Maid for the Mafia

**ROMANY**

I spun around, crushing the uniform to my chest. "No. I won't."

He glared at me from the bed, his eyelids lowering as he slowly pushed off his elbows. The heat in his gaze seemed to sizzle into mine as we stared at one another. Each of us too stubborn to look away. The longer we remained that way, the weaker I began to feel. My knees felt like jelly, my palms began to sweat. I could hear myself breathing too loudy and my heart was pounding so heavily that my chest seemed to quake. His jaw grew tighter and tighter, his body tensing in fluid progression from one muscle to the next. I couldn't take much more of it, so I dropped my eyes. Submitting to his stare, but not to his will. I *would not* be changing in front of him. I wasn't here to be his whore, I was here to be his maid. *Right?*

He stood up slowly, never once looking away from me. I kept my gaze locked on his feet and the uniform clutched to my chest as I worked to control my breathing. He spoke in a dark, controlled voice. "Nicely done, Miss Dubois. I'm proud of you. I have to admit, I thought for certain you were going to do it." My head whipped up as I realized he had only been testing me, anger boiled behind my eyes. *Son-of-a-bitch.* He chuckled, his green eyes going almost black as his lips lifted in a half smile. "I will see you in the morning. Breakfast is served dowstairs by nine a.m. everyday. It will also be cleared by ten. So if you're any later than that, you won't eat until lunch. Goodnight."

He stepped away from me, out of the bedroom and into the sitting room. He tossed one last look my way before he left the room, "Make sure and lock up. Keep the monsters out," he said with a wink. Then, he closed the door. Releasing a sigh of relief I dropped the uniform onto the bed and raced into the sitting room to do exactly what he said. Lock the damn door.

"Shit," I hissed, resting my head against the cool wood for a moment while I grounded myself.

*At least I'm somewhere safe and not on the street in front of Matthew's apartment crying my eyes out the way I was this afternoon.* Small favors.

Pushing off of the wall, spun toward my new bedroom to grab my luggage and a nighgown. Stepping into the private bathroom, I flipped on the light switch and allowed myself a slow satisified smile. The bathroom was ridiculous. Giant tub, huge shower. A girl could get lost in here for good. "And all I have to do is play the mute little maid during his meetings?" I snickered. "There just has to be a catch."

But at that moment, I had no idea what catch that might be, so I let out a happy little squeal and disappeared into the bath for long midnight soak. By the time I was finished, I was ready to pass out. I scrubbed my skin for an hour. Trying like hell to wash away any and every trace of Matthew that remained. Unfortunately, I couldn't get rid of the horrible purple hickies he left all over my breasts and shoulders, but they would fade. Eventually. For now they could serve as my penance for being so damn stupid and allowing him to ruin my life.

"Fuck you Matthew," I said to my reflection, cutting the lights off before falling beneath the downy softness of my new bed. "Good riddance."

But still... I cried.

**ALEX**

"What time will you be here tomorrow?'

"I might get in a little early. Ruby called, asked me for a favor."

I chuckled to myself, knowing full well what that favor probably was. She was worried about her baby cousin. To be honest, so was I. Not about her welfare, no. I could keep her safe. More so about having such an innocent prize wandering about the halls of my mansion. What trouble might she get into here? Which of my men might present a problem?

Ruby was afraid that I might damage her. That I might take her to my bed on her very first night here. Well, she needn't be alarmed about that. The girl is not my type. Not even a little bit. The rumpled clothing, the baggy pants - not my cup of tea. I mean, sure, there's always the chance that her clothing is hiding the woman she longs to be, but it's not likely.

However, there is something behind those magnetically teal eyes. Something about them that calls to the darkness in me. I'm not even sure what it is. When she touched me, out on the stairs, I felt it. A thrumming in my blood like there was more to that girl than she was letting on. The same thing happened when I heard her speak back at the club. It was in her voice. Something soft and rich, like velvet. It had an almost musical quality to it.

A voice like that could stir any man's blood.

*Shake it Alex. Come on.*

"What favor is that exactly?" I chuckled into the phone.

"To look out for her cousin, of course."

*Of course.*

"See you tomorrow then." I hung up the phone and stretched out in front of my huge flatscreen television. My suite was just down the hall from my new little ward. Grabbing the remote off of the coffee table, I hit the security button and a crystal clear picture of the little dove's sitting room came into focus.

She left the bedroom door open and I was able to watch her climb into bed wearing a long white nightgown. Prim and proper as ever.

Her hair was lovely. Luxurious, wide curls that fell past her ass and now hung over the side of the bed. I even liked the sliver streak she frosted it with. It was the only hint that she might be hiding something wild deep inside. *Maybe Ruby was right to be afraid of me.*

Because as I sat there and watched her cry, something primal began to burn in my chest.

Something that warned of just how dangerous... her innocence... might be.