Indebted to the Mafia King
Stalked

Chloe

On Friday morning, my mom convinced me to go to lunch with the mob wives so we could all catch up since I haven't gone to the last two meetings. I wasn't in the mood-especially after my father's funeral-and I am still not. However, I have no choice since I am officially part of their "family" now. It's not like I can enjoy the privileges of the life and not be actively involved.

So, after she lectured me for almost fifteen minutes, I decided to indulge her and accept the invitation, otherwise she wouldn't leave me alone. I know she's been trying to distract herself, but it's starting to be too much, even for her. I used to participate in these meetings and gatherings before we moved to Miami, and true, I used to enjoy them. The girls are actually fun. However, ever since my life drastically changed after I had Ellie and met Mateo, my perspective on life simply changed too.

Also, it's not the same to be at a restaurant, listening to twenty women chattering and laughing around me while holding a one-year-old baby and trying to distract her. It's past the time for Ellie's nap, and by the way she's been throwing her doll on the floor and whining at whatever I try to do to keep her entertained, it's clear she needs to sleep. And soon.

I feel like I'm ruining everyone's lunch. No one is saying anything, or even throwing side glances at Ellie, but I just know I'm being a nuisance. I am the only one with a baby here after all.

I tried asking Lorenna to watch over Ellie again, but she told me she had exams at college this afternoon, so she couldn't help me.

One more thing bothering me is my mom. She's been acting as if everything is okay since we came back to Staten Island. I don't know why it annoys me so much, but it does. I should be happy that she is getting back on her feet. I feared she wouldn't be herself again when I saw how distraught she was when Dad died.

However, pretending like our life is simply a fairy tale is insane. Maybe I'm just jealous that I can't turn a blind eye to my past like she seems to be doing. That I can't stop looking over my shoulder whenever I'm outside. That even though I have gotten another cell phone, I still shiver whenever it rings, thinking the private number somehow found me again.

It has been a few days since I went after Tony to ask him for help. And I still wonder if I did the right thing. I wasn't planning on telling him much, but of course he was observant and insightful enough to put two and two together. When his eyes spotted the bruises and scars on my arms, my entire body froze.

I saw the way his eyes darkened and his jaw clenched at the sight of them. I didn't mean for him to see that. Sure, I had to share some information to get him to help me with my phone, but I was planning on being as cryptic as possible, not revealing too much.

The way he looked at me and offered to take down Mateo made my heart jump for several different reasons. But most of all, I was afraid for him. I should not have involved Tony, or the Saints for that matter.

Mateo is dangerous, and even though I know the Saints can take care of themselves, and that Tony is very powerful as well, just the thought of him being hurt because of me...it's too much for me to handle. "Honestly, Chloe, Ellie is just one of the prettiest babies I have ever seen," Amanda gushes by my side, waving her hands in front of Ellie in a playful manner.

She was a good friend of mine when I lived here, and we managed to keep in touch while I was in Miami, although not as frequently as I'd like. Amanda is sweet, nice, and thoughtful. She is also the main reason why I accepted to come today, since we're helping her plan her wedding with Tony's soldier, Kian. I didn't want her to feel like I didn't care about her or her wedding.

I smile at her. "Thank you."

"Have you ever thought of getting her into modeling? I can totally see her being famous in the future," Amanda asks, still playing around with Ellie. "She has so much potential." "Yeah, that is indeed a good idea," Val chimes in from across the table. A few other wives nod in agreement.

My mom looks at Ellie with eyes filled with pride. She straightens her shoulders and flips her hair over them. "Oh, that'd be interesting. I could be her manager. Or maybe her 'grandmager."" She laughs at her own joke, a chorus of chuckles following after her.

I shake my head, turning my attention back to Amanda. "I guess I don't want Ellie to be thrown into a career she might not want to follow in the future, you know? She's also too young to start working. Life is already hard enough, I don't need to throw that burden on her so soon." I tell her softly, hoping the others won't hear me.

Knowing them, I can almost hear them calling me uptight and unambitious. They care a lot about money, so anything that goes against that is not seen in a good light.

"Yeah, I can understand that," Amanda replies, nodding. "I think about that a lot too. Now that I'm getting married, I wonder what it'll be like to build a family in the underworld. You should know that better than me."

