Chapter 50

• The night air was crisp as Rafael approached the edge of the property where Maya had seen the figure. His footsteps were quiet, deliberate, and every muscle in his body was tense. Though he’d left the Mafia behind, moments like these reminded him that the shadows of his past were never far. As he drew closer to the tree line, a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
• “It’s me, Rafael.”
• Rafael’s hand instinctively went to his pocket, where his old knife used to rest. He didn’t carry it anymore, but the muscle memory was there. Slowly, a figure emerged from the shadows, his features coming into focus under the pale moonlight. It was Angelo, one of Victor Castellano’s most trusted men and someone Rafael hadn’t seen since he severed ties with the organization.