CHAPTER 121: POWER STRUGGLE

Raphael’s eyes traveled from my face before locking onto Josh as he took in the situation. His expression darkened even further, and I could see raw, lethal anger flashing across his face. Josh barely had any time to react before Raphael was already onto him.

Raphael yanked Josh away from me, throwing him against the floor so hard that Josh let out a scream.

"What the hell did you do to her?" Raphael yelled.

Josh shook his head as he let out a laugh. He held up his hands in defense as he slowly got up to his feet.

"Relax, cousin," he drawled, rolling his shoulders. "You’re acting like I tied her up and held her hostage."

"What did you give her? She can’t even sit up, you son of a bitch!" Raphael yelled even louder than before as he grabbed Josh by the collar and shoved him back against the wall.

I tried to speak, but my throat felt so dry and I could not produce any sound. It took all of my energy to try again until I could squeeze out a few meaningful words from my mouth.

"He...drugged me..." I managed to whisper dryly.

I could see Raphael’s body freeze the second those words left my mouth. Then everything happened so fast when he slammed his fist into Josh’s jaw in one swift motion. I heard the sickening crack echo throughout the room as Josh stumbled.

"What on earth is wrong with you?" Raphael roared as he towered over his cousin, his chest heaving up and down as he tried his best to control his rage. Josh wiped the blood from his split lip before chuckling as if he could feel no pain.

"Why are you being so dramatic about this? She’s just a girl. She’s no big deal-or is she?" Josh asked hauntingly.

"What do you want from her? Why the hell did you bring her here?" Raphael asked, his glare sharpening.

"This is what has always been wrong with you, dear cousin. You’re always so protective of what is yours," Josh began lecturing Raphael.

"Why did you bring her here?" Raphael repeated his question again.

"I didn’t bring her here or anywhere. She came on her own after receiving my invitation. She wanted to know the truth, and I was more than happy to give her what she wants," Josh replied before he chuckled amusingly.

Raphael’s muscles tensed, and I could see him clenching his fists as if debating whether or not to punch Josh again.

"You should have stayed out of this," Raphael muttered darkly.

"I think you need to grow up, Raphael. What were you planning to do? Keep this poor little girl in the dark forever? Pretend that she could work and be a part of our world and also never find out about what’s lying beneath the surface?" Josh asked rhetorically.

Raphael’s jaw tightened, and I could tell that he could feel the gravity of Josh’s words. Even I began to wonder how

Raphael had envisioned this whole thing working between us, or if he wanted anything to work between us at all.

Did he truly plan to keep my mother and me in the dark forever?

"The real problem is that you’re so damn entitled. You think everything in this family belongs to you-the power, the name, the gang, the business, everything. But let me remind you, nothing is guaranteed. You’re not the only heir," Josh reminded Raphael before he smiled widely.

"You’re delusional if you think that you can ever take what’s mine," Raphael retorted.

"Who knows? Perhaps I already have. You see, right before you came, I told Abigail the truth about everything while you were busy playing hero. And you know what, Raphael? She deserves to know the truth," Josh said slowly and clearly, nodding his head slowly as if he truly wanted Raphael to understand the meaning behind his words.

It was hard for me to process the fight that broke out between the two as Josh quickly threw a punch at Raphael’s face. Raphael quickly dodged it effortlessly, his reflexes kicking in to save the day. In one swift motion, he caught Josh’s wrist mid-air before twisting his arm. Josh winced as he let out a cry of pain.

"You stay the fuck away from her. I don’t care what kind of power struggle you’re trying to start in the gang, but don’t drag Abigail into it," Raphael warned, the tone of his voice dangerously cold.

"You’re afraid, aren’t you? You’re afraid that I’ll take everything away from you, her included," Josh whispered hauntingly.

Raphael let go of him abruptly before pushing him away.

"Stay away from her or I swear that you won’t like what’s going to happen next, Josh," Raphael warned.

Josh simply grinned as he rubbed his jaw where Raphael had punched it.

"I wouldn’t be so sure, cousin. This game of power has just begun," Josh replied casually.

Raphael didn’t bother to reply to the taunts of his cousin. Instead, he turned my way and began walking towards me where I was still lying on the sofa. In one swift motion, he effortlessly scooped me into his arms as if I weighed less than a feather. My head rolled against his chest, the warmth of his body against the side of my face felt so soothing. I could feel the icy fear easing away from my body and my mind.

"You’re safe now," Raphael whispered.

Those simple yet protective words were exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. I slowly let my eyes fall closed as I let exhaustion win over my disturbing thoughts. The last thing that I heard before I slipped into unconsciousness was the steady beating of Raphael’s heartbeat.

...

The soft glow of the morning light filtering through my curtains was what woke me up from my slumber. My head still felt extremely heavy, and there was a dull throbbing at the back of my skull. My body felt heavy as I shifted my body under the covers. It felt like I was emerging from deep and unnatural sleep.