Chapter Thirteen
The next day, Rafe wasn’t sure how things would proceed. Now that he knew Diana was carrying his child, everything took on a different meaning. Part of him wanted to scoop her up and hide her away somewhere safe, but she’d never go for that. No, his little tigress wouldn’t care for being caged.
Hell, she’d probably shoot him if he even tried it. Rafe grinned. Her feral side was a surprising turn-on. He loved that she was gutsy enough to take on anybody even if the man in him wanted to protect her from everything that could possibly harm her.
But from the moment they’d woken up, Diana had been relaxed, if a little shy. After another bout of vomiting that she assured Rafe was normal, he’d brought her some hot tea and crackers in bed. Everyone else was busy, and they pretty much had the place to themselves. It was odd for Rafe to not be actively working right now. He was used to keeping busy, but Noah hadn’t assigned him any new cases lately. Rafe knew he was probably trying to give him some space to figure out things with Diana.
After lunch, Diana was walking back to the hallway that led to their room. Rafe grabbed her hand.
“Let’s watch a movie.”
She bit her lip. “Is that okay? No one else needs that room?”
“No, everyone is out on cases. It’s just us here.”
She relaxed slightly at that, obviously not comfortable in the penthouse just yet, something he hoped would change with enough time.
“Okay, that’s fine. What do you want to watch?”
Rafe led her to the sofa in the living room, getting her comfortable and covering her legs with the throw blanket on the back of the couch that he was sure had been Lucia’s doing. Then he picked up the remote.
“Let’s see what we’ve got here.” Noah had pretty much every movie channel available, so he was sure they could find something.
They were just past the opening credits on a popular new horror movie when Matthias appeared in the doorway to the living room.
“Hey, can I have a word?” He looked at Rafe and raised an eyebrow.
Rafe knew then that whatever he was about to say must concern Diana. “It’s okay. You can talk in front of her. It’ll save me the trouble of relaying it all to her later.”
Diana stiffened in his arms. No one had said anything directly, but he could read her feelings clearly. She wasn’t sure who to trust or whether the others trusted her. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure if Noah or any of the team had reservations about helping Diana, and he didn’t fucking care. They would give her the respect she’d earned or else.
Matthias looked between them uncertainly but then shrugged. “I have news about the Jewel of the Sea.”
Diana sat up so fast she almost bashed Rafe in the eye with the back of her head. “You found it?”
Matthias shook his head. “Unfortunately, the news isn’t that good. I didn’t find it, but I was able to confirm that it was sold on the black market a few years ago. There was a corresponding increase in ORUS financials right after the sale.”
“So it was Orion who stole it,” Rafe said.
“It looks like it. Not that we didn’t already know that. It’s unlikely that anyone but an ORUS-trained operative would have been able to pull off a heist of that level without leaving a trace. But still, now that I’ve confirmed the sale, we have a starting place for tracing the stone’s movement. The buyer was in Romania. That’s something.”
“Yes, it’s something.” Diana put her hands over her mouth. “I thought that I’d resigned myself to it being lost forever. You’d think it wouldn’t be such a huge deal since it’s been gone so long. But it’s the last thing I had of my mother’s.”
“We’ll get it back for you, baby. No one can trace the untraceable like we can.” Rafe kissed the top of her head softly. He would figure out what needed to happen to get that stone back. Just because Diana wanted it.
And because he wanted Diana.
“Sorry to break down like that. It just hits me out of the blue sometimes. How much I miss my mom, I mean.” Diana wiped the edge of her eyes with her sleeve. “How did you find out all this anyway?” she asked, looking at Matthias in awe.
Rafe growled under his breath. He didn’t like the way she was watching the kid, like he was some kind of wizard or something. Hell, he could have found the information on his own. Okay, no, he couldn’t have; he’d definitely needed Matthias’s skills on this, but it still made him want to flex for her. He didn’t like his woman looking at another man that way. All of a sudden, his internal thoughts caught up to him and he grimaced. He sounded like a kid himself, worried another guy would ask his girl to the prom before he got a chance.
“Yes, how did you find out all this,” Rafe echoed, hoping they could move this along and Matthias would leave them alone again.
“Ian has access to all of ORUS’s financial records now.” Matthias stated it as if that alone was enough explanation.
From what Rafe remembered of his old associate, he wasn’t the giving type. He’d initially wondered if Noah had made the right decision in installing Ian as the new head of the organization. Now he wondered if that had been the plan all along. Having someone you knew in the position was arguably better than a stranger. Even if Ian wasn’t interested in helping them, just by being a known player he was easier for them to manipulate. Which was incredibly useful.
