Page 115 of Syndicate of Sin Bundle

After rolling my eyes at him—because who could turn down a second free cookie?—I walked out of the café and toward a black SUV with tinted windows parked on the side of the road. I slipped into the backseat while Riccardo got in up front with the driver.

“Where are we off to?” the driver asked.

“Burgerland,” I said, gazing out the window at the New York streets.

An hour later, I stood in front of Laila’s door with a greasy bag of burgers and fries. I knocked and bounced on my toes, waiting for her to answer. After some shuffling through the house, Laila pulled the door open a couple of inches and glanced outside.

When she spotted me, she widened her eyes and opened the door completely. “Sage,” she said, pulling off her dirty apron. “I thought you were out today.” With the back of her clay-covered hand, she pushed a couple of strands of hair off her forehead. “If I had known you were coming over, I would’ve showered.”

My cheeks warmed. “You don’t have to do that for me. I’m just here to deliver dinner.”

Laila washed her hands in the kitchen sink and glanced over her shoulder at the bag of fast food in my hands. “Burgerland?” she asked, inhaling deeply as a huge grin broke out on her face. “God, it smells delicious.”

“It’s probably not the kind of food you normally have, but it’s my favorite.”

“I haven’t had a burger in forever.” She giggled. “I’m excited.”

I set it on the counter and headed toward the bathroom. “I’m going to use the bathroom.”

It had been a long day at the coffee shop, and I hadn’t wanted to lose my seat to use the restroom. But that iced tea had really gotten to me and settled in my tummy these past few hours. And then sitting in all that traffic!

After I shut the door and made a run for the toilet before I peed myself, I slumped my shoulders forward and blew out a deep breath. From inside the bathroom, I listened to two pairs of feet shuffling around the house.

Shit! Is Constantino back? I had only gotten food for Laila and me.

Once I finished my business, I hurried back into the living room and spotted Bethany dragging Laila toward the front door.

“Come on,” she called. “I made a reservation for dinner at seven tonight with the girls.”

I stopped in my tracks and sucked in a quiet breath. Oh, definitely not Constantino.

“Beth,” Laila said, “I really don’t think—”

Bethany glanced over her shoulder at Laila, but spotted me and dropped Laila’s hand, pausing at the door. “Why are you here?” she asked me, then gazed at the paper bag with a grease stain at the bottom. “Did you bring that over for dinner?” She turned to Laila. “She’s a housekeeper, but doesn’t cook?”

“Bethany, please,” Laila said, standing up straight and fiddling with her fingers. “We—I …”

“I’m here to … clean up before Constantino gets home,” I said, not wanting Laila to have to tell Bethany about me. I knew deep down that she didn’t want anyone to know. I glanced at the bag from Burgerland and hurried over to it. “This is just … my dinner for tonight.”

“You shouldn’t eat while you work,” Bethany said, pursing her pink lips together. She pushed past Laila to the counter, grabbed the bag of food, and dumped it upside down in the trash. “If you’re working for Constantino, at least respect his wife.”

“S-sorry, Mrs. Buratti,” I stuttered. My stomach growled. “I-it won’t happen again.”

“It’d better not,” Bethany growled, seizing Laila’s hand.

“I don’t think that was necessary,” Laila said to Bethany, not moving.

After turning toward Laila, Bethany scowled. “She’s fucking your husband.”

“N-no, she’s not,” Laila stuttered, mouth opening and closing, as if she didn’t know what else to say to her supposed best friend. “She’s our housekeeper and nothing more. I-I planned to have dinner here tonight any—”

“You don’t want to come out to dinner with us?” Bethany asked, frowning. “Come on, Laila. We are heading to your favorite place, and the girls haven’t seen you in, like, over a week now.”

Laila stared at me through sorrowful eyes. She didn’t want to let Bethany down.

And it freaking killed me on the inside.

But it wasn’t my place to say anything. My chest tightened. I was her toy. Nothing more.

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