Because Of Love

Talia felt sorry for her. The woman was caught between her husband’s crime and her son’s revenge. She hadn’t deluded herself as to think Rafe would let it go just because she’d asked him to. She knew he was up to something, just not something so extreme. But it shouldn’t shock her. When he thought she’d cheated on him with Renaldo and Alex, he’d left her destitute. He’d taken everything except the house which she’d just finished paying off with half of her savings.

She knew Rafe’s wrath when he was wronged, all too well. She didn’t envy them.

“Why is Gabriella here?”

“Alex is my brother,” she responded with a maliciously satisfied look on her face.

Talia took a deep breath to calm her. She still had nightmares about him. She could hear his voice, as he taunted her, promising to do disgusting things to her. Each time, she woke up with Rafe rocking her in his arms, and his anger would climb a notch higher.

Oh boy! “What do you want me to do?”

Signora DeLuca scooted to the edge of the couch. “Speak to him, plead with him not to ruin us. The Boston office is already closing down and soon the one here. Think of all those people losing their jobs over something so trivial.”

“What?” Carrie exclaimed, leaping off the couch.

“Trivial?” Talia repeated. “Your son and his friend attacked me in my home, attempted to rape me after doing god knows what already to my unconscious body, shoot me up with drugs that could still be harmful to my children and ruined my relationship with Rafe. You consider that trivial? I almost died, my twins almost died, and you call that trivial!”

Talia was unable to control her anger much longer. She stood up and called for Lorenzo. “Thank you for your visit but I believe it’s time for you to leave!”

Signora DeLuca visibly panicked. “Wait, I didn’t mean to say trivial, what I meant-”

“I’m sorry.” Renaldo’s quiet voice filled the room, “You weren’t meant to be hurt. I didn’t know what my father and Alex had planned…if I had I would have done something to stop it-”

“Renaldo,” Talia interrupted him, “thank you for protecting me from Alex but that doesn’t change what you did, at least not to Rafe. He wants justice, no, revenge, and he won’t stop until he feels satisfied. I already talked to him about this but he’s not going to change his mind.”

“Of course not, you’ve poisoned my son against me!” Signore DeLuca yelled, making his wife and son jump. It was quite clear they’d lived in fear of this man for years.

“No, signore, it’s entirely your fault that your son is on a rampage. This is your mess, clean it up yourself. Now, please, leave my home.”

“Please!” Signora DeLuca pleaded, tagging at Talia’s heart.

How could she explain to this lady that nothing she said would sway Rafe?

Talia sat back down. “All right. You and your son can stay but the rest have to leave now, or you are on your own.”

Signore DeLuca grunted, leaving the room with an air of importance, Gabriella right behind him. When the main door had closed behind them, Talia watched the two left behind visibly relax.

Well, she couldn’t take what he did to her personally if he was a monster to his own family.

“Signora-”

“Please, call me Marta.”

“Marta, you do know there is nothing I can do? Rafe has a mind of his own.”

She nodded. “I know, but we didn’t come here for that.”

Talia exchanged a confused look with Carrie. “You didn’t come here to plead for your company?”

“No. That man and his friend deserve everything that’s coming to them!” she spat out.

“I don’t understand.”

“Gabriella’s father knew that Rafe had lost interest in his daughter so he had Rafe followed. He was the one who told my husband about you and they hatched the plan to-” She stopped, unable to say the words that tasted like bile in Talia’s own mouth. “Renaldo has always wanted his father’s approval, the same prideful affection he gives to Rafe.”

She took her son’s hand and smiled at him. “Rafe was a born leader, everything came naturally to him. He surpassed every hurdle, every obstacle like they were nothing but an annoyance. He was just a teenager when he stood up to his father, demanding he let him live his life as he pleased. Not an easy task to come out of unscathed. But Renaldo has always struggled and that’s why his father ignores him. He’s wanted nothing but Rafael’s approval that’s why he does everything he is asked, but the man still ignores him.”

“Your husband’s name is Rafael?” Talia already knew that but she just couldn’t marry the two owners together. Someone actually called Mr. DeLuca Rafael.

She nodded. “It’s the DeLuca family tradition to name the first son after his father.”

Talia cleared her throat. “Consider that tradition broken. Rafe didn’t want either of the boys named Rafael. He even can’t stand being referred to as Rafael. It’s Rafe and he won’t answer to anything else. I found it odd but now I understand.”

Marta’s face brightened. “Boys? Oh they must be lovely! May I see them?”

Talia wasn’t sure what to say but she knew Rafe’s answer instantly. He’d kill her if he found out she’d let his mother near his sons.

He always referred to them as his sons when they argued over this same topic. It both endeared him to her more and annoyed her. She did all the work and he laid claim. Men!

With a placating smile, she said, “Why don’t we finish up here first? You still haven’t told me what exactly you want me to do.”

Marta nodded. “We’d like to plead with you to ask Rafael-Rafe to give Renaldo work. I see my mistake now. By keeping Renaldo close to me I’ve made him weak. But if he was to spend time with Rafe, he will be a strong man and finally come to his own, I just know it!”

Talia heard the hope in her voice but she couldn’t help but feel distrust. “How do I know this isn’t another scheme your husband concocted?”

She shook her head vigorously. “He doesn’t know it yet but we’ve left him. I had my trusted maid pack our things. They are probably just arriving outside your estate with all our belongings, which isn’t much. I don’t want Rafael coming after us.”

Oh boy! Rafe was going to kill her.

“Walking dead.” Carrie chuckled next to her.

Talia sighed and took a deep breath. “What about you, Renaldo, why should I trust you?”

Renaldo paled. “You don’t have a reason to. I’ve hated Rafe for being the man I never was instead of trying to be that man. But I need his help to do that. All I can say is that I’m sorry and I’ll do everything I can to earn your forgiveness.”

Marta patted his hand with approval then turned to Talia. “Are you going to help us?”

“Yes. Especially since you guys are already moving in.” They clearly left her with no other choice but t help.

Marta visibly blushed. “Why would you help us?”

Talia smiled. “Because I love him. It won’t take long for him to see what he’s doing is wrong but by then it would be too late for the both of you and your company employees. As angry as he is, I know his rage is directed towards his father and he’s not thinking about the collateral damage right now. But when he finally does, the guilt will eat him alive. I just have to make him see that now.”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.