Read Online Rafael (The Santiago Brothers Book One) by K. Victoria Chase - Free Book Online

Ha!”
    “And the case I’m working on is incredibly
difficult. There are so many unknowns that I foresee us spending a
lot of time on it.”
    Genie didn’t miss the slight frown on her
friend’s face, before she turned away. She didn’t mean for the
explanation to sound like another excuse to skip church, but it
couldn’t be helped. Murder investigations required significant
man-hours; that was the job she signed up for and she’d fulfill her
duties. She’d make up for lost time by reading her Bible. Thank
goodness she remembered to bring it tonight.
    Audrey recovered with a bright smile. “Well,
this can be a good thing.”
    Her friend, forever the optimist. “In what
way?”
    “Two heads are better than one. If your case
is hard to solve, and Rafa can provide additional assistance, then
that could only mean you two are well on your way to solving it and
keeping the community safe.”
    Genie
sighed. Audrey was right. Two heads were better than one and with
Rafa’s inside knowledge of the Snakes the police could, with better
certainty, predict their next move. Genie refused to admit — or
believe — she absolutely needed his guidance. She wasn’t deficient,
and with time, she’d undoubtedly solve the case herself. Why
couldn’t Audrey acknowledge that fact? “Well, we still have a bit
of background work we have to do for the case, but I hope to make real progress in
the next few days.”
    “Should we be worried?” Audrey’s brows
knitted in concern.
    Genie shook her head. “Of course not.”
    “You’d tell me though, right?”
    Genie smiled and hugged her friend. “Audrey,
quit worrying. I have everything under control. Now get back to
those kids. I’ve got to go to class.”
    Audrey squeezed her back. “Let me know what I
miss, and keep me posted about you-know-who.” She laughed and
jogged away.
    Genie
grunted softly but quickly relaxed. Her first full day with Rafael
Santiago was over and now the rest of the night was hers. She
spotted the door to the room where the class met and she stilled.
There was still time to leave. She rotated to the church’s front
door. No one would be expecting her. In fact, her attendance may
just shock the group, and she didn’t want to deal with the open
stares she knew she’d receive. I don’t want to be
uncomfortable .
    Genie
eyed the door to the Bible study for the second — no, third…
possibly fourth — time. Her head fabricated excuse after excuse to
leave but her heart… Didn’t my heart get me into this mess? Reluctantly, she made her way
to the doors. Turning the doorknob, Genie pushed open the door,
expecting the stares of everyone in the room. Instead, her eyes
took in a room filled with people laughing and talking, completely
unaware of her appearance. She let out a grateful sigh and made her
way to the back of the room, where she spotted an empty seat on a
plush sofa. Without greeting anyone, Genie sat and for the first
time in a long time, appreciated invisibility.
    “Oh, Eugenia!”
    That didn’t take long.
    Genie forced a smile. Maria Santiago. A
cheerfully plump, middle-aged woman — a well-known regular of the
church and one Genie had known for as long as she could remember.
Despite the troubles her sons gave her while they were growing up,
Mrs. Santiago never let on how much they may have disappointed her,
but Genie knew by their behavior that they did. Yet, Mrs. Santiago
always beamed and displayed only the most pleasant of
attitudes.
    “Mrs. Santiago. How are you this
evening?”
    “Oh, I’m more than blessed, my dear. Have you
met my son?”
    Genie
tensed, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. Oh, please God,
no! “I, ah—”
    “Let me introduce you!”
    Genie felt a hand on her arm pull her up from
the sofa, drag her through the crowd, and turn her in the direction
of… yup, Rafael Santiago. He sat back comfortably in his chair, his
dimples challenging her. A few wayward curls hung around the crown
of his head. His