Page 39 of The Mafia's Captive

“Don’t wonder about things that don’t concern you,” Rob replied. “Do your job. You don’t know what she means to him.”

“She’s just another fuck hole. I heard the boss say as much. Anyway, he has other fuck holes all over town. She can’t be that special. He even visited one after the party.” I wanted to punch him for referring to women as holes, but I was held back by what his statement revealed. Dante had another woman? A mistress? A girlfriend? I didn’t know what to do with that since I assumed I was the only one, but why would I think that? I didn’t even qualify as the one. As Bruno said, I’m just a hole. That didn’t mean it didn’t affect me, though. I felt jealous of this other woman. Did he go on his business trip with her this time instead of me? Did he even go on a business trip? Why do I care?

It’s day eight now, the day he’s supposed to be back, and I am now wishing he was here. I even contemplate calling him, but I’m saved from humiliating myself at the last minute by Jesse, who calls and asks to come up. ‘I want to see where you’re staying,’ she says. I invite her over. What’s the harm in it, anyway? After all, I’m in dire need of a friend.

A few minutes later, I hear a knock on the door. It’s Jesse. I usher her inside. As soon as we enter the living room, she exclaims, “Wow! Holy shit! No wonder you don’t want to go back to our old apartment. I would stay here forever if I were you.” She wanders towards the window view of the city. The same one Dante plastered me against as he fucked me senseless. “I can see the entire town from here!” she says, looking out.

“There’s a French door over there, if you want to go to the balcony,” I say as I stride over to it and open it. She follows me outside and we leave Bruno and Rob who have been basically us ever since we came in and were now sitting on the sofas. “You should see it at night,” I add.

“No wonder you didn’t speak to me for an entire week. You probably didn’t want to be reminded of our sad existence.”

“Come on, you know that’s not why. I told you I was in Rio.” I was in Rio for only two days maximum, but going there provided me with enough cover to say I was there the entire time he had me cooped up in here.

“That must have been something.”

Oh, it was something alright. I want to tell her so much. I want to tell her everything, but I’m afraid if she knows, or even gets a glimpse of what is happening, Dante won’t hesitate to get rid of her. I doubt she has the same protection I have that’s holding back Dante from offing me. “It was okay.”

“It was okay? A trip to Rio in a private jet is just okay for you now? I’m so jealous.”

“Don’t be.” If only she knew. “Do you want to see the rest of the house?”

“I am dying to see where the two of you,” she nudges me in the ribs, “you know, get it on.”

I give her a tour of the rest of the place. First, I show her the gym which I’ve seen Dante use twice since I woke up earlier than him. I move past my bedroom. I’m not ready to explain that yet, and we enter the master bedroom. It’s my first time being here, and I feel like a kid sneaking into a place where she’s not supposed to be. The large bed at the center is covered in coal gray, silky, sensual bedding. Like the rest of the house, it’s decorated in black and accents of white. There’s a glass door, which I assume is the closet. I open it and it actually leads to a bathroom suite on one side and a closet on the other.

Jesse walks over to the black marble tub at one end of the bathroom. On the other end is a shower big enough to fit two people. “That is probably the biggest hot tub I’ve ever seen.” She jumps into the tub and sits. “I can swim in here! Corina! How did you do it?”

I know what she’s asking. How did I nab him, she means? “He asked me out, and that was it.”

“After poker night?”

I nod. It was practically the truth.

“I sensed it, you know. He’s always looking at you.”

“Is he? I doubt that.”

“Oh, I know for a fact he’s had a thing for you for at least a while now.” Highly unlikely, I think to myself. Dante was probably wondering whether I was the spy he was looking for. “Looking back at it now. I should have known.”

“Known what?” She looks like she’s said something she shouldn’t have said. But she gathers herself quickly. “Let’s go to the closet!” she scrambles out of the tub and rushes out of the bathroom. “I want to see all the clothes he bought for you.” I don’t have the time to stop her. She’s already opening and closing drawers. Each time encountering his clothes.

“Where are your things?”

Before I can reply, we’re interrupted by Rob. He looks a little apologetic. “I didn’t know you were here.” He leans in my ear and whispers, “You’re not supposed to be in the boss’s bedroom when he’s not around, according to his orders.”

“Right. Thanks for that.” Behind him, I see Bruno looking a little more aggressive than Rob. Fuck. I hope I don’t get into trouble when Dante comes back. With that in mind, I take Jesse’s hand and lead her out of the closet. “I have my room,” I explain to her.

“Oh.”

Bruno glares at us as we pass by him. He barely gives us space to pass through as he is filling the doorway. “Excuse me, what’s your problem?” Jesse says as we squeeze past him.

“It’s fine,” I say, glancing at Bruno. He looks like he has barely suppressed contempt. I fucking miss Colin already. At least he was a block of zero emotion. “Please don’t antagonize them.”

“Why not?” Jesse looks up at Bruno, challenging him. “they’re your bodyguards, right? They should do what you want them to do, not the other way round.” I hear Bruno scoff, and I almost want to cringe.

“Come on Jess, you wanted to see my clothes, didn’t you?” Jesse is giving him dagger eyes and I have to nudge her forward for her to walk.

“You should show them who’s boss, you know,” she says as we enter the hallway. “You’re his woman. They should respect that.” I almost laugh. He is probably with his real woman now and Bruno knows. “It’s okay,” I reply.

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