Chapter 6
“What’s the Ace of Queen symbol doing in here?”
The question escaped me as I stepped into the grand hall of Rafael’s estate. The emblem–a Queen of Spades crowned with gold- was embedded in the marble floor, its presence both mesmerizing and intimidating.
Rafael’s lips curved into a faint smile as he walked beside me. “You know the Ace of Queen?“}
I turned to him, my brows furrowed. “I know of it. It’s the most feared mafia group in the city.” I paused, glancing at him sharply. “You’re a member?”
Before he could answer, the sound of footsteps echoed through the estate. Men began filing into the room. They stood in neat rows, their gazes lowered. Then, one by one, they bowed.
“Don Rafael,” one of them said respectfully, “your orders?”
Rafael’s expression shifted to something cold, commanding. “This is Eloise Garcia,” he announced. “She is the lady of the house now. Her word is law. Treat her as you would me. And make sure her father is well taken care of in our estate.“}}
The men responded in unison. “Understood, Don Rafael.”
My breath caught as I glanced at him, but Rafael didn’t look at me. Instead, he gestured toward the staircase. “Come. You need rest.” The chamber he led me to was stunning. A massive four–poster bed stood in the center, draped with velvet curtains. The walls were adorned with intricate gold carvings, and floor–to–ceiling windows overlooked sprawling gardens.
I turned to face Rafael, my mind spinning with questions. “Who are you, Rafael? And what’s your connection to the Ace of Queen?“} He leaned against the windowsill. “You’ve figured it out already. I’m not just Mikael’s brother. I’m the don of the Ace of Queen now.” My stomach dropped. “That’s impossible,” I said, shaking my head.
“It’s not,” he replied. “When Mikael turned our father against me, I had nothing–no money, no allies, no future. I was exiled with nowhere to go. That’s when I crossed paths with Don Caliope, the previous don of the Ace of Queen.“>
I stared at him, trying to piece it together. “Don Caliope? What does he have to do with you?”
Rafael’s gaze darkened. “I saved his life. He’d been ambushed, left for dead, and I helped him escape. In return, he Treated me like his son. He taught me everything about the Ace of Queen.“}
“And this estate?”
“It was his,” Rafael said. “But Don Caliope was growing weaker, he left it in my care. He made me his successor.”
took me in.
I sank into one of the chairs by the window, my thoughts racing. “So, you’ve been here all this time, ruling one of the most dangerous mafia groups in the world?”
Rafael nodded. “I stayed in the shadows because I didn’t want Mikael to know. But now…” He straightened. “Now, it’s time to act. Together, we can take him down.“>
I looked up at him. “Mikael deserves to pay for everything he’s done.”
“He does,” Rafael agreed. “And this isn’t just about you, Eloise. Mikael has taken from me too.”
His words made me pause. There was a weight to them, something more than just the betrayal of being exiled.}
“What do you mean?” I asked slowly.
Rafael’s eyes darkened. “In my past life, Mikael killed me. He used our father, manipulated everyone, and when I was no longer useful, he made sure I was eliminated. But then…” He snapped. “I mean, it’s time to end him.”
“Yes,” I nodded, “It’s really time but, wait-” I stopped when I had processed his words. “What did you say again? Past life? Did you also travel back in time?”
Malia Boydgend Killed.