Book One.
The world has become a different place since the attack on New York. People have been forced to accept a reality filled with superhumans, machine men, and alien races. Earth has become a playground for the universe with humans getting los...
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Rafael sat alone in the VIP section, drowning himself in a bottle of Patron. The band on stage was awful and loud enough that his teeth were practically rattling. He didn't see the appeal but there obviously was one. Carmella was a bloodhound when it came to finding the money and this place made serious green – it also was the perfect front for her real business.
Drugs, guns, and whatever else someone could traffic – he was pretty sure his sister was into it. Emilio had taught his protégé well – she was a real chip off the old' block. Unfortunately. Rafael considered himself lucky to be the bastard child. His mother had done her best to limit the effect of Emilio in his life. She had been the one who'd pushed him to apply to the art schools. They had been close to escaping together, but Emilio was always one step ahead.
It had been a couple of weeks since he'd seen his mother – maybe it was time to drop in. It was hard to be around her because she always looked at him with such sad eyes. Rafael could see that she felt responsible for his current situation, that if it wasn't for her he'd be something better than he was. He frowned and shook his head, maybe he'd just call her instead.
The smell of Jasmine perfume carried over the scent of sweat, sex, and alcohol. He didn't need to look to know who it was. Think of the devil and she shall appear.
He fought back a groan. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
"Enjoying yourself?"
Rafael lifted his face and there his sister stood, her glacial gaze fixed on him. "You know me, Car." He brought the bottle to his lips and took a drink. It burned all the way down into his stomach. "I'm a one-man party and your bar is fully stocked."
She leaned forward and grabbed the bottle from him. "Well, the party's over. I need you."
"You needed me earlier and I did what you asked. Obligation met." He struggled to get up off the couch. "That's how this whole thing works between us."
Carmella watched him with her cold indifference. Rafael didn't know why he fought his circumstances so much. It was pointless. Still, he fought and knew he would continue to go down this path kicking and screaming. Maybe, if he was lucky, they'd get tired of it and put him out of his misery.
As if she had read his thoughts a predatory smile ate away her usual apathy. "Clean yourself up, meet me in the back in twenty." She sauntered away, taking his bottle with her.
He muttered a curse under his breath, reaching up and running his fingers through his hair. He snatched his jacket up off the couch behind him, the air in the club was suffocating him. Rafael pushed his way through the bodies, bumping and knocking into people unapologetically as he made his way to the side exit.
He needed fresh air and a damn cigarette.
Outside smelled almost as bad as inside, but at least here he could be alone. Rafael put on his coat, patting his pockets with one hand as he set a cigarette between his lips with the other.
