Page 41 of Mafia Rules

"Oh! Is there something Mafia-ish going down?" Her calm voice hints at a hidden excitement for the unfolding drama.

"Just please come and get me. I’ve pinged you my location.” As I look out from the building, my body quivers with fear when I realize Ash is not in sight.

"I got you on Google Maps. Can you make it to Windsor Street? There's a parking lot next to the pet store."

"Yes, I can do that. Thanks, Macy."

"On my way!" Macy hangs up.

It takes roughly ten minutes to get to the restaurant from our place, but I had to sneak past Ash and possibly the rest of the group. I peek around the corner again, and it's pretty empty. No Ash in sight. I wrap myself in my coat and dash toward the road. If I can make it past the next building, the chances of him seeing me will be low.

I walk fast with my head down, the wind hitting my face, making my eyes water. With each step away from the restaurant, I felt my anxiety reduce. I glance back and still don't see Ash. Fear and disappointment wage a battle in my mind at the thought of him leaving with Sasha.

I continue walking until I finally arrive at the designated parking lot. I take out my phone and see a flurry of text messagesand missed calls from Ash. My heart aches, and I have to stop myself from reading them. Then his picture pops up. He's calling again. After pressing decline, I hastily stuff the phone back into my pocket.

I hide my face behind my hair as tears stream down uncontrollably, trying to stifle my sobs with my gloves. I stay that way for long moments, too afraid to remove my hands from my face.

"Eve! Eve over here!" I hear Macy's voice calling out to me.

I spot her car and run toward it, taking refuge from the cold and Ash. "Thank you for coming. I know I look a mess."

"Did he hurt you? What the fuck happened? Last I know, you're going to a kink club, then I find you in the street crying." Macy's hand grabs mine as she looks me over.

"No, that went well. He could tell I didn't want to be there, so we left. Then, this morning, his family called a meeting for work." My voice trembles as I recall the vivid images of us walking in together and the expressions on everyone's faces as the reality of my presence sank in.

"Like the Mafia family?" Macy's eyes widen and she grows silent, waiting for me to respond.

"No. I mean, yes, but it's not like the movies and books, and I don't want to talk about the work stuff. His ex is working for his father now. He didn't know that until today. He was just so dismissive to me after."

My hands tremble. I couldn't help but feel foolish for allowing myself to become emotionally attached to someone I had barely gotten to know. How could I be so naïve? Of course, he would be perfect at first; aren't all relationships like that? Why do I always fall for the wrong guys?

"Can we just go? He’s probably looking for me." I point straight, not caring where we end up. I glance out the window as I sink into my seat, not wanting Ash to know where I'm going.

Macy drives for a bit, not asking questions, while I gather my thoughts and relive the meeting. The look of disappointment on his father's face when he looked at me. Sasha's excitement when Ash found out they have to work together.

"And… Did you just leave?" Macy's sudden interruption jolts me out of my spinning thoughts.

“No, I was asked to leave." I hang my head, unsure of who said it first. Those details are not as vivid as everything happened so fast. Looking at Ash to stand up for me, he didn't even bother to look at me once I was dismissed.

"What did Ash say?" Macy's hands hold the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white with tension.

"Nothing, so I just picked up my things and left."

Macy's phone interrupts me. She looks at the number with a scrunched-up face. I glance at her screen and see Ash's phone number. "That’s Ash. Don’t answer.”

“How the fuck did he get my number? Oh right… that’s some Mafia shit.” Macy lets the phone ring until it stops. A few seconds later, it dings with a voicemail.

“Should I?” Macy looks at me with her hand hovering over her phone screen, waiting for my command to press play.

I nod, needing to see what Ash has to say. Macy plays his voicemail.

“Hey, sorry to bother you, Macy. It’s Mr. McKenzie. I was just looking for Eve. She left a meeting and, well… I’m a little worried I can’t find her. I just want to know if she’s okay. Please call or text. Thanks.”

“He sounds legit and not murdery,” Macy says. “You know how it can be with your parents. You don’t act like yourself around them. Childhood trauma and all. Why not hear him out?”

I let out a sigh. Sure, I did, but I would never ignore Ash in front of anyone. “It was more than that. It was like he would doanything to make his father happy, as if he had something to prove to him. And Sasha makes his dad happy.”

“I still think you should talk to him.” Macy winces slightly as she suggests it, betraying her apprehension about my reaction.

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