Wed or Dead

XXXVIII

Eliana spent the next day avoiding Rafael at all cost and thinking about what happened.

They kissed, that's good, right? No. What is she saying? This can't be good.

He said he doesn't want kids. Or a wife. She would enjoy a small, temporary romance if she wasn't fucking pregnant right now.

Eliana was snapped from her thoughts by Remi who just finished eating breakfast, he got up earlier than usual and his shirt wasn't wrinkled. That was new.

"Finch says I can switch to professional boxing," Remi said.

"We already had this conversation and my answer is no"

"But-"

"Surely you're not trying to argue with me" Rafael interrupted his younger sibling in a calm voice as he was enjoying his food. A stranger would think he's perfectly calm and probably wouldn't notice an underlying threat behind those words.

"You enrolled me yourself just to block my potential when I can do something with my skills?!" Remi was pissed off. 

"You will speak to me in a lower tone" Rafael replied, calmly again. Eliana shivered.

Remi closed his eyes and took a deep breath "Please. At least one fight"

"I thought I was clear when I said that you will never receive my permission to be repeatedly hit in the head for money. You're not going to change my mind so I suggest you to cut it off" Rafael replied in displeasure.

"I will do whatever the fuck I want" Remi muttered and stood up from his seat to leave the kitchen.

The only problem was that Rafael stood up too and now two brothers have been facing each other in close proximity. Rafael was taller and bigger so that added to his intimidation factor but the most work was doing his eyes. It was truly terrifying when he was looking at them like that.

"Remi, listen to me carefully. I have a problem with violence only if it's for unnecessary entertainment but if I hear you undermining my authority it will end badly for you. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Remi said quietly. After that, he left the kitchen quietly. 

🔆🔆🔆

"Giovanni told me you haven't eaten anything since lunch"

"You had to ask him?" Eliana asked irritated.

"Did you have to skip your meal again?" Rafael asked, clearly unhappy that I was answering him this way. I lowered my head in embarrassment. "You're gonna eat that fucking sandwich now."

"I'm not hungry"

He just looked at her clearly annoyed now. 

She took a small piece to my mouth under the watchful eye of Rafael and unfortunately she instantly felt a wave of nausea.

Oh great just fucking fantastic. Eliana found herself in the bathroom vomiting and cursing her life.

She could hear Giovanni saying to his boss:

"She fainted at work on Monday" 

Where did he come from? Did he just appear out of nowhere to make her life difficult? Oh, that's just perfect.

"What?" Rafael asked quietly and I could feel that he is indeed very pissed off right now. "Why wasn't I informed about this?" Raphael's voice grew dangerously low.

"Sorry boss I should have reported it"

Eliana was in the process of washing her face and getting herself mentally ready for the confrontation.