I took a long drink of water, trying to process what she was saying. "Rival families? What does that even mean? He told you all of this?"
"It means they're mafia, Elena." Ivy's voice dropped to a whisper, as if someone might be listening. "They have to be, especially from the way this Malatesta guy was talking. And I may have taken his money for some extra work… men talk more when they're getting laid, open up a bit, y'know, if you know how to ask right."
The glass nearly slipped from my fingers as her words sunk in. "Mafia? That's?—"
"It makes sense," Ivy cut in, while I was still reeling that she'd slept with the guy to get this information too, putting her at more risk if it was true. "Trent digging around and then suddenly calling it quits. The money. The way nobody seems toknow much about them despite their wealth, well, I guess it's more they do know, they just won't talk about it. The whole shadiness around the family name."
Mafia.
Holy fucking shit.
I sank onto one of the kitchen stools, my legs suddenly weak. If she was right, if the Donatis were actually part of organized crime, that changed everything. My mind flashed to Jackson, his military background, the scars on his back. The depth in his eyes when he'd looked at me. Did he know? It'd make sense. He said they were honorable though. Had that been a lie? Mafia families weren't what I'd call honorable, but the loyalty many people had to them, it made even more sense now. Along with all the extra security.
"We have to stop then," I said, my voice sounding distant even to my own ears. This was too much, too dangerous. Mafia could go after family, and I barely had anyone as it was. "We have to go home. This is too dangerous."
Ivy leaned against the counter, studying me. "What if they were the reason your dad is dead though? What if they killed your father for his money or something?"
"If they did, then they did," I said, rubbing my temples where a headache was beginning to form. This was too big for us. If my father died in a shady way, then I'd have to leave that well enough alone. "What can I do about that?" I was not about to get caught up in this kind of business.
I never should have come here, applied for the job. I should have found another way to help my mom.
"That's true," Ivy nodded slowly. "But wouldn't you want to know the truth? Maybe just dig into their financials or something while you have inside access?"
I laughed without humor. "If they're a mafia family, I could wind up dead, Ivy. Or worse—they could hurt you or my mom."The image of my mother, frail in her hospital bed, made my chest tighten. She was already fighting for her life, I was not about to add another battle to that. "I can't risk that."
Ivy crossed the kitchen and put her hand on my shoulder. "I understand. I'll do whatever you decide."
I glanced at the clock on the microwave. 5:34 AM. I needed to start getting ready for work soon.
Work. Like I even wanted to go back there with this newfound knowledge. But it was also only guesses. Words from a stranger. Maybe he was talking shit, but it did explain everything else.
My stomach churned as I shook my head.
"If they are a mafia family, I can't just not show up today," I said, thinking aloud as my chest tightened. "They'd suspect I was up to something."
"You kinda are," Ivy pointed out, and I groaned and rolled my eyes.
No shit.
"I need to figure out a way to leave that's plausible. I can give my notice, say I need to be with my mom." I pursed my lips, hating the sickness swirling in my gut. "That's not even a lie."
Ivy nodded. "Smart. Get out clean."
I stood up, unease rippling through me. "I'm going to shower. Can you put some coffee on?"
"On it." Ivy moved to the coffee maker. "Just be careful today, okay?"
"I will," I promised, heading for the bathroom. "One more day, and then I'm done with the Donatis for good. We'll go home."
My rust-bucket sputtered ominously as I pulled into the Donati Enterprises parking lot. The check engine light had been on for weeks, but I'd been ignoring it, hoping to squeeze a few more months out of the car before having to deal with repairs I couldn't afford. It had survived so long, I'd thought it would just power through forever.
Today, however, the car had other plans. The engine made a terrible grinding noise, then died completely as I tried to coast into a parking space, but didn't quite make it.
Crap. Double crap.
"No, no, no," I muttered, turning the key again. The engine made a pathetic whining sound but refused to start. "Not now, please not now." I was only half in my parking spot, and more people were beginning to arrive for work.
At least they were veering around me, but not without a few curious glances.
