Page 72 of Endlessly Raphael

“Let’s go, then,” Thorn says.

We take off using our heightened speed, and as we travel, Midnight’s phone rings while I keep my ear trained on the call with Haven. All I can hear are muffled noises and voices, and if he’s with who I think he might be with, time is running out.

Midnight’s hand on my shoulder brings me to an abrupt stop. “Yves said Haven’s father showed up. He got a call from his brother saying that he plans to remove the quote ‘problem’ tonight, and if he gets in his way, he’ll be part of the removal.”

“Fuck! There’s no way whoever has Haven is someone he knows. What the fuck is going on?”

“Come on,” Eros urges. “We need to get there and find out.”

Rage takes over, spreading through me like cancer, and with my beast fully taking over, I channel all of it to rescue my mate. I didn’t wait centuries to find him only to lose him to some asshole. Not happening.

I’m on my way.

Gods, I hope he knows.

TWENTY-SIX

Haven

I definitely fucked up.

I should have listened to the warning bells as I got closer to the area. Part of me knew something was wrong, but I wanted to see Rapha badly enough that I ignored it. Now I’m tied to a column with my mouth gagged as two scary looking dudes talk quietly in front of me.

Behind them is a table stacked with guns, cash, and packages of a white substance I can only assume is whatever the hot drug of the moment is. So yeah, I walked in on some Mafia guys, and I’m in trouble.

All I can do now is hope that Raphael picked up on what was happening. My quick thinking to dial his number and slide the phone behind some boxes is the only chance I have to survive this. There’s been a strange tightness in my chest since I heard his voice, and an even stranger calmness given the seriousness of my situation. It’s like some part of me just knows he’s on his way. I don’t know how it’s possible, but I can feel him.

“What do we do with this asshole?” the larger of the two men asks the other.

“I don’t give a fuck, Frankie. Shoot him, slash him, fuck him, whatever. Just make sure he doesn’t talk to no one. If this deal goes sideways, The Admiral will fuck us up.”

The Admiral. Fuck. The most notorious mobster in America. I thought he was all about the Chicago area though. What’s he doing in New Onyx?

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Frankie says, glancing at me. “He is kind of pretty.” He licks his lips in a way that turns my stomach.

“I was joking about fucking him, dude. We don’t have time for shit like that.”

“Ah, come on, Ice Pick. It’d take me like five minutes. You could get some too.”

“I fuck chicks, man.” His comment doesn’t stop him from eyeing me like a sex toy.

“Ass is ass,” Frankie says. “We got ten minutes. We get off, we slash his throat, and whoever sent him here learns a lesson.”

“Yeah, okay.” Ice Pick is already unzipping his jeans.

I break out in a cold sweat as fear grips my stomach, choosing to close my eyes. I may be helpless, but I won’t watch them do this to me. If I die tonight, I want the last face I see to be Raphael’s, even if it’s just in my mind.

TWENTY-SEVEN

Raphael

Haven’s scent strengthens the closer we get, drawing me with the frenzied need to protect my mate. When we turn the corner and see the dilapidated old bar, I spot a man on the side standing on boxes and peering into the window.

Eros is on him before I can get there, dropping him on the ground before me. It’s Joe.

“You motherfucker!” I pounce and slash his cheek with my long nails. “Where is Haven?”

“Inside,” he says, his voice shaking with fear. “I didn’t mean for it to go this far.”