Sold to the Mafia Boss

Payback.

(Maria)

"What are you doing?" Tommy yelled at me. I bat my eyes, mimicking my innocence.

"You don't want these to get infected, do you?" I said.

"No." He blurts out. "That's what I thought. So be quiet." I said.

I can see his men outside, trying to clean up the mess from outside. I tipped the bottle over the gaping wound in his bicep. He screams loud enough that his men outside snap their heads in my direction. "GRRRAAAAAGH! WHAT THE FU.CK?!" He yelled again.

"Jeez, not such a tough guy after all, are you?" I said, still cleaning his wounds. I smirked, and he clenched his jaw. "Just finish this already." Tommy demanded. I finish cleaning his wounds, enjoying the endless string of curses he's throwing at me. With his wounds cleaned, I started rolling out guaze bandages for the gash on his bicep. It cut straight through one of his many tattoos. He grimaces as I wrap the bandage tighter and tighter.

"This looks like it needs stitches." I told him. "I'm not letting you anywhere near m with a needle, princess." I scoffed at his response. "I wasn't offering, I'm not a nurse. That's what Dr. Parks and her assistant are for." I said. "Just don't come crying to me when your tattoo heals crooked with a scar." I added. Tommy huffed at me, "Doesn't matter. I couldn't care less about how I look."

I stopped, pulling back and looking at him with a grin on my face. His perfectly over-styled hair, his expensive suit, his edgy piercings and tattoos... They all scream, 'I care!'

"Uhuh. I can see that." I said. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asked, with a frown. "That I can see you clearly don't care about your looks!" My words drip with sarcasm. Tommy stands, seething silently, clearly at a loss for words. I cut the excess gauze from his arm, patching the plaster down firmly. I tended to his other wounds, peeling plaster out of their paper and over his cuts.

"How did you get into this mess, anyway?" I asked. He eyed me suspiciously, "Why do you care?" He asked. "Call me curious. Maybe I'd like to avoid winding up in a similar situation", I said. Tommy chuckled, "Trust me. I don't think you need to worry about that."

"Why not?" I asked. He eyed me up and down, smirking. "You don't seem the type," he responded. I chewed on my bottom lip, weighing up his words. "Is that a compliment or a diss?" I asked. Tommy shrugged his shoulders, "you decide."

"Compliment, then," I said. Finally, fully bandaged, Tommy pulls his suit jacket back on, still wincing as he does so. "Good. I've done my part. Now you can leave me alone." Tommy lets out a laugh that makes me think he won't be doing what I want.

"What? Have you not enjoyed my company?" He asked. "You've wrecked my bosses coffee shop." I sighed, gesturing at the mess of broken glass and blood scattered all over the place. "Listen, I've had a long day. A long few weeks!" I slump down into a chair, suddenly feeling the full weight of my exhaustion. "Do you think I care?" Tommy sneered. "I don't know, and I don't care." I say. His brows tug tight together. "Why aren't you afraid of me?" He asks. Like he doesn't already know the answer. "I'm too tired to be afraid of you." I responded. He squints at me, his eyes narrow to snake-like slits. I fix him with my bored stare.

"You know I'm the most powerful, and dangerous man you've ever met." He says, but my face stays placid. I couldn't care less who he thinks he is. I'm not in the mood for his games. He scoffs, fingering his gun in his waistband. "I could hurt you so bad, you'd wish you were dead." I rolled my eyes, propping myself up on my elbows. "Tommy, I work in customer service. You can't hurt me in any way that matters." I said. He looks frozen, shocked, almost like a deer in headlights. I sighed, stood up taking off my apron and grabbing a broom. I place my hands on my hips, ready to hand back and shi.t he throws my way. "What?" I asked.

Tommy looks flustered, and for some reason, he won't take his eyes off of me. "What? Spit it out already. I don't have all night."

"You look better than this place. That's all." I look down, suddenly keenly aware of myself. I try to keep the heat from flooding my cheeks. "What's that suppose to mean?" I asked. "It was meant to be a complient, alright?" Tommy says. "Didn't sound like one to me." I said. I started walking over to the door, flipping the 'Open' sign to 'Closed' and start sweeping up the broken glass. All the while ignoring Tommy, who stands watching me, suddenly seeming a little out of place.

"Well, uh... I guess I'll be going." He says. "At least pay for a coffee. You've done enough damage." I yelled. Again, that shocked look on his face, as if he's never come across someone like myself. "Okay." Tommy responds. He fishes in his pocket, no for his gun this time, but for his wallet. Now I'm the surprised one. I hadn't expected him to actually pay for a coffee. "Wh- what do you want?" I stuttered. "Surprise me." He said. He grinned, and for the first time, nervous butterlies flit around in my stomach. I made him the easiest thing that I knew. Not because I'm lazy, but because I think it suits him. "Double espresso. Black."

I pass a small takeaway cup towards him, and he sips it, his eyes sparkling at me over the rim. He doesn't make any noises of approval or distaste. Instead, he just passes a crisp $100 bill. "Keep the change." I gape at him as he drains the cup, delicately popping it away in the waste bin. Wordlessly, he step out the door, leaving me with the mess he made. I wait til him and his men leave before deleting the video survalance and calling my boss.

I finished cleaning the mess, after giving a false statment to the police. Brandon boards up the broken door. Just as I'm about to take the trash out my phone vibrates in my back pocket. I open it up, not reconizing the number, but immediatley know it's from Tommy.

Tommy: You really must learn when to bite your tongue. Maybe I should teach you, trust me when I say you don't want to get on my bad side. I could be your guardian angel or I could be your worst nightmare, you choose.

Maria: You're funny!

Tommy: Funny? Excuse me?

Maria: That you think you can intimidate me. LOL

Tommy: GOD, you INFURIATE me

Maria: Then allow me to move out and into my own place.

Tommy: No can do, Baby girl! You belong to me.

Maria: In your dreams!

I switch my phone to silent and finish cleaning before getting in the car with the bodyguards. After tonights events, I just want to sit in a tub and relax.