“Okay,” he says after a pause. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll do it. Fucking hell.”
He strides past me toward Adrian’s office. I should leave them to their privacy. But I follow him, standing in the hallway. Perhaps this makes me a bad person. Fine. But I need to hear this, proof that Rafe can swallow his pride and put someone else first.
“Adrian…”
Adrian laughs hollowly. “Here to finish the job?”
“I—” Rafe cuts himself off with a deep sigh. “I got a few things wrong. About you and the Hungarians. I thought you were behind all this shit. There were too many coincidences with you and Ava. In my world, coincidences always mean something.”
“Whatever, Bellini,” Adrian grunts. “I didn’t know anything about you and Ava. Hell, if I did, I might not have hired her. I saw a pregnant woman who needed help. That’s it.”
I shouldn’t be stung at Adrian saying he wouldn’t have hired me if he’d known about Rafael and me. But can I blame him after everything he’s been through as a result?
“I’m…”
Adrian laughs dryly again. “You don’t need to say sorry. I can see how hard it is for you.”
“No – I do.”
A pause. “Ah, has she asked you to come in here, hat in hand, to beg my forgiveness? Maybe offer me a new window?”
Rafe grumbles. “This shouldn’t have happened,” he grunts.
“Okay, it shouldn’t have happened,” Adrian agrees. “Are we done?”
Rafe leaves the office. He stops mid-stride when he sees me, his amber-gold eyes blazing, his mouth a tight rictus of tension. He approaches me and wraps his arms around me. Pulls me in close and presses a kiss to my forehead.
“This won’t always be complicated,” he murmurs.
Adrian appears in the doorway, clearing his throat.
Rafe looks hurt when I push away from him, but what else am I supposed to do? Stand here hugging the man who just brought a little slice of hell into my boss’s world?
“Ava, find a window company. I’m going to need a replacement. And please get me that report I asked for.”
“Of course.”
I turn, walking away, hurrying down the stairs. My heart is still pounding, practically lurching up into my throat. I ignore the panic and try to focus on my work. But Rafe’s words return to my mind.
This won’t always be complicated.
I don’t think I can believe that.
And whatever else happens, I need to put myself and my baby first.
CHAPTER 18
RAFAEL
Isit at the window, circling my finger around the rim of a whiskey glass. I’ve got fire in my blood, not just the same protective instincts telling me to keep my family safe. But the overwhelming urge to find Tony and tear him to pieces.
A traitor. In my family. Matteo, one of my men back home, is on speaker.
“We’ve searched his apartment,” he says. “Nico was a clean freak, not much to speak of. But we found a note in one of the drawers. An envelope with your name on it, boss.”
“And?” I demand.
“Nico says he was being blackmailed by Tony. Apparently, Tony got hold of photos of Nico’s ex-wife, said he’d send them to the kids’ school if Nico didn’t do what Tony wanted.”
