Maid for the Mafia
Snake

**TINY**

I watched that entire scene play out in silence. Wanting to put a stop to it, but knowing there wasn't much I could do unless I heard the word 'no'. If it had been only Antony and Enzo, I would have stepped in - because first off, I hate those fuckers but it wasn't. There was Alex and Paul Romano as well. Paul is thirty-eight years old and already runs Enzo's entire district. He is a boss of bosses and just the fact that he was even here for this, tells me business played a heavy hand in tonight's game. Enzo must have *had* to get approval for whatever deal he made, because I doubt he would have called Paul here just for a blow job. In Antony's case, who knows - that may have been another deal on the side. Leaving me to wonder just how powerful that sweet girl just made Alex DeMarco.

The thing that bothered me the most about it, was that I could tell Romany wasn't in her right mind from the moment she stepped through the doors. She was dosed up on something heavy. Her eyes were glassy, her skin was flushed. She could hardly walk, never mind *object*. It was wrong, what was done to her tonight and Alex knew it too. It was in his eyes as he watched her. The green of them seemed faded, almost as if covered by a film of gray. Alex is a cold motherfucker, and I mean *I have seen him do some outrageous shit*, but something was different this time. He looked... *irritated* each time one of the bosses touched her. Like he might blow at any moment. Then afterward, I saw him breathe a sigh of relief as if he was grateful that it was finally over.

Someone *had* to have initiated the deal with him. Either Enzo or Antony. One of the two. In terms of money, Antony would have more to offer, but in terms of business, it would be Enzo. I'm almost positive that whatever it was, Alex probably negotiated it privately. Which is not usually done for the simple fact that there should always be witnesses that hold accountability. So most big deals are done during meetings on common ground, with representatives of each territory *and* their muscle. The deal from tonight for the girl, *that* deal had to have been cut this afternoon. Probably right before Mickey took off to pick up his package in Blake, and before Alex sent Damien off on his fool's errand. Neither of those two would have signed off on this shit.

Alex *must* have been offered something that he couldn't pass up. At least, I hope he was, because if he wasn't... if he disgraced that poor girl just for sport, Mickey is going to lose his shit.

*Well, he might do that anyway.* Hell, *I* almost did.

Mickey has been more than a little obsessed with that girl for almost four years. Ever since Ralphie Bruno started running the players at Blake University. Ralphie had a few classes with her and one day, when Ralphie couldn't make it to the drop, Mickey went in to pick up instead. Apparently that was when he first laid eyes on Romany Dubois and that was when his stalking began. After that day, *Mickey* always went to Ralphie. We were all more than a little concerned at first, but because he never acted on it, and he never *actually* stalked her, we began to see her for what she was. Mickey's unicorn. A girl so unattainable and so far out of our spectrum, that she was more of a dream for him than a reality. I never knew what she looked like until today, and if I'm being honest, I can see how one *might* become a little *passionate* about a beauty like her. I get it a little better now than I did then. The difference being, if it had been me who saw her when I met up with Ralphie, I would have walked the fuck up to her and just asked her out. Boyfriend be damned. But Mickey's always been different. He's a boss, so any girl he decides to have on his arm *is going* to get corrupted in one way or another. Me, I'm just a captain, I can date whoever the fuck I want to and still make it to work.

But God, she was Ruby's cousin... Jesus Christ. When Ruby heard about this, there wouldn't be anyone *left* on the other side to make deals *with*. Alex would be on the road to greatness, or else he'd be dead too. Ruby was probably the best that I'd ever seen. She knew what her strengths were and her weaknesses... better yet, she knew *theirs* too. The word out on the street was, Ruby did not play when it came to her little cousin.

I sighed heavily, checking my phone for the time. Mickey was due to be back in half an hour and he texted an hour ago to make sure I would be ready to help him secure the package. *That* would be when I told him what happened. At least if we were outside, he couldn't break anything anyone would give a fuck about - or kill Alex without giving it at least a *little* thought.

I stepped outside of the second floor suite and headed for the elevators. When the doors opened I almost turned for the stairs, because that blond bitch Stella was in there with a haughty little smile on her face. Rolling my eyes, I stepped into the corner, as far from her as I could get. I could feel her beady little eyes on me, checking me out like she always did. It made my skin itch. I found her repulsive in so many ways. If she ever touched me the way I've seen her do Mickey, I'd strangle her with her own tongue.

"Hey there Tiny," she cooed, and I nodded. "Did you enjoy the show tonight? I heard it went perfectly. It's all in the wrist." She smirked, batting her eyelashes.

*It's all in the wrist? What the fuck, bitch?*

Something that she said had me curious, so when the doors opened to the first floor, I grinned at her. "Step outside with me for a moment, would you?" I whispered, leaning closer to her than I originally intended. I had to fight the shiver of disgust that rolled through me as her eyes lit with desire.

We headed out front and into the trees near the turn-a-bout. The moment we were far enough into the darkness to avoid being seen, I spun on her. "What were you saying in there? About the... wrist?" I tried to make the question sound sexy, eyeing her up as she leaned her back against thick evergreen.

"I was asking if you enjoyed the meeting," she simpered. "I saw you leaving the room afterward. I hope you enjoyed yourself, but if you didn't get your turn I can always dose her again."

I guess my silence must have clued her in on my anger, I *know* it couldn't have been my face, because I am exceptionally good at maintaining my outward composure. Even at times like this, when I'm boiling with rage.

She got nervous. "I-if you don't want her. I-I could take care of you," she offered, probably thinking that I was mad because I wanted her instead.

"So you're the one. I heard about you," I said smoothly, stepping toward her slowly. "Distributing that new drug around the clubs. Serving up women that don't even know they're high." I chuckled, and right as she went to smile at me, snatched her by the fucking throat and pinned her against the tree at my eye level. Now I'm kinda tall, so I'm pretty sure she was dangling off the ground at this point.

She gurgled and even in the dark, I could see her face going red.

"What's that? Did you say something?" I pretended to lean in, but I really just lifted her even higher. "You know what you are?" I asked her in a voice as calm as the autumn rain. She shook her head. "You're a fucking snake. You slither when you walk and slime on everything you touch. If I had my way, I'd snap your fucking neck right now for what you just told me, bitch. Alex may not see it yet, but he will, I promise you that. When I *throw* you into the driveway in a minute, you better hope it's far enough away from me that I can't hear your fucking slither. Because if I do, I'm going to put an end to you, once and for all." I tossed her seven feet toward the pavement and her ass bounced on the edge of the concrete so perfectly, I was almost sad there was no one around to see it. "You better hope Alex doesn't find out what you did. Then again, I'm pretty sure *someone* will tell him."

She stood on shaky legs and sputtered, "Who do you think told me to do it?"

I walked toward her, my face impassive. "What the fuck did you say, cunt? What was that?"

She grimaced, rubbing the rocks and dirt off her scraped elbows and thighs. "I said... who do you think ordered me to drug her?" *Alex did... Holy shit.*

As I watched Stella slither back into the house, the glow of headlights shone against the trees and I cursed, "Fuck." Mickey was back.