Page 128 of My Mafia King

“I have a place to stay.”

“Is it nice?”

“Yes, it is. I can’t take pictures to show it to you, though.”

“Don’t worry about the pictures. I’ll get to see it someday.”

“Hopefully.”

“I’m sure I will.”

We stay quiet for a few moments.

“I’m on a break right now,” I say. “I’m at the pool.”

“No way…” she says, beaming with excitement.

“Yes. It’s only me here, and it’s nice. I swam.”

“Mmm… I wish I could swim right now. What kind of work do you do? And did you talk to that man? My cousin’s connection?”

She pauses.

“Uh… Yes. I did. I started as a server, and now I’m working for some boss. I’m doing pretty much the same thing. Or almost the same thing. Today, I had a table of eight. And tonight, I’ll be working in the casino.”

The silence grows, and I’m thinking about Tina and me, and the piece of jewelry I had around my neck last night.

How valuable that diamond was.

With a fraction of that value, my life would be so different.

Tina and I would have a home, a cat, and a dog. A nice car, and phones. And friends. We would go on vacation. And I could run a nice boutique like the one I bought my dress from this afternoon.

She’d go to school.

Life would look completely different.

If only I had that…

My thoughts become grayer and grayer, so I move away from that story. There’s no point in teasing myself with something that might never happen.

Moments later, we end our conversation, I lean back, and root my eyes to the sky.

I try not to think about what we just discussed, and then I have that sensation again that someone’s looking at me.

I flick my eyes to the glass separating the pool from the event room and peer inside.

The light hits the glass at an angle, and the glare makes it impossible to see inside. I struggle and shield my eyes before the doors slide open and Damaso walks my way.

I instantly pull upright and almost rise to my feet like I’m in school.

He looks away, avoiding my gaze, and I have the chance to study his appearance.

His dark hair shines under the sun, and his muscular shoulders fill the starched white shirt magnificently.

His trim waist and flat abdomen are nicely emphasized by his tailored pants and narrow belt that is fastened with a shiny buckle.

His sleeves are rolled up, and his tanned forearms are on full display.

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