Page 12 of Taken By the Mob Boss

I lock the screen and start pacing. How quickly will he answer? Would he answer? Why would he? I could just be another hook up to him? I look at my phone, he hasn’t texted me yet. I feel like I’m being squished between two planks of wood. I sit heavily onto my toilet, my bladder suddenly bursting with the need to be relieved.

My phone vibrates.

It’shim.

I open the app.

Hey yourself,Luca says.What’re you up to?

My heart races. I’m suddenly an idiot and can’t think of a single thing to say to him. Instead, I text Mimi immediately.Mim! Wake up! Wake up now! He’s texting me.

I wait for what seems an eternity until Mimi finally replies. I’m already up!What are you on about?Then after a few beats.Whatttt??

I grunt in frustration and text her back about Luca and the app. The penny finally drops for her and she replies,OH MY FUCKING GOD!This text is followed by countless eggplant emojis and water droplets.

Dick queen!She says.

Stop!I text. I almost groan in frustration.What do I sayyyy?

A few moments go by. An eternity. I bounce my legs in frustration. I swap back to the app with Luca. He’s still waiting for me to text back …

I go back to Mimi.What do I say!?

What does he want?She asks.

He wants to know what I’m up to?I say.

Mimi sends me rolling eyes.Are you twelve?

I groan and text back for her to stop being silly. She replies,Just be honest. Be you. But be a cooler version.

What the hell kind of crappy advice is that? But that’s all I’ve got to go off of, so …

I pull up the chat with Luca.Just woke up,I say.You?

The screen loads for a bit, informing me that Luca is typing. Then a smiley face comes through.I’m headed to Key West. Piovere party on our yacht. Want to come?

My eyes bulge and I’m grateful I’m sitting down. A nervous toot even comes out and echoes out of the toilet bowl. I laugh and realize how stupid I am. I text Mimi immediately.

He wants me to come on a yacht!!I say.

Mimi responds immediately.On a scale of one to ten, how much do you trust him?

I pause.What?I text.

Well it’s two things,Mimi responds.Either very fucking cool, or very fucking creepy.

Oh shit I didn’t think of that. I open the app back with Luca; he’s still waiting for my reply.DoI trust him? I switch back to Mimi.It’s a Piovere yacht for the brand.She responds immediately.Still applies. You trust him?

I pause now, looking away from my phone and looking out the window. The palm trees in our yard are still. The sea behind is a deeper shade of blue than the sky. But to me it’s the same endless world awaiting for me to step into it.I do trust him.

I pull up the app with Luca.Sounds great! Count me in.

He responds immediately.Can you be at the port soon?he asks.

I look around the bathroom. I quickly finish my business and flush the toilet, I run to the window and see the guards outside.No, I can’t.

I tell Luca as much. He sends back a frowning face. Then,What about the helipad at the port?

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