The Mafia Killer’s Wife by Rosa Milano

Twenty-Six

Ethan

Ipull the trigger and Benito goes down. It's always like that. Death isn't like the movies. It's over in an instant, especially when it's me doing the shooting. Benito, thorn in my side for years. Dead.

Blood has caught the side of Mandy's head and she's staggering, but it's shock, not pain. My ears ring at the noise of the shot.

I cross to make sure Benito is dead. I plant another one in his skull to be sure but his brain's are already splattered. He's not getting up again. Ever.

"You shot him," Amanda says, sounding dazed. "You killed him."

"You have a problem?" I ask her.

She looks at me and then at Benito's corpse. She shakes her head slowly. "What if you'd missed?"

"I never miss."

She puts a hand to her cheek, wiping blood away. "Did you get me?"

"You're fine." I take her hand and lead her out of the study. My cellphone pings in my pocket. I glance at it. The alarm's been triggered. Tony the wire is back over the wall. He won't get far. He's heading for the forest and that's the wrong way. Three hundred miles of trees before he hits the nearest ranch. My traps dotted throughout. He's a dead man already. He just doesn't know it yet.

I should make sure. I never leave things to chance. But I can't leave her. I'm walking out of the study when Iris and Albie appear at the end of the corridor. "What happened?" Iris asks. "I was out walking Fitz when I heard gunshots."

"Woke me up," Albie adds, rubbing his eyes. "You firing off at targets again, Ethan?"

"Call Denzil," I tell him. "When he's done at the penthouse, there's a package here for him to collect."

"A package?" Amanda says, still sounding dazed. "Is that what he is now? A package?"

I keep hold of her hand. She follows passively enough. It's always like this. The bystanders are always easy to manipulate if you need to do it.

It's the shock. You could get them to dance the cancan if you want straight after a shooting and they'd do it as long as you say it in the right tone of voice.

I take her upstairs and into the nearest bathroom. I walk her over to the shower and only then do I let go of her hand. "Get undressed," I tell her, turning the faucets until steamy water is flowing down toward the drain.

She doesn't do anything. She just stands there. "You killed him," she says. "I can't believe you killed him."

"It was him or me," I reply. "It wasn't going to be me."

She's still not moving. I sigh to myself. I'm going to have to do it. "Arms up," I tell her. She does as I say. I lift her top off over her head, tossing it aside. I doubt she'll want it cleaned. Blood is a pain in the ass to wash out anyway. Better I get rid of it for her.

I reach behind her and undo her bra. She's still just standing there. I don't want to look at her tits but I can't help myself. They are absolutely perfect. The nipples are light pink and begging to be licked. I ignore my animal urges. She needs to get clean. It'll be the first step to processing what just happened. Get some distance between the her in the study and the new her.

Kneeling down, I get her jeans off. She lifts one leg and then the other when I tell her. I leave her panties on for now. Take them off and I'll be hard as rock. Now is not the time for that. "You ready?" I ask her.

She looks at me. "What for?" She's blinking slowly, like she's drunk.

"To have a shower," I reply.

She steps in before I can stop her. Those plain white panties get soaked through immediately as she stands there. She blinks some more, staring back at me as if she's in the process of waking up.

"You ever seen anyone killed before?" I ask.

She shakes her head.

"Listen to me, Amanda. Benito was an absolute piece of shit. I could tell you some stories about the things he's done but there's no real need. Just believe me when I tell you he's going straight down to hell without stopping for coffee on the way."

"Are you telling me I should feel happy he's dead?"

"You can feel whatever you want to feel. Just know that I know for a fact that if I didn't turn up when I did, bad things would have happened to you."

"Really?" There's a note of hope in her voice, like I'm giving her an out from the emotions bubbling up inside her. Fear there too, like she's starting to realize just how much trouble she was in.

"You don't have to feel scared anymore. I promise I will keep you safe."

"You said I'd be safe here, but I wasn't."

I don't tell her about leaving the window open. It's not her fault I didn't warn her.

I make the mistake of glancing down her body. Between her legs, the panties are see through. My cock's hard in an instant. I can't help it. She looks incredible.

"I'll leave you to get clean," I tell her, turning to go.

"Wait," she says, almost panicking when I reach the bathroom door.

"What?" I turn around to face her again.

"Don't go. Please."

I know what'll happen if I stay. Fear and shock do strange things to people. I know exactly what's going to happen if I stay. I'm going to end up in the shower with her.

I should leave. Only a real asshole would stay and take advantage of a vulnerable woman in a situation like this.

I stay.