Chapter 17 - The Promise Kept
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Nell kissed him back with equal ferocity, her hands tangling in his dark hair. All the terror and exhaustion of the past few days melted away in the heat of his embrace.
When they finally pulled apart, both breathing heavily, Rafe rested his forehead against hers.
“I made you a promise in the secure suite,” Rafe whispered, his thumb gently stroking her cheekbone. “I protect what is mine.”
The next morning, Nell woke in the luxurious master suite, the morning sun streaming through the massive windows. The space beside her was empty, but the lingering scent of Rafe’s cologne provided a deep, anchoring comfort.
She dressed quickly and made her way downstairs.
When she entered the main living room, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Sitting on the expensive Persian rug, completely surrounded by an absurd amount of expensive toys and a half-eaten plate of pancakes, was a seven-year-old boy.
“Toby!” Nell screamed, tears springing to her eyes.
Toby dropped his toy race car and sprinted across the room, launching himself into his sister’s arms. “Nell! The big guy with the cool car picked me up! He said you live in a castle now!”
Nell hugged her brother fiercely, burying her face in his hair, sobbing with pure, unadulterated relief.
She looked up to see Rafe standing in the doorway, watching them with a soft, incredibly genuine smile that transformed his harsh features entirely.
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“You kept your word,” Nell wept, looking at the mafia boss who had just become her hero.
“I told you, Nell,” Rafe said, walking over and crouching down beside them. He gently ruffled Toby’s hair, earning a bright, gap-toothed grin from the boy. “Your family is my family now. Nobody will ever hurt either of you again.”
