That same day back at Rafael's foyer, after the brawl with Anastasia, Isabella was still in bed, sleeping peacefully and recovering from her wounds after drinking Niko's blood.
Rafael and Niko stood over her in silence, watching and making sure she was fine.
Rafael began to feel something in his heart, something that surprised him; he began to feel genuine deep concern and affection for Isabella and he tried so hard to fight it but he couldn't, this worried him so deeply because he couldn't get himself to fall in love with someone else…again.
He caught himself wallowing in those dangerous thoughts and immediately activated his defense mechanism; now more than ever, he was determined to push Isabella away.
" you take care of her, im headed back to the office, I have things to do" he said to Niko reluctantly.
"Are you sure?" Niko asked
"When have I not ever been sure" Rafael replied and walked out of the room and headed back for the office.
Isabella was still passed out and Niko stayed with her and watched her sleep, at some point he looked at her with so much endearment and began to pass his hands through her hair, little did he know that Rafael was watching them through the hidden camera that he had kept in Isabella's room (the basement).
As Niko passed his fingers through her hair, she slightly opened her eyes, her vision was blurry at first but when she finally opened them well enough she looked at Niko and smiled.
They both smiled at each other and he helped her to gently sit up from the bed.
"You should probably learn how to fight and defend yourself" Niko said to her with a faint smile as he pitied her.
"Really? I was hoping you could always come to my rescue when I need it" she scoffed as they both looked deep into each other's eyes.
The entire time, Rafael was watching this interaction while he was seated at the office.
"I would never allow for anything to happen to you" he said to her.
"I have no doubts" she replied and smiled faintly.
They continued to look at each other, then Niko calmly and slowly grabbed her face and planted a kiss on her lips, they kissed and kissed, and kissed.
Rafael watched and rage swallowed him whole, he was engulfed by it, a burning and sharp rage but there was nothing he could do about it in that moment.
He just sat frozen in the office, the screen glowing in front of him as he kept seeing what he had not wanted to see and feeling everything he had tried so hard to deny.
"Why do I want her so bad" he whispered under his breath.