Not for the first time, Rafe was thankful for the day he’d been told he would be mentoring a new kid. Noah had turned out to be the brother he’d always wished for. Now he was Rafe’s brother in truth.
“So Ian just gave you the access, huh?” he teased.
Matthias smirked. The kid reminded him a lot of Noah. He had that cocky bravado that could get you out of a lot of shit or into a lot of shit, depending on how the wind blew.
“I think we both know he didn’t give me anything,” Matthias replied.
Rafe chuckled under his breath. Diana looked between them both curiously. He didn’t bother explaining. She’d probably already figured out that very little of what they did was legal, but it was in her best interest not to ask too many questions. The less you knew, the less you were held accountable for.
“So what are we going to do now?” Diana asked finally.
Rafe stood, holding her in his arms. She squealed slightly at the sudden movement.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking my lady back to our room so we can rest. While you’re sleeping, I’m going to come up with a plan to track the stone. That’s what I do best. Finding things that have disappeared.”
Diana looked like she wanted to fight it, but her eyelids were already drooping. “Okay, but only because I’m so sleepy. After my nap, I want to help.”
“You’re already helping,” Rafe replied. But when he looked down again, she was already asleep, her head lolling against his shoulder.
He looked up to see Matthias watching them with a curious look on his face.
“What? You got something to say, kid?”
Matthias shrugged. “Nothing.”
“She’s mine. Remember that.”
If he’d said that to anyone else, they probably would have peed their pants. Rafe knew he could be scary as fuck at times; it was an occupational hazard. But Matthias just smiled.
“She’s beautiful, but I’m not after your girl. I don’t do… connections. Not anymore.” But in spite of his words, Matthias gave the sleeping Diana another wistful look before he left.
Rafe wasn’t sure what to make of that, but he would be watching the kid. This life, it took its toll. No one knew that better than he did. Sometimes he’d felt like he was aching inside for someone to see him, to recognize him as another human being instead of the weapon ORUS had fashioned him into. If he hadn’t had the memories of Lucia and Nonna to keep him borderline human, he wasn’t sure where he’d be. Matthias needed that even if he couldn’t acknowledge it. So he’d be watching.
A weapon, even one that was on your side, needed to be maintained properly, or it became a risk.
Diana woke slowly, and it was like surfacing from underwater. But unlike most days, she came out of the fog leisurely, somehow knowing that she was perfectly safe. When she opened her eyes, she immediately saw Rafe standing next to the window. He turned, and a smile tugged at his lips. A smile she could feel from all the way across the room.
“Hey,” he whispered, and there was a wealth of emotion in that one word.
“How long did I sleep?” she asked, pushing up on her elbows.
Rafe didn’t get to answer her because there was a knock at the door a moment before Noah stuck his head in.
“Hey, we got food if you guys are hungry. But if you actually want any, you might want to hurry. Lucia was craving pizza, which meant that any other suggestions for any other type of food was strictly vetoed. When I suggested maybe we get some veggie stuff or smoothies for her, she threatened to kill me with a knife in my sleep. She was very inventive. Her attention to detail when it comes to maiming is uncanny. Granted, she left her favorite appendage untouched in her gory tale.”
Rafe laughed. “You mean to tell me you’re afraid of my sister? She’s tiny.”
“Your baby sister is freakishly strong when she wants something. If you think you can take her, I welcome you to try. As a matter of fact, hold that thought and let me get some popcorn.”
Noah ran off, and Diana could only laugh. It never failed to amuse her how those guys communicated. They were all so big and gruff and obviously badass, but then they’d do and say the funniest things. It was nice to see a different side to Rafe as well, one he only allowed to emerge around those he trusted most. The human side.
Rafe glanced at her. “What do you say? Pizza?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
He held out a hand, and she accepted it gratefully. Despite the long nap, she still felt exhausted and a little unsteady. They walked down the hallway toward the living room, the sound of voices getting louder and louder as they approached. Diana clutched his arm tighter. It was hard to know where she fit in with this bunch. They were all really nice to her, but she figured Lucia had to wish her brother had met someone without so much baggage. After everything he’d been through, now he was getting dragged back into the mud because of her brothers. Lucia probably wished he’d never met her.
As soon as they entered the room, Oskar gave her a quick grin before going back to his conversation with Matthias. Diana felt her nerves dissolve a little bit as JJ appeared and grabbed her arm.
