She laughs. “Yeah, as if that’s going to help.”
“He’s the only one who can help me and give me some information about Raphael.”
Katherine runs her hand over her face. “He won’t. He’s not that stupid.”
“I have to try. I don’t know what else to do.”
“Good luck with that. Just pray he likes you enough that he doesn’t tell everything to Raphael or you’re a dead woman.”
“I’ll offer him my help with whatever Raphael holds over him. Caleb knows I’m rich and from an influential family. If he has a debt to pay off or he needs money to buy some special drug... I can get it all.”
“Like I said, good luck. You’re out of your mind.” Katherine gets to her feet and starts toward the door. “I’m out of here. Can’t stand your delusional yapping anymore.”
Raphael storms into the room, his face a mask of fury. Jade presses herself closer to Caleb on the couch, and he puts his arm around her. Ever since the cops raided Raphael’s last party, everyone has been in fear of his reaction. There’s nowhere to run now since all the guards are in the room with hands on their guns, awaiting Raphael’s sign.
Caleb can’t help but feel his throat constricting. He doesn’t even want to consider that one of them is responsible for the raid.
“You’re lucky I know none of you had anything to do with that little disruption in my business,” Raphael says, his voice perfectly calm, but Caleb can tell by the tic in Raphael’s jaw that he’s furious.
Jade is still trembling in his embrace and he isn’t sure if he’s hearing the beating of Jade’s or his own heart.
“Sir, we would never say...” one of the girls speaks up, and Caleb closes his eyes, cringing. Then he looks up at Helen, who is now cowering under Raphael’s piercing eyes. Raphael steps toward her and backhands her so hard that she falls to the floor. Everyone watches in silence, not daring to get in Raphael’s way.
“Quiet. I don’t want to hear any nonsense. I have far more important questions, and I need those questions answered.” His gaze rakes over Helen who is sobbing quietly on the floor, then he focuses on Caleb and Jade. “You two. My office. Now.”
When Raphael storms off, Jade starts to whimper and Caleb pulls them both to their feet.
“Shh. It’s okay. We didn’t do anything,” Caleb says, squeezing her hand, but she gives him a desperate look.
“What if he thinks we did? Why’d he call us first?” Jade blurts, her wide eyes full of tears.
“I don’t know, but calm down. Please. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He leads her down the hallway. Making Raphael wait is a terrible idea, and the sooner they get there, the sooner they’ll be out. Or at least that’s what Caleb hopes.
Jade stumbles but keeps walking. She clings to Caleb as they step into the office. Raphael ignores them for a while, busy with something on his phone. When his feverish gaze lifts to them, Caleb doesn’t look away.
“You two have had new clients recently,” Raphael starts. “Noticed anything strange about them?”
“No,” Caleb says and Jade shakes her head, but a soft whimper escapes her lips.
Raphael cocks his head, glaring at Jade. “Why are you crying?” He gets to his feet, stalking forward until he’s standing in front of her. She lowers her gaze, but he tips her chin up. “Are you hiding something from me?”
“No, sir, there’s nothing...” she chokes out, but then she bursts into tears, which makes Raphael’s brow crease.
“I’m not sure I believe you when you cry and cling to Caleb like a demented child.”
Caleb grits his teeth, then decides to do the stupidest thing he could ever do. “She’s crying because you’re scaring her for no reason,” he says, lifting his eyes toward Raphael’s.
“No reason?” Raphael’s face is turning red, but his focus is now solely on Caleb.
“Yeah,” Caleb says, letting go of Jade and crossing his arms. “You vet your clients really well. You would’ve known if it was one of them. You’re just doing this because you’re angry.”
Just as he finishes the sentence, Raphael grabs him by the throat and shoves him against the wall. Jade gasps, and Caleb hopes she won’t interfere because he has Raphael exactly where he wants him—away from Jade. He can feel Raphael’s fingers tightening and he fights the urge to panic, and just stands there staring back at Raphael, who screws his nose up.
“Don’t push it,” Raphael says through his teeth. “And don’t look at me like that.” His grip on Caleb’s throat weakens, and Caleb knows he’s right. All Raphael wants is to take out his anger on someone, and Caleb would rather he do it on him than on Jade, Helen, or anyone else.
Raphael turns around and leans on the table, his shoulders tense.
Caleb slowly steps forward. “Maybe I can help you,” he says.
