The Forbidden Love in the Underworld

he upper hand?" Rafael ask

oduced by years of treachery. "We are limited to believing what we mus

e. Rafael worried he would become an unintentional piece in Sofia's game, al

ssessed was disintegrating. Once a currency in this world, loyalty felt as delicate as glass

ould we wait any more, we will lose everything. Her gaze flicked to the phone in her f

ack of his neck covered wit

ghtened over the phone and her knuckles white with the strain as she read. "It comes from someo

el missed a beat.

ked with his. "I have to decide on somethin

decisions were seldom simple, Rafael sensed this one felt different. His pulse

enemy? Too long of blurrin

all outside the door. From the hall, the smallest knock

jaw closed in resolve. Rafael could sense, though, the uncertainty under

re he could reply. He gave Sofia a sealed le

er the contents. Her empire hung on a thread. She

e said, as the weight of

ike a last one; the world w

afael remarked, his voice tinged with

aning of the letter. Although she objected to his involvement,

fore, she replied, "I'm

a Alvarez, a woman with iron hands, disguised the frailty that would bring about undoi

e the tempest building inside him. "But I doubt I could keep up with it. This

varnished honesty. "You have to trust me," she said, her

the weight of his choice hung between them. And w

changed to stone once more, as though she could not afford

ainst his felt like the peace before the storm. She withdrew bef

on." But I cannot leave either one. For Sofia, you have c

iet, and Rafael turned naturally toward So

ply, listening clos

ned pale, a flicker of someth

ost. Get rid of them, sh

. His voice almost above a whispe

the phone down with chilly

ower as she was speaking. Lucia Vargas

"Sofia Alvarez, you have decisions to m

quiet weight. "You cannot continue this wa

rayal still stings. Every action he took and every word he said pushed the knife more into her heart. But gr

ve no choice, Rafael," she murmur

. "You are not by yourself in this, Sofia. Not like this, thou

had never been the kind to depend on someone. Her existence had imparted such knowledge. But in R

ged for your protection, Rafael." But with this war? My is it. And you may go away

you? His voice combined incredulity with something else, something he dared not ment

so great. Every action she took now may be her last, and every person she trusted seemed to be a future advers

fore she could talk again. It was sealed; the wax imprint was clear. Inside, the brief a

ia Vargas. It was a declared conflict, a straight challeng

n his unflinching allegiance seemed to wane. He

her breath, "I can

clearly with lines of stress. His eyes locked hers, and

ence. But you have to understand that I, " halted, his words hanging i

ut loud stung more than she could have imagined. Rafael was no longer her friend ju

muttered, the appeal raw in her voice, "You can

hen the phone on her desk rang. Sofia looked at the exhibit flutter

for it.

her side was cool, measure

e game's end, Sofi

s was not only acting for control now. She wanted Sofia taken out of the

st a little. Her determination hardening, she

ng both of them. Sofia was not seeking pardon any more. She was not begging for cha

er, "I'm in." I'll battle with yo

the corner of her mouth. "Your approach? Rafael, this i

s, he made his choice. Sofia called

a deep breath, meeting her eye