Page 27 of Maid For The Mafia Informant

I just don’t know how I’m going to do it is all. Between the mafia hunting us and now the law hunting us, not to mention her father hunting us once he realizes she’s missing.

It’s the obvious question, and I don’t like the feeling it gives me once I hear my angel ask me, “What are we gonna do, Ben?”

She looks scared, even though I can see she’s putting up a brave front for me.

“We’re gonna park your dad’s nice car somewhere safe, find somewhere to stay, and then I’m gonna keep working on my evidence for a case that’ll put ‘em all away.” Tell her.

She holds my hand, kissing it and looking relieved. Glad to hear my firm, deep voice of reason telling her matter of fact just how things are gonna be from now on.

“And…” I continue. Letting my eyes stray for just a moment to her chest then her legs which she widens for me to see better. “We’re gonna pick up where we left off last night, whenever you’re ready to,” I add.

I’d never lie to Sophie either, I love her too much for that. This is my plan and it is what we’re gonna do, even if I don’t know exactly how yet.

Fortunately, my client list hasn’t always extended to the mafia and their families.

I have literally thousands of contacts in the underworld, mostly from when I started out and took the defense cases nobody else wanted.

It doesn’t make me bulletproof, but it’s a place to start.

Calling in favors from some people isn’t always like asking for payment due from the mob.

Enrico Velez still has a car business, but it’s legally straight now. As far as I know. I’m banking on that not being the case though.

If anyone can help me store Mr. Moore’s car and set me up with something else at this hour with no notice, it’s him.

I tell Sophie my intentions, assuring her that her dad’s car will be safe and untouched. Once it’s in storage, the tracking can be reconnected and all he’ll have to do is come get it.

She gnaws at her lip, and I know it’s a big ask.

“We haven’t broken the law, Sophie. Not yet. You haven’t done anything wrong,” I tell her, promising that if anything does happen, then at least she has the best criminal legal advice out there.

She tries to laugh, but I can see it all starting to weigh down on her already.

“Soon, Sophie. Soon we can stop someplace and forget about all this for a while, okay?”

She doesn’t answer me, but she doesn’t protest either. Around fifteen minutes later I’m pulling into the rear entrance of Velez’s motor shop.

A burly mechanic steps out, shaking his head and giving me a dirty look.

I’m over six four, but this guy is bigger. I stop the car and from the way, he’s coming up to me I know he means business.

And not the friendly, ‘can I check your oil and tire pressure?’ kind.

“Whatever happens Sophie, just stay in the car, alright?” I tell her, stepping out and stretching my neck a little, ready for whatever happens next.

“Wrong exit,” the guy growls, looming up as he gets closer.

I watch his eyes move to Sophie, which makes me instantly tense, stronger, and angrier than I might’ve been a second ago.

“You can leave your daughter here though. I’ll look after her,” he says. Leering at her again.

That’s all I need.

The rest is a blur, but I do remember hearing him yelp as I lift him over my shoulders before throwing him across the parking lot into another parked car.

The familiar but excited voices of both Sophie and Enrico Velez bring me around.

“Easy, Ben. Easy!”

My arm lifts to strike against the hands on me, but I soon see who it is and relax, gripping him close instead.

“Sorry, Enrico. You should have your dogs on a leash,” I scold him, rubbing my shoulder, sure I’ve sprained something.

“Uh… he’s new, Mr. Slade. I’m… I’m sorry,” he says sheepishly, looking paler than his sleepy friend over by the car he’s slumped over.

“What’s the matter?” I ask him. “You look like you’ve seen a-”

And then I remember. According to the rest of the world, I’m missing, presumed dead.

Sophie’s soft hands on me relax me instantly, I introduce her to Enrico.

“We can trust Enrico, can’t we?” I ask him, looking suspicious for a moment, feeling like clobbering his hired help probably wasn’t the best way to say hello after all these years.

He beams suddenly, laughing loudly and strongly. The Enrico I remember.

“Of course! You old dog, get in here, the both of you. Tell me how I can help,” he says excitedly, ushering us both towards the back of his warehouse auto shop.

Sophie looks from me to the body slumped over the hood across the way, but instead of looking scared, there’s another look in her eye, one that’s more familiar to me and sets my mind at ease.

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