Page 127 of In Love and Revenge

‘Do you have any idea the danger you put yourself in?’ he spits. ‘Do you?’

The cold detachment in his eyes as he flicks them to me makes my breath catch in my throat. ‘Dove wanted to see Vance.’

Rafael sucks in a sharp breath, his nostrils flaring. ‘So you thought you’d play outings with her? For fuck’s sake, Aurora.’

‘I had no idea what that place was!’ I shout back. ‘You told me you were going to your parents’ house.’

‘I did.’

‘And then you went there to fight? Why?’

‘I wasn’t fighting.’

‘You get off on watching it, then?’

‘No! I was there to make sure my brother didn’t get himself killed.’

‘Angelo?’ I question, because no way can I see Gabe in a place like that.

Rafael’s jaw hardens.

‘You broke some guy’s hand,’ I splutter.

‘I should have broken his neck,’ he seethes.

‘What?’

He thumps the steering wheel. ‘I love you, Aurora! What the hell do you think I’m going to do when I see a sleazeball touching you?’

I clamp my lips together. He told me he’d fallen in love with me after our fight. But he hasn’t said the words since. I didn’t trust him then, but now? The way he sounds – so convinced, sosure– has my heart racing.

He’s in love with me. So in love with me that he’ll break a guy’s hand. But he’s still not telling me everything. I know him well enough to understand there’s more to him being there tonight than he’s admitting.

We drive in silence, the tension thick and filling the car, until we pull up on Rafael’s driveway.

‘Why was Vance there?’ I ask as he kills the engine.

He stares out of the windscreen, his expression closed off like a vault.

‘He broke her heart. I know that much. And now he’s back again, and you’re what? Playing fight club with him? Was that Angelo fighting him?’

Rafael’s jaw clenches, but he gives me nothing.

‘Was it?’ I press.

‘Yes,’ he says finally.

‘Why?’ I splutter.

‘Because Vance was there, and they both wanted to, that’s why.’

‘That’s all you’re going to give me?’

He climbs from the car and strides around to my side. I take the hand he always offers me to help me from his car, but this time it’s covered in another man’s blood.

‘I’ll go and clean up,’ he grits, following my gaze.

We head inside and go straight to Rafael’s bedroom. He strips off his dark clothing as he looks at me, his face set in a grim expression like a mask of stone.