Owned: A Mafia Menage Romance(22)

“Good, good,” Stosh nods as I start to eat the cake. He pops a kolacky into his mouth and chews, the trail of powdered sugar dropping down his chin. “Sonya has the best cakes in the city. Anytime you need something sweet, just ask her.”

I nod. These are good cakes: not too sweet, a little chewier than your average American cake. Russians can have everything strong, even dessert.

“Everything all right, yesterday?” Stosh asks, his voice low.

I nod again. Everything was fine. “There was a second guy.”

Stosh’s eyebrows go up. He has those dead Polish wolf eyes. And people think I'm ugly.

“And what of him?”

“Taken care of. He was hiding in a drainpipe. In an alley."

I look at Stosh, who is nodding at his strudel.

“They knew I was coming?”

Stosh shakes his head and purses his lips. “No. He must've seen you.”

“Impossible,” I say.

Smiling, Stosh tips his head from side to side. “Impossible? Because you're the invisible man? That's what they say about you, you know.”

Of course I know. Why do I need to say it?

Stosh considers for a few more moments, waiting to see if I’m going to say anything. He takes a sip of his black, sweet coffee.

“They didn't know you're coming, but then there were two guys. He must've seen you,” he says again, as though producing the final word on the subject.

Perhaps it is possible. Perhaps the Italian peacock somehow figured out that I was there for him and made a phone call for help. It just seems unlikely. Highly unlikely. It was my first job in the city and I am the invisible man, after all.

But I'm not going to argue with Stosh until I know him better. I'll let him have this one.

“What's next?”

Stosh grins wide. His teeth are broad and shiny, yellow with dark vertical lines from years of cigars. He crosses his arms over his chest.

“You like women?”

“Of course I like women,” I say, more irritably that I meant to. What kind of question is that? I don't want to offend my new boss, but I'm not used to being spoken to in this manner. I like to be left alone, simply given a job and left to do it. You want conversation, talk to Alek.

Everyone knows they can rely on me. I don't have to prove myself. What's with the smalltalk?

“Dimi had a… A special job. A special role for us. You understand?”

I nod absentmindedly, my eyes automatically going to the front door when it opens inward. A couple comes in and heads for the counter with their eyes scanning the menu overhead.

“You're expected to take over the job.”

I nod. Any job. That's what I do.

“Would you like to know what it is?”

I clench my molars together. Stosh talks too fucking much. If he has a job for me, I wish he would just tell me what it is. Why does he want to dance around like this?

“Anything,” I growl.

Nodding, he opens his hands on the table top and looks at his fingernails. “You're a good man, Roman,” he starts. “Gyorgi told me as much. You come highly recommended, you know. Highly recommended.”

"Thank you, Stosh.”

“And Dimi… He was a good man too. God rest his soul. A good soldier.”

“So I've heard.”

Stosh stares at me, his dead blue eyes burning like ash embers.

“I've set up a meeting for you,” he says carefully. “With Don Lauro.”

My eyebrows go up. That's unusual. Why am I meeting this Italian Don?

“And I feel… Yes. This is going to work out well. Unfortunately, I will not be able to accompany you.”

“No?” I asked.

He shrugs. “If only I could, but I have duties elsewhere. You will have dinner with the Don tonight at 8 o'clock. The car will take you.”

“And Alek.”

Stosh shakes his head. “No need for Alek.”

I stare at him. If there’s talking with the Don and Stosh is not coming, then Alek is. I don’t talk. It’s not my job.

Stosh stares at me until he grows irritated. “What is with you and Alek? Can’t you take care of your own business?”

“Talking to Dons is not my business,” I remind him. “I can handle him other ways if you like.”

Holding up a hand, Stosh looks away. “No. This is a talk. Fine… Bring Alek if you must. A car will pick you up at eight. Be ready.”

“Ready for what?”

He smiles broadly. His teeth look fragile. “Ready for anything, of course,” he smirks. “But don't worry, this is a simple meeting and I’m sorry to miss it. I have another engagement, truth be told. You're going to meet your new wife.”

The sweet coffee curdles in my throat.

“Excuse me…”

Stosh is nodding, obviously pleased with himself. “Yes, you're just the man for the job. It's all arranged.”