The Taste Of Revenge (War of Sins Book 1)

Rafaelo

She raises her head to look at me, her mouth opening as she's about to say something, only to close it as she blinks, her eyes moving over my face before focusing on my lips.

Her pupils contract, her tongue sneaking out to wet her lips.

Fuck!

A low groan escapes me at the blatant invitation I see in her eyes. And I'm not the only one who sees her reaction, Cisco coughing awkwardly in his fist, while Yuyu looks away in embarrassment.

It takes her a moment to get her bearings together, shaking herself. Flushing a pretty pink, she redirects her attention to her glass.

The dinner continues and she quietly picks at her food, every now and then looking up at me with an inscrutable expression on her face.

'I'm curious, Raf,' Cisco starts as he directs his mismatched eyes to me, his gaze chilling and meant to intimidate. 'What drew you to my sister?' He raises a brow. 'You're a worldly man.' He chuckles, the double entendre not escaping me since he's been dying to know where I'd been in the years I've been absent, 'While my sister is decidedly not.'

Noelle, too, turns sharply at his words, looking at me with a mix of curiosity.

I guess everyone has a different definition of worldly.

'Noelle is a beautiful woman, Cisco. It's normal for men to be drawn to her,' Yuyu comments, giving Noelle a sweet smile.

'Yes, but she's also willful, stubborn, and can drive even a saint to madness,' Cisco mutters drily, giving Noelle a reprimanding look.

Her eyes widen at him, but she keeps her mouth shut, for once forgoing an insolent reply. The more I observe her, though, the more I realize that it's not for lack of want, but because the words hurt her. A look akin to pain flashes across her face and a low tension unfolds in my chest.

'It was her music that drew me to her,' I interrupt, my voice steady as I cut over Cisco. 'I happened to hear her play the piano, and it was such a wonderful melody that I couldn't help but linger outside the attic.' I turn to her. 'She was so immersed, her fingers gliding so gracefully over the keyboard that I couldn't help but be mesmerized.'

She blinks, tilting her head as she looks at me in confusion.

'Her music,' Cisco repeats, his tone skeptical.

'It's been so long since she played,' Yuyu sighs. 'I was so happy when I heard the piano again, right Cisco?' He grunts a noncommittal answer, but Yuyu isn't deterred as she continues, warmth and pride radiating from her voice. 'Did she tell you she won quite a few competitions? Some of them were very prestigious.'

While Cisco has always come across as cold and unyielding, Yuyu is the opposite. And her affection for Noelle is clear as she's always trying to take her side, her regard for her similar to that of a mother. But considering the fact that she'd watched her grow, it's not entirely unusual she should feel this way about her.

'No,' I reply, my eyes on Noelle. Meeting my gaze for a second, she quickly looks away. 'She hasn't mentioned that.'

'Oh my,' Yuyu gives a soft gasp. 'Noelle! How could you not tell him that?' She chides, almost scandalized, before starting to recount in great detail how Noelle had started playing the piano at the age of four, immediately showing promise and being branded a prodigy by her teachers.

'She was only fourteen when she had her first big concert,' Yuyu says enthusiastically, but Noelle doesn't share the sentiment as she lowers her head, fidgeting with her hands in her lap.

'Really?' I drawl, my voice going down a dangerous octave.

'She was praised for her distinctive style. Her teachers described it as brisk and innovative. She would take pieces and mash them together to give them a new, buoyant flavor,' Yuyu continues to prattle. 'She used to combine antithetic pieces and the result was very well received, isn't that right, love?' She turns to her husband, a bright smile on her face. Cisco attempts to return it, his not as authentic as his features are clearly strained.