Raphael asks.
“What needed to be done, Raphael,” I grate out his name like a curse, handing the gun to Trey.
Pulling a tissue, and then another, from the box on a small table by the couch, I wipe over my face and discard of the bloodied tissues into the trash can.
“We needed him.”
“I don’t need him. He was no more of a ghost than our men. Although, I guess he gets to live up to his name now,” I say with a smirk. “I’ve already sent somebody to sneak into the church and attack.”
He’s now well and truly a ghost, I’ve made sure of that. Walking around the desk, I sit myself in Raphael’s chair and cross my legs.
“He’s the one who would’ve killed your brother if we had gotten to him first. He would’ve been the one to take out your cousin here as well if you hadn’t tried to blow me up that day.” Swivelling in the chair, I face Cristian. “You should be thankful I went into hiding, because it was that night your death was planned while you visited that whore of yours, Clara. How is she holding up in her two-bedroom apartment? The one with that awful butterfly wallpaper?”
His lip curls in anger, and I smile cheekily. The Marocchi’s aren’t the only ones who’ve kept an eye on their enemy’s movements.
“Anything happens to her, I’ll personally rip your head from your shoulders.”
“I’ll look forward to it.” Laughing, I turn to Raphael. “Put your dog on a leash so we can discuss our next move.”
He stands there, fatigued, his hands on his hips, but says nothing.
“You wanted me here, and so I’m here.”
Trey edges his way around the desk, and it breaks the spell over Raphael.
“I want to talk with Mila alone. You two, leave.”
Cristian does as he’s told, but Trey hangs back.
“It’s okay. Go warm the car up, as we’ll be leaving soon.”
Trey purposefully, no doubt, leaves the door open on his way out.
“Something changed in you last night. Tell me what it is.”
Everything.
“Nothing. This is me, Raphael. You should be thankful I haven’t put a bullet in your head for ordering Antonio’s murder, but Ghost will do for now.”
Shaking his head, he rounds the desk and swings the chair so I’m looking up at him.
“It didn’t faze you when you pulled the trigger just now. How many men have you killed yourself before?”
“What does that have to do with you?”
“Because, no matter who you say you are now, you were never that person.”
“People change. Some have to, and some because others make it impossible for them not to.”
Pushing up from the chair, I come face-to-face with him.
“Whatever you thought was happening, isn’t. You surrendered to me, and as such, you will follow my orders, you do not give them. You want to speak with me, you come to me, you don’t bark for me.” Chuckling, I run my finger down his chest. “Bark. I guess you do, actually.”
Pushing past him, I snatch up my purse up from the back of the couch and head for the door.
“I know you dreamt of me—of us—last night. Father Luke reckons you had a vision, and I agree. It’s obviously scared the living shit out of you, but you pushing me away won’t change or stop anything.”
I freeze. He visited Father Luke? Taking a shaky breath, I turn back to him.
“I dreamt of nothing last night, but awoke gaining clarity. I see the future now, and it’s mine for the taking.”
“Bullshit. Ten years apart, and I can still tell when you’re lying. And may God strike you down if you lie to me again.”
“You’re letting yourself be blinded by the past, forgetting we’re at war. A war I don’t plan on losing. So, be careful as you go, Raphael. The streets are dangerous.”
Turning for the door, I swallow thickly and leave. I won’t for one second entertain the possibility of us coming out of this together, nor happy. It’s easier to go forward alone, as it will keep my heart intact.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Raphael
Her stubbornness drives me crazy. We’ve shared her bed for the last few nights, leading me to believe we were getting somewhere. Leaning over the desk, I look at Ghost’s dead body. I stood back and did nothing because I didn’t think she would pull the trigger, believing she was just making a point. My actions having the priest killed was the sole reason she murdered a man. I’m not a fool. I know she’s had men killed