Mafia War by L. Steele

19

Karma

The inside, as it turns out, is not exactly the rough-and-ready holiday getaway bungalow I had envisioned. From the exterior, the place is whitewashed, and the lines are that of a structure that had been built to blend in with the island’s surroundings.

Inside… Well... I follow him through the wide doorway and take in the large space. One entire wall is made of glass, beyond which, is the beach, and then an uninterrupted view of the sea. Facing it is a large sectional in the center of which is a coffee table. A fireplace is set into one wall. Diagonally opposite is a kitchen separated from the main area by a breakfast bar. In the other corner is a dining table with four chairs. He walks past the kitchen and down the short corridor into a bedroom….which is also massive. High ceilings, one wall made of glass through which the same uninterrupted view of the sea spreads out before us. A king-sized bed is set against a wall. I assume the double doors opposite the bed lead to the ensuite. Another set of double doors must lead into a closet.

He places Andy’s pet carrier down next to a large cushion in the form of a cave.

"The litter box is in the bathroom," he murmurs.

I walk over, open the door to the carrier and coax Andy out. He mewls and I carry him in my arms. I cuddle him as Michael carries the bags inside. I walk into the bathroom, place Andy down near the litter box and allow him to get acquainted with it. Then walk out and across the bedroom to the large glass wall to take in the view. I hear his footsteps approach.

The next second, he wraps an arm about my shoulders, pulls me back to rest against his chest. He tugs my head under his chin, and for a few seconds, we stand there admiring the view.

"So, this is the kind of privacy money can buy, eh?"

"Or notoriety."

"You know," I tip my chin up, "that is the first time I’ve heard you refer to your profession honestly."

"I am on the wrong side of the law; I was born with that knowledge. It’s who I am."

The band around my chest tightens. I am not sure why, but hearing him put that out there so baldly…sends a shiver of apprehension down my spine. Not that I didn’t know about his vocation… I mean, from the very first time we met, it was clear that he wasn’t an ordinary, law-abiding citizen. It’s just, maybe somewhere, I’d held onto the hope that he might change. And yet… It’s the darkness within him, that edginess, that cloak of danger that clings to him that you find so attractive.

"I can hear you thinking, Bellezza." His grip around me tightens, "Want to tell me what’s on your mind?"

I turn to face him, "I was thinking of the cat cave."

"The cat cave?"

I jerk my chin toward the cushion shaped like a cave, which I know Andy is going to love. "You got that for Andy?"

His features smoothen out, "And if I did?"

"So, you were that sure I was going to come with you?"

"Let’s just say, I can be persuasive."

"And you had enough time to have someone come in and place the cat cave here?"

"And place the litterbox in the bathroom, as well as make sure there’s enough food to last us for, at least, a week."

"A week?" I blink.

"If not more."

"Guess even mob bosses take time off over Christmas and New Year, eh?"

"Not usually," he smirks. "But this year I've asked my men to spend time with their families, so yes, things will be quiet."

"How convenient for you." I brush past him and walk over to the cat cushion, just as Andy pads out of the bathroom. He prances over to the cat cave then jumps onto the cushion. He tips his head up and mewls at me. I scowl at him as Michael walks over to me.

"Not sure why you are angry, but I think the beast needs to be fed."

"You’re not sure why I am angry?" I straighten, "And I am sure your minions ensured the place is stocked with cat food."

"I did tell them to make sure to do so, yes," he admits.

I turn on him, "Well, don’t let me keep you from whatever it is you normally do when you come to your uppity island retreat." I stalk off in the direction of the kitchen. I know I am being unreasonable, but really, the fact that he could fit me so neatly into his schedule rankles a little bit… Okay, a lot. Also, I don’t want to admit it, but the fact that he’s been so thoughtful about making sure that Andy is taken care of… It paints him in a favorable light…which I am not happy about. He could try a little harder to be unlikeable, right? It doesn’t help that he’s decided to sweep me off to an island for some time off. An island that I am dying to explore. Gah!

I reach the kitchen, yank open the nearest shelf. Spices. This one is packed with spices. I slap it shut, pull open the next one. Dried pasta, loaves of bread, risotto rice, other packs of products with Italian names that I am not familiar with. I slam it shut, open the next one. This has pots and pans. The next one has plates and mugs. I yank open the drawer below it and find cutlery. "Argh!" I step back, survey the room. "Where the hell have you hidden it?"

He pulls open the door of the shelf closest to him, then reaches in and extracts a pack. I flounce over and grab it from him. Glancing around, I spy the bowls set out for food and water on the window ledge. "Of course, you’d even have his name engraved on the bowls, right?"

I stomp over to it, pour out the food, top up the water bowl. Before I can turn to call for Andy, the bloody cat pads over to me. He leaps onto the ledge and laps up the water. I watch him to make sure he’s happy to eat the cat food, then turn, brush past Michael and back to the bedroom.

"I think it’s presumptuous that you thought I’d share the bedroom with you."

"You’re my wife; of course, you’ll share my bed."

"And if I don’t want to?"

"You will."

"But I don't."

"You do."

I throw up my arms and turn on him, "And if I refuse?"

"Then I’d—"

"What?" I snap. "What would you do? Tie me to the bed until I agree to cooperate?"

"That’s not a bad idea." He tilts his head, "But I have a far simpler method."

"What?"

He slides his hand inside his pocket. The next moment, the plug between my arse cheeks vibrates.