“Oh Lord”a tired groan escaped Nicole’s parted lips as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Her lips wore a frown, her slender dark fingers rummaging through her braids in an attempt to tie them up.
Raphael ponderously walked behind her and snaked his arm around her waist, pressing her against his chest.
“What’s wrong Bella?” He whispered to her ear, his hot breath warming her skin.
He stared at her through her reflection in the mirror with a smirk on his sensual lips.
“This fucking braids are too much. I think I should go on lowcut. What do you say?”
Nicole bit her bottom lips and folded her arms.
“How am I supposed to be dragging your hair when we fuck then?” Raphael sensually asked flashing her come-hither eyes.
Nicole felt a blush spread through her face and she playfully nudged her shoulder against his chest.
“Stop being so naughty Raph”
“You love it principessa” he cockily replied.
In a swift pivot, he spunned Nicole around.
Nicole let out a yelp and her eyes widened at the manner in which Raphael roughly turned her around to face him.
He intently gazed at her, blue orbs feasting on her face.
Nicole felt a heat rumble in her stomach, spreading slowly through out her body.
“What Raphael?” She meekly asked.
“You look so beautiful. I’m really grateful Jordan settled for Amarachi and not you” Raphael replied.
A wide smile broke on Nicole’s lips. Her mind flashed back to when she was obsessed with Jordan and her many attempts to gain his love.
Thinking of it, Nicole realised that she wasn’t scared of Jordan not loving her in return. She was just frightened at the possibility of ever finding love if Jordan did turn her down.
It felt like a million stabs on her chest letting Jordan go and watching him be with her sister.
It was probably the toughest decision she had to make but she knew it would be fruitless keeping Jordan when his heart was with her sister.
And deep down she also knew she wouldn’t be happy knowing she seperated her sister from Jordan.
Loving someone also involves letting them go especially if they don’t want to be kept. Nicole learnt that the hard way and she was utterly grateful for that decision she made.
It brought her to Raphael and he was everything she needed in a man.
She could never have imagined life without him.
He was very dangerous and murderous but one thing Nicole knew very well was that he loved her deeply and he wouldn’t mind sacrificing his life for her.
“Really?”Nicole asked with reddened cheeks and hiked brows.
He nodded and flashed her a grin. “If Jordan got you, I would have probably had to kill him to get you my love” Raphael whispered gravelly into her ears.
Nicole had goo-goo eyes and she gasped, covering her mouth with one of her hands.
“Raphael”she chided.
“You will be amazed by how far I can go to keep you by my side my love. I can kill for you Nicole. I don’t mind”
“Raphael you are scaring me. Don’t kill for me hunny”Nicole told him.
Her hands caressed his arms before her lips locked with his in a passionate kiss.
“How about I take you on a little walk around havana” Raphael suggested once they broke the kiss.
“Are you serious Raphael? You know the last time in Mexico you didn’t want to—”
“This is Havana Nicole. We are safe here my love” Raphael at once cut her short in her words.
Nicole gave a defeated sigh and stood straight. “I’m down for it to be honest. It will be such a nice distraction from the frightening events we encountered in Mexico”Nicole admitted to Raphael.
“Shall we go downstairs then? After breakfast we leave” Raphael concurred.
Nicole nodded and they kissed one last time before interlocking hands, making their way through the doors of their room.
NICOLE
“Good morning everyone” I greeted in my best possible tone.
I was still very new to this side of Raphael’s family and I need to be as polite as I can.
“Sister inlaw, how are you?” Anton responded.
Other members of the family acknowledged I and Raphael’s presence by smiling or nodding their heads apart from Dante who didn’t even spare I nor Raphael a glance.
The entire family was already seated in the dinning area.
Some maids were dishing out the foods for everyone.
“Glad you and Raphael finally decided to leave your room and join us”Dante finally spoke, raising his head to meet with our eyes.
Raphael pulled out a chair for me before sitting down next to me.
“Yes. It’s called love Dante. But sadly you can’t relate” Raphael shot back.
I noticed mariposa trying to stifle her laughter and hide her smile.
“Mariposa how are you?” I asked, hoping it would interrupt any further attempt of debate between Raphael and Dante.
“I am good Nicole. But i can see my cousins aren’t” she replied with a mischievous grin.
“That’s just how they are. Brotherly love”I simply stated.
Dante gave a huff whilst Raphael chuckled at my statement.
“Homero I got a message from Ricardo that he would be coming to cuba soon” Raphael said to Homero who had his eyes on his phone.
Homero glanced up and nodded. “Ah yes. He will be coming to the warehouse today. I and Dante are going to meet him”
Elisa let out a frustrated hiss. “Please can you men keep your business off the dinning table”
“I’m sorry aunty. Business is very important” Raphael replied.
Elisa faced homero and he nodded to Raphael’s words.