“We need to get you some pizza before Lucia eats it all,” JJ declared.
With a chuckle, she let the vivacious blonde lead her away. Self-conscious over how tired and haggard she must look, Diana pushed her hair back, wishing now that she’d taken a little more time on her appearance. JJ was also blond but the type that looked like she belonged in a music video, straddling the back of a Harley. She was all sex and spice, while Diana suddenly felt about as enticing as dry toast.
Diana accepted the plate Lucia handed her and took one piece of pizza, praying the smell wouldn’t upset her stomach. She glanced over her shoulder at Rafe. They hadn’t discussed when they wanted to announce their news, and she definitely didn’t want to have to explain a vomiting fit to his sister right now. Luckily, the smell didn’t bother her at all. Her stomach rumbled, and Diana suddenly realized just how hungry she was.
“Ugh, I’m starving! As usual,” Lucia declared before snatching three pieces of pizza onto her own plate. “Everyone talks about pregnancy cravings, but I never realized that you’re just as hungry when you’re nursing. I’m probably never going to fit into my old clothes again.”
JJ rolled her eyes. “Says the tiny girl who still wears a size that I couldn’t fit one leg into.”
“You look amazing and you know it.” Lucia smirked at her friend. “I’m sure Jonas lets you know exactly how much he loves your curves.”
Diana was struck with longing as she watched the two friends banter back and forth. With no mother or sisters, she’d always been on her own to figure things out growing up. Now that she was pregnant, it would be nice to have someone to talk to. She wished she could confide in Lucia and ask all the questions that were banging around in her head, but this was Rafe’s sister. Would she be happy that her brother was going to be a father? Or upset that he’d knocked up some random chick with a psycho family?
She took a tiny bite of her pizza.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Lucia put an arm around her. “I’ve been meaning to check on you. It can’t be easy being holed up with no one but Rafe for company. You know you’re always welcome to hang with us if you get bored.”
JJ rolled her eyes. “Um, I know this is weird since it’s your brother, Lu, but no straight woman would be bored with Rafe. I’m sure he’s keeping her… busy.”
JJ made an obscene gesture, and Diana choked slightly. Lucia burst into giggles.
“JJ, stop. Don’t mind her, Diana. We still haven’t gotten her completely house trained.”
“No, it’s fine!” Diana wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Everything is fine. I’ve just been tired. But Rafe has been taking good care of me.”
Ignoring JJ’s raised eyebrows, Lucia nodded. “He’s good at that. Taking care of people. Even though he seems all gruff and scary, my brother has always been the caretaker type. I mean, he practically raised me, along with Nonna, of course.”
“He loves you so much. I can tell how proud he is of you when he talks about you.” Diana glanced behind her to where Rafe was standing with the other men. As if he could sense her eyes, he turned. The air between them crackled with electricity, and she blushed and turned around.
Lucia regarded her with a kind smile. “I’m proud of him too. He’s had a hard life, but he’s never given up. Now all I can do is pray that he learns to relax and enjoy life before it’s too late. But I can see I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
“Oh?” Diana asked.
“With the way he looks at you, my brother is clearly thinking about a lot more than work lately. You’re the first girl he’s ever introduced to us.”
Although everything inside her thrilled at the thought, Diana cautioned herself not to get too excited. Rafe was an extremely private man, and his life was a dangerous one. Of course he’d probably never introduced anyone to his family. But that didn’t mean he’d been a monk over the years.
Don’t think about that.
Her stomach churned slightly at the thought of Rafe with other women. But he wasn’t with those women now. He was with her. He loved her. No matter what was going on around them, the two of them together was a good thing. And as much as he was determined to protect her, she felt just as strongly about him. She glanced over at Lucia and JJ, playfully bickering over the last slice of pizza.
All of them. They were his family, and they would be her baby’s family. The very thing she’d always wanted was so close she could taste it.
She wouldn’t let anything get in the way.
"Meet in the office in five."
Rafe looked up at Noah's softly muttered words. He glanced over where the girls were chatting and laughing, the pizza long gone.
He didn't want to leave Diana. It was stupid but he worried about her whenever she was out of his sight. But when Noah called a meeting, it was always about something important. He couldn't take chances with her safety. So he followed his best friend down the hall to his office. Matthias, Ryan, Dylan and Oskar were already there waiting.
Noah sat behind his desk, his face grave. "We need to strategize. The Vandergraffs will make a move eventually. We have to be ready."
