Page 30 of The Mafia's Captive

He grabs a menu that’s on the sitting area table and hands it to me. I scan through it. All the dishes look expensive and most are stuff I’ve never eaten. He fishes out his phone and calls the hotel kitchen.

“What do you want?” he says to me. I’m having a hard time making a choice. “Whatever you’re eating,” I reply.

He utters some French words to, however, is on the other end of the line and cuts the call. A few minutes later, two waiters coming wheeling in servings carts. They put the dishes on the boardroom table and leave but not before receiving hefty tips from Dante.

“Let’s eat,” he says, while walking over to the table.

My stomach can’t ignore the sumptuous dishes in front of me. It rumbles in response. I take my place on the table. The dish is a steak, potatoes, and truffle sauce. It looks good and tastes even better. We eat in silence until halfway through the meal he says, “What’s your relationship with Jesse?”

“Why do you want to know?”

He cuts into his steak and shrugs. “Just curious.”

“If you think she has anything to do with whatever you’re accusing me of, you're way off.”

“I said nothing of the sort.”

“Leave her alone.” My cutlery clutters into the plate. I stare directly at him. “Please. She’s a good person.”

“Interesting.” He slides a piece of steak into his mouth. “You’re more defensive of her than you’re of yourself.”

I notice my hands are flat on the table and I’m leaning towards him. I lean back into my chair. He’s right, but that’s only because I feel like if anything happens to her, it will be my fault. There’s something going on with Jesse and if it has something to do with the casino, I might endanger her. She probably won’t tell me now because of my proximity to Dante, but there’s no way I’m going to betray her.

“So what if I am?”

He smiles, as if he’s caught me in some trap. “Interesting.”

“What about it is interesting.”

“Nothing.”

He’s obviously hiding something. I hope whatever Jesse is into is not anything that will go against Dante. “Please don’t do anything to her.”

“Why is she your accomplice?”

“No. But she’s my friend and I don’t want your wrath to extend to her even if I didn’t spy or steal.”

“Speaking of which. We never discussed how you’re going to pay me back.”

“I thought you were fine with killing me after you’re done toying with me.”

“That option is still on the table.” He cuts into his steak casually, as if he isn’t currently ruining my life. He’s lying. If he wanted to kill me, he would have done it by now. He wants me alive. Why? I don’t know yet and I intend to find out.

“I love keeping my head on top of my shoulders. What do you have in mind?”

“You stole my money. How are you going to repay it?”

I should have known this would be the discussion. “I thought you got it all back when you raided my apartment.”

“Are we going to forget the other two hundred thousand you stole?”

An additional two hundred thousand? What the fuck are you into, Jesse? Whatever the case is, I hope she has a good reason.

“I don’t know how I can repay that much money?”

“You should have thought of that before you stole.”

“You could dock my pay.”

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