Maid for the Mafia
One Night

**ROMANY**

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

My temper simmers just one spark behind a boil as I work, making me want 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... I carry on quietly instead.

Besides, by the time Damien returns I want to be able to raise the roof off this place with the flames of my fury. So, I hold my anger close. Kindling my madness one tiny little ember at a time as I 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, I probably would have thought he engineered the whole thing just to see if he could send me into a jealous rage. But, he didn't and I *know* he didn't. Which only makes it that much worse.

Because even though I am not jealous. I 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 telling me about? The one that *'doesn't matter'*? The one he said he was with that night that I 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 drive me back up to my suite.

Almost.

Instead, I take me seat across from Simone and swallow a good deal of wine.

Simone watches me carefully, 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 has me choking the entire glass back. I pick up my phone and text her.

ME-

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

I stab into my lamb with repetitive violence as I await her answer. Carving off such terribly uneven cuts of the poor dead animal that I can't even bring myself to eat it.

"No," Simone answers and I 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 I 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."

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

ME-

Did you see Damien down there?

Simone shakes her head. "No. But when I left her with Alex, I 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 make me feel almost nervous to find him, but... it does. Suddenly, I'm frantic to know where I 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 I might not return at all.

Santos said I couldn't tell *anyone* about out deal. he also mentioned having spies. But if I don't tell at least one person* what's going on and he decides *not* to let me return... how will they ever know what happened to me?

I 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, I pick up my phone.

ME-

I want to tell you something. But if I do, you CANNOT tell a single soul unless it's Sunday evening and both Ruby and I are still gone. Do you promise?

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

*Good girl.* Already, she makes me feel better about telling her.

SIMONE-

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

ME-

Santos has been texting me from Ruby's phone. I was right. She is alive. He video called me, I saw her with my own eyes. I made a deal with him. He's going to release her. SIMONE-

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

ME-

I know. But it doesn't matter. There's no way I'm turning him down. I want my cousin back here safe. I promised him one night in exchange for her release. He made me swear not to tell anyone and I agreed. But... just in case it all goes wrong... I need SOMEONE to know where I 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 I 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.

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

And that's when we hear him come inside. Damien.