The Mafia Contract Series

I feel so empty. It’s as if I’m numb inside and as Baron leads me to the kitchen, I follow him without really registering what’s happening.

He hands me a cool glass of water and, unlike Ivan, smiles softly.

“That was a hard scene to witness.”

“It was.” I sigh and lean against the counter. “They didn’t deserve it.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes.”

I shake my head. “They’re just mean girls, that’s all. Every school has them and probably always will. There are always bullies and Angelo just proved he’s the biggest one around because that was wicked.”

“Your brother was looking out for you.”

“No, he just thinks he was.”

I say sadly, “Angelo is the biggest bully of all. They all are because they get what they want by fear and intimidation rather than kindness. It’s always been the same and I hate it.”

“What would you have done in their position?”

“I don’t know. Probably nothing. I’m guessing the right thing to do would be to report them and let the school deal with it through the right channels, but we both know that wouldn’t solve the problem.”

“Then you have your answer.”

“Not really.” I look at him with interest.

“What would you have done?”

He shrugs. “The same as Angelo, probably. You see, Winter, I don’t have a sister; in fact, I don’t have much of a family so I can’t imagine what that feels like. But I do have friends who I would kill for. A kind of family of my own and so I understand a little. If one of them was threatened or upset in any way, I would do whatever it takes to remove the problem. As hard as it was, Angelo has taken away any power those girls thought they had. Their hair will grow again, but the memory will never fade and every student in the school will be laughing about this tomorrow.”

“It’s just …”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Cruel. Sometimes it’s needed. Just think of how many other students your brother has saved from humiliation. Girls that don’t deserve the attention of those bullies. He has ended the reign of one of them, and I’m guessing many would thank him for that.”

“I guess.” I say sighing. “I don’t have to enjoy it, though.”

Baron smiles and I kind of like the softer edge of my brother’s friend and look at him with interest. “We have a lot in common, Baron.”

“Maybe we do.”

He pushes the cap off a beer and looks at me with curiosity. “Angelo tells me your life has been mapped out for you. How do you feel about that?”

“Like my life is over already.”

The tears burn as I think about my future outside this house and Baron reaches across and lifts my face to his, and I’m surprised at the storm in his eyes.

“Listen to me, Winter, because I will only say this once. You are the boss of your own life, and you make the decisions in the end. Others may set you on one path, but how you walk it is up to you. Be smart, take it all in, learn how to survive and always look for their weakness because there always is one. Then use that to your advantage to get what you want.”

“I doubt that’s an option for me, Baron. It would be like a mouse taking on a lion.”

“The element of surprise is a powerful weapon, and I’m guessing you can learn to wield it where it will do the most damage. You are strong inside, and that counts for a lot.”

I stare at him with a small spark of hope burning deep inside and he steps forward and whispers, “You are not alone. Your brother was right, family counts for everything and you have a powerful one. Then there’s me.”

“You?”

He nods, reaching up and stroking my face gently as he stares deep into my eyes. “You have me too. If it gets too much, come and find me. I don’t live that far as it happens, and you may need a break from the madness on occasion. You’re welcome to hang out with us anytime, no strings attached and just as friends.”

His kindness undoes me in a way I’m not used to, and I hate the tears that show my weakness as they spill down my face. As he sweetly wipes them away, he says firmly, “Be strong, Winter and bide your time because you will have your day.”

The door bangs open, and we turn to see Alessandro watching us with an angry look on his face and Baron laughs softly. “It appears that all the best parties end up in the kitchen, and I’m guessing this one is about to get even wilder.”

As the room fills with students desperate to grab drinks, I stare at Alessandro with interest. The fact he looks heated, angry even makes me smile inside because now I see inside his soul. As he walks toward the cooler, his eyes don’t leave me for a second and Baron whispers almost to himself, “Interesting.”

I don’t react because I can’t tear my eyes away from the only man who has caught my attention this way. In a different life, I would be interested to see how far this could go with him, but we both know that isn’t an option for me. I can look but never touch and that’s part of the appeal, I suppose.

He reaches us and tears his eyes from mine and stares broodingly at Baron, who smirks. “You ok?”

Grabbing a can from the cooler, he opens it and chugs it down in one, before squeezing it tight and chucking it into the trash. “I’m always good.”

Then he turns and walks away and Baron laughs. “He’s got it bad.”

“Got what? A drink problem?”

I laugh but we both know what he meant by that and I kind of like how that makes me feel. As if there’s something here for me after all. That someone likes me outside of what I can do for them. Someone like Alessandro; someone I can never have.

Sighing, I smile at Baron. “Thanks. It was good to talk.”

“Anytime.”

He says with interest, “What happens now?”

“I rescue my friend.”

He laughs out loud. “Good luck with that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I doubt your friend will thank you for it.”

“Then you don’t know Emma.”

I feel bad that I’ve left her even for a second, especially with Flynn hanging around with his wicked looks and dark intent.

“Come on.” I roll my eyes. “I should save her, in any case.”

The trouble is, when I head back into the room, Emma is nowhere to be seen.