Sold to the mafia

I shoot him the finger behind Maddy’s back as she sings along to whatever song is playing.

Katie whips out her phone to take a picture. Fuck, not a picture. Probably a video judging by the fact she’s still got the damn thing raised.

Normally I’d just sit down and refuse to do this shit. But looking down at Maddy, she’s so fucking happy, just having a good time.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Whatever, I can sway back and forth and let her have the time of her life over a song.

I push her away for just a second and she looks up, thinking I’m done. But I’ve got her hand in mine and I go for the twirl. I figure if Katie’s recording, I might as well do something to make it worthwhile. Seeing Maddy smile makes it worth it.

She busts out a laugh and so does our little audience.

My heart swells in my chest as she gives me a wide smile and leans into my embrace again.

And then, in a split second, all the happiness is gone when I see Vlad walk up to the building with a scowl on his face.

“Needles,” I call out even though my eyes are on the door. “You wanna take the girls out back for a second?”

Maddy’s forehead pinches and she looks at me like I owe her an explanation. But she sees where I’m looking and turns in my arms.

“Just head out back, baby.” I plant a kiss on her nose. I’m trying to keep it casual and not let on to the fact I’m pissed he’s here. I don’t want her around this shit. And I don’t want him to ever lay eyes on her. But it’s too late.

Vlad bangs on the door with his fist. Since the shop is closed, the door is locked. He fucking knows that.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” I say and give Maddy a smile as she looks at Katie, and then to Needles. She looks uneasy, and I know I need to settle her down some.

“It’s just business.” That’s not enough to get the nervous look off her face though. Vlad’s a scary ass looking dude. “I promise after this I won’t be working any more tonight.” I speak with a relaxed, easy voice as Needles starts walking them back.

“Let me show you guys the equipment I have in my trunk.” Both women stop dead in their tracks, and I shake my head on the way to the door. Dude has no fucking game.

“I mean, my stereo system,” he says.

Katie cracks up and asks, “What year is this?” She’s joking, but Needles doesn’t laugh. He knows how serious this shit is.

I walk to the door and pull out my key, listening as they open and shut the back door. I open the door wide and move to the side to let him in. “Vlad, nice to see you.” It isn’t really, but what else are you gonna tell the mob boss?

I’ve never liked Vlad or the shit he does. If it wasn’t for Nikolai, I’d never feel comfortable enough to stay anywhere around these fuckers.

When the head of the mob is a cold-blooded killer with a taste for women way too close to being underage, it’s hard to feel safe. He’s backstabbed more than a few people. But I’ve always felt like I was on the inside. I guess that’s only because I know Nikolai would give me a heads-up. He said if you don’t know who’s on the hit list, then it’s ’cause your ass is close to being on it.

Every move Vlad makes is calculated. I’ve never given him a reason to even think about me. I stay out of his way and just let them take over the books for their laundering.

“You throwing a fucking party in here?” Vlad sneers. His cruel blue eyes stare back at me. He’s a tall blond man with combed-over, thinning hair.

“I’m just showing a couple of friends the place is all.”

Vlad’s glare says it all. His eyes seem to say, ‘What the fuck is the matter with you?’

“Get those bitches the fuck out of here. Now.”

Everything in my body screams at me to tell Vlad to go fuck himself, and I would, if I didn’t think he would do something to harm one of the girls in retaliation.

“Okay boss.” I turn my back on him and go right to the back. At least he doesn’t follow me back here. I don’t need him around either Katie or Maddy.

“You guys have to go,” I say as soon as the door shuts behind me. Katie’s leaning into the trunk of Needles’ car messing with one of the speakers.

“Why?” Maddy asks; she’s got concern written all over her face.

“We were having so much fun,” Katie whines in protest.

“Just take my car and head back home.”

Maddy looks like she’s going to argue as I pull her a few feet down the street to where I parked. I need to make sure she doesn’t. When it comes to Vlad and all this shit, I need to make sure she listens to me.

“It’s just business, peaches.” I open the door to my car and hand her the keys. “I’ll be back as soon as this meeting is over.”

It hurts to see Maddy’s unanswered questions in her eyes. She wants to know what’s going on. But I can’t tell her. No fucking way.

I can see her starting to question everything, and I fucking hate it. I wanna tell her. I want to make sure she trusts me. But I can’t. The more she knows, the worse it’ll be for her. That, and she’ll leave my ass.

“I shouldn’t have brought you here with the chance of my old partner coming by,” I tell her. It’s a mix of white lies. It’s true that I didn’t know he was showing up tonight. But “old partner”… well that’s just a flat-out lie.

But it does the trick. Her lips purse and her shoulders relax some. “So you’re just settling old business?” she asks with her arms crossed, and the keys tapping against her forearm.

“Yup. And it’ll be over with soon. So I’ll be right behind you.” That part’s true. At least it better be.

This is my shop and if I want my girl here, she can come here. I just need to make sure I keep her ass away when business is going down.