Stretching out, the sound of a baby crying made all the events from last night flood right back in. I was in the enemy’s home. I went home with him last night, because I couldn’t get into my apartment. He was speaking and I could hear him walking, too.
“You mustn’t yell, Amore Mio, you will wake up our house guest, and he was unwilling last night. He will probably have a hangover, and your cries will be like glass in his ears.”
He was right. I had a hangover, but not that bad. Thank the heavens for that. The clock on the nightstand in the spare room he lent said it was six in the morning. The baby stopped crying, and I heard him still walking around. I did not know a man like this would have a baby. He must have had a wife, too. I wondered what she would think about me being here.
Standing up, I used the attached bathroom, then opened the bedroom door. He was walking around the living room with a small sleeping baby in his arms.
“Sorry, I hope we didn’t wake you.” He whispered.
“No. Even if you did, it’s not like I can be upset about it. Please apologize to your wife for needing to stay here last night.”
“My wife? I’m sorry, I think you’re confused. I am not married, nor do I have a wife. When I was married, it was to a man.” He said.
“Oh.”
“It was my son, right? That’s why you thought I had a wife?”
“Honestly, yes.”
“That’s fair. I get it.”
I nodded, pinching the bridge of my nose, trying to stop the throbbing in my head.
“Let me just put him down and I’ll get you something for the headache.” He whispered.
“Alright.”
He set the baby down in a swing and left. I watched the swing rock the baby back and forth. He was cute. Even in the low light out here, you could see that this child was biologically his. He cleared his throat, a water bottle in his hand and a bottle of painkillers in the other.
“They are both new, in case you don’t trust me.”
“Thanks.”
I took the bottle and cracked the lid off; he opened the painkillers and handed me two. He dropped them in my open hand and I tossed them in my mouth and then took a sip of water. Swallowing them down, he hummed.
“You should eat something small with those. So they don’t give you a stomachache.”
“Probably.”
“Come, I’ll make you something small.”
“That’s really unnecessary.”
“Please, let me. It’s the least I can do after what I did to you in the alley, and after you still helped me at Maddox’s.”
“Fine. But understand, I’m not big on you Mafia men.”
“Understood.”
I watched as he cooked something small in the kitchen.
“Is the baby ok there by himself?”
“Wren will be fine. And I have this.”
He pulled up the side of his shirt and tucked into his waistband was a baby monitor.
“So, you said you were married? What happened there?”
“For someone who doesn’t like Mafia men, you surely have a lot of questions.”
“Hmm, Yeah, Know your enemy and all that shit.”
“Enemy? We are hardly that.”
“My throat two weeks ago would disagree with you heavily.”
“Yes. It would.”
“What happened to your marriage?”
“The same thing that happened to your neck.”
“That’s vague.”
“Sit, eat.” He passed me a plate of food. “I will tell you about my marriage while you eat.”
“You’re actually going to tell me?” I said, mildly shocked.
“Yes. I have come to terms with my demons, at least there.” He muttered, guilt in his eyes for a moment.
“I abused my ex-husband. I took my anger out on him. Things got too out of control for either of us. That entire glass house came down on us both.”
I glanced at the living room where the child was, and he looked down.
“I know what you’re thinking, that I will hurt him, too. But I would never. I was worried about that too, you know. I have actively been going for—--”
“You don’t need to tell me this. It’s private.”
“Yes, it was private. But I showed you some of that anger in the alley when I thought a stranger might have discovered us. I acted without thinking it over. If Maddox’s fifth underboss, Sasha, had not been there, you might actually be dead.”
I swallowed the bite in my mouth, and it sank like lead.
“I see.”
“I will take you home after you have finished eating and my boss comes to watch Wren for me.”
“Actually. While we are here. I am being moved to this town for work, my father and Maddox’s doing, I assume. After the incident with you. I need to find a place to rent and I have ten days to do so. Do you know anything that might be available?”
