Page 33 of Ruthless Mafia Daddy

“Come sit,” she said, patting on the chair next to the kitchen counter. “I’ll fix you something real quick.”

“Thank you, Maya.” I sighed in relief, hopping on the stool.

Over the past few days, Maya and I have developed a form of friendship over dinner. Most times, she cooked while I watched, and other times, I joined if she was making something I was interested in.

“What about Mikhail?” she asked, chopping some spring onions. Her cutting speed always had me on edge and scared for her fingers.

“He was still sleeping when I got out of bed,” I replied, my eyes not leaving her fingers.

A smile touched her lips. “You know he always had trouble sleeping till you moved in. I’d find him working on the table as early as six a.m., and he’d still be making work calls when I left at ten. You’re good for him.”

I felt a twinge of guilt at her words. I could sense how much she cared for him. I had asked Mikhail about her, but he didn’t say much. He just said that she followed him from Russia.

“Maya,” I started, clearing my throat. “How long have you been with Mikhail?”

Her face transformed following my question, and a look of gratitude bled into her eyes. “I’ve been with him since he was five.”

My antennas were instantly up and alert. This was the perfect opportunity for me to dig around Mikhail’s past.

“Woah, that’s a very long time,” I commented, adjusting myself on the stool. “He told me you followed him from Russia. Was your family not worried about you?” I needed to know if she was working for him of her free will or if Mikhail had something on her.

“Yes,???????. After his grandfather died, the young master took over the family business at a very young age. My husband—” she cleared her throat before continuing, “My husband, hewas not a good man, and he got into trouble with some bad men. They killed my husband, took everything we owned, and threatened to kill me if I didn’t provide what was left of my husband’s debt. I was a poor widow with nowhere to go. When Mikhail found out about what happened, he took care of the men and returned all they had taken from me.”

It took a while for me to completely digest the information she had just dumped on me. When I asked about her life with Mikhail, I didn’t expect to hear about him going out of his way to take care of his grandfather’s housekeeper.

“So, when he told me he was leaving for the States, I packed up my life in Russia and followed him. He is the only family I have. He has been so good to me. He even got me my own house after we settled in.” She wiped a stray tear from her eyes, and her unwavering love and loyalty to Mikhail began to all make sense.

“Woah. He didn’t tell me this part of the story.” I said, my chest suddenly feeling tight.

“That’s the young master for you. He’s not one to blow his own trumpet,” she sighed, putting off the fire in the cooker.

I had been so lost in my thoughts I hadn’t noticed her rounding up with her cooking.

“Arielle,” she said, her warm gaze resting on me. “I know he can be difficult at times. He had a rough childhood, and the mistakes of his father rested on him for a very long time, but I can see how much he cares for you. Be patient with him. He might not be the most affectionate, but he’s fiercely loyal and will protect you with his last blood. He did the same for me.”

I could only nod. The tightness in my chest spread to my throat, and I couldn’t produce a sound even if I tried.

“Alright. Breakfast is ready. Go get him,” she clapped, clearing her throat and shooing me away. I’ve never been more relieved to leave a room.

I leaned my back on the nearest wall after I left the kitchen, taking deep breaths to steady myself. The conversation took a completely different turn from what I expected, and I found myself battling with an alien feeling of guilt and not the triumph I thought I’d have after prying information from Maya.

Beneath the feeling of guilt that gnawed at me was a simmering feeling of pity for Maya. She’ll be so heartbroken when she discovers Mikhail’s true nature. It’ll completely crush her.

“I don’t care what it takes, Enzo. I want the whole perimeter secured. No one leaves, and no one gets in until someone gives me a reasonable answer.” Mikhail’s harsh words reached my ears as I got close to his door, and I slowed my pace and strained my ears to hear more.

“No, Lorenzo, no! Just do as I instructed.” He barked with a tone of finality, and the sound of something crashing on the floor followed his outburst. I immediately rushed into the room to find a wide crack in the mirror and blood dripping from Mikhail’s hand as he paced his bedroom.

I took a slow, cautious step towards him, not knowing what to expect. I’ve never seen him like this. “Is everything okay? I heard some commotion in the room.”

His eyes found mine, and he drew in a deep breath, looking at his hand and the mirror. “I’m sorry about the mess, darling. Ijust received very bad news,” he said, sitting on the bed and supporting his head with his hands.

“What happened?” I asked, standing between his legs and cradling his face in my hands.

“It’s nothing to worry about. I’ll go to Russia tomorrow and have it fixed,” he replied, forcing a small smile on his face.

“You can’t ask me not to worry after seeing you like this,” I said, lowering my voice. “Remember, we said no more secrets.”

I couldn’t tell if I was still acting or if I was genuinely concerned for him. “Talk to me, baby,” I coaxed gently.

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