[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

little thing, and knowing you were hurt just breaks my heart.
Ari s eyes filled at Rosabella s kind words. How could the apple have fallen so far from the
tree? Rosabella was kind, caring, compassionate  all the things Rafe wasn t. Of course, that wasn t
entirely true. Rafe had his moments of unbelievable kindness, but he quickly pushed them away and
hid behind his mask of coldness.
 Where was Rafe shot? Ari needed to know.
 He went after the gunman, and that madman managed to shoot him in the arm before Rafe took
him down.
 Rafe ran toward the guy? Ari gasped.
 Well, of course he did, dear. The man had just shot you, Rafe s father said as if it was the most
natural thing in the world for Rafe to attack a man aiming a weapon at his head.
 I& I didn t know. Ari felt terrible about how selfish she d been. All she d been doing was
worrying about her mother. She hadn t even noticed that Rafe was wearing a bandage. Maybe she
really was a self-absorbed person.
 Mom. Dad. What are you doing here?
Ari turned her head to find Rafe looming in the doorway, looking none too happy. She cringed
involuntarily.
 Raffaello Palazzo, don t you dare use that tone of voice with me. You are in huge trouble. I can t
believe that I had to find out from a doctor that my only son was nearly killed. You should have called
your father and me immediately, Rosabella stormed.
She squeezed Ari s hand before getting up from her chair and rushing over to Rafe to throw her
arms around him. Even though she was reading him the riot act, the love in her actions shone forth. So
like a mother  terror made her yell when she felt more like crying.
 I m fine, Mom. I wasn t almost killed. The guy barely nicked me, he said as his uninjured arm
came around her, his tone gentle.
 You aren t speaking the truth. I thought I taught you better than that, Rafe. The doctor told me the
shot had to be removed. I don t care if it s merely a flesh wound. If you re shot, then you need to call
your mother, she scolded.
 I was a bit busy, Mom, he said, though his voice carried a gentler tone as he noticed the tears
streaming down his mother s cheeks.
 Of course you were, son. Poor Ari. I can t believe anyone would fire a weapon at this sweet
little girl, she said, her voice softening.
 He will pay. The menace was clear in Rafe s tone.
 Yes he will, son. They have him under lock and key on another floor, Martin said as he came
over and patted Rafe on the back.
 Yes, the staff have been quite secretive about his location, Rafe growled.
 Son, you need to let the law take care of him. You stopped him and now he will go to prison,
where hopefully they ll execute the worthless scum. Before he made the mistake of entering the same
room as you, he killed several people.
 Their poor families, Ari gasped.
 Yes, although money can t make a difference to a child losing a mother, Rafe is making sure the
victims families are well taken care of, Rosabella said with pride as she turned back toward Ari.
Ari turned quickly and met Rafe s eyes. He wasn t responsible for the shooting. Why did he feel
accountable to take care of the victims and their loved ones? Her curiosity was piqued as Rafe
showed yet another side of himself. He wasn t as one-dimensional as she d first thought.
 Mom, Rafe said in a warning tone.
 Oh, Rafe. You re always so modest about how much good you do in the community. Don t get
me wrong, you can be quite arrogant at times, but underneath it all you really are quite the softy. I
don t know why you re so worried that the world might find that out.
 That s enough, Mom, he said, his tone very quiet. It sent a shiver down Ari s spine.
 Rosabella, you re embarrassing him, Martin warned.
 Oh, hush, Rosabella said, but she stopped.
 We should leave and let Ari rest, Rafe said, looking at his parents.
 I m so sorry, dear. We re just talking away when you need to get sleep. I ll come back tomorrow
and visit with you. I ll leave the rest of the family at home so they don t causing all kinds of ruckus,
Rosabella said as she let go of Rafe and walked back over to Ari.
Ari was shocked when the woman bent down and very gently hugged her. She felt a lump in her
throat at the motherly gesture. The woman barely knew her, and yet she was so concerned. Ari
couldn t help but compare Rosabella to her own mother, both of them compassionate with a natural
ability to draw others to them.
What had happened in Rafe s life to turn him into the control freak that he was? In his defense, it
seemed he was only that way when it came to relationships  or business. Apparently, he was a saint
when it came to everything else. Ari found herself wanting to know more about him.
But she was smart enough to realize that was a road best not taken.
 I ll be back later, Rafe said. The look in his eyes left no doubt that arguing would do her no
good. Fear seized her as she realized, once again, she could actually fall for this man. Under no
circumstance could she allow that to happen. It was completely unacceptable.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rafe was silent as he walked from Ari s room alongside his family. For once in their lives even
his sisters were quiet as they made their way down the hallway. This situation had gone from out of
control to radioactive levels.
Rafe didn t know whether it was stubborn pride, or obsession, but he knew he wasn t letting Ari
go just yet, no matter what difficulties she presented to him and his settled way of life. So it looked as
if the only option was to smooth out the waters, convince his family to return to their home, and put
things back on the right path.
 Let s have dinner, Rafe said as they entered the parking lot.
 That s a good idea, son, his father said in a serious voice.  Then you can explain to us why you
wouldn t call us immediately after being shot. I'd also like to know what s really going on with this
Ari you seem so fond of.
Rafe had to hold in the retort that was fighting to burst forth from his mouth. He d never been
disrespectful to his parents and he wasn t about to start.
 Isn t it obvious, Dad? Rafe s in love, Rachel said in a singsong voice.
 Rachel, for once in your life you need to keep your mouth shut. Ari is& she s just a potential
employee.
 Ha! Lia muttered.
Rafe glared at both of his siblings.
 Well, well, if it isn t the man of the hour  the hero of San Francisco, who swoops in and takes
down an armed man while saving the princess from certain death.
Rafe turned to find his best friend approaching them. He wasn t thrilled to see the amused smile
on Shane s face, and braced himself for an even longer evening  he loved the guy, but there was
nothing Shane liked more than to find a weakness and then dig in.
 I thought you were out of the country, Shane.
 I flew all night to make sure your sorry butt was OK. Thanks for calling, by the way.
 Everyone is simply overreacting to the whole situation. I m fine, thank you. Go back to South
America, or wherever it is you ve been saving the world.
 Raffaello, you re being so rude, Rosabella scolded as she approached Shane and gave him a
welcoming hug.
 Yeah, buddy, very rude, Shane said with a wounded look. But he winked at Rafe as Rosabella
released him. His friend knew how to make Rafe look like an ass and he enjoyed doing it.
 Would you like to join us for dinner? We were just leaving, Martin asked.
 Of course I would. I haven t seen my favorite family in over six months now. How are you,
beautiful? he said while rubbing Rachel s head. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]