The Mafia Contract Series

David walks silently behind me as I carry the tray of refreshments to the workers. I know how bad this looks, but I need something to distract me. Just imagining Daphne locked in her room makes me delirious with worry and I’m trying to formulate a plan to set her free and coming up with nothing.

David walks silently behind and I say with interest, “How long have you worked here, David?”

“All my life, Mrs. Sontauro.”

“Excuse me?” I turn and look at him in shock, and he smiles ruefully. “My father worked for the previous Don, and I was raised alongside Winter and Angelo.”

“So, you were friends.” It makes me think of Freya and Bailey and I wonder if they were close and David nods. “Kind of. Winter and Angelo were kept away from us mainly, but it didn’t stop us from forming a friendship of sorts.”

“And your father, does he still work here?”

“Yes, ma’am. He’s retired now but mans the control room.”

“So, you live here?”This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Do you have a family?”

He shakes his head and laughs. “No, ma’am. I’ve just graduated from college, and this is my first position. I haven’t had time to meet someone special.”

“I’m sorry.”

We carry on walking. “It must be difficult to meet a girl locked away here.”

“A respectable one maybe, ma’am, but there are plenty on offer at the various clubs the Don owns.”

“I see.” I roll my eyes and he grins and that one exchange makes me relax around him because thank God he seems normal at least. Then it strikes me that he may be involved in whatever’s going on behind Angelo’s back, so I raise my guard a little.

We reach the row of buildings where the workers are and as I set the tray down on the stone steps, I catch the attention of a man holding a reel of cable.

“Coffee’s here.” He nods and says a cheery, ‘Thanks, darlin’.”

David steps before me and growls, “Mrs. Sontauro to you.”

Rolling my eyes, I step out from behind him and grin. “Darlin’ is fine. He wasn’t to know.”

The guy looks surprised and nods respectfully and as I look around, I notice the place is buzzing with activity. There are several vans and trucks, and it’s good to see normal life for once and then a wave of sadness overcomes me when I think of Daphne and the clock that’s ticking to her forever unhappiness.

I turn away and, as expected, David follows me and I stop a short distance away and say in a whisper, “Can I ask you a favor?”

He nods. “Of course.”

“I need to head back to my parent’s house to grab a few things I missed. Can you drive me?”

He looks unsure. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Sontauro, that wasn’t authorized.”

“It’s just come up. I’m sorry, it’s um, medication I need, and I could really use it. Please, we could be back before the others return, or I can call Angelo if you give me your phone.”

He looks on edge and I wonder about that, and I watch a war wage across his face as he tries to make the right choice. In the end he sighs and says quickly, “How long exactly?”

“Two hours at the most. I would be so grateful.”

He apparently makes a decision on the spot and nods toward a barn in the distance. “We’ll take a car and I’ll inform my father to open the gate.”

I’m surprised he didn’t call Angelo and that worries me a little, but not as much as the worry I have for my sister and so I don’t stop to think and follow him to the barn to grab a car and hopefully save her.

IT MUST TAKE an hour to cross the city and as we leave the territory behind that my husband controls and head toward a more familiar one, I almost can’t breathe with anxiety. As we near our destination, David’s phone rings and he looks down and turns ghostly white. “It’s the Don. I should take this.”

He swerves to the side, and I huff with frustration because I’m impatient to move this on and as he steps from the car, I see him whispering urgently into the phone. When he returns, he sighs heavily.

“He told me to wait until he gets here.”

“But that will take at least another hour. We can’t wait. He can catch us up at the house.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Sontauro. I work for your husband, and he has given me an order.”

I’m so frustrated I could cry but accept I’ll get nowhere with this loyal friend and so I slump back in my seat and fight back the tears because all the time I’m sitting here, Daphne’s life is in danger.