BOW DOWN: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance (Barone Crime Family) (46 page)

I
hated sleeping
on the damn couch, but I knew not to fucking push it.

At least not the first night.

I woke up to the sun streaming in through the windows and grunted. A half-empty bottle of whisky was on the coffee table in front of me, and a hangover was knocking at my skull. I glanced up and saw that the bedroom door was shut.

I got up and made some coffee. I didn’t know what time the girl normally woke up, but I figured I’d let her sleep in if she wanted.

I wasn’t happy that we were at the compound. I understood the logic behind it, and I trusted Vince’s plan, but I was not fucking happy at all. Ernesto’s boys could be in the room next door and I’d have no clue. I didn’t know who was loyal to Vince and who was loyal to Ernesto. The staff was a wild card, and I almost didn’t even trust our food.

But that was being a little too paranoid. The staff had never helped a boss, or at least not with killing someone. Arturo and whoever else paid the staff well for their loyalty.

Still, I couldn’t help but be a little angry. The piece of shit bosses wanted to torture this poor girl for information, even though I was positive she didn’t know shit. I had stuck my neck out for her because I couldn’t help myself. But Vince hadn’t needed to get involved like he had. I didn’t want to drag him down with me.

As I started drinking my first cup of coffee of the day, there was a soft knock at the door, and then a piece of paper slid under. I walked over and quickly opened the door, but I saw only a staff member walking down the hall.

I bent over and picked up the paper. It was a handwritten note from Arturo requesting my presence in his study as soon as I was awake.

I gritted my teeth and sighed. I was going to have to go. I couldn’t just ignore a summons from the boss like that, even if I really wanted to. I didn’t know what it was about, but he clearly knew I was staying in the mansion, and in which room.

I walked over to the kitchen table, grabbed a pen and some paper, and wrote Cassidy a quick note. I folded it and left it out next to the coffee so that she’d find it.

When I was finished, I quickly left the room. I needed a shower and probably a shave, but that shit could wait. I was too curious about what the big boss wanted to let it wait even a few minutes.

I traveled through the halls, oblivious to the power and wealth all around me. I’d walked through it all so many times that it no longer phased me. Still, I liked seeing the way other people reacted to it for the first time. Cassidy had stared around her like something was going to jump out of the wallpaper at her, or like she was about to trip and fall into a priceless statue.

Both of those scenarios weren’t all that unlikely, actually.

I found Arturo’s door and knocked once. After a second, I heard him call me in.

I opened the door and then closed it behind me. Arturo was sitting at his desk like usual, drinking coffee.

“Want a cup?” he asked as I approached.

“Please.”

He nodded at a side table. I walked over and poured myself some steaming black coffee from the carafe. I sat down in front of him and took a sip. Strong and dark and hot.

“How did you sleep?” Arturo asked.

“Like shit.”

“That’s a shame. I sleep like a baby these days.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“So am I. When I was your age, I used to stay up all night with worry. I was building this fucking mob back then, you know. Many men wanted me dead.”

“I wouldn’t sleep either if I were you.”

“No, you wouldn’t. You’re not me and you still don’t sleep. Why is that, Rafa?”

“I don’t know. I’m just not the fucking type to be relaxed, I guess.”

“That’s a real shame.” He leaned back, sipping his coffee.

“Did you call me here just to talk to me about sleep?”

“No,” he said. “Of course not.” He raised an eyebrow. “Got somewhere to be?”

“No,” I said, drinking my coffee. “Just on edge.”

“Understandably. Since Ernesto wants to kill you.”

“Fuck Ernesto.”

“Careful. He’s your superior.”

“I know, but fuck him anyway.”

Arturo grinned and laughed softly. “I like you. Always have. When Vince brought you up, I was proud of both of you.”

“Thank you,” I said, surprised. “I didn’t know you knew who I was.”

“I keep an eye on all the rising stars in my organization. Especially when they’re pissing off one of my oldest and most loyal bosses.”

“His goons deserved it,” I said.

“Probably.”

“So I’m not apologizing.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

“What are you asking me to do?”

“Tell me what the girl knows.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “She doesn’t know anything.”

“Unfortunately for you both, I don’t believe that.”

“Sir, I know it seems suspicious, but I wouldn’t risk my life for a girl who’s a danger to our organization.”

“I believe you,” he said. “But she knows something. And if she doesn’t, she better learn something fast, because Ernesto wants you both dead, and I can’t keep him at bay for too long.”

“I can find something.”

“Good. Get her help if you need it. Find us information on the Spiders, and find it fast.”

I nodded and stood. I put my cup back down on the tray on the side table. Arturo watched as I moved back toward the door.

I paused and looked back at him.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“You know about the rift in the organization.”

“I know all about it.”

“What are you doing about it? You haven’t come down on either side yet.”

