Raphael (The Immortal Youth Book 1) (17 page)

Raphael had never had any of that. No loving father carefully easing his son into the way of the werewolves. No explanation for his mood swings and urges, or for the vivid dreams he used to have when ten years old. His first shift had been terrifying. His wolf, a cub like himself, had been scared by everything. Raphael had vomited for hours the morning after. His father had first beaten him, then ordered him to clean his mess.

This run with Luisa was his first at something he had never had before. For that, he was highly excited and at the same time equally terrified something, anything could go wrong. His senses in overdrive and his heart exploding, he took in everything, from the night dewy scents to the bats’ whooshing wings cutting the thermals. The colors were brighter and the smells richer. The breeze caressing his exposed skin was cold and he welcomed it because he was melting from the inside out, burning to be reunited with his mate.

In the midst of Raphael’s chaotic thoughts, a dark shadow moved at the periphery of his sight. Something, someone ran through the clearing. Following Raphael’s instructions, Luisa had separated from the rest of her group and now stood by the very edge of their designated shifting space. Raphael had told her to get closer to the fence by the northern side of the clearing, because he remembered about the ridge and the big oak tree on top of it from his previous stints at RYS. With freezing clarity, he realized how he had put her in danger with his request.

Agonizing fear for Luisa finally forced the shifting, and his wolf claimed his rightful place under the blood moon. While in that middle plane, where he was both Raphael and the wolf, he saw the shadow take a definite shape. A blink of an eye later, a big familiar red-brown wolf attacked Luisa while she was changing. Raphael tried to warn her about Rico, but his mouth had already transformed into a muzzle and he could only howl.

She. Danger. Run. Fast.

Run.

Evil. After her.

Run faster.

Hill.

Trees. Trees. Trees.

Faster.

Water. Strong pull.

Evil hide.

Water.

Trees.

Hill.

Her scent less.

Hill. Down. Up. Water. Trees.

Far away.

Wolf too slow.

Lost them.

Run. Run. Run.

Faster.

Run.

Too many of us.

Too many scents.

Moon no more.

Wolf no more.

You run.

You find her.

Save her.

At the first lights of the new day, Raphael found himself changing back in the middle of the clearing, among shifters kids who looked at him with curiosity. He wasn’t in the werewolf compound anymore. Somehow, during the night, his wolf had chased after Rico’s, but he must have not found him or Luisa’s. Raphael would never know what had happened. The place had looked like a zoo, with shifters all over the place.

Eventually, Raphael had ended up in the were-puma corral. He looked for the ridge and the oak tree to reorient himself and ran toward the werewolf area. Dizzy and dehydrated, he pushed his legs forward when all he had energy for was to collapse on the grass and sleep. He had to jump over fences and wade several streams of freezing cold water, but he didn’t stop.

All around, he could see buses loading up kids. He had to see Luisa before she left. He had to know she was okay. Bile rising up from his stomach, he swore. Not sure how, but he knew it must be his fault that Rico had found Luisa.

When he finally reached her bus, the adults were anxious to leave but were waiting for the lazy kids to get back to the clearing. Furtively, he moved around the vehicle, looking up at the glass windows for a glimpse of Luisa. He found her sitting at the end of the bus, her face between her knees.

“Luisa!” he called her, but she remained still and that scared him.

Her sense of hearing was as fine as his, as of that of any werewolf worth his fur. When she didn’t react to his second call, he jumped and slammed his open palm against the glass by her side. Alerted by the ruckus he was making, the supervisors rushed to see what was happening.

“Luisa, baby. Look at me, please.” Raphael already knew the run had gone terribly wrong, but when Luisa finally raised her face and looked down at him, he felt his rage surge. With a low curse, he punched the side of the bus.

She was crying. That by itself would have broken his heart, but the redness in her eyes wasn’t due to tears. Luisa was high on vampire blood.

“Don’t come back,” she mouthed from behind the glass.

“Hey, you! What are you doing here?” one of the adults shouted as he ran toward Raphael.

A second supervisor hurried to help the first, but stopped in his tracks when he had a better look at Raphael. “Hey, do I know you—?”

Raphael recognized the man. He was Mr. Tarsi, one of the adults who had treated him with dignity during both his times at the shelter.

“Raphael, is that you?” The man stepped closer, squinting against the rising sun.

