Kiss My Feet, Mr. Mafia

Episode 6

Luca

"Don Falcone, Mr Farina seeks a meeting with you. It appears he's learned what happened at the last meeting and wants to clear the air.'' Marco informed me, while we picked out a wedding ring for Maria.

Zoran stood by the door, having dragged out the body of a man who'd stolen from us. I loaded my gun, sliding it to the back of my pocket before turning back to the attendant. She gave me a small smile, afraid of doing anything more that could earn her a bullet. Marco stood rigid, waiting for my response to Farina's request.

"Tell Farina he doesn't get meetings. He gets consequences," I said coolly, turning the diamond engagement ring between my fingers. "Last time his associates tried to undermine our territory, they forgot who runs this city."

Mr Farina was a businessman, a man who tried too hard to enter the world of the mafia yet failed. He and my father worked together until I took over. Mr. Farina had a reputation for sabotaging his partner's companies then buying them for change. He'd expected us to crumble when my father stepped down, instead, he met me.

Zoran leaned against the doorframe, a sardonic smile playing on his lips. "Want me to send a message?"

I raised my hand. "Not yet. Subtlety first. Farina needs to understand the pecking order without unnecessary bloodshed."

Marco shifted uncomfortably. "And the Williams situation?"

My gaze hardened. "Maria isn't just a wife. She's our insurance policy." I set the ring down. "Her father has been hunting our organization for years, always one step behind. Now? He'll be watching exactly where I want him to look."

"You're using her as bait," Zoran observed.

"I'm using her as a strategic point of contact," I corrected. "The FBI director thinks he knows everything. But he doesn't know me. And now, through Maria, we'll know everything about his investigations."

"These.'' I pushed three diamond rings forward. "Bag them all, my fiance will choose one or keep all.''

I turned to Zoran, who now had his phone pressed to his ear looking grave.

"What is it?'' I asked through gritted teeth, trying to keep my cool. I'd only been gone a few hours, what happened now?

"There was an intruder. Someone sneaked into Maria's room and ..'' Zoran paused. "They have her at gunpoint.''

Something about it made my heart twist. "Do you know who it is?'' I asked, picking the bag and heading out with Marco.

"The men are running a search, all the while trying to contain the situation. All I know is that the intruder threatens to shoot Miss Maria if we don't let him take her.''

"Listen to me, Zoran.'' I murmured, getting in the back seat. "The last thing we want is an FBI's daughter dying in our territory. It'll bring unwanted heat. Tell them to contain the situation until I get there.''

Zoran's head shook, he went back on his call. Meanwhile, I inspected my weapon. My fingers were sweating, my heart was beating fast. Am I...worried? I'd never been worried about anything.. anyone.

While the car sped, my fingers itched. I couldn't wait to kill the man who'd dared threaten what's mine.

Maria's POV

A gun pointed to the back of my head had quickly shifted to an arm around my neck and the gun against the side of my head. My attacker, a man I couldn't even see, addressed the crowd of guards that flooded the room.

"Anyone moves and I kill her." He spoke in a low calm tone, not an ounce of fear detected. "I know how valuable she is to your Don. Drop all your weapons and let me leave!"

The man with the broken arm laughed, grabbing the gun I'd dropped from fear.

"You're an i***t if you think you can escape a fortified mafia house. You're holding the soon to be Donna. Let her go and perhaps your death won't be painful."

Donna? Was that female for Mafia Don?

"Please, whoever you are, I don't want to die." I cried, gripping on his arm.

"Let her go, we'll let you walk away." The guard told him, while the other men started making a circle around us. Instead, my attacker stepped back till we hit the wall, ensuring no one could creep up on him.

"Gallo, io lo distraggo mentre tu gli spari in testa. Don Falcone ci ucciderà se lei muore." The guard spoke to his other men, banking on the loss of translation. I barely understood a word he'd said. Languages weren't my strength. One of the men broke from the circle and moved forward. Instead, the man with the broken hand tossed his gun on the carpet, throwing his hands in mock surrender. ("Gallo, I'll distract him while you shoot him in the head. Don Falcone will kill us if she dies.")

"Non provarci neanche per sogno, Gallo." My attacker shouted, pulling the gun from the side of my head to aim it at the moving man. "Un movimento sbagliato e muore."

(Don't try it Gallo. One wrong move and she dies.')

Suddenly, one man moved to grab his gun from the carpet. My attacker shot at him, the bullet landing straight between his eyes as the man with the broken hand fell hard on the floor. Horrified, I acted out of desperation. I bit my attacker's arm, earning a groan while he shoved me hard. i tried to run, but he caught me by the window. No one else had tried to shoot.

"Please, just let me go." I cried out, standing by the open window as I fought in his arms.

"I'm trying to save you, Maria. Your father sent m..." His words died, I felt warm liquid tickle down my hair to my forehead. His hand around my neck eased up and he let me go. He fell on the carpet, his pistol slipping. I turned to look at him, a bullet wound between his eyes. My eyes shifted in horror, towards the open window. To the man now standing a few feet away from the adjacent window, holding a sniper's rifle.

"Luca."