Entangled With A Mafia Boss

Tessa Mariano turned the sign on the restaurant door backward to read 'close.' It was her third time closing the restaurant that week. She had picked up several shifts to keep up with the bills yet she still fell behind.

Sometimes she wanted to give up and quit because of how badly she was treated by the rest of the staff but if she did that, it meant that her mother would die. She had already lost her father when she was little and then, her younger sister during one of the Mafia gang raids in the city. She could not afford to lose her mother too.

The door opened as soon as she turned her back.

"We're closed." She faced the new guest.

"You have to help me." A man with blood dripping down the side of his face said.

Tessa was tempted to scream but he quickly covered the distance and placed his hand around her mouth. The metallic smell of fresh blood flooded her nostrils and stained her cheeks as he dragged her further into the room with his hand around her waist.

"Don't scream. They'll hear you."

Tessa didn't have to wonder who they were because a car headlights lit the street outside as a black ferrari came to a stop in front of the restaurant. The door opened and two men dressed in crisp black suits jumped out carrying guns.

Tessa knew that those men would be in here soon and would kill her if she didn't escape but she couldn't when there was a crazy man holding her. As he dragged her further into the kitchen, a plan started to form in her head. Once they were past the door post, she grabbed the wok that was hooked to the nail and swung it over her head.

He went down once, his weight taking her down with him just as the men outside looked in the direction of the room.

Tessa acted fast, knowing it was a matter of life and death. She swung the wok again and caught the man in the face. He groaned as he went down.

Tessa turned to run. "Help--"

The man grabbed her by her feet and pulled her to the floor. "Are you crazy? Those men will kill us both."

"Not if I tell them where you are. They're looking for you." She tightened her hand on the wok.

He lowered his voice but she could still hear the commanding rich baritone he possessed. "They're part of the Mafia. You're an easy target and you're a young lonely woman who just witnessed something you shouldn't see. The best they'll make out of you is a slave."

Tessa tried to swing the wok again but he pried it from her hand. For a badly injured man, he was full of strength. She had felt the steadiness of his chest as he pressed her against him.

"You have two choices, lady. You can help me and we can both live. Or we both die."

"You have no right to threaten me."

"Fine. Here." He dug his hand into his pocket.

Tessa was afraid that he would pull out a gun so she stepped back.

"Take it." He pushed it towards her.

"What's that?"

"If you don't want to save me, you can pawn it. But if you save me, I promise I'll give you anything you want when you present me with that wristwatch."

"Anything? Even-"

Tessa's next words were swallowed by the sound of the gunshots to the roof. Something shattered in the main part of the restaurant as the men outside spoke over each other and swore.

"You owe me." She pointed to the trash bin in the corner. "Hide quickly."

The man scrambled towards the trash bin and Tessa screamed so she could mask the sound of the trash bag rustling under his body. Then she ran to the main part of the restaurant so that the men wouldn't come into the kitchen.

The main part of the restaurant had been plunged into darkness. From the crunch under Tessa's shoes, she guessed they had shot the light which was good because then she wouldn't have to explain the blood stain on her clothes.

"Stop shooting bastard." The fatter shorter man said. "Pretty lady, why are you screaming?"

"It's... a crazy man came in here a few minutes ago."

"He did. I told you, Alessio. I did." The taller man nudged the fat one.

"Where is he?" The fat one moved closer.

"As soon as he heard your car, he ran out and towards the alleyway across." Tessa pointed to the other side of the street that was shrouded in trees and some overgrown bushes.

"That's it. We'll end that bastard's life today." The taller man said.

"You've been very helpful, dear Do you think you could help us some more?" The man grabbed her waist and pulled her so close that she could smell the cigarette on his face.

She remembered the words of a stranger. Of how, the Mafia would make her a slave. From the look in the man's eyes, it didn't take her long to realize which type of slave this man would want.

A loud sound came from behind her. The men pointed their guns at the kitchen.

Tessa pulled away, speaking before the men could shoot and placing herself in front of their guns. "It's just my cat. You're scaring her."

"Come on. Let's go before he gets away." The taller one headed out the door and the shorter one followed.

Tessa sighed with relief as she hurried to the kitchen. The injured man was already getting out of the bin.

"How do I explain all this to my boss tomorrow?"

"Just tell him Vincenzo Mancini was here."

Tessa turned white at the name. Mancini was the biggest Mafia family in the city and if he was a member, then she could very well be courting danger.

And he could also be lying about who he was to scare her and stop her boss from reporting to the police. He could also be a murderer. For those men to desire his death, he certainly wasn't normal.

"Leave now, please."

He threw his wristwatch at her. "Thank you."

The wristwatch felt heavy enough to be worth something. Tessa put the wristwatch in her pocket and prepared to clean up the mess.

She hoped she would never see him again. One thing was for sure, she wouldn't forget him so easily.