The Badass Mafia Boss Queen

He took my hand and we continued toward the house. Even though the rain was falling heavily, I didn’t want to run, and the same went for Hollis. We walked at a calculated pace to the house.

“So Nero doesn’t like me because he thinks I should have gone through a dislike phase of some sort?”

“We’re back at Nero again?” Hollis asked and I shrugged.

“You can’t blame me. He doesn’t really talk to me, and when he does, his words are always short and clipped. Do you think I did something else to upset him?”

“Nero is not the chatty type.” Hollis said. “It takes time for him to get used to someone new. You might have to give him time.”

“Is that all?”

Hollis drew in a breath. “You don’t belong to my type of world, Ugo. So it’s only understandable that he would be skeptical about your presence here. Nero and Rocco have been with me since I was a teenager. They are my most loyal men. We’ve gone through a lot together. Nero is just looking out for me. I believe he doesn’t trust me around you.”

“So he doesn’t like me, and he doesn’t trust me either. And that’s such a sub reason you just gave me. Do you think I can’t handle being here with you?”

“I didn’t say that,” he said sullenly.

“But you did insinuate it. So since that is the case, why didn’t you let me be. Why bring me here if you don’t trust me.” I kept staring angrily at him through the water dripping down my face. “Why did you say that Nero doesn’t trust you with me?”

“Because he’s smart and somehow figured it out.” he blurted, his voice almost as loud as the roaring thunder above. “He knows that I like having you around too much and he thinks I might grow too attached to you. And, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I tend to spill my guts when I’m around you. I’m in a type of business that is deadly. People who talk too much disappear, permanently. And people like you get taken out even before they can get the chance to snitch on people like me.”

His eyes were fierce, and the muscles of his face were pulled tightly. He looked like he meant every word of what he had told me.

“You think I will snitch on you, Hollis?”

“No. I didn’t say that either. The thing is, I’m a Boss, and it takes a whole lot to get to where I am right now and remain there for long. Damn it, I’m spilling it all out again.” He groaned.

I walked over to him and held out my hand to him. “I can imagine what it feels like being in your shoes. It doesn’t look pretty. All that wealth, but you have to keep looking over your shoulder every single time.”

He shook his head. “It’s really not like that, Ugo. I don’t really have to keep looking over my shoulder because there are lots of people out there, doing the looking for me. My existence is beneficial to so many people. Young children in schools, the less privileged, the church members that need help and support, the care homes that need attention. Families and men that I’ve saved their lives countless and are now in my debt”

“Just like me and my family?”

“No, you’re different.” He replied.

“How so?” I asked.

“I’ll tell you one day” He chuckled.

“You still don’t have to relax Hollis. There are men out there that want what you have.”

“You mean men that want you?”

“What! Yuck, that’s gross.” I laughed excitedly. “I’m talking about your position, the things you’ve achieved.”

“You’re part of my achievements.” He winked.

A warm spread of happiness rushed down my body. “Do people ever get to walk away from all of this?” I asked, curiosity taking the best part of me.

Hollis started laughing. “I’ve witnessed two people get out. One of them was murdered on his way out of the country.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

The other one survived for seven months or thereabouts. But he ended up dead anyway.” He replied casually and pulled me along. We continued walking to the Garden.

“There’s no getting out, Ugo. My family is too powerful and well known. If I dare back down, I’ll be dead in days, maybe months or years. It all depends on how long I can fight to stay alive. Because I’ll definitely have to keep fighting for the rest of my life.”

“What if you decide to clean your money. You know, start it gradually and get it all turned over eventually.”

“That would mean cutting off supplies to a large number of people who depend on us for it. I have a family who are all invested and involved. If it’s just me, I could do it. Clean the money, buy lots of investments with a false identity. Disappear or die in the books only. Whichever one that would work best. But I’ve got my family, and I can’t just disappear and leave all that responsibility of cleaning up on Maxine. I’ll be exposing my family to real danger, after stripping them bare.”

Then he turned to me. “Is that what you want, for me to walk away?”

I bit my lower lip hard and shook my head. “Will any of this affect me when it’s time to leave?”

“No,” he replied. “We’ll get a divorce, it’ll be a bit messy and I’ll make sure the world understands that I only married you because I wanted to spite my father and we were never in love. That’s all that is needed. I’ll help you set up your own firm or have a friend put in a word or two for you in any company you chose to work in.”

“Thank you.” I murmured and saw the sad look on his face. “Hollis, let me help you while I’m here. I can help out if you need me. I’ll do with some challenges. And I have no doubt that I can be useful to you.”

“No!”