Maid for the Mafia by Jaylee

No Matter What

**ROMANY**

I was rereading my response to Santos' text when a soft knock sounded on the suite door behind me and I heard the door open. Hastily, I put my phone away, expecting to see Alex standing there with murder in his eyes, but it's not him. It's Damien.. However, he wears the promise of murder just as easily as Alex does as he locks the door before he stalks toward me.

"Did you have a good time," he asked with a dark chuckle, his navy blue eyes falling over me in an intense perusal.

"I did as a matter of fact," I said defensively, backing into the couch and tumbling onto my ass. "It was a nice change of scenery." "Scenery?" His perfect lips lift in a half-sneer as he studies me, eyes catching on my neck. "Is that all you did out there? Enjoy the scenery?" Adjusting my hair self-consciously, I tried to cover the hickies I knew darkened my throat and shoulders. "Does it matter?" I quipped, annoyed.

Damien shook his head, leaning forward and placing his hands on the back of the couch and trapping my face between his arms as he glowered at me. "Ruby really had no idea about her baby cousin, did she? She really thought you were completely innocent. A fucking little angel that she needed to protect. She was just as blind as I have been."

*Fuck you asshole!* How dare he bring up Ruby to me?! Especially when he thinks she's dead! I open my mouth to give him a piece of my mind and stop when I catch a big whiff of the air that surrounds him. The smell of alcohol was wafting off him like cologne and I gasped. *I don't think I've ever seen Damien drunk before.*

"You've been drinking," I snapped, my eyes narrowing.

"So what? I got tired of thinking about all the different objects Mickey probably had you bent over before he sent you home without him," he growled, grabbing my hair away from my neck and then glaring at the offensive skin beneath. "I see he left his signature all over you. Finally got what he wanted, I guess. Fucking hell. How many are there?"

I smack his hand away. "Fuck you."

He chuckles, snagging my chin. "Apparently not. It seems I'm the only one though."

"Leave me alone," I hissed, turning away from him to glare out the balcony windows. "I'm busy."

"Busy? You mean someone else is already lined up ahead of me? How could that be? You just got here. It can't be time to open your legs already."

I'm reminded of how he treats me whenever he's jealous. I

shakes his head. "Suck my dick first. Then

its own, cracking

look apologetic. He stood back from me with sadness in his eyes, clamping them shut as he worked to steady his breath. He was panting. His perfectly sculpted chest flexing beneath his tight black shirt. "I guess I deserved that," he grumbled, opening his eyes to study me. "Ruby wanted you uncorrupted. She was afraid Alex would change you. I wanted to stop him, but I guess I just didn't try hard enough. I should have paid more attention.

I should have reported Matthew back when I had a chance. Maybe I would have stayed in school. Maybe I never would have come here. This is my fault for being a chicken. A doormat for everyone to stomp on. If

Damien whispered. "Your ex?

blinking them back. "He kept me as a shell of myself for too long. Now, it's like I'm free

you could go back to school?" Damien asked. "What if there was a way to clear your name

the gossip flying around about me. Sure, some people might believe the truth, but most people are happiest when

could never not want you Dreamboat.* "Of course I want you. I just need some time to figure things out. I'm not ready to devote myself to anyone else but me right now," I answered,

wanted me to take you down to his office, but take a few

shoving him out the door

a threat to you. Alex and I made sure of that this morning. You don't need to be afraid of him anymore." *Well Hallelujah! But at this particular moment I couldn't care less

the door behind him. Falling against it and dropping onto the floor, I pull my

ME-

I am willing to do whatever it takes to save my cousin so that would be pointless. However, I'll need proof that she's alive before I agree to meet you. I want to talk

and put my phone away. It's right then that I see my message has been read and Santos begins to

keep flashing then disappearing, flashing then disappearing and I can

RUBY-

speak to her, because if she knows that I'm cutting a deal with you, she'll do whatever she can to fuck

I don't even hesitate.