He smiled at me. “I’ve been doing this for a long time. You know that?”

“I know that.”

“I’ve seen things like this before. This isn’t the first issue to tear us apart.” He shrugged. “The bosses will come to a consensus. And if they don’t, they’ll kill each other until only the strongest capos are left.”

“What about the soldiers?”

“Some will die. Most will be absorbed into other territories.”

“You want war.”

“I don’t want war. I want peace. But I understand that war may be the only option. You can’t fear it.”

“I don’t fear war. I don’t fear violence.”

“Good,” he said, grinning. “Go embrace it.”

I turned and left, not sure what to think.

I
woke
up in an unfamiliar bed and had to squash a moment of panic before it took me over completely.

I stayed totally still, wrapped in foreign sheets, until slowly I remembered what had happened the night before. I remembered Rafa coming into my apartment. I remembered his body against mine.

I remembered going temporarily insane and taking the condom off his cock. I remembered him coming inside me.

I sighed, stretching. I had barely gotten any sleep, and I still felt exhausted. I looked over at the clock and sighed. It was already past nine in the morning. Our flight from my apartment late at night had taken a few hours, so I was really dragging as I got out of bed.

I opened the bedroom door and found the bag I had packed in a hurry on the floor. I took it back inside, did my morning routine in the beautiful bathroom, and then got changed.

I went into the living room, but Rafa was nowhere to be seen.

The fresh smell of coffee wafted up from the kitchen area, so I went over to grab a mug. Next to the coffeemaker was a piece of paper folded in half, propped up against the mugs.

I picked it up and opened it.

“Cassidy, sleep as late as you want. I have some business to attend to. Feel free to do whatever you want, but be careful. Rafa.”

I sighed again and tossed the note aside. I got some coffee and then sat down on a kitchen chair, crossing my legs.

Nobody was going to come looking for me. My parents would never know that I wasn’t at my apartment, and my friends never came over without me asking them to. Nobody actually knew where I was, which actually made me worried.

Well, everything about my situation made me worried. I paused on my third sip of coffee and realized that I had no clue if I could even drink caffeine or not.

I had to choke back panic again for the second time that morning.

I might be pregnant with Rafa’s baby. No matter what happened, now he and I were inextricably linked together forever, assuming I actually was pregnant. Plus, now he had incentive to fight for my life, assuming he gave a shit about the baby.

I quickly grabbed my phone from the other room and did a quick search.

One cup of coffee was probably okay. I started searching some more, and the full magnitude of what I had done really washed over me.

My whole life was going to change. I was going to have this baby, and I was never going to be the same again, even if I gave her up for adoption.

I was going to have to be careful with every single thing I put in my body for the next nine months. For whatever reason, that thought really brought home the full magnitude of what was happening around me.

I stood up, trying to fight the tide of panic and terror that was welling up inside me.

I couldn’t sit around. I quickly walked to the door and threw it open, walking out into the hallways as fast as I could.

I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going; I just walked. I felt like I was hyperventilating, breathing far too fast, short and quick. My footsteps matched my breathing as I hurried through the hushed hallways, past the expensive art and the priceless statues and the staring staff members.

I had let a strange man come inside me with the intention of getting pregnant. I was going to have his baby. I wanted him, and was incredibly attracted to him, but this was still so much. To top it all off, part of the mafia wanted me.

I was screwed. There was no other way to look at it. I was screwed and I was going to be destroyed.

I stopped at the first door I found and swiped my card. The light turned green and I threw the door open.

My breath was nearly taken from my chest as I stepped inside the room.

It was humid and large. Plants surrounded me on all sides. It was a greenhouse, or something like a greenhouse. Actually, it was more like one of those jungle exhibits at the zoo, with real plants and towering flowers clustering close to the narrow path. For a second, I thought I had walked outside, but I could see the glass ceiling up above me.

I stepped into the room, my problems forgotten. I slowly walked inside, following along the path.

It was strangely quiet. When I had stepped inside, I’d expected to hear what you normally heard in a forested area: birds, small animals moving in the underbrush, the wind through the branches. But it was silent, like an empty room. I had to keep reminding myself that I was actually inside.

It was beautiful. It must have taken serious work to keep it as gorgeous as it was. I had no clue what its purpose was or why it was in the middle of a mafia mansion, but I was thankful for it. I felt like I was truly alone, and for a second I could catch my breath.

I continued along the path until it came to a small clearing in the plants. There was a bench to my right and a statue standing at one end of the clearing. I felt drawn toward that statue, and I walked over to it.

The woman was beautiful. Long hair, thick lips, a gorgeous face. Whoever had made the sculpture made her look almost life-like. Her clothes seemed so real that I reached out and touched them.

“That’s my mother, you know.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned around and stared at a younger version of the statue. She had long, dark hair and intense, dark eyes. She was beautiful.

