Chapter 13

“This is a surprise. I would offer you a drink, but as you know, I only drink with friends and business associates.”

If Aiden was any other person, Rafael's cold shoulder would have had him shaking from head to foot. He had built his reputation on being brutal with his enemies and making examples of those who wronged him.

“Raf, you know…”

“Don Hernandez,” Rafael cut him off. “That’s my name to you. Remember it.”

Aiden suppressed the eye roll. He could see Rafael was already pissed and antagonising the situation wouldn’t help.

“As you wish, Don Hernandez. You know that if I could have completed the contract, I would have done but she’s your daughter.”

“You suddenly seem to have fallen into some sort of shit and stood up with morals, Hybrid. Regardless of which ball sack she came from, she is no daughter of mine. I expected her dead and you failed and as you know, I cannot abide failure.”

Aiden simply nodded. He couldn’t deny failing and there was no point in arguing about it. “Be that as it may, it wasn’t my intention to fail but I can't change that now.”

“You could but you don’t want to. Isn’t that so?”

Rubbing his chin, Aiden blew out. He had known that visiting Rafael wasn’t going to be easy but he was as close to a friend as Aiden had ever had and he needed him to understand.

“You are, and always have been, a good friend to me. I’m sorry I couldn’t pull through on this for you. I tried but there were unforeseen complications. Something I never imagined was possible.”

“Oh? Pray, tell me. What was more important than your friend losing everything he has worked for?” Rafael's sarcasm was clear as he shook the foot he had placed over his knee.

“Your daughter is my mate. We are fated.”

The foot stopped shaking the instant Aiden had said, mate. Rafael thumbed his temple and pointed to a poolside chair and as Aiden sat, he watched the grey-haired man cautiously. There was something about the look on his face that set Aiden's hackles standing to attention.

“Your mate? Well, that changes everything. Of course, you can’t be expected to kill off your mate. Nobody in their right mind would be able to do that.” Rafael gave a very slight twitch of a finger.

Aiden wouldn’t have noticed the twitch if he hadn't been watching for it. He tried to keep his poker face in place as he quickly scanned the pool area where they were seated. Two capos were standing to his right, by the side of the poolside bar, where a barman was enthusiastically wiping the granite counter. To the left, two brutish looking capos stood tall and stout, observing with eyes shrouded by dark sunglasses.

I’ll be taking those out first, Aiden thought as he waited for one of them to make their move.

“You see, Aiden. I don’t know much about how wolves work but I do know that when it comes to their mate, they will protect them at all costs and for someone like you… Let’s just say that it causes me a great deal of concern. A great deal of concern that I can do without.”

Four more capos were walking down the stairs that led from the rear of the villa, into the garden and pool area.

The big bald guy on the left, then his partner…

“Call it off. You said yourself that I will protect her at all costs,” Aiden said. His voice was firm as he held Rafael's gaze. “I’m giving you your one and only chance, my friend. There won’t be a second…”

Rafael forced a laugh that screamed sarcasm, causing Aiden to clench his jaw. “You come here thinking you can demand that I call the contract off? Aiden, you know me better than that, the price on her head has been doubled and there is nothing you can do about it.”

Rafael’s hands slapped together twice. The four capos to Aiden’s left and right sprang into action as Aiden himself leapt forward and wrapped his arm around the neck of the bald-headed capo he had decided would die first. Squeezing the man's throat between his forearm and bicep, Aiden dragged him towards his partner. A right hook came flying towards Aiden's face as he twisted the first man’s head then dropped his lifeless body to the ground.

“Call it off, Raf…”

Aiden felt a weight attach itself to his back and as he ducked and twisted, he saw another capo running towards him. Throwing the capo from his back, Aiden placed his foot over the man's throat as he hit the floor with a thud, knocking the wind out of him.

“Now, Raf…”

This time two capos came running towards him. Aiden leaned all his weight on the throat of the winded capo, lifting his other leg to meet one of the running men square in the face, splattering his nose across his face. The next paused for a split second, as though deciding whether his face was worth being bloodied. Aiden didn’t give him a chance to make his mind up. With the winded capo now struggling to breathe through his crushed windpipe, Aiden dived at the fourth capo, tackling him to the ground by his waist.

“Enough!” Rafael shouted to Aiden, who was straddling the fourth capo, ready to break his neck. “You have proved your point, Aiden. Protect her all you can but hope that she is worth your life.”

“You can threaten me all you like, Rafael, but believe me, you won’t get anywhere near Charlie. Not while I’m alive. I think we have said all we needed to say, would you agree?”

Rafael nodded and waved a hand towards the capos that had now encircled them. A few stepped forward, creating a space for Aiden to leave. As he did, he heard Rafael's final words…

“Trail him. I want to know where he is keeping her, then kill them both.”