Maid for the Mafia by Jaylee

Lead the Way

**ROMANY**

Even as I asked, I knew it wasn't him. Tiny was too gentle. Too soft spoken. And if I wasn't already sure it hadn't been him, his eyes just now would've told me.

He appeared insulted and shocked. "No," he answered gravely. "Absolutely not. I would never take advantage of any woman that way. I..." he trailed off, disappearing into my bedroom and coming back with a blanket to cover me with. I smiled at him as he took the time to tuck the blanket all around me, making sure I was covered from head to toe. "Thanks," I said with a sigh. My head was still cloudy. Images from last night stuck in their - *almost* - state. Coming in flashes, like from an old polaroid camera that snaps pictures you have to wait ten or so minutes to see.

"No problem," Tiny said, pulling up the ottoman to take a seat in front of me. "How much do you* remember?" he asked.

I shook my head, not wanting to see what I was *already* seeing. The older man with the cruel face and the dark demon-like eyes. Alex staring down at me and commanding me to suck him off while some faceless bastard behind me pounded into my core. I *didn't* want the images I was getting. Didn't want* the memory of the pain. Of the... *burning.*

"I was burning," I said softly. "I was so, so thirsty. All I wanted was the water in that glass that Alex wouldn't give me. I kept reaching for it. It felt like, no matter how much I drank, it wasn't enough." I shuddered, the memory of the burning in my flesh causing my stomach to roil. "I don't understand. Why the hell was I feeling that way?"

"You were drugged," Tiny said matter of factly.

Another flash - Stella coming into my room with my dinner! "That *bitch!*" I hissed, wanting now more than ever to go down for breakfast. "It was her! She must have done it! She brought my dinner!" I growled and Tiny nodded.

I thought back to that night that I went swimming. When that bastard guard, Gerald, brought me nothing but wine for my dinner. Then the next day when Stella mentioned how disappointed Santos was that I never tasted the wine. *What did she have planned for me that night, I wonder?*

"Stella drugged me!" I snapped. "I have to tell Alex!" I started to get up, but Tiny stopped me.

"Wait," he said softly. "Just wait. Alex is... he's..."

"He's sleeping off the barrel of whiskey he swam in last night," Mickey's voice sounded from the open bedroom doorway. "I wouldn't expect him to be awake for another couple of hours." I flinched, turning my head to face Mickey as he stepped into the sitting room. "How are you feeling, doll? Better I hope."

"I..." I shivered as Mickey reached out to squeeze my arm. "I need to know what happened last night. I need to let Alex know that Stella drugged me!"

Mickey said, his eyes glazing with fury. "And you better believe

the second time she's done something like that to me.

mean, the second

head. "I don't know for sure. I think she *tried* another time, but I don't have any proof. But she admitted to sending the wine out to me. She said it was from Santos. That Santos wanted me to-" "Santos?!" Mickey hissed, jolting forward. His bright green eyes were dark with calculation as he met Tiny's gaze. "Go and get her

me, his eyes full of concern. My body shuddered again as Mickey scooted closer, the bare muscles of

last night. The fat one with the black eyes. "God," I hissed, battling back the tears that burned behind my eyes. *I will not cry. I will not be their victim.* "What do you know of Santos?" Mickey asked

him, suddenly irritated for no known reason. "I don't know anything about him. I figure he's just another one of the

clenching as a cold smile turned his lips. "Not quite. Is

"No! She just said that he was disappointed that I never tried the wine. That he couldn't wait to meet me or something. I don't completely remember, but I did

eyes narrowed at him, anger erupting inside of me at his question. "Yes! Yes! A

for the first time I

"When did she mention him to you,

realize that Santos was not a guard after all. "We were at breakfast. The morning after that first meeting. Over a week ago." "Check the tapes," Mickey growled. "Do it now.

it," Damien said, disappearing into my bedroom

some reason it made me feel so stupid and so... weak. So, I snapped, "Stop looking at me like that Damien! You're pissing me off!" "Okay," he said waspishly, his voice drenched in anger. "How would you

gotten to him first. One minute Damien was standing in front of me and the next Mickey had him slammed into the wall. "Do not ever let

Mickey off of him. "I'm sorry," Damien hissed,

"Go!" Mickey shouted.

Damien said, throwing me one last apologetic

grumbled, after he

ottoman in front of me. He smiled sadly, clasping his hands together in front of himself. "He didn't mean any of that. He's just... feeling

I inquired, my eyes heating with more tears. "He wasn't... in

emotion. "He was not. Neither

out?" I don't know why I said it, but I did and the look of resentment that Mickey suddenly wore on his face chilled me to