The Mistress of the Mafia

Chapter Two- Persistance

Selene brought herself into work with her usual melancholic attitude as she lifted her purse into her locker within the back of the diner. For a moment, she thought of the handsome yet potentially dangerous man who entered her place of work the night before and what would have happened if she would have gone into the car with him. Half of her body loathed her safe choices while her head congratulated her on being somewhat smart. The shootout that took place the night before was completely cleaned up as the police officers worked throughout the night in knowing that this was somehow involved with gang or mafiosa activity. The establishment was allowed to open at normal time that day but the memories still lingered for all involved. It was not a surprise to anyone that some who had experienced the event had called in sick or even quit their jobs entirely. This included some of the wait staff, a cook, and a janitor who was left to clean up the blood due to Sam’s demands.

“I am all for you getting laid, but you need to steer clear of that guy.” Gia commented to Selene as she was ripped from her fantasies involving him due to her friend’s advice.

“Were you not the one who told me to go for him?”

“That was before I knew that he would shoot up this place. You didn’t see it, Sel...he was like ice...he had no humanity in his eyes…”

“Does anybody on this side of New York?” Selene commented with an attempt to joke before finding a stern look upon Gia’s face. “As cute as he is and as alluring as those eyes, I know better than to get caught up in someone like him.”

“Good. Besides...Russo is here to see you.” Selene let out a deep breath of annoyance as she saw the cyclist who delivered packages to this side of town moved behind her, pulling a thick black box onto the counter. She found it disheartening that the sixteen year old messenger wore his heart entirely on his sleeve. He would come by every chance he got with his greaser hair and attempted to show off in front of Selene, desperate for her attention. He was a sweet kid, but was just that-a kid.

“Russo…”

“You look ravishing today.” He tried to speak with words he, himself didn’t understand as he leaned on the counter with one elbow and looked to the box he was giving her. Upon doing so, she felt how the package itself had been made up of pure velvet with a diamond latch laced in the shape of an infinity sign. “Is this for Sal?” She asked due to the fact that most packages that were delivered were for either Sal or the owner who came in once every few months to inspect the place. Russo looked at the card that gave the name of whomever sent it gift along with the address it was intended for.

“It is from someone who just signed as Dante.” He spoke looking at the card and peering at it. “It’s for you.” He said with a knife to the heart. He thought of a romantic prospect for Selene and his usual attempt to be suave was shot down with a mope for an expression. He simply excused himself and went into the street where he then moved back to his place of work, leaving Selene to inspect the box as he did not want to see what was inside. Selene however, was incredibly curious as she opened it right there on the counter, finding a silk insert that hugged around a stunning object. A pure crystal rose colored for what would be a proper flower; red and green, was sitting in front of her with hints of glitter within it, truly shimmering as it hit the light. She then came to see a small note inside, handwritten by Lyle.

“For a girl who deserves something better than roses.” Signed “Dante”. She turned towards Gia who had her mouth dropped open, along with the other waitresses nearby who were curious of the package. She withdrew it from the counter and placed it in her back locker as she locked it carefully and returned to begin her shift. Throughout her scheduled hours, she found how the other waitresses spoke harshly of Selene on how she must have been sleeping with the boss to attain something so unique and beautiful. They truly appeared to act as if they had never left high school. Selene was used to this however, so she came to ignore it and offer her same warm smile to her customers as always.

She continued this until it came time for her to punch out, as she was approached by Sam.

“Who did you have to screw to get something like that?” He asked as she held the rose against her chest along with her jacket and purse. She ignored him before finding him to stand in her way of leaving.

“Please, I just want to go home.” She said in frustration as she found a deep ache to be coming from her feet from being forced to stand on them for hours on end.

“Not just yet, I need you to cover for Kirsten.”

“Again? Can’t you ask Jenna or Kim? I have worked doubles every day this month…”

“I thought you needed this job.” He spoke to her upon moving towards her, bringing his hand onto her hip. She instantly jerked back as she found everything about Sam to repulse her. He was not necessarily unattractive physically, but the way he carried himself made him appear as a scumbag to anyone who crossed his path. He could lure practically any woman if he could only keep his mouth shut.

“Are you going to fight this?”

“What are you talking about?” She asked while nervously backing away from him until her back hit against the very lockers she had removed her stuff from.

“You walk around here with those high heels and tight body and expect me to not get a chub?”

She winced at such words as she found it incredibly distasteful.

“It’s the uniform you chose...every other girl here wears the same thing.”

