“That’s too much. You only gave them three so I should only get three.” She doesn’t move to take the money.
I hear one of the girls hiss her name under their breath.
“They only got three because they didn’t serve me. You are getting five because you served me and did so well. Take the money, Sofia. You earned it.”
She snorts, and I feel everyone’s eyes turn to us. Well, more specifically her. I feel my dick stir at her defiance.
“Sofia!” Tony scolds. “I apologize, Bastiano. She obviously needs to learn her manners. I will take care of this.”
He takes a step towards us, but halts when I hold my hand out.
“Do you not believe you earned a tip?”
“Sure. Maybe 10 or 20 dollars. Not 500. That’s crazy.”
“Maybe. Or maybe I am just a generous man. I take care of my own. Take the money, Sofia.”
I pick up her hand and feel a spark as I shove the money into it while holding her hand.
“I appreciate that you take care of your own, but I am not one of you, nor do I wish to be.”
I chuckle.
“Do you live in this neighborhood? Work here?”
She looks uncomfortable at where this is going.
“Yeah.”
“Then you are my own. This neighborhood is mine. I own it and as such, I protect and take care of the people who decide to be in it. That includes you, Sofia. Take the money.”
We stare at each other for at least a full minute before she lets a small smile loose.
“Understood. Thank you, Bastiano for your generosity.”
Then she does that fucking curtsy again and I swear I feel it straight to my dick.
The sound of my name from her lips sends electric straight through me. This woman is such a spitfire, but I cannot fault her for it. No one speaks to me the way she does. Most are too scared. The ones who are not are usually trying to suck my cock. Either way, no one stands up to me, until her.
I see a twinkle in her eye I do not fully trust, but I decide to let her off the hook. For now. I pull her hand still clutched into mine up to my lips and give it a faint kiss. I hear her breathing pick up which only causes my dick to harden more. I give her one last smirk.
“See you around, gorgeous.” I wink as I walk out.
Chapter Two
Sofia
It’s been a week since I have seen Bastiano, but a couple of his men have been around since that night. Thankfully, none of them have talked to me, but I can’t help but feel a small disappointment that he hasn’t come back.
Which is crazy because I don’t want him to. I want to avoid him and everyone in his organization.
Yet, a very small part of me felt something for him. Like there was some sort of mutual heat between us. He is a gorgeous man, but the commanding attitude, yeah that turned me on, which it shouldn’t of. Hell, I ran from a man who attempted to control me by beating me and here I am thinking about one even more dangerous? This man could kill me and not even feel bad about it.
After that night last week, I had to listen to a long lecture from Uncle Tony, then another lecture from Mia and Izzy. Then Uncle Tony wouldn’t let me work the next day. He made me stay home and essentially grounded me. He said it was for my safety, but I felt he was overreacting. Gina obviously felt the same way I did because I heard her telling Uncle Tony that she shouldn’t have to babysit me while he left. It caused quite an argument between them.
Thankfully, the following day, Uncle Tony decided that everything was okay because he put me on the schedule and we went back to life as usual. The only difference? The mafia men paid attention to me. Whereas I would have avoided them before, that was no longer an option. Every time I turned a corner and saw them, one of them would always look my way and watch me. Instead of looking foolish or guilty by turning around, I would have to walk past them. I always kept my eyes forward and didn’t say anything. They never said anything either.
Mia thinks I am being paranoid, but Izzy seems to agree with me. She started walking home with me in the evenings to make sure I make it safe. I keep telling her she is silly because then she just walks alone anyway, but she always says she isn’t the one who talked back to the mafia king, which we have taken to calling him.
