Raphael's POV
Aunt Martha's house looked exactly like the kind of place that would harbor fugitives of different kinds, including runaway brides.
The house looked warm, with blooming flowers everywhere, and cookies cooling on the windowsill.
The woman who opened the door had the same aura of mischievous kindness as her home.
"Mr. Marino," she smiled like she'd been expecting me. "Would you like a cookie?"
I blinked, thrown off guard. Most people didn't offer baked goods to men who showed up at their door with armed security.
"No, thank you. I'm looking for my wife. Is she in?"
"Susan? Oh, she just left!" Aunt Martha beamed.
My heart nearly stopped. "Left? With whom?"
"Why, with your men, of course! The ones you sent to collect her."
Ice filled my veins. "I didn't send anyone."
The smile fell from Aunt Martha's face. "But they said... they showed your family crest..."
"When?" I demanded, probably too harshly because she took a step back. I forced myself to soften my tone. "When exactly did they leave?"
"About an hour ago. Susan and Laura went with them. They said you were waiting at the penthouse..."
I was already running back to my car before she finished speaking.
"Find them!" I barked at Marco as we drove away from the curb. "Every traffic camera, every witness. Someone must have seen something!"
Throughout the drive to my penthouse, I was on edge. And for the first time, I was scared that I might've brought an innocent woman into my world only to get her killed within 24hrs.
I hadn't survived this long by being naive - I knew exactly what my enemies were capable of. And now they had my wife. Oh God, please let her be home.
The elevator ride to the top floor was endless. When the doors finally opened to an empty penthouse, my last shred of hope died.
"Boss?" Marco approached cautiously. "Security hasn't reported anyone entering the building."
"Because they never planned on bringing her here." I slammed my fist into the wall. "This is kidnap, and I walked right into their trap by searching everywhere else!"
"But who..."
"Everyone!" I roared. "Take your pick! The Colombians who want revenge for last month's deal? The Russians still bitter about losing the docks? The Irish..." I stopped, a horrible thought striking me. "Or someone closer to home who has access to my family crest."
Marco's eyes widened. "You don't think..."
"I don't know what to think!" I grabbed my phone. "Get me every security feed within ten blocks of Aunt Martha's. Traffic cameras, storefronts, everything. And find out who's been watching my movements today."
As Marco rushed to comply, I dialed Antonio's number.
"Antonio? I need every favor you've ever owed me. Susan's been taken." I paused, letting the weight of my next words sink in. "And I think it might be family."
The silence on the other end was deafening.
"I'll make some calls," he finally said. "But Raphael... If it is family..."
"I know." I looked out over the city I controlled, feeling more powerless than ever. "War is coming.".
I ended the call, my mind racing with different possibilities and scenarios. Someone had planned this perfectly, if not how had they gotten to Aunt Martha's before me?
"Boss?" Marco interrupted my thoughts. "We found a witness. A kid with a phone camera caught the vehicle Susan was taken in."
I turned from the window, my expression making Marco take a step back.
Someone had taken my wife.
Someone had dared to touch what was mine.
They were about to learn why the Marino name struck fear into the hearts of men.
Susan's POV
Grand Central station was alive with people, going and coming in, but I felt strangely calm. Maybe it was the shock, or maybe I'd finally hit my limit of panic over the last two days. Either way, I stood there with my hastily packed bag, watching the departure board like it held the answers to all my problems.
"You don't have to do this," Laura whispered beside me, her eyes still red from crying. "We could find another way."
I shook my head, clutching the envelope of getaway money. "You saw what he's capable of. That blood on his suit... that could be anyone next time. You, my parents, Aunt Martha, even my siblings..." My voice cracked. "I can't let that happen."
"But where will you go?"
"Better if you don't know." I tried to smile. "That way when Vincent asks, you can honestly say you have no idea.
Laura's face crumpled. "This isn't fair. You finally graduated, you had plans..."
"Plans change." I laughed without humor. "Though I have to admit, this past two days wasn't exactly how I'd planned to start a career."
"When will you come back?"
"When things settle down. When Raphael's forgotten about his drunk wedding mistake." I squared my shoulders. "Maybe by then Vincent might probably be dead, and everyone can just move on."
"And if Raphael doesn't forget?"
I thought about Raphael. The way he'd been so calm and relaxed about everything. "He will. Men like that don't pine after girls who cause havoc."
The departure board flickered, announcing my train was boarding. I felt my heart squeeze. This was really happening.
"Listen to me," I grabbed Laura's shoulders. "You have to be careful. Vincent...the way he looked at you..." I shuddered. "Promise me you'll watch your back. Change up your routine, and vary the times you leave for classes. And if he shows up at the hospital..."
"I know, I know. Scream, run, call the police - though a fat lot of good they'd do."
"I'm so sorry I dragged you into this."
She pulled me into a tight hug. "Hey, what are best friends for if not helping out in times of trouble?"
"Tell my parents..." I swallowed hard. "Tell them I'm okay, and I'm sorry for bringing this chaos into their lives. And tell Chloe she can have my blue sweater - the one she's been trying to steal for months."
"The one you got stuck in that time?"
"Yeah." I laughed amidst my tears. "Seems fitting. Tell my family I love them, and I will see them again. Hold Julie close, she'll probably end up crying."
Laura nodded, wiping away tears.
The final boarding call echoed through the station.
"This is it," I whispered.
We hugged one last time, both pretending this wasn't goodbye forever. Then I turned and walked toward the platform, not daring to look back. I could feel Laura watching, probably holding back from running to me and dragging me back home.
Just before I stepped onto the train, I heard her call out: "Hey Suze?"
I paused, still not turning.
"For what it's worth... you made one hell of a mob wife. Even if it was just for two days. And this isn't over."
I smiled through my tears, then boarded the train without responding. It was better this way - cleaner. I didn't trust myself to look back, I was scared of what I'd see in Laura's eyes.
The train pulled out of the station, and I found myself wondering what else the future held for me.