Owning the Mafia Don

Sophie hurried away, darting into the corridor that led into the kitchen area. She almost collided with Danielle Eton who gave her a cold glare. Sophie trotted off hastily. She avoided Danielle like the plague. The woman had a tongue like a whip and an attitude to match. With her close-cropped ice blonde hair and cold blue eyes, she made Sophie tremble in the way she had when she had been in school and summoned before the Head teacher for some misdemeanour.

Cold Bi*ch she thought and moved around, helping the other servers who were rushing in and out, balancing drinks on small trays and delicious looking tiny bites of caviar and sushi. It was a busy night. The whole Club was buzzing. It was because of the scheduled inauguration of the Fight Club in the basement the next night. The Boss had decided to have the first fight on Christmas Eve.

Crafty bugger, thought Sophie as she smoothed down her rebellious red hair, tucking a strand in place. The guests were excited, she had seen women in swoon-worthy gowns, dripping in diamonds as they hugged their male companions and giggled loudly while entering the Club. The girls who served the drinks and moved around discreetly in the upper, private dining rooms were also chatting about how everyone was getting very edgy about the event.

Some famous out of state boxers had already arrived since it would be a week-long affair; but the buzz, the feverish intensity of movement and the frenzied activity among the staff was because of one man.

Lucien Delano.

The Mob Boss.

He was going to fight in the inaugural round.

With his ruthless reputation and his former experience as a street fighter, no one doubted his prowess in the ring. It was just that the basement theatre where the fight ring had been erected, would be packed to capacity. She had heard exclamations from angry guests who had been told that the tickets were sold out.

Sophie scowled. She just wanted to leave as early as she could.

Almost a week to the day she had kissed a handsome stranger in the corridor to avoid Paul Worthington, she thought as she picked up a tray and glanced at herself in the mirror to make sure she was presentable. She had been a few minutes late for her shift.

Ma was having a bad day; the pain was intensifying although she bravely refused to cow down and give up. To make matters worse, little Paddy had clung to Sophie, refusing to let her leave. Finally, she had gently prised his small, sticky paws off her skirt and with a big kiss on his plump cheek, she had dashed out. His wails followed her as she ran down the street and once again, she wished sgrimly he could find a way to take care of both her mother and poor Paddy without leaving them alone in the dismal flat for hours on end. His oud cries broke her heart.

Dream on, she thought bitterly as she hurried into the Club, narrowly making it with a couple of seconds to spare.

***

The face that gazed back at her as she quickly checked her appearance was pretty but the freckles dotting her nose made her seem like a plain Jane, she thought, crinkling her nose crossly. A full pink mouth now liberally lined with lipstick, large green eyes with golden sparks, as her father used to say.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

And a crown of frizzy red curls that bobbed every time she moved her head. Long enough to be tamed but she liked some of the bounce to remain. She had worn her hair in a chignon that night and that made her look older than her twenty-two. Her eyes slid to her outfit and she grimaced.

Designed to make men drool, said Maria, the Latino with the long, long legs who was also one of the Club whores, as the gossip went.

She was always around when Lucien Delano strolled into the Main Hall to check on the service and mingle with his guests. But although Maria tried every trick to catch his eyes, the man seemed to look through her indifferently. The laser grey eyes wandered around, noticing everything, even if a woman who was serving drinks was trying to get too cosy with a guest. Danielle would appear, her nostrils flaring and to reprimand the girl before she was thrown out.

No questions asked.

Danielle was heard shouting once,” This is not a brothel! Delano is running a decent place. Yeah, if a man wants fun he pays through the Club.’

Rolling her eyes, Sophie had turned away.

She wanted nothing to do with any man in her life. In fact, she had not even thought of the man who had held her in his strong arms. He must have been another rich playboy who had visited the Club to satisfy his libido, she thought drily.

Except for darling little Paddy.

She smoothed her tight black skirt over her hips, tried to make her breasts less conspicuous as she turned and re-entered the Hall.

As she attempted an exaggerated sway of her hips like she had seen Maria do, she almost slipped and fell. Quickly, regaining her balance, she walked on, moving around the room, her tray in hand, a blank look on her face.

For a moment she wondered who the handsome man in the smart clothes had been, the one who she had kissed so impulsively while trying to get away from Worthington.

She had had no other choice. Paul Worthington was going to come after her.

***

In another part of the building, in the comfort of Lucien’s spacious office, the Boss sat with Schwartz, poring over the final details of the fight night.

Schwartz raised his head as Lucien sat back, leaning into his armchair, watching his friend through his heavy-lidded eyes,

“All set, I think.’ smiled Schwartz who was not aware of the nitty-gritty of fights, having only been a spectator. Joe Radisson, the manager who had joined them to discuss the rules, regulations had left a little while ago. The octagonal ring, the cage, was being erected and he had some specifications in mind, last-minute details that Lucien, thorough as ever, had brought to his notice.

‘Well,” said Schwartz grinning cheerfully and rising got his feet, stretching this arms above his head,’ Looks like all’s set!’

He turned to leave cheerfully.

“I’m off.’ he said, winking at Lucien who continued to sit in the armchair, brooding and still.

Lucien barked,

“Wait.’

Schwartz turned, puzzled.

The cold gleam in his friend’s eyes made him feel uneasy.

“Mate, what’s up?’ he demanded. He knew when Lucien was planning something dangerous. The man had that look on his face as he steepled his fingers and watched Schwartz.

James Schwartz knew when Lucien Delano was planning something outrageous. He had that look now.

“I want you to meet Catalina.’ he said pleasantly even as the door opened and a woman walked in.

A woman with an hourglass figure.

A woman, who promptly rushed to Lucien, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him as though she was going to devour him., as though they were passionate lovers.