Raffael sighs through his nose, and his jaw tenses. "He’s not used to people standing up to him and walking away."
"I know," I murmur. "Which is why I need to talk to Marcello."
He turns toward me again, this time with something softer in his eyes. "Not because of me," he says. "Not if you’re not ready."
My throat tightens, but I squeeze his hand and meet his gaze.
"This," I say, motioning between us, "this is helping me a lot. You’re not just giving me a place to heal, Raffael. You’re giving me something todo.A purpose. I don’t want to sit in a corner and lick my wounds anymore."
His eyes darken with something fierce. Protective. But proud.
I smile faintly and add, "Besides, if I want to be your queen, I need to learn how to play the game."
He doesn’t smile, not exactly.
But the look he gives me sayshe sees me now,not just as someone who survived, but someone who’s stepping into the fire willingly.
The rest of the drive is done in silence. I don't know where Raffael's mind is going; he's probably planning his next move, anticipating Edoardo's. My mind? It's going to painful places: Marcello. I've been a coward, and I can't hide from him forever. I'm hurting him more than I'm hurting me, and the longer I wait, the harder it'll be seeing him again.
Tomorrow, I promise myself. I'll meet him tomorrow.
The car slows down at the gate and comes to a stop. Raffael's guard waves to roll down the window. He leans forward, "What's wrong?"
"There is a lady waiting for you at the house," the man replies, looking decidedly uncomfortable.
"You let a woman into my house?" Raffael's voice is ice.
"I'm sorry, sir, it's Donna Margarita."
A funny sound escapes me, something between a hiccup and a snarl. I’ve had enough dealings with the dragon lady to last me a lifetime. What the hell could she want?And then I realize she's not here for me. I turn to Raffael, "What does she want?"
He shrugs, "She's the one who freed me in Caracas…"
"Caracas?" I echo. I was in Caracas. A week before… before Raffael saved me. I look at him, "What were you doing in Caracas?"
He sighs, "I was there to get you out."
I'm confused. "But…"
He shakes his head. "Later, can we talk about this later?"
He's right. Finding out what Donna Margarita is up to is more important right now. "Why did she save you?" I can't help but ask.
"Damned if I know. She said she's been watching my company and wants to use my… services."
"You can't believe anything she says," I warn.
"I know," he assures me, and I nod. Good. At least we've got that settled.
He glances at the guard waiting by the SUV door. "I’ll deal with you later."
The drive to the house is quiet. I can feel Raffael thinking next to me. Hell, my mind is going a hundred miles an hour. What does Donna Margarita want? I didn't think I would ever meet her again, but now? Here?
When we finally pull up in front of the house, there isanother SUV parked, and six guards surround it, looking gloomy and serious—her men.
Finn, the man Raffael put in charge of security for the house, is already waiting by the steps, like a harbinger of bad news.
He opens the door before the driver can. "I’m sorry, sir," he says quickly. "We didn’t know if you wanted us to keep her out or not. But I’ve been watching her."
