Page 31 of Mafia’s Dirty Secret

“As long as the mosquitoes don’t carry you away. Or the frogs. I don’t know how people can stand that.”

“Ah, you’re a city boy. I forgot for a minute.” She knew he came from somewhere up in New York City, but she wasn’t sure where exactly. “I guess you're used to traffic noise and bars, but not frogs.”

“Nope. Never heard the things until I came down here.” They walked into the kitchen where he grabbed a 6-pack of something that looked expensive, a small radio, and headed out towards the pool. She followed along, trying to decide whether it was a good idea to swim naked or not.

Could she take her clothes off in front of him? She wasn’t sure she was brave enough, but she was about to find out. He handed her the battery-operated radio and she tuned it to the right station. Cajun music filled the air as he went into the little cabin to get her a float.

She put the radio down and decided that maybe if she hurried up and got in the water, she could do it. She stripped down quickly and all but ran into the water. She ran so fast, she was over her head before she knew it, and came up for air to find him standing at the side of the pool, in a pair of shorts, with a very amused tilt to his eyebrow.

“Hot, were you?” he asked, and his voice dripped with the same amusement that showed in that raven eyebrow of his.

“Just a little,” she said with her head up, proud and unapologetic. “I might have been a little too eager, but here we are. Two grown people, swimming in the dark.”

“Well, you’re the only one swimming. And if I had to guess, I’d say you’re swimming naked.”

“I might be.” She didn’t let her head drop at all, determined to play this amusing little game. She tried not to grin and almost failed, but she looked away from him and saved herself. “Is that a problem?”

“Not at all, Miss Hebert. Suit yourself, I say.” He came down into the water, two floats in his arms, and slid one out to where she was. “If you want to climb up on that, you’re more than welcome to.”

“I think I might.” His eyes dared her to, and she wasn’t about to back down now. She’d got this far, she might as well play along. She went to the shallow end, while he floated out to the deep end. The only light came from below, and there wasn’t anyone else around to see her.

She told herself that they both knew he’d see her completely naked eventually, so she might as well get on that float and ride it like she was the Queen of Sheba herself. Besides, the man had slid his tongue all over her intimate parts. If he’d been disgusted by her body, he’d have said something by now.

She cast a glance in his direction, only to find he wasn’t facing her at all. He knew she was being brave and had decided to make it easier for her then. That or he was totally oblivious. She knew at least one thing about Matteo, oblivious he was not. He was being respectful. Again.

It nearly made her tear up, but she pushed that down. With a nervous giggle, she managed to get on the float and settle against the backrest without rolling it over. A splash caught her attention and she saw Matteo had made his way to the edge of the pool where he’d left the beer. He pulled two out and faced her.

For a moment, he looked her over, and she saw the way his eyes narrowed, the way his lips parted, and his eyebrows went up. Only this time, it was with appreciation, not amusement. His float drifted by hers, and he handed her a bottle of cold beer.

“For you, my dear,” he offered.

“Thank you, kindly,” she responded, and let out a calm sigh. “Okay, this is good. This is really good.”

“I’m glad you approve. Now, float along, drink your beer, and relax, Marie. That’s all you have to do.”

So that’s what she did.

18

“It’s time to wake up, Marie.” Matteo’s voice, an echo somewhere in the darkness, pulled her from the warm place she was cocooned in. She wanted to push his voice away, to stay in this peaceful place for a little while longer. Besides, he was there with her, wasn’t he?

Marie blinked, uncertain about what was happening. Then she remembered. She was in Matteo’s bed. They’d spent the evening in the pool, drinking, listening to music, and staring up at the stars from their floats. She’s relaxed in the magical atmosphere and held his hand as they floated together, their eyes on the stars.

When the third bottle of beer made her tipsy, he’d tugged her out of the pool, dried her off, then sent her into the bathroom to shower off. When she’d come out, he’d guided her to the bed, and they’d talked. Only talked. Well, she talked, and he listened.

She’d told him about how she’d wanted to go back to school to become a doctor, how she’d had it all planned out. She was going to escape this place, and never come back. That was before she knew her mother was ill. She didn’t go into detail about the abuse she’d taken as a child, or what went on now, she didn’t want to change the mood, or make him think she wanted him to feel sorry for her. She didn’t want that at all, so she kept that part to herself.

She’d gone quiet then and must have fallen asleep. His warm body was pressed into hers, and she turned into his arms.

“I don’t want to get up.” She sighed against his neck, determined to stay hidden there, under his head, for the rest of the day. Her mother would have to find someone else to abuse today, she’d had about enough of it. And the problem was only growing worse. She didn’t want to be hit anymore or screamed at, or demeaned by the one person in this world that was supposed to love her unconditionally. She wanted to stay right here, where she was safe and perhaps even loved.

“I know you don’t want to go home, and I really don’t want you to get up, but you have to. You have to let Regina go home.”

“I don’t want to!” She murmured it louder and clasped her arm around his waist and threw a leg over his hip for good measure.

“I know, Marie, and I don’t blame you. But you have to go. You’ll hate yourself if something happens to her and you aren’t there.” There was a weight to his words that made her look up at him sharply.

“What happened?” It was instinct alone that made her ask that question.