
I don’t see Stefan the next day and Miss Millie is gone too. A girl I haven’t seen before greets me when I come downstairs. When I ask where they are, she tells me that Miss Millie will be back later that evening and Stefan is out of town.
Thanks for letting me know.
On the upside, I notice the library door is still unlocked so I’ll call Gabe again later.
I finish breakfast and spend the next few hours sitting around reading when, around one in the afternoon, Rafa walks into the house with another man, the two of them laughing about something. He pauses when he meets my eyes and I remember the Rafa of the other night. The night he held a gun to Alex. The night he bruised my arm in his rush to obey Stefan’s order.
Without taking his eyes off me, he almost dismisses the other guy. I guess as Stefan’s cousin, Rafa’s high on the totem pole.
He makes his way to me, a wide smile on his face that I don’t trust for a second.
“Gabriela,” he says, his voice deep and smooth. Too smooth. “Morning.”
“Morning.” I turn to pick up my cup of tea.
He pulls Stefan’s chair out, turns it and straddles it, arms resting on the back of the seat. He’s more casual than Stefan. Dresses in jeans and T-shirts rather than suits. He’s got a holster on his shoulder, but his gun isn’t in it.
“How are you doing?” he asks.
“Fine.” I sip my tea, give him a fake smile. “Just great. What do you want?”
He narrows his eyes, but not cruelly. Or he hides it well, at least. He’s about as easy to read as Stefan.
“Millie mentioned you were bored. I figured you’d be tired of being cooped up in here.”
“Your concern is touching.” Jerk.
“I’m heading to Taormina in a little bit. You’re welcome to join me if you like. It’s about a three-hour drive but it’s along the coast. It’s pretty.”
“Why?”
“Why is it pretty?” he raises his eyebrows.
“Don’t mess with me, Rafa. Why are you inviting me?”
“Like I said, I figured you’d get bored being cooped up. And I guess I want you to like our little island. Not come to see it as a prison.”
“Why do you care how I see it?”
He shrugs a shoulder. “Just trying to do something nice for you, Gabriela,” he says, standing. He spins the chair around easily in one hand and replaces it. “You’re welcome to stay here if you prefer.” He walks away.
“Wait.”
He stops, turns to look at me expectantly.
“Did Stefan put you up to this?”
He smiles. “Stefan’s too busy to put me up to this.”
“What’s he busy doing?”
“Business.” He checks his watch. “Are you coming?”
I’m desperate to get out of here. Although it’ll mean calling Gabe later, when I’m back. But with the time difference, it may even be better.
I nod.
“Good,” he says, smiling. “I’m glad. Grab a bikini in case you want to swim in Taormina.”
“Do I have to?”
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. There’s a private beach where my meeting is. I figured you’d want to lay around. You can go into town, but I’d have to send men with you.”
“It’s fine. Beach is great. It’ll be good to get out of here. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.”
I run upstairs to throw a bikini and a cover up into a beach bag, and grab my iPod Touch, which Stefan, true to his word, returned to me.
When I return, Rafa is waiting. We step outside to find a waiting SUV. He opens the passenger door and I get in and when he climbs into the driver’s side, I’m surprised.
“Don’t you have a driver?”
“Nah. I’m just an underling.” He checks the mirrors and pulls out.
I turn the air conditioning down a little and look around as we drive off the property and head onto a coastal road.
“Are you sure Stefan didn’t pawn me off on you?” I ask when he switches the radio to an Italian channel.
“I don’t think Stefan sees you as something to pawn off.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“Are you the reason for the bandage on his hand?”
I nod, feeling guilty. “It was an accident. At least, I didn’t mean to do it, but I haven’t seen him to tell him. To apologize.”
“I’m sure you can do it when he’s back. He’s a pretty understanding guy.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I mean it. Listen, I’ve known Stefan all my life. Grew up with him. I’ve never known him to treat anyone unfairly.”
“So, what he’s doing to me is fair, then?”
Rafa goes silent for a minute. “You don’t know all the details, Gabriela. And besides, you have his protection. That’s something.”
I chuckle. “I don’t have his protection, Rafa. I have his wrath, simply for the fact of my parentage.”
His phone rings and he digs it out of his pocket with one hand while keeping the other on the wheel.
“Speak of the devil.” He puts a finger to his lips, and I wonder if he doesn’t want Stefan to know he’s taking me along to his meeting.
“Stef,” he answers.
Stefan talks and I strain to listen, but I can’t make out what he’s saying.
Rafa reassures him of something then asks how his trip is going. At Stefan’s answer, Rafa chuckles. They then disconnect and Rafa puts the phone in a pocket on the front console.
“Looks like Stefan will be gone one more night.”
“Where is he?” I ask.
“Here and there.”
I want to ask what that means but Rafa turns the radio up and starts to sing along so I shift my gaze out the window and watch the scenery which, like he said, is beautiful.
Rafa drives about twenty miles over the limit and we arrive in just over two-and-a-half hours. He explains that Taormina proper is about ten minutes farther, but we’ll go after lunch.
He slows the car once we reach a secluded restaurant and Rafa hands his keys to the valet. He slips on a jacket, which surprises me as this seems like a casual place.
“Grab your bikini. You can go to the beach after we eat.”
“Okay.” I bring my bag and step onto the sandy path leading to the building. Music plays outside and although there are about a dozen tables inside the cool building, most of the seating is on the beach under palm trees which are blowing in the breeze. Even in their shade, it’s hot.