Plain Jane and the Mafia Beast

“Who?” she asked.

“The man I was with last night.”

He saw she wrinkled her nose.

“You don’t like him? He has a thing for one of the waitresses that works there.”

“I know him. It’s why Rachel changed shifts. She wants nothing to do with him. He kind of scares her.”

“A lot of people in our line of work will do that.” He couldn’t help but smile as it was just so fucking funny. Daniel didn’t have a clue that he was being avoided.

“Please don’t tell him. Rachel was already scared about changing her shift. She doesn’t want to get involved with him.”

“If it helps I will talk to Daniel a little later and he’ll stop bugging your friend.”

She nodded.

“Eat your food. I’ll grab you a shirt so you don’t have to worry about covering yourself. I don’t own a television, but I do have a vast collection of books.”

“Any romance?”

“I can get you a few romance books if that’s what you want.”

“You can?”

“Yes.”

“Have you read them?” she asked.

“That is not something I’m going to tell you.”

He held out a shirt, and she pushed her arms in the air. He slid the fabric over her body, pleased with the fit. His clothes looked good on her.

Once she finished her breakfast, he took the tray and located the books he’d mentioned. He had read them as they were a nice way to relax after a long day of death and torture. Placing them on the bed, he called Daniel to arrange for him to keep an eye on her. With that done, he grabbed a bag to put her items inside, and within thirty minutes, Daniel was there.

“I can’t believe you’re making me babysit her.”

“You’ve got no choice. If she is hurt or dead when I get back, I will keep you alive for a year while I make you pray for death. Do you understand me?”

“For fuck’s sake, Vince. What is this? She’s not even pretty.”

“Do as I say, got it?”

“Got it. Not a hair will be harmed in protecting her.”

“Good.” He left his home, ignoring the suburban wives that were cleaning their cars. Most of them looked like they were being neglected by their husbands. He got a good kick out of watching the world go by. Seeing them flirt with either the postman or someone else that caught their attention. There was a young man who mowed lawns, and that kid had gotten a lot of personal attention.

He didn’t need to be near the mafia to get his kicks. Just watching normal people was fucking crazy.

Climbing into his car, he headed toward the diner first. He had no doubt that one word from him and Arika would be clear to keep her job and have a few days’ paid vacation. They didn’t need to know that she had a gunshot wound that she was recovering from.

His cell phone rang, and he clicked the accept button, placing it against his ear. He had no problems driving past cops. They all knew his car, and if they didn’t, running the plates would let them know who they were dealing with.

“Barbato,” he said.

“Ah, my favorite executioner. What do I need to know?”

“I extracted the names of the traitors that would serve to throw off your crown and replace you. We took one out last night. It had to be a body dump as something came up. Don’t worry, it also contains a message so those will know who they are dealing with.”

“The Vitales need to learn to keep their own turf.”

“They’ll get the message.”

“Is there anything else I need to know about?”

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell him about Arika. Galiza had been more than a friend; he’d been his savior. He didn’t get along with all in the family seeing as Galiza had several sons who felt like their father showed him more attention.

There was no way he’d take over as a Galiza. He was merely a tool for their use, the mafia beast they needed to make the bad shit go away.

“There was a complication, but I’m dealing with it.”

“Do I need to worry about this … complication?”

“No.”

This was his safety net. He wasn’t lying to Galiza. He was just not telling the man the whole truth.

“Then I will let you handle it the way you know how.”

Conversation terminated.

Vincenzo hung up and continued with his plan.

****

The romance book had clearly been read, but that didn’t mean Vincenzo had actually read it. Arika ran her fingers down the spine and wondered if he had. Would he have enjoyed this kind of book? He didn’t seem like the kind of man who would read something like this.

Biting her lip, she flipped the book over, staring at the sexy man on the cover.

She liked a good romance.

For a few hours she could pretend to be like the heroine in the story, just waiting for that special someone to come and take her away. Of course, that would never happen, but she didn’t need a man to be happy.