Chapter 243: Out Of Place
- DEX -
I’m throwing Raya up into the air toward the deep end and laughing at her squeal of surprise when I see Uncle Saul standing near the edge of the water. He has a small smile, but seeing him here is like finding something ominously out of place. Luciano didn’t mention anything about him coming early.
I dip beneath the surface of the water and come up, flipping my hair back and then looking for Raya. She’s laughing, making her way back toward me. When she is close enough, I reach for and pull her along—making sure she stays close.
Obviously Uncle Saul is trustworthy, but this whole situation makes me uneasy. More of Saul and Luciano’s men means more security, but it also is a signal of the danger that is lurking.
And I don’t particularly want Raya around these people. It was one thing to ask for Zio’s help with Lawson, but I didn’t expect to find Raya and I immersed in some kind of mafia thing. Not like this. Not when I planned for us to escape all the difficult things back home and have a relaxing, happy vacation away.
Raya is still smiling, unaware, while I pull her behind me to the side of the pool.
"Zio," I wave, working to erase the unease that I feel all the way to my bones. "I didn’t expect to find you out here by the pool. At least not so early," I chuckle. "I hope you brought your swim trunks."
"Dex, Raya," he says with a polite smile. "I thought it was best if I come early. It seems that Luciano may have brought something rather unpleasant with him, and we don’t want that for the two of you."
A darkness seems to cling to my uncle more than usual, and I can tell he is not entirely himself. He’s upset about something, and I’m not sure I want to find out what it is.
Even as someone who trusts Saul completely, his slightly off demeanor has me consciously blocking Raya with my body and bristling when she glides around me unknowingly, smiling so innocently up at him. She reminds me too much of a sweet little chirping bird being lured near the jaws of a predator.
It hits me directly in the chest—the realization that I shouldn’t have asked Uncle Saul for help with Lawson. Somehow this is my fault. I know it.
I involved myself in the criminal part of my family for a stupid reason when I should have handled those problems with my brother myself, and this is the consequence. I’ve opened Raya and I up to more danger than I can probably even fathom.
"It’s so nice to see you," Raya says kindly, and then she looks around the pool. "Are the ladies here, too?"
"No, not yet," he says, rolling back on the balls of his feet with his hands clasped in front of him. "They will be here Friday night. They are very much looking forward to it, of course."
It occurs to me that my uncle isn’t even aware of whether or not Raya knows about the wedding. And yet he’s standing here, disregarding the possibility that he’s ruined the entire surprise.
I suppose Saul could just be here accompanying his men because of the intruder in Rory’s room if he believes mafia business is to blame, but then why would my aunt and cousin be coming later this week?
Maybe a surprise wedding is of little concern when there are larger, more pressing issues at hand, but it still rubs me the wrong way. It’s not like I knew he was coming and would have been able to head off any issues by preparing Raya and informing her about for the true reason for this trip.
"I’m glad you are all able to make it," Raya says, making the answer to that whole question obvious—at least if my uncle was wondering about it at all. But based on his current mood, something tells me that he wasn’t.
"We wouldn’t miss it. We’re all very happy for both of you," Saul says, the rigidity in his shoulders easing slightly. "Do you have family coming, Auraya?"
The question has her floating back my way a little, and I take the opportunity to wrap an arm around her waist so she won’t venture too far without me. I’ve already spotted three men filtering into this area that are very clearly associated with my uncle and Luciano. They don’t look anything like typical resort guests.
"My dad and his... girlfriend," Raya says, stumbling over the answer—uncomfortable with the relationship that she knows little about. "They are both coming. And Rory is here of course."
Saul nods. "That’s wonderful."
This small talk is wearing itself thin, so I’m grateful when Luciano and Rory round the corner a moment later. Luciano sets his eyes on his father, striding toward him with a dark, menacing aura that is powerful enough to offset Saul’s. That’s when I take notice for the very first time of the true mafia boss in each of them.
This is the way Luciano and Saul both command respect. They have reputations to uphold and men to lead. Now at least Luci will draw his father’s attention and hopefully deal with whatever is upsetting him. I never would have imagined I’d find myself in a position where I’d be wishing for that, but here we are.
"Pa," Luci says by way of greeting, drawing Rory close to his side.
The men standing around the pool look at each other, brows raised in silent communication. One of them purses his lips in a silent whistle before glancing back Rory’s way.
"Luciano," Saul says, voice dipping to an uncharacteristic low.
His jaw works on something as he stares at his son with Rory, and I almost step forward to provide a buffer of some kind when I realize that Rory is now in the mix of this family—much deeper than Raya and I will ever be. And Saul doesn’t appear too happy about it for some reason.
Shit. How do I help smooth this over?
"You must be Auraya’s sister," my uncle finally says, extending his hand formally.
"Lorelei," Rory replies simply, taking his hand and shaking it. It doesn’t escape my attention that she doesn’t appear all that happy about this meeting either.
Lovely. These next few days are going to be rough.
Raya and I just need to make it to the wedding. Then we can go anywhere for the final week of this trip. And at that point, she’ll be my wife.
