Page 10 of The Mafia's Captive

“It’s kinda embarrassing.” I can smell her bullshit a mile away.

“Trust me, my ears are accustomed to hearing embarrassing things.”

“Promise me you won’t laugh.”

“I have no sense of humor.”

“I can tell,” she mutters under her breath. Louder, she says, “There’s a plush I need.”

“Plush?”

“Teddy bear.”

I stop to stare at her. She’s blushing, I notice. She seems genuinely embarrassed as she plays with the bracelet. “A teddy bear?”

She looks away. “Yes. Whenever I feel anxious about things, like,” she waves her hands around, “right now, I find comfort in having my plushy around.”

“I’ll tell Tiny to get your plushy,” I say, and march out in front of her. When I get to the kitchen, I feel a pull on my jacket. I turn to see her big watery doe eyes staring back at me. Fuck. How can I say no to this?

“Please. I tucked it someplace where I’m sure he wouldn’t find it,” her head droops, “It’s kinda a secret of mine.”

I want to say no. I want to tell her to fuck off and forget about her plushy, but I can’t. If anything, I want to be the one to get that plushy for her. It’s a weird mix of emotion bouncing inside me and surprises me. I say, “Fine. We’ll go get your toy.”

She smiles and then it falters. “We?”

“Yes. Tiny has shit to do, and I’m free this morning.”

Her smile comes back again, but it’s weary. “Great.”

We enter the kitchen, and I introduce her to Vera. She gives me a cryptic look as she gives me my breakfast. A look which I don’t have time to decode. I’m too busy trying to parse Corina’s earlier conversation and whether I’m walking into a trap. It’s odd for an adult human being to be attached to a toy, but it’s not nothing I’ve never heard of. I look up from my breakfast when I hear her moan and say, “Holy shit, these are some good pancakes.” Her eyes are closed as she chews in a state of ecstasy. I almost feel jealous of the pancakes and Vera, wishing I’m the one bringing out this kind of reaction.

Vera seems to appreciate it and says, “Thank you. It’s not every day that I get someone who likes my cooking.”

“I like it,” I hear Rob say.

She slaps him. “Not nearly enough.” To Corina she says, “If you want more there’s some over here.”

Corina smiles and nods. I wonder if Vera would be as friendly if she knew who Corina is and why she is here. I have a feeling she would make those pancakes with a huge dose of sand instead of flour.

Ignoring the entire situation and my conflicting feelings that are souring my breakfast, I make quick work of it. After I’m done, I wipe my mouth and stand up. Colin and Rob note the cue and straighten. “Are you done?” I say to Corina. “We need to go.”

She looks like she's about to throw a retort, but stuffs the rest of her food and chugs it down with juice. Vera is looking at me like I’ve committed some grave sin while Colin and Rob are already making their way out.

“Let me go get my keys.”

“Really?”

“How do you expect me to get in? Or do you want me to ask Tiny?”

“Be quick.” Instead of rushing, she struts back to her room, deliberately meant to antagonize me. When she had gone, Vera says, “Your new girlfriend is lovely.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Oh. Who is she?”

“A liability and an asset.”

“That explains a lot. Here I was thinking you’ve finally found someone you would want sleeping over.”

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