, all-consuming, and dangerous. But even now, as I sat in the dimly lit corne

ell was wr

an who might've had a hand in my family's destruction. But the way he looke

should've been paying attention, but my mind was stuck on our kiss. The heat, the

to Ma

thoughts. She slid into the booth a

him again," she sai

lied, picking

afael isn't just dangerous he's lethal. People like him do

te for

t worry about me, Elena

s lights dimmed, signaling the start of the night's main event.

pace. Anything

or me, leaning casually against the wall like

g me," he said, his

t back, folding my ar

distance between us in a few strid

pine, but I refused to let him se

uch igniting a war inside me. "You've been m

ling to the surface. "Fuck you, Raf

raw. "You can fight me all you want, but you and I both know t

urned and walked away, leavi

photograph, the scarred man's crypt

ght, slamming the door behind me. He looked u

leasure?" he asked, lea

raph onto his desk.

cked up the photo, his jaw tight

epping closer. "What matters is w

s gaze meeting mine. "Your fa

voice shaking. "Did it have anything

nce was

ted, slamming my

Your father wasn't the man you thought he was, Marisol.

shing over me. "What the fuck are you saying?

Rafael said, his voice low. "C

I turned and stormed out of the office, my mind

firm as I found her back

an eyebrow.

l's past. My father

ng toward the crowd. "You're pla

said. "I need to

ded. "Fine. But if we're do

a that the scarred man appeared. He cornered me in the

said, his voice like gravel. "

eart racing. "What t

r. "Rafael isn't who you think he is. He's not your

ut before I could respond, R

" Rafael said,

ng her, are you? How noble. But sh

hadows, leaving me trembl

g. "Is it true? Did you have someth

't answer. And that silence wa