Ugly Ronney: mafia romance [English]

Chapter 15-1

"Take another step and I'll blow your head off!" I roared menacingly.

The men surrounding me backed away cautiously.

"Ronney, what the hell are you doing?" shouted Yeraz, furious.

He stomped across the room in my direction. Determined, I pointed the gun at him and removed the safety. Yeraz froze, his face pale. He was obviously trying to understand the reason for my behavior, yet it was more than justified.

"Get out of the room!" Yeraz yelled at his men. "This is between me and Miss Jimenez."

The ten or so men present didn't move. They all looked at me with threatening eyes, ready to draw their guns.

"Get the hell out of here!" Yeraz shouted, his eyes popping out of their sockets.

Seven hours earlier

I threw my towel into the sink and tied my hair, carefully avoiding my reflection in the mirror. The tired features of my face were a testament to the long week of working for Yeraz. Timothy, Ashley, and I hadn't slept in two days to finish preparations for the Khan's Thanksgiving gala.

Yeraz had been carefully avoiding me lately and always managed to have one of my assistants or his bodyguards with him when we saw each other. Who did he think I was? I wasn't going to jump on him, let alone harass him after what had happened between us. We were adults and I knew how to keep things separate.

"Ronney?" called Bergamote from the other side of the door. "There's someone here for you."

Someone for me? I frowned and turned my face toward the door.

"Who is it?"

In the back of my mind, I prayed it wasn't Logan. It was early for a Saturday morning, and our studio sessions were on hiatus for a few months.

"A reporter," Bergamote whispered loud enough for me to hear.

I rushed to the door and opened it with an abrupt gesture.

Seeing the intrigued look on my face, Bergamote added in a low voice, "This lady looks more like a lawyer than a reporter. Be careful! I can smell problematic people."

I nodded, puzzled.

"All right, make her sit in the kitchen, please. I'll be right there."

My eyes fell first on her red hair, styled in an asymmetrical bob. Her haircut gave her a false air of neglect, but it was nothing of the sort. This noble woman, in her forties, had a radiant complexion and looked like she had just stepped out of one of those fashion magazines in her tight gray suit, which perfectly shaped her waist. Her steel blue eyes, so penetrating, gave off an incredible aura of authority.

I sat back in my chair as Bergamote brought us a cup of tea. My roommate gave me a worried look, but I reassured her with a smile. She hesitated for a moment, then finally left the kitchen to leave us alone.

"Who are you?"

I kept my appearance calm, but my hand was nervously gripping the edge of the table.

"Tess Lawrence, reporter."

Her soft, confident voice matched her appearance perfectly. She looked around, intrigued by the apartment's old-fashioned decor.

"What do you want?"

I took my cup in my hands to keep myself busy and almost burned my fingers. The reporter opened her briefcase, equipping herself with a notepad and pen. I fluttered my eyelashes several times.

"Wait a minute. What are you doing? Which newspaper do you work for?"

"How long have you been working for Mr. Khan?"

"I'm not comfortable answering your questions without prior notice. How did you get my address?"

I stood up, but the woman put down her pen and put a hand in front of her as if to apologize.

"Wait, Miss Jimenez. Just give me a chance to convince you to give me some of your time."

The reporter took out a business card from her briefcase. I grabbed it, suspicious. She worked for The Daily News. I immediately regretted giving her those few minutes too many. She had immediately talked about Yeraz. Even though this woman was a shark in the media, Yeraz would eat her up if he found out she was interested in him, or rather in his business. I pursed my lips and gave her the card back.

"I'll be right back!"

I rushed out of the kitchen to join Bergamote in the living room.

"She works for The Daily News. Damn it! What does this reporter want with me?"

I rubbed my forehead with one hand as I walked up and down the room. Bergamote, sitting on the sofa, her embroidery frame in her hands, raised her head. A quick answer came to her lips, but she answered with another question.

"Are you sure she doesn't work for the government?"

"No, I don't think so. You saw her. It's like her little eyes are lie detectors."

Changing her tone, Bergamote leaned forward and asked persuasively, "Do you want me to take care of her?"

Dumbfounded, I stopped walking and looked at my roommate.

"Do you want me to make her disappear?"

A faint smile grazed the corner of her pink-painted lips.

"No!" I exclaimed. "Come on, we're not like... Well, never mind."

I shook my head and went back into the kitchen, wondering which of the people in my life right now was the most normal.