“I don’t, but I can find out if you would like me to? I understand if you would like to limit the contact with how things have turned out this far with us.”
“Keep your hands to yourself, and I don’t mind. But I won’t be involved in Mafia violence or issues, and if you touch me again, the way you did in that alleyway, I will have you arrested. Knowing this, I don’t care if my father is in Maddox’s pocket or not. He won’t be enough to save you.”
“I understand.” A soft smile tugged at his lips, as if I didn’t just openly threaten him in his own home after he was nice enough to offer me a place last night. He walked to another room, and came back with something in his hands a moment later, setting it on the table.
My student card looked back at me.
“You know I knew you had this, right?”
“Did you?”
“Yes, I noticed it missing and Sasha said they didn’t find it in the alley. So then, I must know, why did you take it? Some kind of trophy?”
He looked offended. Frowning before he spoke again.
“No. Not even close. I took something you wouldn’t need so that I could look into you. That is all.”
“You have a strange—-”
“Also, you are an unruly drunk. Might I add. You bit me last night when I tried to help you stand up, when you fell in the grass.”
“I bit you—I don’t believe you.”
“I have proof, besides the teeth marks.”
“Prove it!” I raised my voice, embarrassed.
He peeled off this sweater, his shirt underneath riding up and giving me a really delightful view of his deeply tanned skin. He stuck his arm out, and true to his words, he had a bruised set of teeth marks.
“I also have it on video, if you would like to see that as well.”
“No, thank you.” I muttered.
“Back to my marriage for a moment. My ex left, and it was the best thing he could have done for both of us. I was bitter at first, but I understand he is both happier and healthier away from me. We do not work well together, even for a short time period.”
“At least you can understand that. Not everyone can.”
“Understanding the damage I’ve done to him is the least I can do. Changing my behaviours is something I need to do, for both myself and my son.”
I nodded again, standing up and taking my dish to the sink.
“Pass me your dish and I’ll wash—-” I turned around, and he was far too close to me “---It”
“Sorry, here. You don’t have to, I can do that—-”
“I have it. Just give me the plate.”
He let go of the plate when I grabbed onto it and I washed up the few dishes quickly and tried to dry my hands on my shirt.
“Here, towel.”
I took it and dried my hands before passing it back to him. The sound of someone else coming into the house had me frozen in place.
“Ah, My boss is here.”
I nodded. Unsure of who and what was about to come into the kitchen doorway. A taller man entered the kitchen and paused.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was unaware you had company, Marco.” His thick Italian accent made it harder to understand his words, but he spoke slowly.
“This is Ambrose Grayson.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Ambrose.” He nodded, cast his eyes at Marco, and it said everything his words did not. He wanted to know who I was and what I was doing here.
“Likewise.” I said politely.
“Are you by chance related to the Chief of police, Ambrose?”
“Yes, He’s my father.”
“How delightful. He’s a very nice guy.”
“I suppose that depends on how you look at him.” I muttered without thinking about who I was in the presence of.
“Not a fan of your father or of his friends?” He asked.
Marco intercepted.
“Romeao, I’m sure Ambrose is a busy guy.”
“Marco, I asked him a question. Now, close your mouth.”
Marco nodded.
“I’m not a fan of the Mafia, if that’s what you’re asking. Though I will be respectful when and where it matters. I don’t get involved in the affairs of the Mafia.”
“I see you’re a smart man.”
“I try to be.”
“If I am to be honest, I prefer to be in the company of those who like me for my behaviour, not my money and power.” Romeao, Marco’s boss, said, smiling at me.
Marco gave him the baby monitor and said something in Italian before he looked at me.
“I hope to see you around, Ambrose Grayson.”
“You too.”
Marco helped me gather all my things from the night before and when we got into his SUV, he apologized for his bosses behaviour.
“I think he’s a decent guy, actually.” I muttered.
Comments (7)
See all