Automatically, Raphael stepped back. He knew he had changed a lot since last time he had been at RYS and probably looked like a street gang poster child. He couldn’t afford to be reported to the authorities if he wanted to save Luisa from Rico. If he was sent to juvie, she would be at the mercy of the werewolf and no one would save her.

“I’ll come back as soon as I can,” he mouthed toward the glass as he gave her one last glance, then ran away.

Haunted by the disheartened look in her eyes and without any knowledge of how he had driven back to Rome, Raphael entered the Reds’ ready to confront Rico. High in adrenaline, rage, and despair, he strode through the halls looking for blood more than answers. During the ride, dark emotions had filled his heart and mind and he had forgotten all about staying out of trouble to keep Luisa safe. Had he found Rico, he would have attempted to kill him or die in the process.

“Rico!” Several knocks on Rico’s bedroom door went unanswered. Raphael was ready to tear down the door when a Red exited the adjacent room.

“No need to awake the dead. Rico’s been sent away,” the man said as he passed Raphael.

“Where to?”

“Something to do with the vampire business of a few months ago.” Without turning, the man waved his hand goodbye and disappeared behind the corner.

With a frustrated kick to the wall, Raphael swore a string of curses, drawing the attention of several Reds who had been otherwise minding their business. Then he went to his room, slammed his door close, dropped to the floor, and started texting Luisa who never answered, driving him crazy with worry on top of everything else.

Rock came by a few hours later. “The fact that your big brother isn’t here doesn’t mean you get to slack off.” He opened his mouth to say something else, pinched the bridge of his nose, then handed Raphael the schedule for the day without another word.

When Raphael’s mind cleared enough to be able to mount his bike and do what was expected from him, he also realized that with Rico out of the picture his workload was lighter.

Taking immediate advantage of the opportunity, the very next day he went back to RYS. At the front desk, he met one of the two women who had greeted him last time. “I’m here to see Luisa Caroli,” he announced without pleasantries.

Pen in hand, the woman looked down at a clipboard with a list of names on it. “And you are?”

The way she was drumming the pen against the paper didn’t bode well, but Raphael hoped he was imagining things. “Raphael Letta.”

After running the back of the pen up and down the paper twice, the woman found what she was looking for, then bit her lower lip. “Thought so.” She gave him a small shrug. “I’m sorry but Luisa put you on the no-enter list.”

“It’s not possible.”

“I’m afraid it is.” With a sympathetic expression, she raised the clipboard to let Raphael have a look at it.

And sure enough, his name was there, black on white.

The woman put the clipboard down. “I have to ask you to leave.”

“But I need to see Luisa.” Raphael lowered both hands on the desk with more force than he had intended to and the clipboard rattled to the side, startling the woman. “I apologize—”

“You should leave now.” She grabbed a telephone handset and started dialing a number.

“Please, let me see her. I need to know she’s okay. I need to tell her—”

“I got a situation at the front desk,” the woman said to the phone, her eyes trained on Raphael.

“Please—” He could see the two supervisors already approaching from the other end of the hall, and his hands fisted as his adrenaline spiked.

The woman raised her arm to the side and showed him the big glass door. “Leave before we have to apprehend you.”

Finally, her words registered in his mind and he realized how close he was to doing something stupid.

“Tell her I’ll be back,” he threw over his shoulder as he made a run for the exit.

Truthful to his promise—and thanks to Rico’s prolonged absence—Raphael went back to RYS once a week for a month. Had he had more money for gas, he would have driven there once a day, but his allowance didn’t amount to much.

Not that visiting more often would have made any difference. Luisa never answered any of the texts he sent her, and every time he checked at RYS the result was the same. She didn’t want to see him. The only silver lining was that the front desk staff took pity on him, and never put in practice their threats of reporting him to the authorities.

****

Rico finally came back in August, wreaking Raphael’s schedule, and once again limiting his freedom to go where he wanted and as he pleased.

Fortunately, a month had been enough for Raphael’s temper to cool down and made him see reason. After much thinking about what had happened the night of the blood moon, he had come to the conclusion that Rico hadn’t known Raphael was at the reserve. Otherwise, his big brother would have attacked and probably killed him.

One morning of the following week, still asleep ten minutes to seven, Raphael had woken, donned his clothes with his eyes still closed, and hurried to the ground floor to meet with Rico who was usually already there with Raphael’s daily schedule. As a result, he had been perfectly on time but hadn’t had breakfast or any coffee yet.

