Maid for the Mafia
You Don't Need Me

**ROMANY**

"Ten minutes isn't long enough for us to get dressed," I said quietly to Simone as we wrapped ourselves in our robes.

"No," she agreed. "It's not."

"So then follow me," I said determinedly.

We entered the house through the dining room doors and pitter pattered toward the front of the house with my head on swivel as I watched for Alex. I had no idea which way he went after I left him in the gym and although I was fairly certain

he headed upstairs, I couldn't be sure. So my heart remained thumping wildly even after we passed through the main hallway and approached the front doors. The guards all gazed at us curiously but none of us deigned to stop us as we stepped out front.

My eyes went straight to the black stretch limo parked out front. *Noice...*

With a mischievous smile aimed at Simone, I urged her forward, fairly shoving her into the backseat ahead of me.

"Whoa," Tiny's voice cut through the mayhem as I tumbled in after her. "What the fuck are you two doing in here?"

I smiled, shuffling onto one of the very backseats just behind the glass divider where I was sure not to be visible from the open back door. After a moment Simone joined me, laughing as we huddled together in our robes. "This is going to be a blast," she said. "God it's been so long since I've had *any* fun. I'm so glad we met!"

"Me too!" I said, grabbing her in a hug.

"Hey!" Tiny exclaimed, shifting toward us. "You know I'm all for your company, Romany, babygirl, but what the fuck do you think you're doing?"

I grinned at him just as the back door opened again and Mickey slid in, "They'll never make it and we have to go. Damn it, I knew better than to tease myself with-"

"We're here," I said, cutting him off.

His eyes shot toward me in surprise before he ripped the back door shut. Without taking his eyes off of mine he picked up the telephone to talk to the driver. "Go now," he said. "Quickly."

""Go?" Tiny asked, then rolled his eyes, throwing a smirk my way. "I'm going to start calling you *Guaie," he said.

"Oh?" I giggled as the car shot into motion. "What's that mean?"

"Trouble," Mickey answered with a grin. "Love the outfit, doll. I wondered how you were going to make it in time."

"We're not out yet," Tiny said. "We're half a mile from the gates and Alex is going to be-"

"Let me handle my cousin," Mickey said smoothly. "I have no doubt whatever Alex dishes out, my doll can handle. Isn't that right?"

I smiled thinking for the first time that it was true. Alex was a big bad wolf, yes, but when it came to me he sometimes seemed... weaker somehow. Almost like he was in... *No Romany, no. Alex loves no one. Least of all you, the woman he sold.* "This is going to make for an interesting flight," Mickey said. "You two without shoes. Good thing I have my own plane."

I stiffened. "We're going on a plane?" *Oh shit. I didn't think this through.*

"Relax, doll," he laughed. "It's only a thirty minute flight. It beats driving two hours. It also means it's a lot less likely that we're being followed. I always fly home from here."

"Oh? Well I guess it's okay then," I teased, absorbing the heat of his gaze with a shiver.

"Don't worry," Mickey said. "I can provide you ladies with clothing once we're at my place."

Mickey's phone rang and after a long sigh, he answered it. "We'll be back in a couple of days," he said into the phone, telling who it was right away. "It's too late to bring her back. We're nearly to the airport, Alex." He paused and although I couldn't hear what was being said, I could tell by the way Mickey moved the phone back that Alex was yelling. "I'll let her know," Mickey said, then hung up. "Shit," Mickey grumbled, reaching toward the mini-bar for a drink. "You've done it now, doll. He's more than pissed."

I shrugged, meeting Simone's frightened eyes even as my phone buzzed in the pocket of my robe.

*Damn it.*

I pulled it out already knowing who it was texting me.

Alex-

You're in big trouble, Angel. You fucking left me?! You LEFT ME? I can't wait until you are back here. I am going to punish you so severely. You have no idea. But if you tell Mickey to bring you back here now, I will excuse this momentary lapse of judgment. I might even take you out to dinner myself.

Me-

That's nice Alex, but Mickey says it's too late to come back. I'll see you in a couple of days. You can take me out to dinner then.

Alex-

You get back here now or your friend is fired.

Me-

If she's fired then I quit.

Alex-

Goddamnit Romany. I have excused you of many things, but I'm warning you, you are pushing me to the very fucking edge. I NEED YOU HERE. Me-

You don't need me.

Alex-

I do. You have no idea how much.

Me-

Well then, if that's true, you'll wait until I get back.

Then I shut off my phone and pocketed it just as the limo turned onto a private driveway that led into the airport.

*Shit, he's pissed.*

For some reason the thought of Alex being so angry sent a thrill right through me and I smiled.

**ALEX**

By the time I had showered and decided what I was going to do I was ready to kill someone.

So, I called Damien up to my room.

"The professor," I said, fire blazing in my blood. "We still have him, don't we?"

"Yes," Damien said. "He's in lock-up right down the hall from Enzo."

I smiled, thinking of Mickey and how mad he was going to be after I took away his little gift. "Bring him to the meeting room."

"Alex... are you sure you want to do that? Why don't you and I just go and get her?"

I looked at him. I could see he was angry too. That fucking girl was driving us all crazy. But until now, I had been the only one to truly fuck her and for some reason the thought of Mickey having her to himself was pushing me to madness. "Put him in the meeting room," I said. "Once we've dealt with him. Then... we will go after her."