life wasn’t perfect, it never had been, but for a short time at least, she was able to forget who she was.
Chapter Eight
“This is good,” Raphael said, staring down at the new passport and driver’s license with Elenore’s name on them.
Timothy had placed her age at twenty-three. “I only do the best work. It’s more than good. You know that.”
He chuckled. “What payment for these?”
“The same.”
“What happened to the molester?” he asked.
“Do you really want to know?” Timothy asked.
“You’re right. A new one so soon?”
“I like to keep busy. Word on the street is your boy Antonio is causing a little fuss.”
“Antonio’s too busy with his woman. Marrying her, getting her pregnant.”
“Your father, Romeo Giavanni, is using him to send a message, Raphael. He’s got a new shipment of drugs coming on. Now some believe this drug has the ability to incapacitate any girl, like the date rape drug, only this one knocks them out for days at a time,” Timothy said.
“How did you hear this?” Even his contacts hadn’t told him this information.
“Raphael, I work in the darkness, trying to sniff out any signs of the dirty and disgusting. I like to hunt, to kill, to annihilate those who would harm others less fortunate. Women, they need protection. The men who offer the rape drug are already an easy target for me, but Antonio’s making them scurry out of town. Bad for business. If this drug gets out in the nightclubs, no woman would ever be safe.”
Raphael paced the room. “You’re sure about this?” From his last contact within the science department—that was what his father called it—he’d been warned of a drug trying to hurt women in such a way. He’d never believed in rape or force.
“Antonio is making it easier for this drug to be distributed. I figured you should know, seeing as you were best buddies at one time.”
“Thank you. I’ll get you payment soon,” he said. He was about to leave Timothy’s secure location but he was stopped at his words.
“She’s in danger, you know that, right?”
“My father stopped looking for her.”
“A slave girl who goes missing during a shootout, body never found, he hasn’t stopped looking. He’s waiting for her to slip up. If you don’t get her hidden soon, she will be killed.”
He didn’t want to lose her. Raphael turned to his friend. “If I bring her here, will you take care of her?”
“You know I will. We’re friends, Raphael, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
Raphael left. It had been a long time since he went to see Antonio at his place. Last time he heard from him, he’d been in the process of house hunting.
He drove through the city streets, and not a single cop stopped him. All it would take was for them to run his plates and discover who he was. They’d never bother him again.
Arriving at Antonio’s apartment, he parked his car and made his entrance. He held the security code to get into the building. Making his way upstairs three steps at a time, he knocked on his door in no time.
Ellie answered. “Raphael,” she said with a smile. “Come on in.”
He stepped over the threshold, taking in her flushed cheeks. “Where’s Antonio?” he asked.
“He’s showering.”
Good. He needed to have the element of surprise. He knew Antonio’s apartment better than anyone.
“Hey, Raphael, you can’t go in there.”
Ignoring her, he stepped into the bathroom, which was already steaming.
“Antonio, Raphael’s here and he’s being a pain in the ass.”
The water turned off and Antonio stepped out of the shower, showing off his dick. Raphael didn’t care.
“Well, I’ve got to say this is an interesting social call.”
“We’ve got to talk.”
“How about over dinner?”
“You’ve got to stop whatever it is you’re doing for my father,” Raphael said. “It’s not as … innocent and beneficial to the Family as you believe.”
He’d gotten Antonio’s attention. Good. He wanted to keep it.
“Ellie, baby, give us a couple of minutes.”
“You’re seriously going to entertain him in the bathroom?”
“Go and set the table. I’ll be out in a minute. Do not call his father,” Antonio said.
Raphael watched as Ellie nodded her head, leaving the bathroom and closing the door. With his arms folded, he looked toward his friend. Could he really trust him?
“What explanation has my father given you about the drug dealers you’re taking out?”
“Why is this so important to you?”
“Answer my fucking question.”
“Be careful, Raphael.”
“I don’t have time to be careful. If you really think what you’re doing is good for business