Page 60 of Pregnant By the Mafia Boss

There’s a knock on the door. A man looking similar to Luca but younger bursts in. “We got trouble on the floor.” The newcomer glances at me. “Interrupting something?”

“Do not move,” Luca says to me. “We have much to discuss.”

He gets to his feet, walking out, pulling the door closed behind him.

I don’t hesitate. I grab five hundred from the pile, not even making a dent on the vast collection of banknotes. Then I run over to the window and climb straight through.

Once I’m out, I sprint to the end of the alley, only slowing down when I step out into the street. I walk slowly away from the scene, my heart rate slowly returning to normal.

I dig out my cellphone as I reach the next corner, calling Jane to give her the good news.

“Hey,” I say as soon as she answers. “I got it.”

“You’re kidding me.” She sounds on the verge of tears. “Seriously?”

“In my hand right now.”

“Oh my God, Selina.” She starts sobbing. I can hear yelling in the background. “He’s coming,” she adds in a panicky voice.

“Tell him I got the money. I’m bringing it over now.”

“I don’t know what I did to deserve a friend like you.”

“We look after each other. Simple as that.”

“You’ve saved my life. You know that, right?”

“You’ll be free soon. Get to go look for that happily-ever-after of yours. Go find your Prince Charming.”

The phone crackles and then her pimp’s hideous scratchy voice comes on the line. “Who the fuck is this and why are you talking to my girl?”

“I’ve got your money, Demitri. I’m on my way.”

“Well, lookie here. Selina comes through. First time for everything. When you going to come join my books? Ass like yours, you could make us both a real fortune. Not like this washed up ho blubbering here and whining about putting out.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes. Leave her be.”

“Nah. I’ve got the boys coming soon for a Medal of Honor sess. You bring it over tomorrow morning. Not too early though. You hear me? I sleep in.”

“I want this over. I’m bringing it now.”

“You bring it now and I’ll whup both your asses. I’m doing you a favor with this deal. You come tomorrow or the sale’s off. You hear me?”

“Please,” Jane says in the background. “I’ll be fine. One more night. That’s all.”

One more night. Jane can survive one more night with that asshole. She’s had two years while we worked out how to get her away from him.

It wasn’t always like this. He went from boyfriend to pimp so subtly, she never saw it coming until it was too late.

Now she’s stuck with him unless someone pays to set her free. Told me five hundred would do it. Gave me twenty-four hours to find it. I moved fast. Had to.

Her last beating was the worst yet. There won’t be many more before she’s no hope of getting out of there alive.

But I got the money at last. As long as my parents don’t steal it from me. I just need to keep it hidden from them when I get back. Put it under the loose floorboard they don’t know about. Along with my escape stash.

Keep it safe until the morning. Then Jane will be free. I’ll still be a thief living with two junkie parents but she’ll be able to escape. Start again somewhere new.

I’ll give her the sixty three dollars I’ve been able to hide over the last couple of weeks alongside the five hundred. Enough for a ticket out of town.

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