Maid for the Mafia by Jaylee

A Gift

**SANTOS**

"The package has been deposited and is secure, Santos. ETA for arrival should put us there half an hour before midnight tomorrow," Juarez tells me.

He's standing at my office door, probably looking like a cat that's just had his cream, with his dark beady eyes aimed at the back of my head. I'm sitting behind my desk, my chair turned around to face the unshaded bay windows, but even with my back turned I know what that gremlin is thinking. His misconception is in his belief that I am unaware of what he is planning. He has been one of my men for ten years.

Ten long years of a friendship that has gone from good to over with just the appearance of a single female. A female that *tried* to *kill* me no less!

*Really Tony? Are you sure you want to do this?*

But yes. Yes I am sure. Because although at one time, I was positive that I would *never* ever be one of those males that falls all over himself for the sake of a woman - it has happened. And despite that I have known of the Red Raider for *years* - even *known* I'd more than likely face her one day - I never thought to prepare myself for any more than the task of killing the woman.

to eye on a lot of things, I knew it would be my job one day to end her. My *aunt* still hates me for not taking immediate aggressive action the way she expected. In truth, I was rather impressed with the natural born killer she seemed to represent, but I *knew* that one day it would be up to me to enact vengeance upon her. I just wasn't in any hurry to do it.

for the way I felt the moment I came face to

moment?* It was not only pivotal, but

her on *my* side. Tried to pretend that the strange burning sensation in my chest wasn't any more than a symptom of oncoming heartburn - but in the back of my mind, I *knew* what it was. I *feared* what it was.

of me. A very *different* beast than I was used to concealing. It was the one thing in this world I never thought to allow myself, that this new monster

thought of it as goodbye. Because I was sure that by the time my men were done ravaging her, she would be ready to

to take the light from her eyes. When he sliced off her pants and growled out his

denied it - said that *it wasn't him

that it was *me* that she wanted, it

to fall asleep every night staring into those liquid blue pools of worship, is all that I want. Maybe *that* is what I should have asked her for. Instead of trying to strongarm her into becoming one of *us.* Perhaps then I would have received my coveted answer of *yes, yes Antonio,

Juarez breaks into my thoughts and I finally realize that I've

out. "What the hell