The Badass Mafia Boss Queen

We all held our breath. I touched the brake again as a reflex even when I shouldn’t. The car did a full circle in the mud and slid, picking up speed in the process. The last thing I remembered was Hollis ordering me to cover my face, which I did without thinking.

Next was a loud bang, swiftly followed by the screeching of wood against metal and shattering glass. The car engine ticked, before everything went silent. The sound of the rain became the only audible sound.

“Uhm, are you hurt? Hollis’s voice broke the almost absolute silence.

“No,” I answered from behind my hands.

“Let’s see.” He tugged my hands away and turned my face to him. When my eyes flicked open, he started laughing. “You just crashed a three-million-dollar car.”

In the back, Rocco was giggling too, weird men. Rocco was covered with scanty traces of broken glass, mud and tiny leaves from the small back window that had been pierced by the branch of a tree.

Nothing about the scene before us was funny, or fun to me. After trying to push the car out, we all stood in the rain and watched the Lamborghini sink deeper into the mud.

When realization set in, Rocco took out a short-wave radio and called for help. I recognized Nero’s sharp voice on the other end of the radio and my heart sank.

When the rain finally ceased a few minutes later, my mood improved with it. Hollis and I walked the rest of the way home. The road was flooded in parts, and the corners of my sandals were smeared with mud.

At Hollis’s command, Rocco stayed behind, and watched uneasily as the Boss left without armed defense. Help drove by us in the form of a black pickup truck, with Nero and four other guards who were grimly holding onto shovels in the back cab.

After our bit of crazy fun, Hollis was in an excellent mood. “So the car is three million dollars?” I utilized that slight opening to pry.

“Approximately. Shipping fee and other charges.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine. I actually had fun.”

“Three million dollars is a huge sum of money.” I added and he offered a nod. “So you agree?” He turned to me, a quizzical expression clouded his face. “You agree that three million dollars is a huge sum of money.”

“It sure is. So, where’s this conversation headed?”

“I shrugged. “My father was accused of stealing five hundred million dollars at his place of work and was asked to make a refund or face the beat. I offered to speak to his Boss, and you won’t believe what I found. My father’s Boss is a man named Hollis Genovese.” I rendered sarcastically.

“Ugo, stop it. I was clueless as to the best thing to do. What else should I have done in order to get you out of danger? You are stubborn and my options were very limited.”

“Of course they were. You said the Genovese were after my life. But look, they all stood behind you and watched you marry me, against my will.”

“We did nothing without your consent. Don’t make me look like a monster.”

“Like I had any choice.”

“Didn’t you? You could have said no. But you didn’t.” He paused and turned to me. “You wanted to be here as much as I wanted you to be here. Take it or leave it.” He turned and continued walking. I followed suit. “And my family, they didn’t have a choice. It was either they accept us together or end up creating a rift between myself and them.

“So they accepted me because they don’t have a choice?” I pushed on.

Hollis chuckled. “Do you really have to care why they accepted you? This is temporary, remember.”

“Of course… I… remember.” I said, then changed the topic immediately. “Nero doesn’t seem to like me that much.”

“He’s just being overprotective, since he can’t stay mad at Maxine for taking a liking to you and Rocco for warming up to you too.”

I slightly raised my chin and scrunched my forehead. “Am I a threat to you?”

He grimaced and looked at the road ahead. “No, you’re not.” He turned around, extending his hand to help me jump over a large puddle.

Tell me about you, Hollis. I want to know about you. Your favorite color, sports, food. Anything you deem fit to share with someone.”

He drew a deep breath and shook his head. “We’re not doing that.”Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

“Come on… why not. What are you hiding?”

“Nothing.” He smiled.

“Then tell me…. about your exes?” I rephrased.

“I thought you were asking about my favorite color and meal just seconds ago.”

“I changed my mind.”

“I don’t have an ex.” Hollis replied.

“What? That can’t be true. You’re saying you’ve never been in a relationship before?”

He nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m saying”

“But you women that satisfy your needs, yes?” I asked.

A hint of amusement crossed his face. “That’s correct,” He said.

“So you’ve had no emotional attachment to any of these women.”

“No,” Came Hollis’s plain reply.

“That’s… Unbelievably beasty.” I gasped in shock.

The sky chose that moment to explode and buckets of rain came pouring down on us. I hadn’t realized that Hollis and I had stopped in the middle of the road, and that was where we stood, glaring at each other, getting drenched.

“Why?” I asked, still trying so hard to believe him.

“I’m a busy man, Ugo. I’ve never had time to keep up with relationships and the stress that comes with it. I’ve never had to try to please or impress any woman for any reason whatsoever, until you.” He replied.

Ugo felt warmth creep underneath her skin. All he was trying to say was that he has never had to put up with any woman whatsoever. I am the one and only exception, for now at least.

“Thanks for putting up with my troubles.” I told him.

“You don’t give me trouble. I love spending time with you.”