The Fate of a Love Game || A mafia romance story

Chapter 3

Mae woke up with a headache. She moaned quietly as she sat up, her head pounding. Her throat was dry and, while one nostril felt like the Sahara desert, the other one felt like the amazon rainforest.

"Great," she said to herself. "It feels like I've been hit by a bus. And now I think I've got a cold."

"Well, you certainly look like you've been hit by a bus," a feminine voice floated out from the other side of the room. It was at this moment that two things happened.

Firstly, Mae realised how white the room was. Everything was white, a stark white that almost seemed to blind her. She'd always been a fan of soft greys and warmer colours, and therefore was most definitely not a fan of this room. It didn't do anything for her head, either.

Secondly, the previous events caught up to her. She remembered the club, and Luca, and his men, and driving to his house, and passing out in his arms. It was all seeming to her like her life was becoming some cheesy romance novel. Not that she minded. 

She looked over in the direction of the voice. It was a figure, but where the person was stood in the doorway, they were shadowed by the hallway. Whoever it was seemed to notice, because they stepped into the room.

"Of course you're glamorous," Mae muttered under her breath. The woman that stepped into the  room was tall and shapely, slim but not too thin, with long black hair. She was wearing a long, silky dress and heels. Even the way she walked was elegant. Mae had never felt more frumpy in her life.

"What's that, sweetheart?" The woman had a slight French accent to her words. 

"Nothing," Mae said. "I was just talking to myself."

"Well, do tell. I would love to know some juicy secrets to gossip about, even if they don't concern anyone I know. This place is pretty enough, but it's starving me of normal human civilisation."

"I- this place- human civilisation?" Mae was shocked by the woman's carefree, I-don't-give-a-shit attitude.

"Yes, darling. The boys here think it's acceptable to work all night and most of the day and sleep for the rest of the time, occasionally getting up to eat. The most communication I get out of them is a grunt. That whorehouse I came from was a dump, but at least I had company and people to talk to." 

Mae began to splutter. "Whorehouse?"

"Incase you hadn't noticed, I'm a slut. I sleep with men for money. One of the lower idiots bought me last year with a load of money he stole from the Don. They were going to let me go, but apparently I knew too much, so they kept me as their personal slave. I see past them though; they just wanted free sex. I used to be expensive you know, people as experienced as me don't come cheap. They're just cheating me out of my rightful money." She stared at her long, painted nails and produced a nail file from somewhere, beginning to file the already perfect shapes. "But don't get your hopes up darling, it really isn't all that good here. You should just give up early, while you're ahead. They won't pay yo-"

"I don't want to be here, believe me. I'm supposed to be marrying some guy, apparently, although my dad-" Mae yelped so suddenly that the lady broke her nail with the file. She stared crossly at Mae.

"My dad is going to kill me," Mae started to panic a little. "I can't show my face there ever again, he'll kill me!"

"Then don't," the lady said impatiently, trying to fix her nail. "If you're going to marry someone then you don't have to live with him anymore. Just stay with the guy you're marrying and avoid ever seeing your dad again."

Mae scoffed. The lady, having given up on her nail, studied Mae's face for a moment.

"Who are you supposed to be marrying anyway? I'm gonna assume it's someone from here."

"Here?" Mae frowned in confusion. "Where is here, anyway? And who are you?"

The lady rolled her eyes. "This is the mafia base. The place where all those men who think they're hard but are actually idiots come. And I'm Jeanette. Who are you?"

Mae considered the fact that she was right about them being mafia for a moment, then stuck her hand out in a friendly gesture. "I'm Mae."

Jeanette dropped her nail file in shock. "You're...no, you can't be! You're Mae? But you look so shit!"

"Gee, thanks," Mae muttered. "I did just get stabbed."

"In the back of the leg, it wasn't that bad. It didn't even hit anything major, look at you. You're healed two days later."

"Two days?" Mae nearly choked. She definitely couldn't go back to her father now. "I've been asleep that long?"

"Never mind that," Jeanette waved her hand dismissively. "We need to get you fixed up before the Don returns. Ohhh, he's gonna love seeing you in some sexy lingerie! I have the perfect set!"

Mae stood up, suddenly angry. She pointed a finger at Jeanette. "Let me make one thing very clear. I DID NOT come here to be shoved into something sexy just to please some guy. I didn't even come here willingly at all!"

"Well of course not, that's my job," Jeanette rolled her eyes. "Don't worry sweet cheeks, your boyfriend has forbidden me from having sex with him since you arrived. Shame, he was the only one that could keep up with me."

Mae gagged. "Too much!"

"You couldn't keep up with me ever, Jeanette. Go find someone else to inflict your annoying comments on, my principessa doesn't need your filth filling her lovely head." Luca's imposing form stood in the doorway. His eye dropped into a wink when he caught Mae looking at him. Her mouth promptly fell open in shock.

Jeanette huffed and stood up, turning to leave. "I'll see you around, yeah?" She said to Mae before going to the door. Her fingertips trailed over Luca's chest in a teasing way before she left. Luca looked to see if Mae had a reaction, and he seemed disappointed when she continued to stare at him impassively.

"She didn't bother you too much, did she?" Mae shook her head. Luca came up to her bed and stroked the side of her face gently.

"I've been talking to your father lately. He says he doesn't want you back; he says you can stay here, if you want to. I can't believe him," Luca's hands clenched into tight fists.

"Are you ok?"

He shook his head. "He should have treated you like the regina you are. He should have showered you in love and gifts, he should have-"

"Well he didn't, so that's that," Mae said decisively. It seemed to snap Luca out of whatever trance he was in, as he stood up and grabbed a bag that sat in the doorway. He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead in a loving way before smoothing her hair and dropping the bag on her bed. 

"Open it," he invited her. "I'll be back in an hour or so to take you to a more...permanent room here. I hope you like it." He swept out the room as abruptly as he had appeared. Confused, Mae turned to the bag. 

She wondered what was inside. He had seemed nervous. What could make a mafia Don nervous?