Because Of Love

“This is a bad idea, Rafe. Think about what you are about to do,” Angelo repeated as he pulled into the driveway of the DeLuca mansion. “You’re not in the right state of mind.”

Rafe fisted his hands, pressing them to his thighs to keep from reaching for his cousin and ripping his tongue out. He’d been repeating those words like a broken record since the moment Rafe woke up and blurted out his intention. When he wouldn’t relent and had demanded for his car keys, Angelo finally gave in, offering to drive him to his destination. Though his rage was burning strong and growing with every second, his body was still weak from shock.

Never in his life had Rafe ever blacked out, besides that one time he had a panic attack over a year ago. The fear of losing Talia was so strong, it had robbed him of all his senses. It was like his mind and body agreed to shut down and hide because he couldn’t handle the thought of Talia dying.

Rafe jumped out of the car, glad his strength was back when his legs didn’t wobble like jelly under him, because he was going to need all his strength for what he was about to do. He was going to confront his father, wring his neck, and punish him for his part in the horror that the day had turned into.

He marched into the house, Angelo dogging his feet, going on and on about what a mistake he was about to make.

“You are making a mistake Rafe! I understand your pain, your fear but taking your frustration out on your father isn’t going to help. You should be at the hospital, waiting for the doctors, not here!”

Taking his frustration out on his father won’t help? Ha! But it will!

Rafe’s fists tightened to the point of shaking from the strain as his father’s office door came into view. Making his father pay for what he’d done would make him feel a hell of a lot better.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Rafe heard Angelo shout for security behind him, tempting Rafe to turn around and carry through with his initial thought of ripping his tongue out. But he couldn’t waste his strength on Angelo, it was all reserved for his father.

Not bothering with the doorknob, Rafe raised his leg and kicked the door open. It slammed against the wall with a loud bang, bouncing and swinging back to close again. Rafe pushed it back and held it against the wall as he stared into his father’s startled gaze. But that only lasted a moment before he donned his cold intimidating mask.

Rafe snorted. When will he learn that doesn’t work on me anymore? He snarled at his next thought. Right now seems appropriate enough.

“Rafe, don’t!” Antonio yelled behind him.

Without a second thought, ignoring his cousin’s warnings, Rafe marched to his father’s desk. The old man didn’t even stand. He didn’t perceive Rafe as a threat as he went back to reading the documents in his hand. He was ignoring him. Rafe was about to get his attention in a big way.

Rafe stepped around the desk, grabbed him around the neck, lifted him off his leather seat, and slammed him down on his back on the oak desk as hard as he could. He cried out from the pain, his back arching up, a hint of fear passed over his face before he drew the mask back on again. His father could pretend all he liked, but Rafe had seen what he needed.

Rafe leaned over his father, bring his face close enough so that he could look straight into his eyes and see the murderous blaze burning in them. It was Rafe’s turn to intimidate.

“I’ve done everything for you, everything you’ve asked of me and more, and this is how you repay me?” he asked in a low lethal tone.

“Rafe, basta!” Angelo yelled pulling on his hand that circled his father’s neck until Rafe lost his grip.

The old man sat up coughing rubbing at his neck, and Rafe suddenly realized he’d been choking him. Good!

He went to lunge at him again but Angelo forcefully pulled him several feet away. Rafe fought to get out of his hold and the moment he accomplished it, the room flooded with his father’s security team. They were three bodyguards standing between him and his target, all with one hand hovering behind them and the other raised opened palmed in his direction. He knew they wouldn’t shoot him but he wouldn’t put it past his father to have them beat him up if he took a step in his direction.

Rafe’s gaze shifted between his father’s smug expression and the three bodyguards assessing. Fuck it! He’d risk it and if it came down to a fight, Angelo would have his back. Rafe took that step and so did they in his direction.

Angelo grabbed his arm and pulled him back, moving to stand in front of him. “Calmarsi!”

Calm down? That was far from what he wanted to do at the moment! Rafe tried to move around him but Angelo pushed him back, his unyielding hand fisted in his shirt.

“Rafe! Calmarsi, per fevore!” Angelo hissed, then under his breath he said, “If you don’t want to be in a bed next to Talia, start using your head! With you out of commission they’ll be vulnerable to him.”

Rafe pulled his eyes away from his father to look at Angelo. He was mad but there was something else in his eyes. Caution. Something Rafe needed to have. They weren’t just dealing with anyone, they were dealing with Rafael DeLuca Senior, ruthless and unscrupulous when he wanted something to go his way. Talia was proof of that.

Rafe gave him a curt nod, and Angelo released his hold on his shirt.

“Figlio mio, listen to your cugino. You don’t want to cross me,” his father said harshly. “I will forgive your display here as a moment of madness but never again, capisco?”

Rafe snarled. “That’s the last thing I want you to do. I want you to remember today and think of what would have happened if your goons hadn’t come to your rescue.”

He laughed harshly. “You dare to threaten me, all because of that whore!”

Rafe charged forward but Angelo held him back. “I know what you did, and I’m never going to forgive you for it. You’ll pay for what you did to her, I swear it!”

His father waved his hand dismissively before he sat down and went back to what he was doing before like nothing had happened, like the tension in the room didn’t exist.

“When is your wedding to Gabriella Rossi?” he asked conversationally.

Rafe chortled, not at all surprised that his father had dismissed him like he was of no consequence, like he used to when Rafe was a child. If he didn’t believe his words, Rafe would just have to show him. Actions do speak louder than words. He was going to hit him where it hurt most.

Rafe turned around to leave, his mind already working on a plan. “Marry her yourself!”