Page 59 of King of War

“No, she’s not, Raf. And I believe her.”

That rattles him. He jumps off the counter and squares up to me. “So, you think I’m lying to you? You believe that whore over your own fucking brother?”

I push him hard in the chest and he staggers back. “She’s not a whore, and if you ever call her one again I’ll cut out your fucking tongue.”

He dusts himself off, snarls at me and then takes a seat again. “She fucked your best friend’s brother.”

“No, she didn’t.”

He blinks at me and I see the moment he realizes what I’m hinting at but would never say aloud. That’s Rayne’s story to tell, not mine. “Fuck,” he mutters, shaking his head in confusion. “Are you sure you believe her?”

“Yes, I’m fucking sure. I should have believed her six fucking years ago, but I never even gave her the chance to tell me.”

He shakes his head, grunting something unintelligible. The thing with Raf is, while he is unhinged and one of the scariest motherfuckers I know, he’s never been good at lying. He was always the one we deliberately gave minimal detail to whenever we were up to something as kids because he’d fold like wet paper as soon as he experienced the slightest bit of pressure from Mama or Papa. “I didn’t send her any message, bro.”

I believe him, but I also believe her.

“So someone else sent it? From your phone?”

“Maybe, but I sure as fuck didn’t send it.”

“Did you even have your phone that day?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t fucking know. I was always leaving it lying around places I shouldn’t. Remember Pop used to get so pissed at me about it.”

True. And now I’m burning with pent-up rage, practically foaming at the mouth to get some answers. “I need to go and take care of something. I want you to stay here and watch her.”

He pulls a disgusted face. “Fuck, Enzo. Really?”

I grab him by the shoulders, forcing him to look at me. “Listen to me, she didn’t betray me, okay. Someone used her to get to me, and they hurt her, Raf. Really fucking hurt her.”

He snarls, the unpredictable anger never far from the surface simmering in him. “Ethan Fiorelli?”

I try to keep a lid on my own temper. “He was part of it. But he didn’t act alone. And I’m going to find out who the fuck put him up to framing his own brother.”

“Then let me come with you. They set me up too.”

I shake my head. “I need to do this alone. And I need you to look after Rayne for me. I’ll be back in a few hours. Do not fucking mess with her, Raf, I mean it.”

He rolls his eyes. I tap his cheek, getting him to focus on me again. “I fucking mean it. Play. Nice. If you upset her, I will kick your fucking ass.”

He holds out his hands in surrender. “I’ll be nice.” He flashes me his shark-like grin. “Promise.”

“Just fucking behave. Okay?”

I find Rayne in the den, holding a book in her hands. From the way she’s staring blankly at the pages, she’s not actually reading it. I crouch down in front of her, wanting more than anything to take her in my arms and tell her how truly fucking sorry I am. But I know her too well, and my empty apology means nothing now. Not after I let her down so egregiously.

“I have to go somewhere. I’ll be back soon, okay?”

Her eyes meet mine and she nods. She’s shrewd enough to know exactly where I’m going, but she doesn’t press me for details.

“Raf is going to stay here⁠—”

“Raf? Really?” She slams her book closed and glares at me. “He’s my prison guard now?”

Christ, I want to carry her to my bed right now and show how sorry I am, promise her that I will never let anyone harm a single hair on her fucking head ever again, but I know I don’t have the right. And it’s too soon. Too raw for her. “He’s not here to watch you, Rayne. He’s here to keep you safe. I know everything you told me was true, baby, but he says he didn’t send that message, and I believe him too. I think someone used his phone because they knew you trusted him. I know he’s an asshole, but he loved you too.”

She mulls that over, and after a moment, she nods like she can accept it. At least for now. “He’ll be on his best behavior. And if he’s not, there’s a Glock in my office. Feel free to shoot him if he gets too annoying.”