He wasn’t here for mere pleasantries; he had his reasons. Watching Damian squirm, for one, was high on the list, but this Aurora girl-she intrigued him. She wasn’t just a random girl plucked from obscurity. Damian’s uncharacteristic protectiveness meant she was important, but why? That was a question worth answering.
Raphael’s thoughts were interrupted when he heard hushed voices from one of the sitting rooms. He paused just outside the open door, leaning casually against the frame, listening in.
“… and you think she can be trusted?” a deep voice asked. It was Damian, his tone sharp and edged with frustration.
“I don’t know,” came the reply, softer and hesitant. Raphael couldn’t place the speaker, but it was a woman. “She seems genuine, but there’s something… off. I can’t put my finger on it.”
Damian exhaled heavily. “I can’t afford ‘off.’ Not now. If she’s a liability-”
“She’s not a liability!” the woman interrupted, her voice firm now. “She’s just… scared. And she’s young. Give her time.”
Raphael smiled to himself. This was even better than he’d hoped. The girl wasn’t just important-she was a problem. And problems, Raphael knew, had a way of unraveling things.
Deciding he’d heard enough, he stepped into the room without a sound, his presence immediately drawing their attention. Damian’s dark eyes narrowed as they met Raphael’s, and the tension in the room grew palpable.
“Brother,” Raphael said smoothly, his smile disarming. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but your voices carry, you know.”
“What do you want, Raphael?” Damian’s tone was clipped, his irritation barely concealed.
Raphael feigned innocence, spreading his hands. “Want? Can’t I simply check in on my dear brother? You’ve been so… tense lately. I worry about you.”
Damian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he turned to the woman Aurora, Raphael realized now and nodded toward the door. “Leave us,” he ordered.
Aurora hesitated, glancing between the two brothers. Her green eyes lingered on Raphael for a moment, curiosity flickering in them, but she obeyed, slipping past him with a hurried step.
Raphael watched her go, his interest piqued further. Once the door clicked shut behind her, Damian rounded on him.
“Stay away from her,” Damian warned, his voice low but deadly.
“Her?” Raphael raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you mean Aurora. Interesting name, isn’t it? Has a certain… charm.”
“I’m serious, Raphael,” Damian growled, stepping closer. “Whatever game you think you’re playing, leave her out of it.”
Raphael smirked, unbothered by his brother’s aggression. “And here I thought you’d be happy to see me taking an interest in your little projects. But fine, if she’s off-limits, I’ll direct my attention elsewhere. Plenty of interesting people around here, after all.”
Damian’s glare darkened. “Why are you really here?”
Raphael’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he recovered, his expression turning serious. “To help, of course. You always seem to find yourself in such… delicate situations. I thought I might offer my assistance.”
“I don’t need your help,” Damian snapped.
“Maybe not,” Raphael conceded. “But you might need me. You’d be surprised how useful I can be when I choose to be.”
Damian stared at him, suspicion etched into his features. “Stay out of my way, Raphael. And stay away from Aurora.”
Raphael chuckled darkly, his gaze lingering on his brother. “You really have a thing for her, don’t you?” He raised an eyebrow, enjoying the flicker of irritation crossing Damian’s face. “Is that why you’re so protective? Afraid our father might be upset if something happens to her?”
Damian’s jaw clenched, but Raphael didn’t let him speak. “You know, our father isn’t one to forgive. He’s already ordered her death.” Raphael’s voice dropped, carrying the weight of his words. “She’s nothing but a reminder of that massacre of what that bastard did to our family.”
Damian’s expression twisted, his eyes darkening. “I know what happened,” he muttered, his fists tightening. “Don’t remind me.”
Raphael took a step closer, lowering his voice to a menacing whisper. “You’re so desperate to protect her, but you forget. That massacre took everything from us. Your protectiveness isn’t enough to erase what she’s connected to.”
Damian glared at him but said nothing.
Raphael smiled, stepping back with a smug look. “Good luck with that, brother. I’ll leave you to your… plans with Aurora. But don’t think for a second I’ll let you forget who she really is.”
Raphael leaned back against the doorframe, his eyes never leaving Damian as he let the tension simmer between them. “You’ve got your hands full, don’t you?” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “You protect her like she’s some innocent lamb. But don’t forget, Damian… she doesn’t know her father. Not the way you think.”
Damian’s brow furrowed, his patience thinning. “What are you getting at?”
Raphael chuckled, taking a step closer. “Her mother hated her, didn’t she? And why wouldn’t she? The girl is nothing but a reminder of a man who walked away when she was nothing but a burden. You think that mother sold her out to save herself from whatever past her daughter’s attached to? She sold her because she wanted to be rid of the baggage, the mess her own flesh and blood represented.” He let that hang in the air, his words sharp and cutting.
Damian’s eyes darkened, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. But Raphael wasn’t finished.
“She doesn’t even know the full truth, Damian,” he continued, his voice colder now. “But you’re going to let her think she’s some victim of fate? You think she’s just another poor girl who got caught up in your world? She’s not. Her blood connects her to the people who murdered ours. And you think protecting her will bring some kind of redemption?”
Damian’s fists clenched at his sides. “I never said I was trying to redeem her.”
“No,” Raphael replied with a small, knowing smile. “But you want to protect her, don’t you? You’ve got a soft spot for her. And it’s going to cost you.” He paused, letting that sink in. “You know the other gang leaders won’t stand for it. If you start sheltering her-if she’s more than just a little plaything-they’ll see it as a betrayal. They’ll never forgive you for it.”
Damian’s eyes flashed with something dangerous. “I don’t care about them.”
Raphael raised an eyebrow, pushing forward. “You should. Because as much as you want to believe this is about some innocent girl, it’s not. She’s tied to the mess that killed our family. And if you start protecting her like she’s your own, it’s not just your reputation at risk. It’s the whole family. And that’s a line you don’t want to cross.”
He paused for a moment, watching his brother’s struggle. “If she’s just your plaything, Damian, then keep her as that. But once you cross that line and start playing the hero, there’s no going back. Our enemies won’t see a victim-they’ll see a threat. And it’ll be your head on the chopping block, not hers.”
Raphael gave him one last, slow smile. “You want to protect her? Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”