Damage (Collateral Damage 2)

But I didn’t find it before he found Antonio. And he took care of him too. No loose ends. I do understand that.

“Tell me what you did, Rafa,” I ask, forcing myself into the present.

He looks at me and I hate what I see in his eyes.

“You know what I think?” he asks, avoiding my question, stumbling when he takes a step away. With the bottle in his unsteady hand, he points a finger at me. “I personally think you should rule. But it’s not up to me. I’m like her. A fucking pawn. That’s why I helped her. That’s why I hid her brother when she asked me to. And now I’m here to warn you because that’s how fucked up I am.”

“Warn me about what?”

He drinks the last of the bottle. “Antonio wasn’t like us. He wasn’t ruthless. And it got him killed. If you want to survive in our world, you have to be ruthless. You can’t have any weakness. You should send her away. It’s best for her and you know it.”

“Warn me about what?” I double back.

He looks at me, scrubs his face with both hands. “I’m tired, man.”

I go to him, take him by the shoulders. “Warn me about what, Rafa?”

He studies me, and I think for a moment maybe I’m mistaken. Maybe he’s not as drunk as I thought.

“I’m a traitor too, Stefan. Can’t seem to make up my fucking mind which side I’m on.”

I grit my teeth, give him a shake. “Rafa. Warn me about what?”

He shoves my arms away, sits down on the sofa, lays his head back. “The other families.” He stares up at the ceiling. “You were right about my father. And I helped him.”

I watch him, hear him.

He sets his elbows on his knees and leans into his hands, rubs his face.

“Helped him how?”

“Gabriela. The kidnapping. They would have raped—”

“I will kill you!” I roar, tugging him to his feet.

“You should,” he says. He doesn’t fight me. Puts up no resistance at all. And when I release him, he falls back onto the couch.

“I never wanted her hurt. You should let her go before they decide.”

“Before who decides what?” I’m losing my patience.

He stands, shakes his head, shoves past me to the door. “I shouldn’t be here.”

I stop him, shove him into the wall. “Before. Who. Decides. What?”

“It’s too late, Stefan. I came too late. Decided too fucking late. Don’t you see? They’re meeting now. My father has their support. He called for a vote.”

Rage.

“Where?”

“They’ll kill you if you go. You should take Gabriela. Take what you can. Disappear.”

“I’m not a fucking coward and I have no plan to disappear. Are they meeting in Taormina?”

He shakes his head. “Catania. At the warehouse.”

I look at him, shake my head, let him go and open the door. “Lucas!”

Lucas is at the door a moment later. “Get men together. We’re going to Catania.”

“Now?”

“Fucking now.” I turn to Rafa. “My cousin will be staying here until I return.”

With a signal, two soldiers enter the study as I walk out.

“Stefan!” Rafa calls out.

I don’t stop. I don’t look back.

“They’ll kill you if you walk in there. Don’t be fucking stupid.”

I stop, walk back into the study to find the two soldiers restraining Rafa. Without a moment’s hesitation, I draw my arm back and punch him across the jaw.

“Thanks for the warning,” I say, feeling the sting of the hit as I watch his split lip bleed. “We’ll talk when I’m back. I’ll decide how you die then.”

31

Gabriela

“Stefan?” I call out from the top of the stairs. The soldier Lucas assigned to keep me in my room unhands me on Stefan’s signal and I run down the stairs. “What’s happening? Where’s Rafa?”

He takes my arms and studies me for a long moment. “I need to go to Catania.”

“Now? It’s late.”

“Did you talk to your brother?”

I shake my head. “He was asleep, but I talked to Melanie. They’re fine. Safe. In a house upstate.”

“Good. Go pack what you need. You’ll go to them. Tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“I’ll make some calls on my way to Taormina and Paulo will be in touch with you soon.”

“Paulo?”

“Just a back-up plan, Gabriela. Until everything’s settled.”

I feel the color drain from my face. “You mean you may not come back.” I don’t ask it as a question.

He looks at me like he’s memorizing me, and I touch his face, pull him to me.

“Come with me, Stefan.” I hug him tight, but I can’t get close enough. I feel him slipping away. Slipping right through my fingers.

“I need to go,” he says.

When he pulls back, he cups my face, wipes tears with his thumbs.

“Don’t leave me alone, Stefan.”

His hands tighten a little and his eyes are intense. On fire. “I have no intention of leaving you alone. I love you, Gabriela. There’s nothing more precious to me than you. I love you.”