She shrugs one shoulder and looks away without answering. Reaching out, I push her sunglasses up so they rest on the top of her head and I can see her eyes. They’re a little red from the pepper spray, and I notice she’s shed some tears.
“Are you hurt, sweetheart?” I ask a little softer this time.
“I think that asshole bruised my arm when he dragged me over the counter.” She still won’t meet my eyes as I take her hand and examine her arm. There are spots of blood on it, and she must notice at the same time because she instantly looks away. “So you know that guy that was in here all day?”
“Yes, I sent him to keep you safe. Clearly you didn’t want to make that easy.”
“Hey, I told him I wasn’t doing feet pics. I’m not sure what else I could have done differently.”
“This is serious, Leo.”
“I’m being serious,” she says and rolls her eyes. “Maybe I should get a gun.”
“Fucking hell,” I sigh as I wrap my arm around her waist and lead her toward the back of the laundromat. “Let’s get you upstairs.”
“Oh, are we ordering pizza again? Because I really want to try their Hawaiian. Most people complain about pineapple on pizza, but I think it’s like jazz fingers. A little something extra and always great.”
“Later,” I say as I open the door that leads to her apartment upstairs. “You can’t stay here tonight. It’s not safe.”
She lets out a humorless laugh. “Okay, but like where else am I supposed to go?”
“With me,” I tell her as I practically carry her up the stairs.
Chapter 9
Leo
I watch as Mattia starts throwing my things into a bag, and he orders me to get in the shower. I can’t shower right now. My mind is too busy focusing on where my dirty panties might be in this mess of chaos.
I especially can’t have him finding my older panties. When it came time to get new ones, I didn’t get the cute panties because there were other things I wanted to spend my money on. Imagining someone would see them wasn’t on my radar. Besides, if I’m not wearing jeans, I’m not wearing panties.
“Leo.” There is a warning in his tone this time. My, how the tables have turned. I’m supposed to be the one in charge. “I’ll strip you myself.”
“You want me naked?” I ask and wiggle my eyebrows. “That’s gonna cost you.”
“Fine, two grand.”
My mouth falls open in shock. I was joking. Kind of. “Seriously?”
Would it be terrible to take the offer? Who cares? I left morals at the door when I decided to go on the mob boss journey. And I didn’t even have to make a vision board.
“You’re right, my apologies,” Mattia says while still packing. “Five grand.”
“Deal,” I agree before he changes his mind. I thought two grand was too much, but I should know my value.
Reaching for my shirt, I pull it off and toss it onto the ground, then I quickly remove my bra and toss it in the same pile. Mattia has now stopped packing to stare at me.
“What?” I ask in confusion because I’m doing what he wants. Not sure how he showers, but I’ve got to get naked to do it.
Mattia runs a hand down his face like he’s in pain, but it can’t be because of the way I look. I’m all for body positivity, so I stand up straighter. My boobs are better than my toes, and I push my chest out so he can get a good look. I’ve got it, so why not flaunt it? I mean, as long as he’s giving me a good price for the show.
He drops his head back to stare at the ceiling, and I think I hear him muttering that he needs to get me out of here.
“Please go shower.” His tone is flat, and he doesn’t look at me when he says it.
“Fine,” I huff before turning around and darting into my bathroom.
I shut the door behind me, but I wish there was a lock. My pride took a bit of a hit, and I need a second to get it together. I suppose if I want to be in this line of work, I need to learn to control my emotions. I haven’t accounted for so many things.
