Page 24 of Mafia Toy

I walked back to Laila. She relaxed in my arms, like she always did after a night like tonight, and rested her head against the crook of my shoulder, sighing softly too.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“For what?”

“For this,” she murmured. “For Sage.”

“Anything for you, doll,” I said, stepping back into the master bathroom and setting Laila into the tub, opposite Sage.

They sank down in the bubbles together, both more relaxed than I had ever seen them, especially Laila.

After disappearing into the hallway, I retrieved a bottle of Afterglow wine from the wine fridge in the pantry and three glasses from the cabinet. When I reached the bathroom, I uncorked the bottle and poured two glasses for the girls.

I grabbed the bar of soap as well as Laila’s favorite loofah, then soaked them into the water. When I pulled it out, suds covered the wet material. I ran it across Laila’s shoulders and cleaned her body with it, washing away all the sweat.

Once I reached her neck, I gently took her chin in my hand. “When you’re finished washing yourself, dry off. I need to talk to you alone …” I growled so low that she barely heard it, “About the family.”

Who were slowly betraying me to protect their own asses after I had done everything for them. Fucking everything. I bloodied my hands for them to thrive in this city, and these moles did nothing but rat me out and put my family in danger.

Laila widened her eyes and nodded. “Okay,” she whispered.

She quickly washed the soap off her body and hopped out of the tub, grabbing a towel to dry herself off and then slipping into a silky black robe. When she walked out of the bathroom to find clothes, I moved to Sage.

I sat on the edge of the tub and ran the loofah across her chest. She stared up at me through wide eyes.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, glancing at the door where Laila had just exited. “Do you need me to leave?”

“No,” I said quickly. “Don’t go.”

I needed her to stay a while longer with Laila as I handled morebusinessat work tonight. Laila usually stayed alone, but I wanted her to have company. By that small smile on her face after I unlocked her restraints to herthank you,I could tell that Laila needed this.

Needed her.

Fuck that Bethany bitch.

Sage stayed quiet while I washed her body, just staring up at me like I was the most fascinating person ever with her huge blue eyes and an innocent smile.

“One day, you should just get in the tub and relax. You look like you need it,” she whispered.

I do.

“It’ll be fun,” she said with a small giggle. “The tub is big enough for all three of us.”

“One day,” I hummed. “One day.”

After I finished washing her off, I set a towel at the edge of the tub. “Stay in here for as long as you want. When you’re finished, you’re welcome to any of Laila’s clothes,” I said, heading for the bathroom door.

Laila sat at her vanity in her closet, running a brush through her wet hair and staring at me through the mirror, brow furrowed. “What happened today?” she asked, setting the brush down and turning to face me.

I ran a hand through my hair, closed my eyes, and blew out another breath. “These fucking men in the family, doll,” I growled. “Men I’ve known all my fucking life, betraying us. These eighteen-year-old kids out here are more trustworthy than uncles and cousins.”

“Who was it this time?” she asked, standing and walking toward me.

“Raul,” I said, still remembering the last breath he had taken in my hands today, the way he had tensed as he sputtered out his last few words, apologizing for everything he had done, for the betrayal he had committed to our family.

“Raul?” Laila repeated, eyes widening. “He is one of your most trustworthy men.”

“Wasone of my most trustworthy. Now, he’s dead.”

---