“I’m sorry?” I said stupidly.

The girl nodded at the statue. Her face was completely calm. “That’s my mother, Condita.”

“Oh,” I said, glancing at the statue. “She was beautiful.”

“She was,” the girl agreed. I guessed she was around my age.

“I’m Cassidy,” I said.

“I know.”

“Uh, it’s nice to meet you.”

“I’m Louisa Barone. Still nice?”

I gaped at her for a second. This was the daughter of Arturo Barone. She was incredibly famous. I’d heard tons of rumors about her, mostly about how insane she was and how she never left her rooms. She seemed pretty normal to me, although a little weird, and she was definitely not in her room.

“It’s good to meet you, Louisa,” I said finally.

“This room is a shrine to her.” Louisa walked over to the statue and put her hand on her mother’s foot. “My father had it built when my mother died.”

“That’s really beautiful.”

“Not really. My father is a fucking asshole.”

I blinked. “Oh, uh, sorry.”

“It’s okay. You didn’t make him that way. Plus, he knows he’s an asshole; he just doesn’t care.” Louisa cocked her head at me. “Question is, what are you doing here?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I’m sorry. I was just wandering around. Is this room off limits?”

“Normally,” Louisa said. “But I cheated a little bit. I gave your key card full, unrestricted access to the mansion.”

That surprised me. I blinked, not really sure what to say. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I felt like it,” Louisa said. “I was bored and I heard you were coming.”

“So you just gave me access?”

“Sure. Thought it might be fun having a journalist wandering the halls of the mafia’s compound.” She gave me an eerie smile.

“Uh, I guess so. Wouldn’t your dad be pissed?”

“My dad is an asshole.” She took her hand off her mother’s foot. “And he doesn’t command me. Nobody does.”

“That must be nice.”

“It is nice.” She stepped toward me. I took a step back unconsciously. “I can give you that freedom too, Cassidy. Do you want to be free?”

“Maybe,” I said. “Everyone wants to be free.”

“I can give that to you. I have that power.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

I was beginning to feel incredibly uncomfortable. Louisa’s eyes were burning into mine with an intensity that bordered on the insane. I had the feeling that I should run away, but I didn’t know why. She wasn’t threatening me at all, but she was acting erratically. She made me feel uneasy.

“I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”

Louisa let out a short, sharp laugh. “Of course not. I’m not giving you the whole story. Mostly because I don’t want to. But believe me, Cassidy, I’m the only person in this whole mansion who has your best interests at heart.”

“Okay,” I said. “I think I should go now.”

“Goodbye, Cassidy.”

I smiled. “Bye.”

I turned and practically ran out of there.

Once I was back in the main hallway, I quickly started to retrace my steps, my head spinning.

What was with that girl? Why was she talking about my freedom and having my best interests at heart? I didn’t know her at all. I had never seen her before in my life. And yet she’d been acting like she somehow cared about me and wanted to save me.

It was downright disturbing.

As I walked, I realized that I was lost. I had to ask for directions twice before I finally made it back to my room.

My keycard could open any door. That was an interesting development. I didn’t know what Louisa was thinking when giving me that power, but I couldn’t exactly give it back.

I stood outside my room for a second and glanced around me. Any of the doors were mine to open. I could walk in on absolutely anything.

I was still a journalist after all. I could walk in on a huge story.

But no, that was stupid. I was here trying to save my own life, not trying to find another story. I took a deep breath and opened my door.

And then laughed at what I saw.

Sitting at the table, surrounded by trays of food, was Rafa. He grinned as I came in.

“Morning, beautiful,” he said.

I made a face. “Morning.” I shut the door behind me. “What’s all this?”

“Couldn’t decide what to eat, so I ordered it all.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “That’s crazy.”

“I assumed you’d help.”

I walked over and looked at the spread. There were eggs, bacon, pancakes, basically anything you could imagine. There were even little breakfast quiches lined up in a neat little row.

He took a big bite of pancakes. “I just wanted pancakes though,” he said.

“You’re nuts.”

“It’s free food. Who cares?”

I grabbed a plate and took some food. “What do they do with the extras?”

“I’m sure they donate it.”

“Really? The mob donates food?”

“We’re the mafia, not monsters.”

“Good point.” I sat down across from him and started eating.

I suddenly realized that I should tell him about my encounter with Louisa. But as soon as I opened my mouth to speak, I thought better of it.

I didn’t know why. It was just such a strange encounter. I didn’t want to worry Rafa more than he already was, and besides, she was harmless. She hadn’t meant anything by it.

As Rafa started to tell me a story about the time he watched a man try to eat two pounds’ worth of pancakes, I tried to put Louisa out of my mind. She wasn’t important.

Rafa was important. I couldn’t help but smile as he spoke, and I felt my stress slowly disappear.