His voice was smooth, almost mocking. “I told you I would come back. If I couldn’t find your parents... well, your sister will bear the weight of the horror I was forced to watch that day.”
Vincenzo took one threatening step forward.
Rafael matched it immediately.
The two men faced each other like two alphas on the verge of violence — power radiating off them in waves.
“Loretta is my wife now,” Rafael said calmly. “I only came to show her off to you.”
“Guards!” Rafael suddenly shouted.
Eighteen armed men poured out from every corner of the garage, surrounding us in seconds.
Rafael stood relaxed in the center of it all, tall and broad-shouldered, immaculately dressed in a charcoal suit that fit him with expensive precision.
Not a single crease.
Not a single flaw.
His posture was casual, almost bored.
But his eyes told the real story.
Cold. Unforgiving.
The kind of eyes that didn’t offer mercy.
Only consequences.
“Big brother, I swear I had no idea,” Loretta said, her voice cracking with panic.
She backed up another step, but the eighteen armed men surrounding them closed in tighter, cutting off any escape.
“I only knew him as the owner of Spain’s largest tech company. I never knew he ruled the underworld. I had no idea—”
“Mr. Rafael...” She turned to him, betrayal flashing in her eyes.
“You lied to me. You knew exactly who I was, who my family is, and you still married me. Well, I’m in my territory now.”
“I’m not going back to Spain with you. I want no part of your world.”
Her voice trembled but held a quiet, desperate conviction.
“As for your daughter... I need her as much as she needs me. It breaks me that I won’t see her for a while.”
Rafael’s lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.
He looked at Vincenzo. “Is your sister truly so innocent she doesn’t understand the traditions that govern our marriages?”
He gave a sharp nod to his men. “Take my wife to the car.”
“Bind her carefully to the seat so she doesn’t cause trouble.”
As two of Rafael’s men moved toward her, Loretta bolted toward Vincenzo.
“Vin! Big brother—“ she screamed, voice raw with shock.
She fought desperately as strong hands grabbed her arms, dragging her backward.
