Maid for the Mafia

**SANTOS**

"We're here."

I nod, signaling for my driver to wait a moment while I gaze down at my treasure for what may very well be the final time. It's entirely possible that she won't be the one who comes after Romany at all - not fucking likely - but the possibility does exist, and I refuse to leave her without telling her how I feel. Even if she can't hear me.noveldrama

"Mi Reina," I whisper, lifting her higher into my arms so that I can kiss her sleeping lips. My mouth feathers across hers and I draw in a deep breath, savoring the unique essence of everything she is, the feel of her silky tendrils against my cheeks, the achingly soft thud of her heartbeat close to mine. I shudder, placing my lips on her ear, "I will take your cousin tonight, but I swear on everything I am, *I will not harm her*. But *I will hold her* until the day you come back to me. There is something I did not tell you when you had that knife to my throat, something I need you to know... If it ever comes down to you or me, I'll choose you. I could never take your life the way you wanted to take mine. I should have told you the real reason I wanted you to join me, but I didn't. I will now." I leaned in closer, breathing her in and burying my face next to hers. "It is because, you... you are the only woman I could ever love and if I see you again, you will know it." My words choke off so suddenly I fear I'm in danger of actual tears and I hold her away from me, handing her off to one of my men. "Remember to leave the phone number on her so that they know who to call."

"Yes, boss."

I watch him from the parking lot as he delivers my queen inside, only giving the signal to leave when I receive a text from one of my spiders that just so happens to work in this particular urgent care. With a smile of satisfaction I transfer her usual fee time three into her account. The reason for her tip - which is not really a tip at all - is simple, as it triggers a number of consecutive actions. First and foremost, Ruby just became that much more important to the entire ER staff on duty tonight, and no one that isn't Alex DeMarco will be getting in to retrieve her. Not even myself. The tripled fee is a form of communication, a trigger if you will, a button that when pressed ignites a very intricate protocol, one that will be followed and executed down to a T.

As we drive away from the hospital, I close my eyes and smile.

*I'm really doing this. I'm really going to risk everything for the love of a woman. God help me. Who have I become?*

Flipping my phone open, I dial Ruby's cousin.

She answers on the first ring. "Hello? Who's this?"

"Good evening Miss Romany. I hope you are ready for the next steps."

A quick sigh, "Yes."

"Good. You received my list?"

"I did."

"Any issues with that list?"

"Would it matter?"

I had to laugh. "Absolutely."

"No, no issues."

"Good," I reply. "I trust you have it memorized then?"

"I do," she confirms. "My cousin-"

"-is safe," I promise, interrupting her. "Now listen very carefully, because if things are not done precisely in the order they were presented to you, your men outside of my mansion will die. Is that clear?"

"Yes," she snaps.

"Good. What time do you have?"

If you're loving the book, nel5s.com is where the adventure continues. Join us for the

complete experience—all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Nine thirty-five," she says after a second.

"I assume you are in Damien's room after finding out that Mickey deposited Miss Romano in your suite upstairs."

She chuckles, "What? You mean you aren't watching?

Again, I laugh. "Damien keeps his rooms bug free at all times, which is one quality he possesses that has always impressed me."

"So then basically whenever you can't hear me, you know where I am?"

"Look who's catching on," I say plainly. "When we hang up this phone, I am going to need you to step out onto his balcony. You will find a gift box on the ledge. You will know what to do with what's inside. Go and fetch it."

"Okay, okay." I listen to the sounds of her unlocking the french doors and swinging them open, the moment she steps out I can see her on the screen in front of me in my

car.

"There you are," I say. "Do you see the box?"

She doesn't answer me, but I watch as she grabs the small, black case off the ledge and then stomps back inside to flip the lid open.

"Put it on and power it up."

She sighs, then a moment later I hear a soft beep that tells me she's done as asked. "Any questions?" I ask finally.

"You said you only wanted a day," she whispers, the nerves finally getting to after says of anticipation. "Is that still true?"

"It is. To be perfectly honest, I'd rather only keep you for an hour, but that timeframe would be inconceivable. So yes. A day is all I want." I'm not lying. It is all I want. Unfortunately, I doubt that is all it will take for Ruby to find us.

"Okay..." she says, seemingly reassured.

Poor thing. She should learn to be more specific when asking questions of someone like me. If I thought she'd agree to my entire plan, I might have shared it with her... nah, that isn't true. She would have fucked it up. I'm pretty certain that her loyalties lie elsewhere. So, I'll wait until I have her far enough away from Alex, that she can truly appreciate everything I have to say and all that I am planning to do.

"The clock is ticking. And remember, any deviation from my plan will result in devastating consequences." Not for her, nor Ruby, but I'll go ahead and leave that part

out.

"Got it."

"Good. Then this will be the last time you hear from me until midnight. See you soon."

I hang up, snap the little burner phone in half, then place it in a little gift bag that I bought especially for tonight, along with Ruby's phone.

Then... I smile.

*The race is on.*