“You saw what happened tonight,” I argue. “Nothing has changed for me.”
“Last weekend, in the ballroom, she brought you back,” he reminds me.
I close my eyes and release a ragged breath. “Once doesn’t mean anything.”
“It worked tonight, when Angelo did it.”
I don’t answer, but Rafe continues the one-sided conversation.
“Are you just going to let her marry Riccardo?”
The denial steams through my mind like a freight train, but I can’t verbalize it. Telling my brothers I plan to murder all her marriage prospects won’t go over well.
“I’m trying to get some sleep, like you suggested.”
“Alright.” Rafe sighs. “I guess I will too.”
I don’t actually expect to rest, but I guess exhaustion wins, because the next thing I hear is Rafe trying to wake me up. When I open my eyes, he and Angelo are hovering over me.
“We’re here,” Rafe says.
“Okay. Where’s Michele?”
“Right beside us. We already transferred Richard and Winston so we can take them to the island.”
I drag myself up from the lounge, grimacing as I nearly collapse.
“Jesus,” Angelo mutters. “You should let Mariella check you over when we get back.”
“I’m fine. Just give me a hand with the oxyacetylene kit.”
“I’ve got it,” Rafe tells me. “All you need to worry about is getting on the other boat.”
“No. This is my mess. I’ll clean it up.”
I try to limp forward, but my leg buckles and I fall back onto the lounge.
“Are we good?” Angelo fixes me with a dry stare. “Or do I need to let you fall a few more times to knock some sense into you?”
“This is my idea. If anyone’s getting blown up, it’s me.”
“Nah, fuck that.” Rafe heads for the kit.
“Goddammit.” I pull myself upright with a growl.
When I prove once again that I can’t stand on my own, Rafe doesn’t wait. He grabs the kit and glances at me. “Just take it down to the engine room and open the valves, right?”
I’m irritated as fuck that I can’t get my body to cooperate, so I don’t answer, but when he shrugs and starts to leave, I have no choice.
“Hold on a fucking second. Is the engine off?”
“It’s off,” Angelo assures me.
I stare at them for too long, trying to find an alternative. I don’t like putting my brothers at risk.
“Don’t worry.” Rafe nods at me. “I’ve got this. Just get your ass on the other boat so we’re ready to go.”
“Once you have the valves open, you get the fuck out of there. Don’t close any doors or touch any switches. Don’t touch anything at all.”
