Him (A mafia story)

Chapter 16

"So what have you been doing here this whole time?" Julia asked as we sped out of the gates in her Alfa Romeo.

"Not much. I was at the estate for a while, but then I shot Nikolai's car. That made him really mad so he took me to his house for a few weeks. We just got back to the estate today."

Julia let out a laugh. "You shot his car? I'm not even going to ask where you got the gun from."

"Yeah he wasn't too happy about that." I chuckled. "He put me in the trunk."

Julia gasped. "Che maleducato! I need to teach that boy some manners!"
(How rude!)

I giggled at the thought of Nikolai getting scolded by his mother. He didn't seem like the type of man who listened to anyone. I turned around to look out the back window. "I'm surprised he didn't send anyone after us."

"He knows better than to tail his mother. I'd wring his scrawny little neck." Julia scoffed.

"I'd pay to see that."

I knew Nikolai would be upset with me again when I inevitably went back to the estate, but I'd deal with that when it was time. For now, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the freedom. My life had been so centered around him lately that it felt nice not to have to think about him.

Julia drove us into the city with ease, weaving through the New York traffic until she pulled into an underground parking lot. "Where are we?" I asked as we got out of the car.

"My apartment in the city. I like to spend my weekends here." She explained, pressing a button for the elevator.

Five minutes later I was sitting in the nicest apartment I'd ever seen. The word apartment seemed too modest for this place. It was bigger than my aunt and uncle's house had been and it was covered in marble floors and expensive looking furniture. Julia had good taste.

"Do you want chocolate or vanilla?" She asked me as she pulled two cartons of ice cream from her freezer.

"Chocolate, please." I said with a smile. "Thank you for getting me out of that house, it was starting to suffocate me."

"Of course! Next time you want girl time, just call me!" She said. "He shouldn't be keeping you locked up in that house anyway."

"Trust me, I would've called you if I had known you could walk in and out of that place as you pleased. Actually, if I had a phone, period."

"We're getting you a phone tomorrow." Julia decided.

I snorted. "Thanks, but don't waste your money. He won't let me keep it."

She handed me a bowl of chocolate ice cream and a spoon. "I'll have a word with him then. If he doesn't let you call me at least once a week to know you're okay, I'm going to be very upset with him."

I nodded, spooning some ice cream into my mouth. "That would work."

We sat quietly for a few minutes, just enjoying our ice cream as I got lost in thought. We'd had a really good day today, him and I. I was certain that Julia could get me out and it was a relief to know that I had an escape, but I wasn't sure if I wanted out anymore. Nikolai was making me feel things I hadn't felt before and he was sharing personal stuff with me. He had introduced me to his mother for Christ's sake! Granted, he hadn't known that we already knew each other, but the thought counted for something.

"Hey Julia?" I started slowly. "Do you actually not approve of Nikolai and me?" The question had been bothering me since we'd left the estate.

Julia sighed and put her spoon down. "For once, he introduced me to a lovely woman. I'd be so happy for him if the two of you pursued each other. My issue lies with him, not with you. I'm not sure if he knows how to love someone like you."