Luciano: I expect you to be at my office in an hour, we have things to talk about.
I almost tossed my phone aside and went to bed, but the reminder of the sound my phone made and the amount of money that came with it pushed me out of bed that evening.
If I was going to get more money based on how well I behaved, I would have to step up my game. At first, the contract seemed like a game, a role-play of some sort. It all clicked the moment I spent almost a thousand dollars on jewelry-making equipment and tools.
I changed into a pair of jeans and a black top with spaghetti straps, pulling a red sweater above it.
"Where are you going?" Vera asked, standing in front of the bathroom door with glossed lips and her hair in a graceful afro. The dress she had on shimmered with each movement she made.
I wished so many times to be even half as confident as she was.
"Luciano's club," I replied.
"Oh, great. I'm off, too. I have to entertain people and have fun." She grinned, pulling me along with her as we set out into the night.
~~
"I'll come watch you as soon as I can," I told Vera. She gave me a thumbs up as she walked into one of the changing rooms.
The club was more than packed that Saturday, I was practically walking on eggshells as I squeezed my way through drunk bodies just to get to the stairs.
"You're late," was the first thing out of Luciano's mouth as he opened the door to his office after I almost scabbed my knuckles from knocking.
"Maybe I would have been right on time if I hadn't spent three minutes knocking." I looked around as I walked in, expecting to see someone in all her naked glory. There was no way he took three minutes to open the door if he wasn't getting with somebody.
"I told you to come in about twenty fucking times," he retorted.
"Yes, and I would hear it because your office isn't soundproof." I held back the rest of what I was going to say as the image of Romano's fingers being destroyed flashed in my mind.
I paused as he turned around to face me, assessing me with a look of boredom on his face.
"Where were your words when Romano was hitting on you?"
"I was in shock at first! Besides, I was this close to slapping him across the face if you hadn't walked in," I said, gesturing with my fingers.
"You do know you now have some kind of bounty on your head, don't you?" He sat down, crossing his legs and still watching me. This time, he looked interested, like I had suddenly gone from a boring show to a guffaw-triggering movie in one minute.
"A bounty?" I sat down opposite him, my brows drawing towards each other as I frowned.
"Obviously. Word has most likely gotten out about Luciano D'Angelo's little whore who got Romano's fingers unprofessionally amputated. Chances are, people are out to get you in front of Romano to claim a prize." Somehow, the information he had just dumped on me didn't annoy me. Not as much as the way he delivered it. Like that was what he lived for, like my life didn't matter to him.
"I am not your little whore," I bit.
"Now… I didn't exactly call you that. It's what they would call you." He shrugged. "But personally, I don't think it's such a horrible title to go by."
I sat there in awe, my jaw unhinged as I stared at him. He stared back, nothing on his face hinting at a joke.
"I will not be your whore. What is wrong with you?"
"We've gone completely off the original track, now, Jasmine. Your life is in danger as we speak." He brought the original topic back.
"And how are you so sure about that? I'm not the one who used a gun on him." I narrowed my eyes at him.
He only sighed, turning from left to right in his office chair. "I've been in the mob life long enough. If what happened to Romano happened to me and I was left with a hurt hand and an equally hurt ego, I would want revenge. Besides, the club has more people than would normally be here on a Saturday, no matter how crowded it usually is. I notice these things."
"So, you're telling me that some of the people down there are trying to kill me?" My brows went up to the ceiling.
"They wouldn't want to kill you, Jasmine. Not yet. They would want to take you to Romano, get a prize for the job and leave. Romano would decide what to do with you, and – because I know him well enough – I know he would not kill you. He'd make you beg for death."
I didn't know if he could tell how fast my heart was beating. If he did, he didn't care to make any comment on it. The room's temperature was either getting higher or it was just me.
I reached up to my forehead to check if I was already sweating. I wasn't, but it sure as hell felt like it.
"I won't let anyone touch you, if that's what you're wondering," he assured.
I wasn't wondering that at all. I was wondering how to turn back the hands of time and say "no" immediately the idea of the contract was brought up.
"What if my house gets broken into? I have a responsibility to be an unproblematic roommate. It's been going fine so far and I don't—"
"Nobody's going to break into your house, Jasmine," he cut me off.
"Oh, yeah? And how do you know that? You're going to send someone to keep guard? Excuse me but I didn't ask for—"
"Nobody will be breaking into your house because you will go home now, pack your bags, and return right here. You will be living with me for a while."
"Absolutely not—"
"It's not a permanent arrangement. I'm not too excited about it, either. You will stay with me until I come to a truce with Romano. Luckily, he doesn't drag my father into this."
I didn't know how he intended to come to an agreement with someone whose fingers he practically amputated with the butt of a gun, but I was not ready to think about how things would be if I put myself in further danger, and possibly even Vera's life.
I sighed, rubbing my face as loud cheers from downstairs reached my ears.
"Fine. I'll pack my bags and return in a few hours. If you'll excuse me, I have to go watch my roommate perform and not think about someone possibly watching me from across the room with a fucking gun to my head." I stood up, heading for the door.
"Never forget that you're the one who agreed to the arrangement. I simply proposed it." I turned around and gave him the stink eye before storming out.
I swear I heard him chuckle as he said "little whore."
I slammed the door as hard as I could to annoy him.