Maid for the Mafia

**ROMANY**

*Cousin? Oh fuck. Oh fuck.*

*Dana's other brother?*

*Different cousin?*

I suddenly wonder how many cousins Santos has.

The tension in the car is so widespread and immediate, even Anna stops moving. In fact, I don't even think she's breathing.

Jaime seems to have muted his color. His sunny disposition, now shading with a storm of gray. But the comedic pilot doesn't look afraid, on the contrary, he looks pissed.

"Oh joy," Jaime says flatly. "Ruiz is here. Now it's a party." His face screams boredom as he watches the newcomer with wary eyes.

"Fuck you Ramirez,” the man called Ruiz says smoothly. "Why don't you let the grown ups do the talking, eh?"

With a sudden swiftness that I had no idea the large man possessed, Santos exits the car and I swear, for a moment,I see Ruiz's mocking gaze falter, being replaced with the slightest tremble of fear, but it only lasts a second before his cocky smirk returns.

"How did you find me, Ruiz? And what the fuck do you want?"

The man, Ruiz, smiles slow and predatory, like a snake creeping up on an unsuspecting mother and her young. As if what he wants is to sway the attention of the biggest threat, so that he might make a meal out of the weaklings behind it. "Have you heard from my sister?" He asks quietly, and I don't miss it when his eyes flick toward me then back again.

"No. And fuck her. She's a traitor," Santos says easily, a taunting smile creeping across his Ips.

Ruiz's eyes flash with angry heat, but he doesn't lose his smile. "Those are rumors. But I admit, there may be some truth to them." There's no mistaking it this time when Ruiz locks eyes with me, because instead of looking away, he winks. "I see what I heard about you is true. You finally took time off to have a little fun. Is this a romantic getaway then?"

My mouth puckers, my eyebrows drawing together. It's on the tip of my tongue to tell this bastard to mind his own damn business when Santos suddenly says, "Yes. That's exactly what this is and if you don't keep your goddamn eyes off my woman I will tear them out and toss them into the sea."

*What the hell?*

"Your woman?" Ruiz's eyes light up with something like appreciation. "Hmm. Okay. Now it all makes a bit more sense."

"What does, Ruiz? The fact that you need to leave? Or am I not being obvious enough for you?"

"Hey, hey!" Ruiz throws his hands up, losing his smile for a moment. "Have you forgotten who your family are, primo? Not the girl, me. I am your family. And some things have happened that we need to discuss."

Santos releases a long breath, his eyes scanning the landscape slowly as the two of them remain locked in what seems is a battle of wills.

"I promise you that I came alone. I found out where you had gone because Jaime's mother still talks to mine. Come on... you know I wouldn't have just shown up this way if it wasn't important."

"Hmm," Santos murmurs, side eyeing Jaime, who is currently shrinking in the front seat.

"Aye! You know how my mama is, Ant. She needs to know where I am at all times. Especially whenever I'm with you," Jaime confesses.

"Perfect," Santos hisses. "Then you can do the honors, Jaime."

"Fuck! Dawg. Really?" Jaime bitches getting out of the front seat, his gargantuan frame unfolding as he steps away from the Jeep we are in and heads straight toward Ruiz. "You know the drill, Travyeso."

"I am unarmed," Ruiz said, holding out his arms so that Jaime could search him.

"Oh I have no doubt," Santos grunted. "For now at least."

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"What is that supposed to mean, primo, eh?" Ruiz smiles, his gold teeth glinting in the light.

"His body is clean-" Jaime declares "-but his soul-" Jaime shakes his head "-that fucker's filthy."

"Fuck you Ramirez."

Jamie blows him a kiss, "Anytime Goldie."

"Jaime, set him up in the room next to yours," Santos says and I swear my teeth practically grind together. "We'll talk after I've settled the ladies in."

"Thank you, cousin," Ruiz says with a smirk, backing away with a bow as Jaime escorts him back up the stairs.

He doesn't look at me again, thank God, but then Santos hasn't turned his back yet either and something tells me, that's exactly what Ruiz is waiting for. When the pair of them are inside, Santos opens my door, urging me to step out. He nods to Anna, "You can go on up and pick a room on the third floor. They are basically the same. Both open onto the seaside balcony and both share the bathroom on the shoreside." Anna nods, catching the hint and that's when I notice that she has a duffle bag with her which looks to be stuffed with clothes. Hmm. At least someone was prepared. Santos turns to me. "Come. Walk with me along the beach for a moment."

I nod, scowling when he holds out a hand.

"Take it," he urges. "I assure you that Ruiz is watching."

"Okay," I whisper, doing as told and playing as much of the part as I can when Santos tugs me in close to his body and we step toward the softly rolling waves of the teal blue sea.

"Ruiz being here is a problem," he says the moment we are close enough to the sea that the crashing of the waves can be easily heard. "One that I intend to handle. Until I have done so, you will have to play the part of my woman. Otherwise Ruiz is going to see you as fair game and come after you in every way he can. I saw the way he was looking at you and believe me, you don't want his attention."

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"I understand,” I say softly.

"Fucking Jaime," Santos growls. "He always has to fuck something up."

"It's alright," I reiterate. "I've become accustomed to the attention of slimy little pricks like him. Nothing new to me."

Santos chuckles darkly, "I suppose it isn't, but what you don't understand is that until he leaves or I kill him, I can't communicate with Ruby at all. Not while that bastard is roaming the beach. Because Jaime's mother may have been the one who steered him this direction, but that's all." Santos shakes his head angrily. "There are rats in every house. Even mine. One of my own men told him that I set Ruby free and I traded her for you. But if he discovers that I'm using you to reel her in-❞ Santos shudders "-he won't leave. He'll stay just for a chance at Mi Reina. And I can't have that." "So get him first," I say pointedly.noveldrama

"So bloodthirsty," Santos teases, then shrugs. "If only it were that simple."

"Why can't it be?" I ask stepping closer to him when I see Ruiz step out onto the deck in front of the house. "He's watching us by the way."

Santos nods, suddenly pulling me in by my hips. I place my hands on his chest, feeling like the worst kind of traitor when I do.

Santos laughs, "Don't forget to fix your face too, you look like you just swallowed sand."

"It feels like it too," I say through a faux smile.

Santos gazes down at me "One thing I know about *my* cousin... is that he never

goes anywhere without his pack of hyenas. So until I find them, you'll have to sleep in my room."

"Well that sucks."

He chuckles, "It does, but mostly because I prefer redheads."