NICOLE
“So your grand mother is Cuban?”I asked Raphael as we took a walk on the sea shore.
When we arrived yesterday, we spent our day unpacking and also getting used to the environment. We took a stroll out of the villa but not too far.
Though I had begged Raphael to let us explore the way he took me out when I first got to Italy but he blatantly refused to let us go too far from the villa.
I was very much annoyed and flabbergasted by his sudden refusal. I badly wanted to explore this beautiful country but Raphael objected to it.
The fact that he is so dominating can be very annoying at times. It felt like I had no say in some issues neither was he willing to listen to my point of view.
He was becoming too dominating and overbearing.
Though after noticing how angry and sad I had become, he decided to spill the beans on why he didn’t want us to wander too far from the villa.
In his defence, he said Mexico was too dangerous and he just wanted me to be safe.
I felt so confused and scared at the same time but I knew it had something to do with this fucking mafia.
I just wish he can quit and we can just be ordinary normal couples.
“Yes she is. Armani was very fortunate to have such a good woman as a wife” Raphael replied as he interlocked hands with mine.
The sand squished in between our toes as we both walked bare footed on the beach.
“I’m sorry she died Raphael”I apologetically offered my condolences.
For a young man like him, he had experienced way too many deaths and bad memories. Sometimes, I felt so sorry for him.
He looked at me and gave me a peck on the forehead causing me to giggle.
“I still don’t understand how you are German”I told him, hiking my brows.
Raphael was a man of many nationalities. I wonder why he was a citizen of different countries.
Was it for security reasons?
Raphael let out a sharp exhale. “Well wife…”He began. I paid rapid attention.
“My mother was born in Germany. Which makes her a citizen by birth. I was born in Italy but I spent some of my early years in Germany. About ten years in Germany. I became a citizen by….”
“Descent” I completed for him, beginning to understand his nationalities.
“Brava ragazza timida” he praised though I had no idea what he meant but I am sure it’s a good thing.
“So you are born to a german-italian mother and African father. Your granddad is full Italian while your grand mother is Cuban. That makes you both African and European. Are you a citizen of Cuba too?”I asked.
He shook his head at me. “That is only my grand mother”
“Wow. Raphael your family ties cut across nationalities”I exclaimed.
He gave a shallow chortle. “You would be surprised to be honest. Speaking of family ties, I think we need to head back into the villa now”
I watched Raphael comb his hands through his hair. A frown washed across my face and I decided to inquire the reason. “Why?”
“Well Alessio wants to meet I and also you my lovely wife. He wants me to meet with some drug barons”Raphael explained.
I gulped and my heart sank. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever believed that I’ll have something to ever do with crime bosses but here I am in a world of guns, drug and blood.
My thoughts ran wild and I immedately pulled out my fingers from our interlocked state and fiercely gripped onto Raphael’s arm.
“Raphael is it a must for me to come. I don’t want to go” I pleaded.
“Bambolina calmati. Ragazza timida” Raphael velvety said to me.
I gazed at him, not having a single clue of what he said.
He gave me a wily smile. “You have to come with me Nicole. Nicole I can’t disrespect my uncle. He wants to see you too. Dontworry if anyone looks at you in any way you don’t like, I’ll gouge their fucking eyes out”
He held his uncle in high regards. I believe he must be very close to him.
I gave a sigh of defeat.
“Fine. I’ll come with you”I reluctantly gave in.
“You didn’t have a choice Nicole. Your job is to submit to me wife”he cockily replied.
My mouth were parted at his conceited and dominating reply. “Can you for once stop being too controlling Raphael” I muttered underneath my breath as we turned our direction back to the villa.
“I’m sorry. I can’t Bella. It’s just who I am” he confidentaly replied without flickering an eyelid.
I was so shocked. When did my husband become too dominating?
Well love is blind because it truly didn’t make my love for him waver.
“Raphael..”I called out to him the moment we stepped inside the villa.
“Yes my love”
Suppressing every discomfort in me to ask my question, I let the words slip passed my lips.
“Why am I not pregnant yet?”
“I don’t know my love” he laughed as we went upstairs, our hands interlocked.
“Stop laughing Raphael. Do you think there is a problem with me? We fuck raw but I haven’t missed my period. Why? And you release in me too. Do i need to see a priest in a church?” I probed further.
I think what i said must have tipped Raphael over the edge as he began laughing so hard. I had never seen him laugh so carefree like that.
“You are just acting like a typical African woman right now. What the hell. A priest for what reason?” He exclaimed trying so hard to control his fits of laughter.
I huffed and folded my arms. “Raphael don’t mock me. I want to have kids”
I slumped on our bed and had a frown drawn across my face.
Raphael came towards me and cupped my cheeks. “And you will. Please don’t go to any priest for any shit ok. I can seriously see the African in you right now”
“Well that’s what we do in Africa. We look to God as the solution to all our problems”I snapped back sharply.
