Maid for the Mafia by Jaylee

Just in Case

**MICKEY**

Rolling toward Midtown in the back of a Bentley speaks in a way that has shop owners on the main drag stepping outside to glare at the street. The fact that it has probably been a while since Enzo *personally* wandered into his own territory is *not* lost on me. First of all, he's dead, and despite that his family knows it, thanks to the little gift basket Alex and Damien made of him, these locals do not. So, I imagine they think we're him and *he* obviously wasn't very popular among the smaller business owners.

"I'd roll down the window if I knew it was safe," I grumble, glaring back at a thickly muscled youngster on the side of the road, despite that he can't possibly see beyond the black of the glass. "But I think I saw a pitchfork."

"They probably believe we're here to tax them," Alex snickers. "As if we'd bother with such things."

Tilting my head toward my cousin, I say, "Tell me again, what *exactly* the problem is."

He chuckles, "Hookers on strike."

"Hookers?"

"Dancers. Strippers. Same thing."

"It most definitely is *not* the same thing, and your thinking it is - *might* just be the entire problem," I inform, flicking a piece of lint off the seat. "But... I will say this. I've never heard of exotic dancers refusing to dance. Either Enzo was truly special, or the new manager you put in charge is changing things in a way they reject."

"Oh! Do you think? Why thank you, Club Guru, how unfortunate that I didn't bring my notepad and I can't jot all of your fascinating teachings down."

Laughing darkly, my eyebrows hike up. "None of my 'hookers' have ever declined to work."

His head swings my way. "They certainly haven't. Not a one of them."

his words and despite that they slightly anger me, I smile. "Don't get upset with me just because your little attack didn't work the way you wanted it

into professing her love to him with the express purpose of sending me into a flying rage. I already knew as much, but the uncharacteristic way he's allowing his emotions to

claims

know,"

smiles joylessly. "Well how cheap

tell me, but she did *show* me and that is all I'll ever

"How cheap of *you."*

we turn the final corner onto Main Street and the three story onyx building that is the Midtown Club comes

face of your

next chapter is just a click

living Romano heir, but I don't. I'm not going to give him any more of a leg up than he already has just having Romany under contract. Instead, while I read the text I just received from Tiny, I say, "Probably better than you will be once Ruby finally makes it

too quietly

No. He wouldn't. All bullshit aside, Alex and Ruby have spent too many years having each others' backs. There's no way he would jeopardize her rescue. It has to be

know something," I comment,

I would do, if I had one of our

aware that the Bentley has just pulled into the garage that leads under the club. "So

me. "Either that or... my

snort. "You're wrong about that.

be... given the right motivation. And I have a hunch that she'll do whatever she needs

he doesn't