Page 32 of Mafia and Protector

First on the list was tackling the huge pile of laundry. I put one load in the wash and then rang the grocery store to order some ingredients for tonight’s dinner. As Gabriel and Rafael had seemed put out by the lack of Italian food last night, I would cook spaghetti meatballs tonight.

After I had put in my order, I set to work on dusting, polishing, vacuuming, and mopping the drawing room, entrance foyer, hallway, stairs, and landing. I would ask Gabriel tonight if he minded me going into his bedroom and then I could clean his room too.

Throughout the day, I worked my way through the huge amount of laundry, so that by the early evening all the clothes and sheets had been put through the washer and dryer and I could iron the clean clothes.

It was strange being in this house. It was my home now, however, everything felt alien. All the small noises in the house made me jump, yet the silence was just as oppressive. I was used to having my family around me during the day and my mother’s housekeeper and maids bustling around the place.

When the men arrived home, I was in the kitchen, checking whether the spaghetti was cooked. Rafael had phoned ahead to let me know what time to expect them home.

I poked my head into the hallway and saw Rafael head into the office with some papers. Gabriel was walking toward the kitchen.

As he strode into the room, he looked to where I was standing in front of the cooker before glancing around and taking in the dinner preparations. “What’s the meaning of this?”

I jumped at Gabriel's tone. “I’m sorry that dinner isn’t quite ready, but it will only be another couple of minutes until I can serve it up.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. What have you been doing all day?”

“I…I’ve tried to do as much of the cleaning today as I could, but I only finished the drawing room, foyer, stairs, and hallways. I’ll do more tomorrow. But I did manage to clear all the laundry and iron your and Rafael’s shirts.”

“My brother didn’t marry you to gain a woman to skivvy around the house. You’re supposed to be his wife, not our maid.”

“I-I don’t mind, honestly. I enjoy housework and cooking, and it gives me something to do—”

“Rafael told me he gave you clear instructions to find a new housekeeper and left you our mother’s telephone number so that you could call for her help. We did not ask you to cook and clean for us.”

I was bewildered by his words and frightened by his harsh tone. The fear made nausea swirl in my stomach.

Rafael came into the kitchen. I could feel tears threatening, so I quickly turned away and fiddled with the handle of the pan.

“Hey, Jessica.” He looked from me to Gabriel. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly. “I just have to strain the spaghetti and then everything will be ready.”

He gave me a questioning look but, thankfully, didn’t probe any further.

Once I’d got all the food onto the table, I stepped away. “I’m not hungry. I’m going to head up to bed.”

I turned and fled up the stairs, holding back my tears until I reached the bedroom.

Everything I did lately kept going wrong—my engagement, seeing Juliana, even just cooking dinner. I must be cursed, I thought, as a wet trail ran down my cold cheeks.

People being angry at me was frightening. Their anger meant that things were slipping out of my control, and that feeling made my chest constrict and my breaths painful. I tried to shake the dread that had settled over me, but it was like a fog, heavy and all-consuming.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to do anything else tonight, so I undressed for bed.

CHAPTER 11

RAFAEL

As Jessica wasn’t hungry, Gabriel and I sat down to eat.

As we dished up, I looked at Gabriel, who was still wearing his suit jacket and tie.

“It was hot as hell out there today.” We were in L.A. and it was the middle of summer. “You know, it wouldn’t kill you to go tie-less just for one day.”

He frowned at me. “No, it won’t. But I might just kill you fornotwearing a tie.” I knew he was kidding—Mafia humor. He was obsessive about dressing smart, while I always wore a suit but usually didn’t bother with the tie, particularly on days like today when it was so hot.

“What did you say to Jessica before?” I got the sense that he might have said something to upset her.

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