Dancing For The Mafia

24

Eliana

I sat alone in DeLeón's office as I waited for them to come back. I didn't regret a thing. Frisco's manipulation was never going to end unless he was dead, he needed to cease to exist. The door opened and I looked back to see DeLeón storming in, his two nephews behind him. They both greeted me with a kiss on the forehead as they stood behind me. DeLeón settled in his seat sighing, "What the hell Peña?"

"I didn't do anything wrong."

I could see DeLeón's jaw clench in an instant, "Killing him would put entire clans at my door. They would kill everyone in my mafia and I'll be damned if I allow someone to let their revenge be the reason my family is dead." My chest tightened at the thought of me being that someone, "I understand your frustration but killing Estrada is where I draw the line."

"How was he here tonight?" Peter questioned and I internally agreed, "We upped our security and the son of a bitch still managed to sneak inside the club."

DeLeón rubbed his chin, "We need to run all the men who were here tonight through a test." He went to the rack to prepare himself a drink, "We might have a rat amongst us, and I will not let them live in secret."

I hoped the rat wasn't someone I knew, they always say to keep your enemies close. I can't even imagine getting close to someone who've had no other thought in their head but to see me dead. I could feel a small aching settle into the side of my head. "I should go." I had class in the morning and tonight was very eventful. I looked back at my boys, "Can we go home?"

They looked at me with warm eyes and then at their Uncle, "Take her home, we'll figure it out later."

I said my goodbye and walked hand in hand with the boys out of the office. Peter pulled me towards him wrapping his arms around me. He kissed the top of my head, "I'm so sorry he was here tonight baby."

My eyes watered, "It's not your fault." Throughout the years, I've never processed the trauma that came with working under Frisco. Seeing him tonight reminded me of how weak I once was; it reminded me of the pain I was hiding, "Don't be sorry."

We arrived home and I took a quick shower before laying down in our bed. I could feel one of the boys run their hand up and down my exposed back. I closed my eyes and I tried to relax against his touch, "You okay?"

"No." I said softly knowing the possibility of better days was unlikely. It's been subtle but the changes have been great, until this blows over it didn't matter how hard I tried to be okay. I was stuck in a constant state of fear no matter how hard I tried to ignore how afraid I was. I turned my face wet with tears, Patrick's expression faltered at the sight of me, "Why can't he leave me alone?"

He laid down fully next to me sincerity written all over his face, "I don't know and I wish I could kill him." He pulled his lips into a thin line, "I hate seeing you like this my little blue bird." He rubbed my chin and I closed my eyes more tears expelling from his comforting touch, "You're our little dancer of hope and joy, he won't take you from us." I opened my eyes looking up at him, "He won't win this fight."

"You can't even kill him." Pain flashed through his face and I regretted my words almost immediately, "I didn't mean that Patrick, I'm so sorry."

He smiled down at me, "It's okay, get some sleep." He kissed me soft and quick on the lips before pulling himself away. He flicked off the grand lights turning on the much softer and dimmer ones, "Goodnight."

He closed the door before I could return the goodbye. I curled into myself hating the ego bruise I inflicted on him. He was doing all that he could to keep me happy and away from Frisco. Peter included. The entire mafia was, and I didn't owe them a single thing. I rubbed my head against the pillow the aching in my head returning. Everyone was willing to fight for me even though I was still a complete stranger in some ways.