Chapter 5 - The Price of Walking Away
Wren moved into a small furnished apartment owned by the rehabilitation clinic.
Rafael paid nothing.
She made certain of it.
Two weeks passed.
Her body improved.
Her sleep did not.
Toby visited every afternoon.
On the fifteenth day, he tossed a newspaper onto her table.
“Marchetti.”
Wren stared at the headline.
BUSINESSMAN VINCENT MARCHETTI QUESTIONED AFTER PORT INVESTIGATION
“What happened?”
“Rafael.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I have eyes.”
Wren folded the paper.
“Stop bringing me things about him.”
“You still love him.”
“Toby.”
“You do.”
“That doesn’t mean he wants me.”
“Did he say that?”
“He didn’t stop me from leaving.”
Toby sighed.
“You’re both exhausting.”
A knock came.
Wren froze.
“Expecting anyone?”
“No.”
Toby checked the peephole.
His expression changed.
“Not Rafael.”
“Who?”
Before Toby could answer, the door burst inward.
Two men entered.
Wren recognized one immediately from security photographs.
Paul Kessler.
The driver.
The man Rafael had captured.
The man who apparently had not stayed captured.
“Hello, Wren.”
Toby stepped in front of her.
“Back off.”
Kessler smiled.
“Brave family.”
Wren grabbed Toby’s arm.
“What do you want?”
“Marchetti wants something Rafael Contini will trade anything for.”
“I’m not part of Rafael’s life.”
Kessler laughed.
“That’s not what he thinks.”
Wren’s heart stopped.
“What are you talking about?”
“He’s had two men outside this building every night since you left.”
She looked toward the window.
“He’s been watching?”
“Protecting.”
Kessler pulled out his phone.
“Call him.”
“No.”
The second man moved toward Toby.
Wren immediately said, “Fine.”
She dialed Rafael.
He answered before the first ring finished.
“Wren?”
The sound of his voice nearly broke her.
“Rafael.”
Silence.
Then his tone changed.
“What’s wrong?”
Kessler took the phone.
“Contini.”
Rafael’s voice became ice.
“Kessler.”
“You want her breathing?”
Wren closed her eyes.
“Pier 18. One hour. Alone.”
“If you touch her—”
“You’ll what?”
Rafael’s response was frighteningly calm.
“You already know.”
The line disconnected.
Kessler smiled.
“He cares.”
Wren looked at him.
“That’s your mistake.”
---
Rafael arrived forty-three minutes later.
Not alone.
Kessler had expected arrogance.
He had not expected Isabetta.
The elderly matriarch stepped from the black SUV with four attorneys, federal agents, and enough Contini security to fill the pier.
Kessler stared.
“What the hell is this?”
Wren was standing beside him, Toby a few feet away.
Rafael walked forward.
“You told me to come alone.”
“You brought the government?”
“No.”
Isabetta lifted her chin.
“I did.”
Kessler’s face hardened.
Isabetta smiled.
“You tried to murder me in my own home. Did you think I’d leave revenge to my son?”
Wren looked at Rafael.
He never took his eyes off her.
Kessler grabbed Wren.
Rafael stopped.
“Let her go.”
“Back up.”
Rafael obeyed.
Wren’s voice shook.
“Rafael, don’t.”
“Wren.”
His eyes met hers.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“Remember the hospital?”
Tears blurred her vision.
“You told me not to die.”
“I’m telling you again.”
Kessler dragged her backward.
Rafael took another step.
“Stop!”
Everything erupted.
Agents moved.
Security shouted.
Toby ducked behind a vehicle.
Wren twisted free when Kessler looked toward the commotion.
Rafael reached her.
He pulled her against his chest and turned his body between her and the chaos.
Seconds later, Kessler was on the ground in handcuffs.
Wren clung to Rafael.
“You came.”
He held her tighter.
“Of course I came.”
“I thought you hated me.”
Rafael pulled back.
“I tried.”
Despite everything, she laughed through tears.
“How did that go?”
“Badly.”
Behind them, Isabetta called, “Are you two finished being ridiculous?”
Rafael ignored her.
His hand rose to Wren’s face.
“I was angry.”
“You had every right.”
“I was also wrong.”
Wren blinked.
“Rafael Contini admitting he was wrong?”
“Don’t interrupt. It may never happen again.”
She smiled.
He continued.
“You lied about how you ended up in front of those bullets.”
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t lie about everything else.”
“No.”
“I should have asked why you were afraid instead of deciding what your silence meant.”
Wren looked down.
“I still shouldn’t have done it.”
“No.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
She met his eyes.
“What happens now?”
Rafael glanced toward Kessler being taken away.
“First, Marchetti goes to prison.”
“And after?”
His thumb brushed her cheek.
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether you still love me.”
Wren stared at him.
“You really need to ask?”
“I’ve had a difficult month.”
She laughed.
“Yes.”
His expression softened.
“Yes what?”
“Yes, I still love you.”
Rafael kissed her.
Not desperately.
Not possessively.
Carefully.
May you like
Like this time, he wanted nothing built on debt.
---
