In Too Deep: An Anti-Hero Mafia Romance

“s**t, what have you done? This . . . this is amazing!” I say to Hayley in wonder, looking around the magnificent hotel room we’ve just had the good fortune to be shown into. “This is not like the last place I stayed at in Ibiza that’s for sure!”  Hayley turned to me beaming, looking beautiful - like she’s just stepped out of a photoshoot as usual – even though we’d all just got off a plane.  She shrugged, “Hey, if you can’t treat your best buds when you win the lottery, when can you?” Kelly piped up. “Hell, I agree . . . this is the life!” she throws herself on a sofa in our huge room, putting her feet and stretching to put both hands behind her head - her long blonde hair falling behind her, her big blue eyes taking in our surroundings. I can understand why men are drawn to Kelly, the ones that aren’t scared of her loud personality are drawn to her because she's just plain hot – and she uses it to her full advantage! “I can't believe we get to live here for the next three weeks . . . it’s so classy – so not us!” I say laughing. “Well, maybe you Hayley - but definitely not me and Kel.” Hayley is one of those girls that a lot of other girls love to hate - a natural beauty type that looks gorgeous when they roll out of bed – slim, but not skinny, naturally tanned skin and light brown hair. Men usually get sent away with their tail between their legs when they approach her, as she is serious with her boyfriend. “Hey!” shouts Kelly, “Speak for yourself, I can be classy when I want to be.” “Oh really? And when will you want to be? Because I have to see that . . . ” I tease. She gets up and punches me in the arm. “Ouch,” I rub the tender area and go to look into one of the two bedrooms, “Kel, think one’s ours - we’ll let Hayley have the one on her own, while she’s paid for us.” “Guys, come and have a look at this,” Hayley shouts from the balcony. We step out there, wow, I’m speechless. We could see all of San Antonio bay, right around to where all the clubs were . . . one of the reasons we’d come back here, to check out the clubs.  “I'm so happy you won all that money, Haylz,” Kelly says draping her arm around her. “and so happy that you decided to spoil us both with this holiday.” “You’re welcome, honey - we’re gonna do all the clubs that we couldn’t afford to go to the last time we were here, and you guys don’t need a penny - it's all on me.” She smiles at us both warmly. “My treat for being the best friends a girl could wish for.” “Aw, thanks hon, I'm so excited. We’re so lucky that work gave us both the time off together.” Elsa and I are PA’s at a Solicitors in Manchester. I turn to Kelly “Us too Kell, we were really lucky to get time off together.” Kelly worked in a factory part-time in the week but spent her weekends working with me at the club where we were dancers - club podium dancers. We’d asked the other girls to cover for us and they’d agreed, so luckily we’d gotten the time off together . . . so here we are. Kelly turned to me with a glint in her eye. “Hey! Did you see Mr Dark and Dangerous at reception? He was totally checking you out.” Had I seen him? He was hard to miss, strutting around like he owned the place in an expensive suit and talking to the staff in Spanish. He was sexy as hell - totally out of my league, he didn’t even look my way, I don’t know what Kelly saw.  I knew I was OK looking - my slanted green eyes usually got me more attention than I probably deserved. My eyes, mixed with my olive skin and dark brown curly bobbed wild hair got me my fair share of male admirers - but not in this guy’s category. Trust man-mad Kelly to spot him. I snorted. “Yeah right, I wish . . . he was gorgeous, but don’t think he knew any of us existed. Still, nice to know your radar is up and working for hot men.” Kelly used and abused men.  “Oh my radar is working just fine, stick with me girl and I’ll sort you out. You never know you might get rid of that pesky virginity on this holiday to a God-like creature, like that guy in reception.” She found it highly amusing that while I wasn’t exactly a novice with men, I had never let one get close enough to have s*x with. Great move that was Elsa, waiting for that special man - seemed like a good idea at the time, but I’m still waiting. . . it’s gotten a little silly at my age – and a big talking point with the girls. We quickly unpacked and then made our way down to the pool area for a drink, to get a feel for the place. The bar area had palm trees all around and couches everywhere, making it look like the Garden of Eden. With drinks in hand, we went to sit on the loungers around the kidney-shaped pool. It was getting late in the day but it was still warm, I sipped on my Pina Colada with my face upwards towards the sun and relaxed back. I sighed. “This is the life . . . I can’t believe we have three weeks of this! Sunbathing tomorrow is gonna be awesome, with all my new bikinis, my iPod and my k****e, bring it on.” “You’re such a geek Elsa, I bet you’ve done a holiday playlist and everything for your iPod haven’t you?” Kelly asked. “Oh yes,” I nodded. “One for getting ready to . . . one for chilling around the pool and one for winding down when we come in from clubbing.” Hayley and Kelly both shake their heads at how organised I am – they think I'm a geek, but they’ll want me for my playlists. We stay for a while, idly chatting before going to get something to eat in one of the restaurants.  We’re all on a summer holiday high. I'm so busy at home, working at the solicitors, dancing at the club and visiting my dad at the home, where he lives with dementia - I don’t get much time to relax, this is just what I need. I’ve got a feeling that this holiday is one I’ll remember forever.