An hour later, Rock waved at him on his way to the gym.

Raphael waved back. “Hey, did you see Rico?”

With a frown, Rock answered, “Nope. He must be in his room. Something’s wrong?”

“Everything’s wrong. The SOB’s late and I’ll be the one paying for his laziness.” Raphael kicked the stool in front of him and stood.

“Mind your words when you talk about your big brother and calm down, pup.” Rock tilted his chin slightly toward the group of Reds who had just entered the room.

One of the men gave Raphael a raised eyebrow, and Raphael flipped the bird at him.

“Never mind, I’ll go find him myself.” Raphael took the stairs and ran up to the third floor, arriving at Rico’s bedroom with no breath left. Black dots swimming before his eyes, he stopped before the door and sat on his haunches. He couldn’t remember if he’d had any water at all. Judging from how much his head spun, maybe he hadn’t.

One hand raised to knock on the door, Raphael heard Rico talk.

“What do you mean she isn’t at RYS anymore?”

“I told you to keep an eye on the bitch.”

“She’s at Wolf’s Haven? Why is she at the rehab center?”

“Forget it. You’re useless to me now. I’ll find someone else.”

Raphael listened to the conversation in disbelief. A few of the pieces of the puzzle had finally fallen to place, and he didn’t know if he wanted to laugh or cry at the discovery he had just made. Collecting his thoughts, he prepared for the confrontation that couldn’t wait any longer.

When the door opened and a bewildered-looking Rico stormed out of his room, Raphael was ready.

“You—” Rico sputtered at Raphael’s sight.

“Good morning, big brother.” Leaning against the opposite wall, arms folded and ankles crossed, Raphael smiled.

Rico glared at him. “What are you doing here?”

“I was tired of waiting for you downstairs.”

“Time to start delivering goods already.” Rico motioned for him to move, but Raphael shifted to get more comfortable.

“I think we should talk first.”

With a snort, Rico took a step forward. “Are you in need of a good thrashing?”

“No, I’m not, but maybe you’d like one from Tancredi.” Raphael’s smile widened.

Next, Rico was at his side and grabbed Raphael by his collar, then slid his hands to his throat. “Have you gone mad or what?”

Despite Rico’s hold was cutting off his air, Raphael didn’t let panic rule his actions and words. “What will Tancredi say when I tell him you found Luisa and never informed him or brought her back here?” he croaked as he fought to remain conscious.

Rico’s fingers opened enough for Raphael to gasp.

“Have you been spying on me?” Rico’s eyes were shot with red. V red. First thing in the morning and the man was high on vampire blood. “I knew I had to get rid of you—”

“I have a proposition for you.”

“You are in no position to—”

His brain fast at work, Raphael found himself raising his cell phone before Rico. “I recorded your phone call and sent it to a friend of mine. Anything happens to me, the recording goes to Tancredi. If you don’t accept my offer, the recording also goes to Tancredi.” As Rico’s hands opened, Raphael stepped out of his reach. “So, what’s it going to be?”

Shrugging, Rico laughed. “You’re bluffing.”

Inside Raphael was shaking, but outside he kept his face neutral and his voice calm. “Only one way to find out.” Raphael held his cell phone higher and made to dial a number while he actioned the recorder for real. If anything, there would be a recording after all.

“Stop.” Rico’s hand reached out to snatch the phone from Raphael, but Raphael was faster and kept it out of Rico’s reach. “What do you want?”

“First, what is it that you want with Luisa?” Raphael slightly raised his voice.

People passed by and Raphael smiled at them.

Rico waited for them to be alone in the hallway again. “Let’s go inside my room to have this talk.”

Raphael shook his head and pointed at his phone, his finger on the screen. “I like it here.”

“Then lower your voice, for the Great Wolf’s sake!”

“Then start answering my question. What’s your business with Luisa and RYS?”

“One of the junkies I keep on retainer at RYS told me a bald girl arrived the day after the bitch escaped from here—”

“Why didn’t you report it to Tancredi?”

“Do you know how much he pays me for all the work I do for him? Next to nothing.”

“And?”

“Bringing back the bitch wouldn’t do a thing for me. But putting her to work on the other hand—”

“What kind of work?” Raphael’s stomach jumped up his throat at the possible scenarios.

