Page 31 of The Mafia's Vendetta

He grinned.“I know.”

She frowned but didn’t say anything.

“Get in bed, and I’ll be right there.”

“We’re not going to … you know … have sex, right?”

“Not if you want to wait.”

“It’s just that we only met a few days ago,” she reminded him.

“I won’t push it, but I can’t guarantee I’ll not touch you as much as I can.”

She kept her mouth shut.It was too hard to stand a few feet from him with his shirt off and her half-naked.

He turned and walked into the bathroom.She exhaled when the door closed.Nala quickly got into bed, pulled the blanket up to her chin, and turned away from the bathroom.The bed was the best one she’d ever slept in.Growing up, she’d slept on mattresses that were old and stained in most places she had to live.When she was with Clayton, he made her sleep on the floor on a dog bed every night.She’d never known what it was like to be pampered.It was hard to adjust to this kind of lifestyle, but she guessed it wouldn’t take her long to get used to it.A thought that kept popping into her mind was when Drew got sick of her, she’d be out on her own, fighting every day to survive again.

Nala told herself a few times that she shouldn’t get used to being there with him because it would make it harder for her to adapt back to the real world.

Her body relaxed into the mattress, and she could feel herself start to fall asleep when the bathroom door opened, and she could hear Drew’s footsteps around the room.The lights went off, and then the bed dipped down behind her.One of his arms wrapped around her waist and slid her over and against his chest.

His lips touched the back of her head.“Good night, Sweetheart.”

“Good night.”

Nala thought she’d fall asleep quickly, but the heat and the scent of his body were making her own stiffen, and an arrow of heat raced through her.She relaxed a bit when she heard his breathing even out and deepen.Now, all she had to do was concentrate on relaxing enough so her body would fall asleep.It took a long time, and she was starting to think she’d never fall asleep.She thought about making a bed on the floor but knew he wouldn’t be happy.

She thought about the lovely garden in the back and a pool that could be on a magazine cover.It was so great.She had relaxed with Sara, and they talked about everything.They connected right away.It was the first time she’d had a girlfriend in more years than she could remember.

It had to have been junior high, but it didn’t last because they sent her to another home in a different part of the city.She never talked to the girl again.Since then, she hadn’t ever tried to build a friendship with anyone.It wasn’t worth the heartbreak when she had to leave, and she always would.

It was amazing how a person could get used to that type of lifestyle.It wasn’t so bad when she’d been with Clayton.He made sure she thought of nothing but him.She had taken several chances to run from him over the years, but he always caught her, and she had paid for it.

This last time, when she had succeeded in getting away, had been extremely hard.For months, she’d steal whatever money she found around.The time and day she’d decided to go was good because Clayton was supposed to be out all evening.She had made sure one of the windows on the side of the house was unlocked, and a piece of gum kept the alarm from going off.She’d dressed in the clothing she found, and fortunately, he had kept her shoes.He’d always kept her naked or with what looked like sackcloth.The fabric had been hard on her skin, especially after he whipped her.

Nala had to dig deep for the strength and courage it took.She had wanted more money, but the situation was too good to pass up.Clayton didn’t go out a lot, so this was it.She got down the back stairs that the maids used and into a back room he never used.She was careful about lifting the window and then sliding out.She was able to close it just enough that men outside guarding the estate would not know it had been opened until someone checked inside.

One of the kitchen maids always left about that time, and she’d watched her for a few weeks to see what vehicle she had so she could go right to it.She had to make sure she got into the trunk before she came out.

Nala planned to use a piece of rope she’d found to keep the trunk lid down.She didn’t want to get stuck in the trunk of her car.She’d be able to lift it and get out after the girl walked away.She didn’t want the girl to get in trouble, or she might just tell on her.

This was her last chance.She knew Clayton wouldn’t let her live after that.

Chapter Sixteen

Drew walked to where a few of his cousins stood, looking out at the pool area at the Maclean mansion.“What are you doing?”

“Come look, and you’ll see,” Blake said.

It took him a moment to understand he was looking at all the wives or girlfriends in the pool.The thing that got him was they were all in bikinis.

“Holy fuck,” Drew said.

Duncan snorted.“Boys have wet dreams about this kind of shit.”

Drew laughed.He spotted Nala walking out of the shallow part of the pool.She wasn’t to go near the deep end unless he was with her or someone else.

She had on a purple suit that barely covered her breasts.He knew she was self-conscious about the scars and wondered if she’d told the girls anything.A drop of sweat slid down his spine.There was no way he’d be able to keep his hands off her another night.

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