Maid for the Mafia by Jaylee

One Night

F*ROMANY**

Pacing back and forth from the cart to the dining room, Simone and | set the table for our meal.

My temper simmers just one spark behind a boil as | work, makingwant to say fuck this proper dinner crap.

Maybe we should just flop down on Damien's expensive leather couch and eat this extra fancy bullshit meal

straight off the dining cart. But no... | carry on quietly instead.

Besides, by the tDamien returns | want to be able to raise the roof off this place with the flames of my fury.

So, | hold my anger close. Kindling my madness one tiny little ember at a tas | replay the events leading up

to Miss Dana Rojas. *Who the hell is she? And why the fuck is she here?*

If she hadn't openly admitted to wanting to surprise Damien, | probably would have thought he engineered the

whole thing just to see if he could sendinto a jealous rage. But, he didn't and | *know* he didn't. Which only

makes it that much worse.

Because even though | am not jealous. | am feeling dangerousy possessive.

The nerve of that skinny little tart. Who the hell does she think she is coming here to surprise *my Dreamboat*?

What makes her think he wants* her here?

Could she be the girl he was tellingabout? The one that *'doesn't matter*? The one he said he was with that

night that | was drugged and then passed around like a box of wine at a bonfire?

The likelihood that Miss Dana *is* the one coupled with the very real possibility that *she does matter* is almost

enough to driveback up to my suite.

Almost.

Instead, | takeseat across from Simone and swallow a good deal of wine.

Simone watchescarefully, her expression worried. She hasn't said a word since she returned from escorting

*Dana* down to Alex's office, but now that we're face to face with one another and I'm guzzling glass after glass

of wine, she sighs. "She's going to be living here," Simone says deadpan.

I'm mid-guzzle when she says it and her admission haschoking the entire glass back. | pick up my phone and

text her.

ME-

Here?! As in Damien's suite, here?

| stab into my lamb with repetitive violence as | await her answer. Carving off such terribly uneven cuts of the

poor dead animal that | can't even bring myself to eat it.

"No," Simone answers and | allow myself a sigh of release. "But she *will* be on the floor. *And* in this hall,"

Simone adds.

My head jerks upward, my eyes narrowing as | mouth, "Alex?"

She nods. "She says Alex called her yesterday to offer her a job. She's going to be his new assistant. She's taking

Stella's place."

| blink a few times then pour another glass of wine.

ME-

Did you see Damien down there?

Simone shakes her head. "No. But when | left her with Alex, | heard him tell her that he would be busy for the

rest of the night. So at the very least, she shouldn't be popping back in on you tonight."

I nod, wondering how accurate Alex's statement might be. The thought of not being able to *see* Damien before

Dana does shouldn't worry me. It shouldn't makefeel almost nervous to find him, but... it does. Suddenly, I'm

frantic to know where | stand. Where *we* stand. Damien and I.

Especially because in a couple of days... I'll be on my way to Santos and despite that the deal is only for one

night, there is a very real possibility that | might not return at all.

Santos said | couldn't tell *anyone* about out deal. he also mentioned having spies. But if | don't tell at least one

person* what's going on and he decides *not* to letreturn... how will they ever know what happened to me?

| gaze across the table at Simone and make a decision. Feeling suddenly saturated by the wine as my face

flushes and my head begis to swim, | pick up my phone.

ME-

| want to tell you something. But if | do, you CANNOT tell a single soul unless it's Sunday evening and both Ruby

and | are still gone. Do you promise?

Simone's brow furrows with worry as she reads, then instead of speaking out loud, she textsback.

*Good girl.* Already, she makesfeel better about telling her.

SIMONE-

Of course | promise! But what do you mean, Ruby??? What are you saying?

ME-

Santos has been textingfrom Ruby's phone. | was right. She is alive. He video called me, | saw her with my

own eyes. | made a deal with him. He's going to release her. SIMONE-

What kind of deal Ro??? | have heard a lot of things about that man. They say he is extremely dangerous. Even

worse than Alex.

ME-

| know. But it doesn't matter. There's no way I'm turning him down. | want my cousin back here safe. | promised

him one night in exchange for her release. He madeswear not to tell anyone and | agreed. But... just in case

it all goes wrong... | need SOMEONE to know where | went. That someone will be you.

SIMONE-

One night? That doesn't seem like much. It has to be a trick.

ME-

I'm aware. Which is why, when | don't turn up by Sunday evening, it will be left up to you to tell Damien or Alex,

or hopefully Ruby, where I've gone. Will you do it?

SIMONE-

Yes. Yes, of course.

| look up at her to see tears in her eyes. "Thank you," | mouth.

And that's when we hear him cinside. Damien.