“Look at you, all riled up for that small bitch. I still can’t understand what you see in her—”

“What kind of work do you need her for?” Raphael repeated with clenched teeth.

“I convinced her it was in her best interest to sell drugs at RYS for me.”

“Why her? You just said you have other kids working for you there.”

“Because the others don’t have a lot to lose and usually come and go from the shelter every few weeks. I told her if she wanted to remain there and never have to see the inside of the harem again she’d better deal for me. Or I would give her to one of the nastiest members and forget she even existed. I also mentioned I would kill you if she contacted you. Plus, I get to visit her once in a while to remind her of our deal.” Rico gave Raphael a nasty smile as he added, “She usually comes out of our meetings rather subdued, but no one is the wiser at the shelter.” He winked. “If you know what I mean.”

Murderous thoughts filled Raphael and his simmering anger resurfaced as he realized what Rico was referring to. The big brother was an expert in dealing blows and hits where they wouldn’t show, usually all over the stomach and legs. A fact Raphael knew for personal experience.

“See, that look on your face right now is priceless,” Rico taunted him. “It gives me so much satisfaction I should’ve thought to take a picture or two of my handiwork and damn the consequences.” His eyes lit with cruel joy as he continued, “So, what do
you
want?”

Close to the kind of rage from which there is no return, Raphael let thoughts of Luisa placate him enough to keep the negotiation going. “Leave her alone.”

“You gotta to be kidding.” Rico laughed. “You’re even crazier than I thought. She’s such a good seller, she’s making me rich.”

Raphael’s brain made another leap, and he slowed down his heartbeats so that his voice wouldn’t sound shaken. “If you don’t want Tancredi to know you’re stealing from him and using Luisa to sell for you—”

Rico was at Raphael’s throat again. “What did you just say?”

“You are stealing from the gang supply of V and selling it on the side.” Raphael saw in the way Rico’s right eye twitched that he had hit the target. “Since you’re the one supervising the deal with the vampires it must be easy for you to make vials disappear. I’m sure you’re discreet—” With every word he said—without succumbing to the urge of head-butting Rico and pummeling his groin with his fists and boots—Raphael gained back a measure of control over his raging beast calling for revenge.

“I deserve the money. I do everything for him. Everything. And what do I get in return? Nothing. No, worse than nothing. He humiliates me before the brothers. He marks me. Over you—” He spat on the floor. “A brat scheming and scamming to get cozy with the alpha. And Tancredi falls for your act. He defends you even.”

From the way Rico was talking faster and faster, Raphael knew he would come down from the V peak soon. People became unpredictable in that phase, often violent, but always irrational. Although he was recording every word the Red said, if Rico went on a rampage there was little Raphael could do to stop him.

“Leave Luisa alone and I won’t say a word. You’ll be free to conduct your business as you like.” Raphael locked eyes with Rico. “I promise I won’t interfere.”

Rico gave him a long stare, then frowned. “The bitch has several vials she hasn’t sold yet and the money from this week.”

“No problem. I’ll deliver them back to you. Money and V.”

In a stroke of luck, Tancredi appeared at the end of the hallway, heading their way. Rico stepped back from Raphael and gave him a warning look. Raising his eyebrow, Raphael tilted his chin toward his phone.

“What’s happening here?” the alpha demanded a few meters from them.

Rico turned to fully face Tancredi. “Nothing. We were just discussing a change in the pup’s delivery schedule, and he isn’t thrilled. That’s all.”

Tancredi turned to Raphael. “Do what your older brother says. We’ve a tight ship to run.”

Even though it cost him a great deal, Raphael lowered his head for the alpha’s sake. “Yes, sir.”

“I’m tired of having to babysit both of you. Next time rumors of you two arguing over something reach me, I’ll think of a punishment you’ll remember for the rest of your life.” Tancredi waited for them to acknowledge his threat, then walked away as briskly as he had come.

When the alpha was out of earshot, Rico grabbed Raphael’s elbow and dragged him behind a recess in the wall. “You’ll leave now for Wolf’s Haven, and if you aren’t back in three hours I’ll track you and that bitch down to the end of the world if necessary.” He squeezed Raphael’s skin until it hurt, then he released him with a snarl. “Plus, you’ll deliver for
me
.”