Maid for the Mafia by Jaylee

The Center of the Universe

**ROMANY**

Stella stiffened and her eyes glazed over. Her tears stopped falling as her face and neck splotched with red. I wasn't sure if she was angry or afraid until her body started shaking. Afraid. Definitely afraid. *Who the fuck is this guy, Santos?* "Santos?" Stella repeated, her voice a scratch above a whisper.

Alex flashed her a full toothed grin, which oddly enough, was the biggest smile I've seen on him yet. "The one and only. Tell me, Stella, who came first? Was it me or was it him?"

Stella closed her eyes, shaking her head like she was about to deny everything.

Alex leapt onto his feet, taking the gun with him as he stepped around the tarp. Circling her slowly, his shoes clacked rhythmically on the wooden floor, like the ticking of an old clock. "There is no wrong answer, Stella. I simply want to know. It's not like I need you to admit you've been dealing with him. I already have proof of that, so you can either answer my question now, or you can answer it after I shoot you in the foot. Although, I'm getting a bit dizzy waiting for my answer, and might just have terrible aim by the time you finally spit it out."

"You," she whispered, clearing her throat and sucking in a shuddering breath. "You came first."

Alex laughed, stopping behind her as he said, "How long, Stella? How long have you been a goddamned traitor?"

Stella shook her head adamantly, and nearly shouted, "I-I'm not a traitor! I just-"

"Do not fucking lie to me!" Alex screamed and the ferocity in his features had me flinch.

He looked like a demon when he screamed like that. Like an actual monster, just as they portray him to be in the news.

him anything about y-you or your business! I swear to God! I

hissed, coming around to the front of her and pointing his

is

to tremble. "P-please

me for yourself - none of that will help you. First, because nothing you do could ever hurt me. You simply don't have that kind of power. And last, you were never going to

*POP!*

screams wrenched the air.

One of them mine.

the most warranted. In fact, she was still screaming, because her right shoe had splintered across the room and there was now a pile of mangled flesh where her foot

Alex had just shot her in the foot and I *was not* expecting that. Nor was I going to sit here and watch it. He *shot* her! He was just *fucking* her *yesterday*! Reeling back, I tried to jump out of my chair

me now?" Alex asked calmly, while scraping something, that I

body shivering

was sure of and this whole charade, whatever it was for, was disgusting to me. I didn't like her, not at all. But I didn't want *this* for her. She didn't deserve this just for falling

what? Yes you

set her up! I did it! Yes!" she began sobbing.

off of me, I snapped, "I don't care what she tried to do to me Alex! She doesn't deserve this!" I stomped toward the wheelchair, taking the handles in my hands and ignoring all the incredulous looks I was getting from the men in the room. "What the fuck is she doing?" Alex asked

and that's

"I'm right fucking here! Stop talking about

ask the woman to sit the fuck down so I can complete my business and go on with my