Page 165 of When She Falls (The Fallen)
The servers come out with jugs of house wine and water, and I decide there’s no point in waiting to have the conversation.
I turn to Rafaele. “May I speak to you in private?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Cleo stiffen. She’s put on a brave face for my sake, but she must be as nervous as I am.
If Rafaele refuses our offer, I don’t know what I’ll do. My only hope of being set free is if Rafaele allows me to leave. Otherwise, I won’t stand a chance against him and Papà. They will do whatever they want with me, and I might never see Ras again.
Rafaele glances at me and nods. “We can talk in the office.”
I force myself not to spiral as I place my napkin back on the table.
Everyone looks up at us as Rafaele pulls out my chair and helps me up. Papà’s eyes narrow, but I ignore it. It’s incredible how little I care about what he thinks anymore.
I follow Rafaele out of the room, my palms sweaty and my pulse pounding against the side of my neck.
Be brave. You’re doing the right thing.
But that doesn’t mean Rafaele won’t murder me on the spot for the grave insult I’m about to give him.
We walk into the wood-paneled office. It’s littered with paperwork and random restaurant supplies. There’s only one chair behind the desk, and I expect Rafaele to take it. Instead, he shuts the door, flicks on the overhead light, and stops a few feet away from me.
I guess we’re having this conversation standing. He must think it won’t take long.
“What is it?”
I have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. They’re as unreadable as ever.
“Rafael…” The light above us flickers.
Say it. You said you’d fight for Ras. For your baby. This is your chance.
I take it. “Rafaele, I can’t marry you.”
He doesn’t react in any physical way besides sliding his palms into the pockets of his slacks. I wonder if he’s doing that so he won’t spontaneously break my neck.
“Why’s that?” he asks.
“I’m in love with someone else.”
“I don’t see why that’s a problem,” he says coolly, like he’s explaining something he assumed I knew by now. “This was never about love.”
“I know. But there’s something else.” I bite down on the inside of my mouth. “I’m not a virgin. Actually, I’m pregnant.”
The air in the room turns dense and heavy, pressing down on my lungs. Rafaele’s stillness becomes absolute. Seconds tick by. It feels as if he’s drilling into my brain matter with that penetrating gaze.
“Who’s is it?”
There’s no emotion in the question. He may as well be asking me for the time.
I shake my head.
We both know that it could only be one man. But I won’t say Ras’s name around him. I’m afraid of what will happen if I do.
“Look, I know this is not ideal,” I say.
“Understatement of the century.”
“Right. But I have a solution.”
