Chapter 33: Chapter 32 - Going back home

Raphael POV I wake up to an empty bed. I panic for a minute trying to figure out where Olivia is, and then it hit me, I broke up with her last night. I can feel my chest get tight and I can feel my anxiety start to take over my body. At that same time, I start to take deep breathes and play with my fingers, I start to remember all the tricks to soother my anxiety and avoid a panic attack. After I calm down I look around and I can’t remember getting into my bedroom, let alone undress and get into bed. But well fuck it, If I’m there it’s because I dragged my ass to bed.

My brain just clicks and I remember Olivia sleeping in the guest room. I miss her already but this life is too dangerous for her. She is too precious for this. I can’t risk it. Yesterday was the proof I needed to know that I would do whatever it took to get her back home safe. If Julius asked me to give him my territory so I could keep Olivia safe I would have.

I get out of bed and walk towards the bathroom, I look at myself in the mirror and I don’t recognize the image I am looking at. I have dark circles around my eyes and I am pale, I have a horrible hangover and I miss Olivia.

After I am done in the bathroom and having a shower I get dressed with a set of back Nike tracksuit and I walk towards the guest room. I need to see if Olivia is okay.

The moment I step outside my room I see Michal sitting on the floor.

“What happened?” – I ask “Olivia boss, she left”

“She what? When?”

“Around 4 hours ago, one of the guards I assign to her protection followed her, she grabbed a taxi and went to Brooklyn”

“Is she for real? I said I wanted her on the Upper west side flat” – I let out in frustration.

“Yeah boss, apparently Olivia was really upset when she left, and right after she got to her flat a man arrived and went in”

“WHAT MEN?” – I ask, if it is Scott I will rip his head off of his neck.

“Her best friend boss” – okay I say, keep me informed and get the flat ready for her. She will fucking move into that flat.

I walk to the kitchen to find Tammy in a good mood. That is a fucking first. That girl is always moody “Good morning boss, sleep well?” – she says “Fuck off” – I reply to see Maria looking at me with sad eyes.

“Sorry” – I whisper in her ear after I place a soft kiss on her forehead.

“Are you okay son?”

“I will be, I will be” – I say, don’t know if trying to convince her or me.

“Good morning” – I hear Joseph coming in while I take a seat on the kitchen island.

“Raph, you need to give a press conference, everyone is talking about Olivia”

“Fuck” – I say.

“Language” – Maria tells me off.

I give her an apologetic smile and I grab my coffee walking towards my office. I can hear Joseph following me “Close the door” – I say while I take a seat.

“Now, are you okay?” – he asks me “No I am not okay, that woman fucked me up big time” – I say “I am sorry Raph, I honestly thought she would be good for you, and I thought we would be able to keep her safe”

I shake my head in disapproove.

“Get someone to do a press conference. Tell them to respect our privacy especially Olivia’s”

“Sure, what reason do we give them?”

“Give them nothing” – I say.

“Okay, now we need to talk about your meeting with Julius yesterday”

“Hell. He will take care of the British for us, he wants to be our ally”

“Do you believe him?”

“Fuck no, but have you ever heard that saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?, that’s what I am doing, keeping them closer, I need to be able to know what they are doing 24/7”

“You’re right” – Joseph says “You should take some time off, relax, and maybe go visit your mother?”

“I was thinking about that, I think I could do with some time with just them, no press, no mafia, no business”

“Your mum would’ve loved Olivia”

“I know, she is going to kill me” – I let out with a sigh.

“Get Olivia on that flat, I want her there by tomorrow, do whatever it takes” – I say “Sure”

I get up and walk towards my bedroom. I can still feel her smell here. I wish I could smell her every day.

I walk towards the dressing room and I start packing a small bag, I still have loads of clothes at my parents and there I am just Raphael, not Mr Lockwood and defiantly not the Shark.

After I fish I collect my phone, car keys, sunglasses, I put my shoes on and I go down towards the garage walking towards my Mercedes class A.

I open the passenger door and I throw the bag inside. I walk to the other side and take my driver seat to put the belt on and start driving.

Mum lives in a small village 4 hours away from New York. People there don’t care how much money you got, or what you do. They are all simple people living their life’s I stop halfway through so I can get some coffee and some food. I turn my phone off and allow myself to relax. After finishing I keep driving until I park my car in front of the big house my mother owns.

The white fence and the big porch reminds me of the life I wish I could have with Olivia, but I chose this life for myself and now I have to deal with it.

I see mum and her new husband sitting on the porch taking in the sun. I smile at the sight. He is a nice guy and treats mum really well. Obviously, I did a background check on him.

When mum notices my car she walks down the steps from the porch “Raphael Lockwood, what happened with that girl?” – she says and I smile. Only she could make me smile while talking about my breakup with Olivia.

“Hello, mother” – I say placing a kiss on the top of her head.

“Hello son” – I hear Carlos saying while he shows me his hand so I can shake it.

“Hey” – I say.

“Raph, what are you doing here?” – mum asks “Am I not welcome home anymore?” – I say with a smirk on my face “Wash that smirk off of your face, and tell me what is happening, you are all over the news”

“Can we not talk about it for now? I just need some distance from all of that” – I say “Sure” – Mum says opening the door that goes to the living room.

I sniff the air and I feel the familiar smell of spaghetti Bolognese. I smile at that smell.

“Go get yourself clean and join us for dinner”

“Sure” – I say walking up the stairs to my bedroom. My bedroom here is not as luxurious as it is in New York. This is the same furniture I had in my bedroom while I lived with my parents.

I sit on the bed and look around. I take a deep breath and I start to get myself sorted for dinner.

When I finish I walk downstairs to find mum and Carlos already sitting at the table, i take my place and mum starts saying grace. I can’t remember the last time I did that. Maybe I should do it more often.

During dinner, we talked about how my life was going and mum didn’t bring Olivia up again. I was finally starting to relax when the house phone starts ringing and mum gives me a dirty look “You go answer, it’s not for me”

I get up and answer the phone “Hello?”

“Raph, It’s me, Joseph, look I just wanted to let you know that I spoke to Tim, he is taking care of your company and I and Michael will take care of everything here, Take as much time off as you need”

“Cheers” – I say, Joseph realizes that I don’t want to talk about anything “I will only call back if it an emergency”

“Yap” – I say, mum doesn’t like to know anything about the mafia world. The world both my parents renounced when they were young. Mum was really upset with me when I decided to do it. So I respect her enough to not talk about business when she is around.

“See you later” – I say and hung up the phone “Was it Joseph?” - Carlos asks “Yeah, it was him” – I say not getting deeper into that conversation. Mum made chocolate mousse for dessert and I have a couple of bowls full. I love how she likes to feed me.

I missed her and this is already making me feel better about myself.