As if on cue, Ellie starts crying and screaming, so loud that half the customers in the restaurant turn their heads to look at us. I feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment, and I immediately rock her in my arms, shushing her and trying to calm her down. But it doesn't matter what I do, Ellie simply cries harder and harder.

I get to my feet, feeling like I might be thrown out of this establishment if I don't leave willingly.

"I am so sorry, ladies. But I guess I'll just go home. She really needs to take her nap. I'm really sorry," I repeat, gathering my purse and Ellie's pack and throwing them over my shoulder.

"Do you need me to go with you?" Mom offers, but I can tell by her tone that she is doing it just to be polite. She doesn't want to go, and I don't want to be a party-pooper, so I tell her I will be fine.

I wave everyone goodbye and head outside with Ellie, directing hushed apologies at the tables I pass by on my way out.

Since the restaurant is just a short walk from home, I don't see the need to call a cab or an Uber. Instead, I put Ellie in her stroller and walk down the familiar streets, looking at shop windows and taking in the warm weather of this sunny day. Soon enough, Ellie falls asleep. I think about turning around and returning to the meeting, but honestly, I'm closer to home than the restaurant now. And Ellie could wake up with all the noise around, and then things would just be worse than before.

That's when I notice a black car slowly following me. At first, I think I'm imagining things. But when I turn three corners and it is still on my tail, I start freaking out. Its tinted windows are so dark that I can't see a thing inside, but my gut tells me all I need to know. With my heart pounding on my chest, and blood pumping in my ears, I cut back toward the restaurant, even though I'm closer to home.

If I am being followed, I don't want to take my stalkers to my house. Especially since I'd be alone with Ellie there. No, it's better to stay out in the open where I can scream for help if needed.

I ponder calling my mother, but she won't hear her phone inside her purse. When I left, they were talking so loudly that I feared they would be the ones to be kicked out.

The car comes closer, turning into the same street as me again. There is no one around so I can ask for help. Just when I need a kind soul to cross my path, I find the streets empty, even though it's still the middle of the afternoon on a Friday. I decide to turn right into an alleyway, which, fortunately, is a one-way street in the opposite direction, so the car can't follow me here. At first, I don't recognize the man leaning against an iron gate, calmly smoking a cigarette. My brain takes in his dark hair, his large built body, and his stoic expression. And then it comes to me.

This is Armando, Tony's second hand.

That's when I realize I'm in the back of Lou's Deli, the Saints headquarters.

I'm still panting when Armando's eyes narrow on me, his brows creasing in confusion.

"Mrs. Bertolucci?" he asks suspiciously. "Are you all right?" He pulls away from the gate, slowly approaching me.

I am definitely not okay. But I can't find the right words to answer him. I fear I might be hyperventilating. I take deep breaths, just focusing on getting my heartbeat back to normal. Thankfully, Ellie is still asleep in her stroller.

Noticing something is wrong, Armando doesn't press on with his questions, instead guiding me inside, his hand gesturing for me to lead the way. I notice he doesn't touch me, which I'm internally grateful for even though he has no idea why. We walk through some dark hallways until he leads me to the front of the restaurant. There aren't any customers other than a couple eating at a table in the corner, and they don't even seem to have noticed our arrival.

A guy who appears to be in his late fifties looks at us from behind the counter, a ragged towel in his hand.

"The lady needs a sandwich and a drink, Lou," Armando says from beside me. Then he turns to me. "Come and sit at one of the tables while you wait, Mrs. Bertolucci."

I look at where he's pointing, and a shiver runs down my spine.

"Could I please sit away from the window?" I ask, pleading at him with my eyes.

Armando and Lou, who I now realize is the owner, exchange glances.

"Sure, follow me downstairs," Armando offers, and I instantly feel relief coursing through my veins. I'd been to Tony's office and it surely felt safer than staying out here.

I bend forward to get Ellie out of her stroller, being as careful as possible so as not to wake her. I'm still scared and slightly embarrassed to be making such a scene in front of Tony's second and the owner of the establishment where he covers his headquarters, but what else could I do?

I nod at Lou as a way of thanking him without saying the actual words and follow Armando down the stairs. I feel relieved to notice Tony isn't here. However, there is no way on this Earth that he won't hear about any of this.