Page 37 of Runaway in the Mafia
“Data,” she muttered.
“That. She thinks I’m too poor to pay for it.”
“It’s not that,” she straightened. “I have to watch and download videos for my work—”
“So?” Mamma scoffed.
“It takes up a lot of space. I would like to increase the plan you have and get a better connection.”
“So you do it.” Mamma shrugged.
She looked at me desperately. “Can you please explain this to her?”
“I don’t need an explanation.” The pan flew into the drawer. “Schifiu!You’re insulting me. This is the way you pay me back for thinking you are like my daughter? My daughter wouldn’t ask to pay me.”
I took a sip of water and muttered helpfully, “Your daughter would rob you to buy some designer bag.”
“See.” Mamma whole heartedly agreed.
Her face was coated in disappointment. It didn’t get past me that she fought for financial independence at every turn. Likeshe was afraid. Like she didn’t want to trust anyone with it. I couldn’t say I understood it, coming from a generation of women who spent like it was their vocation and didn’t care if the money came from the husband or the father. Or the brother. But she treated it like it was a necessity. It was different to Daria wanting to work because, well, Daria just liked going against tradition, or Antonio’s wife, Divya, because it was her passion. With her, the need was deeply rooted. Twisted, like she’d gone down the wrong path, and she was trying to crawl her way out of it.
“Okay, then.”
“What?” Ahana asked.
Mamma went red.“Sei serio?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Sì,I’m serious. I’m sure she’s earning well enough to not starve after paying the bill, Mamma.”
“Ma,Vitale—”
“But nothing, Mamma. Let it go. She wants to pay the bill, so she pays the bill.”
Scepticism filled Ahana’s face. Then her lips tilted into a slow, genuine smile, and fuck if it wasn’t deadly. It jackknifed straight into my chest. It dawned on me that it was the first time she’d smiled at me like this. Her lips curled up fully. Her eyes dazzled. It was like the rush of a warehouse theft. Quite addictive.
“Grazie.”My eyes followed her ass as she strolled out. That accent of hers was going to get my dick in her mouth.
“Huh?” I glanced at Mamma. I’d totally missed what she’d said.
“I am not taking her hard-earned money.”
“You’re not.” I dropped the glass in the sink. “I’ll open an account in her name and transfer it.”
She frowned. “We are not going to steal that girl’s money.”
I sighed. “No, Mamma. She wants financial freedom. So give it to her. If she ever needs the money, it’ll be sitting in a savings account waiting for her.”
Mamma was pensive. Then she smiled deviously. “Why don’t we just fake the amount and make her pay less?”
I shook my head. “Have you seen how smart she is? She’ll figure it out in no time.”
Her smile shone like four thousand lumens.
“What?”
“You know, I was worried about you.” She squeezed my wrist. “You’re going to be alright.”
I frowned. She hesitated. “I know you have always done right.”