“Yes my dear wife. Raphael is very right. Just ignore what ever we say”
“Ricardo informed that he will be shipping three tonnes of morphine and narcotine instead of ten” Dante announced.
Raphael had questionable brows. “Why?”
“Well for some months, the shipments have been experiencing difficulties capo. There have been hitches along the coast and our drugs have been missing. Seems somebody has been stealing from us. So for now Ricardo wants to cut down on the shipments until we can fish out the rat” Jose explained.
Raphael gave a satisfied nod. I guess he was used to all these.
“Butcher the rat when you find it. I need that person sawed into half” Raphael instructed without flickering his eyelids.
I stared open mouthed at his order whilst the other men just nodded, no sign of disgust at his gruelsome command.
“As for me, I’m taking my pretty wife around Havana. She needs it” he winked at me.
“Great while we work our ass out, capo goes on a honey moon with his love” Dante sarcastically uttered.
“Like I said it’s love. But you can’t relate” Raphael replied carelessly.
Breakfast went normal from there on. Everybody talked and discussed with each other with Raphael and Dante constantly bickering.
It got me laughing in the inside.
They think they can’t stand each other but probably bickering was the only way they could express how they cared for each other.
Everything was going smooth and I just couldn’t wait for my tour around havana with Raphael.
* * * * * * * * *
Dressed in a floral jumpsuit and flat sandals, Nicole walked hand in hand with Raphael through Havana.
His white shirt was unbuttoned, dark raven locks gliding along with the wind perfectly matching his grey pants.
Her eyes fed on the buildings of old historical havana. They were beautiful; adorned with mostly bright blue, yellow and green colours.
The streets were as lively as Mexico’s. Music playing in different corners by street bands, food stalls filling the air with various mouth watering aroma and beautiful cars packed at every corner.
So far so good, their day had been lovely. Raphael took her to the beach before taking her to watch a movie.
It was all love and light for Nicole.
She knew he was trying his best to make her forget the torrentious events that took place in Mexico.
Now they were just walking through the market place in the streets.
“You like this yes?” Raphael sweetly asked as he picked a necklace from inside the showglass of its seller and brought it up to Nicole’s eyes.
She nodded. “Yes Raph it’s beautiful”
“Give me one of every necklace you have” Raphael requested turning to face the elderly seller.
Shimmers of joy radiated in his eyes.
Today was definitely his lucky day.
Nicole watched in awe as Raphael bought numerous jewelries for her.
“You shouldn’t have. They are too much” Nicole objected but her cheerful voice betrayed her.
“Nothing is too much when it comes to you”Raphael replied, interlocking his fingers with Nicole’s and leading her out of the market stalls.
Nicole was about replying when a masked woman passed them and accidentaly bumped into her.
“Can’t you watch where you are going?” Raphael retorted back to the woman who scurried away from them without even glancing back to apologise.
“It’s fine Raph. I don’t think she heard you any way”Nicole beseeched, caressing Raphael’s tensed arm.
“Let’s go ok” Nicole added.
She moved forward but stopped after noticing that Raphael wasn’t moving instead he had his gaze on the lady who had now dissapered into the crowds.
“Raph come” Nicole pressed further which snapped Raphael out of what ever reverie he was experiencing.
He looked at Nicole and gave a slow nod of his head.
Nicole and Raphael kept on wandering through havana, the memory of the masked woman clearly forgotten from Nicole’s mind.
“Raph where are we heading to?”Nicole asked the moment Raphael began dragging her towards God knows where.
“Shh don’t talk too loud Nicole”Raphael advised in such a serious tone as they walked into an alley.
Nicole immedately felt tension like cold slither down her spine.
Her mind raced far and she wandered why Raphael was now being so serious and talking in a hushed tone.
Raphael motioned for Nicole not to say a word by placing his fingers on her lips as they hid in a corner.
Raphael at once brought his gun in such a stealthily manner causing Nicole to have hitched breathings.
Seeing his gun only meant one thing–danger was close by.
Raphael immedately lurched out of their hiding place to Nicole’s surprise.
“Why are you following us?!”Raphael growled at the masked figure that was caught off guard.
Nicole became wide eyed in an instant on seeing who it was Raphael pointed his gun at.
The same masked woman who bumped into them earlier.
“You?”Nicole gasped.
“She has been following us Nicole. Now you have just three seconds to pull off that mask else I’ll make you eat your own limbs and pass ten bullets into your head!” Raphael threatened, his hold on the gun not faltering.
The masked woman stood rigid on the spot, trepidation seizing her.
Raphael had taken her by surprise and she never expected him to actually notice that she had been following them. Her eyes trailed to Nicole’s fearful gaze and back to Raphael’s furious eyes.
“One!” Raphael counted.
The woman gulped and her tremored hands walked to her black face mask. Taking off her hoodie, she proceeded to take off her mask slowly until she had completely uncovered her face.
Raphael immedately dropped his gun and his eyes widened in surprise.
“Mother”