“I ended up in this situation because my cousin Troy made a bet and used me as a payoff to the winner. He said he had a sure hand. I knew the guy that got me would win the game before he placed his cards down. The look of triumph in his eyes was unmistakable.”
“Oh, God. What did your cousin do when he lost?” Beth asked.
“He tried to get the guy not to take me, but he’s a monster. He was planning on raping me, giving me to his men, and then playing with me for a while until he killed me.”
“Jesus Christ,” Angelica said. “Would you ever talk to your cousin again?”
Rebeka shook her head. Her heart would hurt for a long time because of what he did. “I don’t want ever to see him again. That kind of betrayal never goes away.”
“No, I don’t think it does either,” Faith said.
“I’ve never heard of Victor Marino before,” Hope said.
“I hadn’t either. I’ve heard of the mafia we have in town. Both your families seem to be the most feared,” Rebeka said.
Angelica nodded. “I’d say no one will fuck with the Macleans.”
A few maids walked in, set plates in front of the women, and left.
Rebeka looked around at the girls as they started to eat. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this lifestyle.”
“I thought that,” Beth said. “It takes a while. I also like to think of the people who care for us are saints and enjoy their jobs. My husband makes sure of it. He wants them to want to stay and be loyal, so he treats them right.”
“I will probably have a lot of questions.”
The other four girls smiled and nodded.
Hope squeezed her hand. “We’re here for you.”
“I feel better knowing you’re all here with me in the same house.”
“You’ll eventually move into our old house,” Angelica said. “Our mama’s still there. She’ll love having you live there. She says she missed having women to talk to. We always go home to see her, so it’s not like you’ll never see us again.”
“I hope not.” Her anxiety started growing when Angelica talked, but she was reassured about having their mother there and that she’d still get to see them.
She had no idea when it happened, but she’d already come to grips with the fact she would be around these women and Dominic for the rest of her life. She had to admit that the thought didn’t scare her as it used to, and she was much better off now than she was before.
She didn’t have to rush to work every day, deal with crazy, entitled people, or clean up after anyone. She didn’t have to worry about bills or keeping her cousin on the straight and narrow.
Her life could be great if she could get over the fact that she was living with the mafia and was starting to fall in love with one of them.
Chapter Eighteen
Dominic waited for the front door to open. He was anxious to get this first meeting over with because he’d been such a bastard the last time he saw her.
“I’m here to see Aria,” he said. “I’m her son, Dominic.”
“Come in. I’ll go get her,” one of the guards said.
Dominic stood and looked around. It looked a little different than it did the night of the party, and the next morning he hadn’t paid attention to anything.
“Dominic.”
He turned to face his beautiful mother. “Hello.” She was in a stylish dress and high heels. Her hair was up in an elaborate bun. He couldn’t believe she was old enough to be his mother.
He could see the emotion she was trying to hide in her eyes. She was an extremely strong woman, and he felt proud to call her his mother.
“Can I help you with anything, hon—Dominic?”