“Do you even believe in God?”I added a bit exasperated.
“No my love” he simply replied
“Wow I got married to an atheist. A bloody atheist. Raphael you are so mean” I whined.
He gazed intently at me and gave me a kiss on the lips, our tongue moving in sync and our heart beat too in rhythm gradually.
“I promise we will have kids ok. Nothing is wrong with you. And you don’t need to see any fucking priest ok”
His words literally caressed my lips.
“All this talk about pregnancy is making me hungry Nicole” Raphael sensually grinned to me, pulling back.
His eyes shone with a devilish mischief in them and i felt knots tie in my stomach.
“Raph you are unbelievable” I said timidly, standing up and trying to shuffle my feet to the shower.
“Let me join you so we bathe together huh?”He suggested but I knew it wasn’t a suggestion.
It was an order.
He came towards me and wrapped his arms around my waist, planting multiple wet kiss on my collar bone.
“Fine Raph”I breathed out, sniggering.
“You didn’t have a choice wife” he huskily whispered before gripping my thighs and wrapping it around his waist as he led us both to the shower.
* * * * * * * *
“And why again am I meeting these drug barons?”Nicole asked once more as Raphael and her drove towards the Deja Vu Showgirls. It was a strip club in Tijuana, Mexico.
“For respect Nicole. They demand to see the woman that brought me to my knees”
A lopsided smile curled in her lips and she tried to hide it.
Raphael stared at her for a brief second which gets Nicole rolling her eyes. “Focus on the road raph” she reminded him.
“I don’t want to die in an accident again” she adds, a bit of humour in her tone.
Raphael remembered Nicole’s accident in a flash. The fear of loosing her hits him like lightening bolt.
“Fuck. I was trying to find out who planned your accident then this fucking ghost showed up. I’ll bring whoever planned that accident to the light Nicole. I’ll slaughter that person right in your eyes”
“What are you thinking raph?” Nicole inquires, tilting her head slightly to get a good view of his face.
Raphael gives her a cursory glance and a reassuring smile. “Nothing baby. We will soon be at the club”
The drive to the club wasn’t too long. Nicole was marvelled by the architectural designs of the club once they arrived.
It looked like a huge ancient temple, built with ancient block bricks.
A few trees stood at the entrance welcoming them as they drove their sedan into the huge parking lot.
The name of the club was bodly written at the top in red and blue markings.
The sun was gradually setting so the lightening of its italics were beginning to shine out.
It had various stairs leading into the club and a huge, ornate carved circle with intricate designs sculpted into it that laid by the entrance.
Raphael was the first to step down.
Nicole watched as he tucked his gun behind the waist of his pants and went over to the passenger seat to open the door for her.
A rugged gentle man.
Nicole grabbed a hold of Raphael’s extended hands and their fingers interlocked.
Raphael noticed the restiveness radiating off her body language.
Her palms were sweaty and her fingers were gripping on to his tighter.
“Calm down doll”he silently whispered into her ear as they climbed one of the paved stair cases into the entrance.
“I’ve never imagined myself meeting with dangerous men Raph”she said taking deep breaths.
“Nobody will harm you ” Raphael promises her to ease her tensions.
The guards standing acknowledge their presence and one escorts both of them inside.
Nicole had her eyes exploring the interior of the strip club.
“Raph this is beautiful” she breathed out.
Raphael chuckled. “It’s not what you expected right?”
Nicole shook her head as her eyes fed on the decor of the strip club.
It had strip stages with poles sprouting from them at each corner of the club surrounded by beautiful ornate chairs that had lightening effects around them.
The dim wisteria and scarlet red lightening gave the club a sensual look.
Nicole had her eyes trailing upwards. She noticed some stairs leading to another section of the club that gave full view to the down part, it’s stages and performances.
Bars were situated at different corners and from the looks of the menu, she knew those liquor would cost a hole in the pocket.
Nude dressed women danced seductively on the poles, twisting and turning their bodies to the rhythm of the music reverberating.
“Mr Constanzo. Your guests are here”a guard announced them to Alessio who sat in the midst of some men.
One glance at them and Nicole could tell that these were vile, bloody men.
“Boy look at you. Raphael. You are so big” Alessio exclaims as he comes over to engulf Raphael in a hug.
He was clearly older. His brown long hairs were tied to a bun and it carried an ounce of grey in them.
Gun shaped tattoos were drawn at both sides of his arm and a stubble hugged his jaw.
“Uncle Alessio. It’s been long hasn’t it?”Raphael asked with a smile, clasping him by the shoulders.
“Ofcourse. And this must be your beautiful wife” Alessio responds, his eyes trailing to Nicole.
“Alessio Constanzo” he introduced himself, extending a hand shake.
