I HAD NEVER SEEN someone look so lost in their own home before.

Then again, I've never seen a civilian's home so pointedly devastated with no ties to the Mob.

"Everything is... Everything is gone." She whispered.

I don't think she meant to.

I wanted to be sympathetic, but it's bad for business, really.

"Well, I suppose you don't need 10 minutes huh?" Amusement coats my tone, but she ignores it.

She stares at the remains of her house, looking like a lost puppy.

"Let's go, Gattina. I will have this cleaned up. For now, we need to get back to the estate."

"I just figured out how you may pay your debts."

The hour drive back was as silent as it was when we came

The hour drive back was as silent as it was when we came.

She didn't ask any questions, just nodded mindlessly, numbly, letting me drag her into the car.

I needed to dehumanize her.

I needed to distance myself from her, to put a barrier between us.

So I decided to make her my whore.

Problem solved.

It got the Family off my back, it gave me proximity and distance.

Exactly what I wanted.

And I would start tonight.