“And yet, look at me.” He spoke upon revealing his erection that was visible through his pants. She looked up as she was disgusted with this approach. She felt nausea begin to creep inside of her stomach as she knew nobody had been in the diner as whoever had a shift was outside smoking and Gia had left hours prior as her own shift had came to an end.

“Sam-”

“I love when you say my name.” He said upon putting his hand on the wall beside her.

“If you do not get off of me, I will knee you, then report you.”

“Who is gonna believe you? Do you think you are the first girl to make threats against me?”

“Please...I just want to go home.” She said with her voice shaking. At this very moment, the front door of the diner came open and a ding alerted Selene and Sam as it showed a customer had made their way inside the establishment.

“I should go seat them-”

“We aren’t done here.”

“YES we are!” She said sternly in an attempt to break free from him but found him to throw her back against the wall, making her cause a loud noise to come from the back room. “I will scream.”

“Oh yes baby...you will.” He tried to pull her shirt down to expose her breast as she tried to fight for her freedom. She was only able to obtain it upon seeing Sam become stiff as if being hit with something before falling to the ground. When his body collapsed, a figure stood in front of her as she recognized it to be Lyle. He stood in a full black suit and winter gloves and his usual slicked back hair and dark eyes.

“Are you alright?” He asked upon looking to the low life unconscious at his feet and Selene brought herself to nod. As he looked to her, he saw the boxed rose he had sent to her as he smirked. “I didn’t know how to get ahold of you.” She said as he held his hand up.

“There is no need to thank me-”

“I was actually going to give it back.”

He looked to her in complete shock. “Really?” She nodded before looking down at Sam. “Can we speak about this away from him?” Selene asked as Lyle held open the back room door and led her outside where one of the other waitresses on duty looked to Selene with disgust as she had a sexy man at her side.

“So what is it about the gift that insulted you?” He asked as they made their way down the streets of late night New York with the moon and stars overhead.

“Nothing. It’s just too much.”

“You are not used to being lavished are you?” She was caught back by his question, making her stop walking forward.

“I just think you should take it back. I’m honored it’s just-”

“Huh…”

“What?”

“People don’t usually say no to me.”

She became anxious as she knew of his violent ways as she had now experienced it twice.

“It’s very considerate-”

“Are you married?”

“No…I-”

“Not interested?”

“Please just take it back.” She urged before he grabbed her hand instead of the gift.

“I knew you were different.”

“Wha-what do you mean?” She asked with a nervous stutter.

“You challenge me..I love it.” He released her hand as she was left out of breath from the heart racing moment. “I can’t take it back, it’s yours to do with what you wish.” He spoke upon bringing his hands into his pockets. He then turned back to her as he looked across the street for just a moment almost as if waiting for a ride. “It’s because of yesterday, isn’t it?”

“What do you mean?” She asked nervously as she was afraid if she acknowledged it that he would claim her as a witness and bring harm to her.

“The bodies. I’m not going to lie to you, Selene. I have enemies...lots of them as a matter of fact. And they would have placed more holes in me than Swiss cheese and if that makes me a bad person for not wanting to die...then I guess I am.”

“Who were they?” She asked as she felt a slight twinge of bravery come from her curiosity.

“Old colleagues of my father...I promise you that the world is better without them.”

“Is that why you sent me to get ice, yesterday? You knew what you were going to do to them?”

“I didn’t want your pretty little face to get caught in it.” He spoke upon bringing the back of his fingers to her cheek as she closed her eyes to his touch. She opened them almost instantly as she remembered Gia’s warning.

“You never answered my question.”

“Which one?”

“If you weren’t interested in me.”

“I have to go…” She paused as she saw his lips curve into a smirk. “What?”

“You are going to make me work for this, aren’t you?”

“Please...I’m sure that there is any other girl that would-”

“I don’t want any other girl.” He moved closer to her, pinning her up against the nearby brick wall of a closed business as she felt her breath hitch. “If you tell me you aren’t interested in me, I will leave you alone and never bother you again. Go ahead…” She found by looking in his eyes that she was unable to speak such words to him.

“I shouldn’t…”

He then backed up. “How long are you going to deny your desire to break the rules?” Lyle asked upon moving back from her just as a limousine pulled its way to the side of the road. He stood at the door of the car, pulling it open as he waited for her to decide. “If you don’t get in, I will take that as you being uninterested...and you won’t see me again.” She moaned internally at the thought as she came to enjoy the feeling of being near him as she found excitement in the adrenaline that he would cause to pump through her veins. Because of this, she pulled herself into the back of the car and finding him to slide in after her and shutting the door.