It should have given him comfort to see that the others were taking this as seriously as he was. But all that registered was a pervasive sense of fear.
It was an unfamiliar feeling, this helplessness. He would do anything to protect her, but for the first time he worried that his best wouldn’t be good enough. There were simply too many variables at play between her brothers, the FBI and Interpol up their asses, and any others who might think she knew where the damn diamond was. Threats were everywhere, and he was fighting his instinct to take Diana away somewhere and disappear.
But she deserved better than that. A life on the run was no life at all. He thought back to how she'd looked earlier, laughing with his sister and JJ. This was what she needed. Family. Friends. Security.
Things he could give her if he played his cards right.
“Rafe?”
He glanced up at the sound of his name.
Noah was watching him with knowing eyes. “I know what you’re thinking. Running won’t fix this.” He stood and came from behind the desk.
“What else can I do? She’s in danger here, and being with me is likely only going to bring more heat down on her.”
“That’s not true.” Noah clapped a hand on his shoulder, as if he could keep Rafe there through sheer force of will. “You are probably the best thing for her right now. Who the hell else could protect her the way you can?”
Rafe sighed. “That’s all I want. To protect her. But how do I do that when we have heat coming from all sides? She’s too good to live like this.”
Oskar leaned back against the far wall. “Am I the only one who’s going to say it?” He looked around, and they all stopped what they were doing to glare at him.
Rafe growled out. “Say what you want to say, Oskar. No one has time for your bullshit tonight.”
“I’m glad to see someone here is PMSing. Would you like a Midol?”
Rafe flipped him off. “Fuck you.”
“I’m sure you would enjoy it very much.”
Normally, Rafe would let him mouth off and let his annoyance slide. But tonight Rafe was too raw. He kept thinking about what could have happened if he hadn’t been there when her brothers grabbed her. What if he’d lost her before they’d even had any time together? Before he’d known she carried his child? He was far too raw, too emotional.
Noah put a hand on his chest. “You, chill out.” He turned his attention to Oskar. “And what the fuck are you thinking?”
“Her brothers aren’t just going to give up.”
Rafe was a hair away from shoving Noah’s hand off his chest and going after the German to work out some of his angry frustration, but Noah’s hand stayed steady. So Rafe had to dial it back a notch.
Rafe growled through clenched teeth. “You got an idea, or you just enjoy stating the obvious?”
Oskar grinned. “I’m so glad you asked about an idea. Because I do happen to have one.”
Noah rolled his eyes. “Cut the shit, Oskar. Spill it.”
“They want her. So we allow them to get back what they want.”
For a long moment Rafe was certain he hadn’t heard correctly. Then the words started to filter in, and it took Noah, Matthias and Dylan to stop him from vaulting across the room.
“You want to use her as bait? That’s my fucking girl. She’s pregnant, asshole.”
Noah’s jaw unhinged. Ryan and Dylan exchanged glances. He couldn’t read Matthias’s expression, but that was par for the course.
Oskar, ever dry, just said, “Well, congrats. So how long before you teach the kid to kill someone in their sleep?”
Noah growled at Oskar. “Can it, Viking.” He shoved Rafe back. “Rafe, we get it. No one is going to use anyone as bait.” He nailed Oskar with a hard look that clearly stated he’d better not be suggesting that.
Matthias was actually surprisingly strong, and he was taking the brunt of holding back Rafe from annihilating the German’s face. “If she were your woman, would you be so eager to put her in the line of fire?”
Oskar shrugged. “If it would get the job done, I’d do what I needed to do. I wouldn’t make it personal.”
“We don’t put family in the line of fire,” Noah reminded him.
“He’s not my damn family,” Oskar muttered but not so quietly that Rafe didn’t hear him.
“She’s my family, dumbass!” Rafe raged.
Noah looked like he was ready to let him go and take Oskar out for that comment.
Oskar held up his hands. “Sorry. I’m just saying, we would all be there protecting her. We’d set a trap. We have to do something. Right now we’re sitting ducks.”
Rafe shoved everybody off him, grappling for a moment with Matthias before the kid finally let him go and shoved him toward the door.
Noah glared at him. “Go cool off. No one’s using anyone as bait. We’re going to find another solution.” He turned his attention back to Oskar. “You come up with another brilliant idea. One that doesn’t involve getting one of the family killed.”
Rafe wrenched open the office door. He had to find Diana. He wasn’t letting her get hurt. He wasn’t letting his child get hurt.
Over his dead body.