Raphael sat on the edge of his bed, his arms draped loosely around Luna, who rested her head against his shoulder. The quiet of the night wrapped around them like a blanket, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting warm shadows across the room. Luna’s fingers absently played with the fabric of his shirt, her relaxed breathing the only sound in the room.
“Tonight feels… peaceful,” Luna said softly, tilting her head to look up at Raphael.
He glanced down at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. “It does,” he agreed. “Maybe too peaceful.”
Luna laughed lightly, shaking her head. “You’re always so suspicious. Can’t we just enjoy the moment?”
He kissed the top of her head, pulling her closer. “I am enjoying it,” he said. “I’m just… careful.”
Before Luna could respond, Raphael’s phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand, shattering the calm. His brows furrowed as he reached for it, the screen lighting up with an unknown number.
“Who’s calling this late?” Luna asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Raphael shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said, answering the call. “Hello?”
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before a distorted voice spoke. “Raphael Wolfe.”
Raphael’s spine straightened, his grip on the phone tightening. “Who is this?” he demanded, his tone sharp.
“Someone who knows what’s coming,” the voice replied, calm but chilling.
Luna sat up, noticing the tension in Raphael’s body. “What’s wrong?” she whispered, placing a hand on his arm.
Raphael held up a finger, his focus locked on the call. “I asked you who you are,” he repeated, his voice low and dangerous.
The voice chuckled, a sound that made Raphael’s skin crawl. “Names don’t matter,” the person said. “What matters is that you listen carefully.”
Raphael’s jaw tightened. “I’m not in the mood for games,” he said. “If you’ve got something to say, say it.”
The voice’s tone darkened. “There’s a storm coming, Raphael. And you’re standing right in the middle of it.”
“What storm?” Raphael asked, his eyes narrowing. “Speak clearly or I’m ending this call.”
“Oh, you’ll see,” the voice said cryptically. “But let me give you a little hint-it’s tied to your past. Something you thought you left behind.”
Raphael’s heart raced, his mind flashing through memories he had buried long ago. “What are you talking about?” he demanded.
“Your choices, your deals, your sins,” the voice continued. “They don’t disappear, Raphael. They’re coming back to collect.”
Luna squeezed his arm, her worry evident. “Raphael, what’s going on?” she asked softly, her eyes filled with concern.
Raphael ignored her for a moment, his focus still on the call. “If you have something to say, stop talking in riddles and say it,” he snapped.
The voice laughed again, the sound cold and taunting. “You’ll find out soon enough,” it said. “But let me leave you with this-you can’t protect her.”
“Protect who?” Raphael asked, his voice rising. “Who are you talking about?”
The line went dead.
Raphael stared at his phone, his chest heaving as his grip tightened around the device. He tried calling the number back, but it went straight to voicemail.
“Raphael,” Luna said again, her voice more urgent. “What’s wrong? Who was that?”
He let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice laced with frustration. “Someone… threatening me.”
Luna’s eyes widened. “Threatening you? About what?”
Raphael shook his head, his mind racing. “They said something about my past,” he said. “About things I thought were done.”
Luna moved closer, her hand resting on his shoulder. “What does that mean? What did they say?”
“They said… I can’t protect you,” Raphael said quietly, his jaw clenching as the words echoed in his mind.
Luna’s face paled, and she shook her head. “Me? Why would they say that?”
“I don’t know,” Raphael said, his tone sharp. “But I won’t let anything happen to you, Luna. I swear it.”
Luna’s hands trembled as she gripped his arm. “Raphael, this sounds serious. Maybe we should tell Damian. Or get help.”
“No,” Raphael said firmly, his eyes meeting hers. “I’ll handle this. I don’t want anyone else involved.”
“But-”
“No,” he repeated, his voice softer this time. “I won’t drag Damian or anyone else into this. It’s my problem.”
Luna’s eyes filled with tears, but she nodded reluctantly. “Okay,” she whispered. “But you promise you’ll tell me if you need help?”
Raphael cupped her face in his hands, his gaze intense. “I promise,” he said. “But for now, I need you to trust me.”
Luna nodded again, her tears spilling over. “I do trust you,” she said. “I just… don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t,” Raphael said firmly. “I’ll protect you. No matter what.”
They sat together in silence, the weight of the mysterious call hanging heavy between them. Neither of them noticed the faint sound of footsteps outside the room, or the shadow that lingered just beyond the door.