“I can’t believe you just did that,” Liu says.
I shrug like it’s no big deal because it isn’t. I’d do a hell of a lot more for that girl than just get a little ink.
He gives me a sideways look as I tell him to head toward Isa’s place. “You really care about her?” he asks, sounding surprised.
I grunt because I don’t have to justify my feelings for her to him.
He parks across the street from the mansion where she lives, and I recline my seat and settle in to wait. A glance at the clock shows me we have some time before she gets home. Liu turns off the car and the silence between us stretches, becoming awkward.
“We ever gonna talk about—’
I cut him off. “No. There’s nothing to talk about.”
He sighs. “I fucked up.”
“That’s the understatement of the century.”
He turns toward me in his seat, nostrils flaring. “You’ve fucked up too, Rafe. Don’t pretend like you’re some saint.”
“Never said I was,” I tell him. “But I’m learning from my mistakes. Trying to fix them. Can you say the same?”
His face tightens and he looks away, staring out the windshield. “I was in a bad place back then.”
I nod. I’m aware. I might not have been at the time. He was good at covering his tracks, keeping his nose clean, but I found out later what he’d been going through. “We made a deal,” I remind him. “You help me, we wipe the slate clean. But, Liu,” I wait until he meets my gaze again, wanting him to see just how serious I am. “I won’t make this deal again. Whatever shit you still need to clean up, be sure that you do.”
He nods, not denying that he’s still in some shit he shouldn’t be.
Knowing I shouldn’t, I ask, “You still … ?”
He shakes his head.
“Okay. Good. I don’t want any of that around her. Got it? She likes you. She doesn’t have many people here and she’s been through too much. Don’t let whatever you’re into rub off on her life.”
“I won’t. I would never—”
I snort. “Because it didn’t fuck up our lives either, right?”
That quiets him and he exhales a harsh breath. “I’m getting my shit in order. I just … need time.”
“It’s been a year and a half.”
“I know.” His jaw tightens. “But I have my reasons, and I’m working on it.”
I nod, letting the subject drop. We wait in silence for a few more minutes before Isa’s Audi comes into view.
“So, what’s your plan here?”
I turn to him and shrug. “I don’t have a plan. I’m winging it. If she’s okay to talk to me, make yourself scarce. I’ll find a ride back later. If she struggles, stick around and try not to listen as I pour my heart out on the fucking pavement.”
He frowns, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh, okay. I guess I can go with that.”
41 Isabella
I’ve been thinking about what Jordy said all day. I want to believe him. Believe that Rafael misses me. It’s just so hard to do that when it was so easy for him to push me away.
I pull into my driveway and get out, my mind distracted, when I hear a deep voice behind me say, “Isa?”
I jump, whirling to see who’s behind me and find Rafael and Zheng standing a few yards away.
I press my hand to my chest, willing my racing heart to slow. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”
Rafael lifts both hands, “I didn’t mean to. I just want to talk.”
I frown and flick a glance toward Zheng who’s standing a few steps behind Rafael. He gives me a sheepish look and shrugs. “I’m just here for moral support.”
My scowl deepens. “For me or for him?” I thought they hated each other.
Rafael answers. “He’s here for you. We’re patching up some of our shit. Liu can be an okay dude when he wants to be, even if he is a cat. I asked him to come with me because I wanted him to be here for you.”
He did? “Why?”
Rafael takes a tentative step forward. “Because I want to talk, and I know you trust him. That you’re comfortable with him around.”
“I’m fine with Desmond too, and he’s your friend. Why not ask him?”
He shakes his head. “Because I didn’t want to gang up on you. Desmond’s my friend. He’s yours too, but I didn’t want you to think he’d be on my side over yours or that you wouldn’t have anyone in your corner. Liu and I have our history, but when it comes to you and me, he’s always going to pick you first. He’s in your corner. He’s your friend. I want you to feel comfortable talking to me.”
Oh. That’s ... thoughtful of him.
He runs his hands over his face, and I catch sight of the twin bandages over the top of both his hands.
“What happened to your hands?” I ask, worry clenching my stomach. Is he hurt? Did something happen?
Rafael lifts his gaze, his dark brown eyes meeting mine. “That’s actually what I came here to show you.”
Zheng looks nervous behind him, shifting from one foot to the other.
“Ummm…okay.” I wait for him to elaborate but he doesn’t. His lips are pressed into a tight line, his eyes downcast. He peels back the bandages and underneath I see that he’s sporting new ink. I gasp. “You tattooed your hands?”
He nods but doesn’t say anything as he removes the second bandage, shoving both in his back pocket. I swallow hard as I take in the new pieces he’s added, fighting the urge to get a closer look. They’re beautiful. On his left, he has an anchor surrounded in a
