Maid for the Mafia by Jaylee

The Club

**ROMANY**

The red and pink lights of the club pulsed vibrantly from every surface of the nightclub. Flashing and dancing in time with the base of the hard hitting rock ballad remix that blasted through the giant speakers. I was seated in the very back. In the lonesome of a forgotten table watching the sea of sweating ravers as they gyrated across the floor.

My mind was a mess. Had been since that afternoon when my entire fucked up life took a detour out of hell and straight into oblivion. Now I was sitting there, waiting for my cousin Ruby. Hoping that somehow she might be able to shed a little sunshine on the black pit of my existence.

Taking a deep breath, I reached for my Long Island Iced Tea and lifted the straw to my lips, the quick pants of my breath steaming the chilled glass as I drew in a mouthful of barely flavored alcohol. "Shit," I choked out. The bartender at this place obviously knows the value of a drunken dollar. He didn't skip on the sauce at all.

Lifting my eyes toward the dance floor again, I scanned the throng of half naked patrons for my cousin. She said eight o'clock. It's nine. Where in the fuck is she? Pulling out my phone, I text her again.

Me-

Ruby??? Where the hell are you? You said you had my back, but you're nowhere to be found. If you're not here in five minutes, I'm going to leave.

I stared at my phone, already collecting my purse in sad resignation that yet again, someone in my life had let me down, when my phone pinged with a response. Ruby-

Chill out Ro. I'm upstairs in VIP talking to the boss about you. Just give me a sec.

Me-

Talking to your boss about me????? Whyyyyy?!?!?! I already told you I DON'T WANT TO WORK HERE!

Ruby-

Just keep your panties on - or take them

me as

should be the one sitting here trying to drown in cheap ten dollar drinks. Not me! He's the one who insisted that he was in love with me and we should have an affair, despite the code of conduct that clearly forbids it. It was his apartment that he demanded that I move

the one that promised to take the blame if anything about us ever got out, but instead, what did he do? He claimed I seduced him then blackmailed him into continuing the relationship. He got me expelled and the worst part about it is, I went along with it because he asked me to. Just for

a complete fool, I would have fought against it. I might have told my side. But no, Matthew swore he'd take care of me if I only went along with his story. Said he couldn't support me without his job and that he wanted to marry me. Dumb bitch that I am, I believed him. I went along. Signed my fucking life away in the Dean's office that afternoon. Only for

sense than I did. I wish I knew who she was going to be so that I could warn her. So that I could tell her that he's three inches shy of a grown man and that his tongue game is actually the

on the streets like a goddamn beggar. Which brings me to my cousin, who promised to help me out.

My phone pings.

Ruby-

the giant bear man on the balcony that you're with me and he'll

DeMarco? Are you serious???

Ruby-

Just come on! Hurry!

so I know they must be true. She's been working for him for ten years, from the time she was fifteen until now. But if you asked me how she makes her money, I couldn't tell you. I have absolutely no idea what great skill has kept

least, I

can still remember the day she told my uncle to fuck off and skipped town to live her own life. She bounced out that day, found a way to make money, and raised herself all on her own. Ruby's a survivor and as smart as a whip. She is independent and intimidating. Sometimes I wonder how we can even be related, because where she stood strong against adversity, I bent with the wind like a baby tree.

my way across the platform toward the six-foot wide staircase and up toward the glowing red sign that read VIPs Only. My ears were hammered from all the music and my head was starting to ache. The flashing of the lights on the dance floor seemed to burn into my eyes, warping my senses and affecting my balance as I stumbled toward

steady me as I tripped toward the wall on the opposite side. "You want me to call

my head. This must be the bear Ruby was talking about. His wide forehead and mean features contrasted his friendly

black eyes studied me, his eyebrows furrowed as he took in my height and disheveled appearance. "You don't look like you're related to

referring to Ruby's bright red hair. She's been dying it that color since the day she