Nicole took his hand with a meek smile.
“Let’s go sit please. We have a lot to catch up on”Alessio said, leading them to the front part of the club.
It was exclusively reserved for VIPs, having a good view of all corners of the huge club.
Two men all claded in black apparel sat at that part, a large table separating them.
Raphael had his features disconcerted the moment he spotted Dante amongst the men.
“Uncle you didn’t tell me this cunt would be here too”Raphael scowled.
“Shut the fuck up and sit”Dante gruffed, rolling his eyes to Nicole.
“You brought the black woman”
Raphael had his fist clenched in an instant but Nicole held on to his arm, calming his nerves.
“You both didn’t change your attitude to each other over the years one bit”Alessio cuts in with a laugh.
Raphael took Nicole by the hand as they slide into the booth, Alessio seating besides Raphael.
Calling a waiter he orders some drinks and in no time, it is served.
“Raphael meet some of the feared dons of the drug world” Alessio said, his hands motioning to the men seating opposite them.
“Mr and Mrs Raphael, Valentine” one announced.
“Ah yes. Valentine Greco. I thought you were in the states. I didn’t know I would be getting to meet you here” Raphael said.
“Finally meeting the demon himself. Luis Martinez” Another said.
“Your wife is very beautiful” he passes lustful glares at Nicole.
“Cover your eyes Luis. You might just end up loosing them” Raphael warned.
“When your uncle told me you were bringing your wife, I was puzzled. When did the demon get a heart?”Valentine prod.
Both men eyes occasionally flickered at Nicole, curiosity written all over their face to know the woman that was able to capture Raphael’s heart.
“I threatened to murder him if he didn’t marry me” Nicole teasingly replied.
Raphael winked at her and caresses her thighs.
“Don’t worry he is still very much a beast” Nicole added.
“It doesn’t bug you or scare you that your husband has a very dark side?”Valentine threw another question.
“What can I say. Love is blind” Nicole cooly responded, taking a sip of her cocktail.
Raphael was amazed by how cool and calm Nicole was in the midst of the drug barons.
“Can you handle the gun? This world is very dangerous you know”Luis prods.
“I’ll learn some day. But I have my husband at my beck and call”Nicole proudly replied, tilting her face to give Raphael a short kiss.
“She has you around her fingers doesn’t she?” Alessio makes his voice known with a light chuckle.
“She truly has. My African queen” Raphael answered, his eyes glued on Nicole.
“So can we discuss business now?” Dante finally speaks, annoyance soars in his tone.
Raphael leaned forward, his hand on the table with his tattooed fingers tapping on it.
“We shipped about ten tones of opium into cuba lately” Valentine announced.
“The Cubans are very loyal I must tell you. It seems demand for opium is high there so I suggest we cut down on narcotine supply and drive it towards Brazil. We need more men at the boarders of Guyana though. The Brazilians are ravenous wolves” Alessio informed with a wry smile.
Nicole watched as the men coversed.
“Carlos is doing a very good job but I need to find someone to assist him in the distribution” Raphael spoke.
“I sent a contract to Stefano and I instructed him to have some of the capos go over to Chile and Bolivia to meet with Jose and Fernando. We have to make sure the supply reaches all the distribution centres”
“And the middle east?”Alessio inquired.
Raphael gave a dark chuckle. “Luciano brought back word. The arabs are so blood thirsty. We’ve hit another deal. The ammunitions were sold for 56. 7 million”
All the men had mischievous glints in their eyes.
“I heard Marcello has been cheating” Luis muses.
“I cut down on his supply and profit”
The men had an amused look on their faces. “Raphael found someone cheating and didn’t shoot him at a go?”Valentine asked stunned.
“The black woman is making him soft” Dante taunted Raphael.
“You know Dante, I think you and Raphael should engage in a brawl again let’s see if he doesn’t whoop your ass” Nicole snapped back, hitting her fist on the table.
“You’ve got yourself a match”Luis praised Nicole with his eyes darting to Raphael.
Dante was about speaking when sounds of gun shots were heard outside.
Uneasy, Nicole glanced over her shoulders and back to Raphael.
“Something is wrong Raph. Gunshots”
As soon as the words leaves her mouth, the commotion erupts in the club.
Snapping their heads at the entrance, they all noticed people trying to hit the doors of the club but it wasn’t budging.
A guard sprints to them. “There is a fire and the doors have been shut tight” he informed Alessio.
Nicole had her eyes widened in an instant.
“Oh fucking son of a bitch” Alessio seethes.
Unrest and panic consumes the club as people stumble over to get to the exit door. Smoke sweeps the atmosphere and the yelling and shouts grows louder.
“Raphael…. I’m asthmatic… Please I can’t stay here. I do not want to die in a fire” Nicole cries as she starts coughing heavily, clenching on to Raphael’s hand.