Sold to the mafia

Zane

The door opens, and all I can think is, fuck this shit. A white-haired man dressed in black slacks, a dress shirt and tie stares back at me, and I watch his eyes as they take me in. Narrowing, judging. Yeah, I’ve seen this before.

I’m a beast, and I look the part.

I usually don’t give a fuck, but my girl is standing by the stairs looking nervous as hell. My heartbeat picks up. My nerves buzz with an insecurity I’m not used to feeling.

I know this isn’t going to last. We’re just enjoying each other for now.

Shit, when she’s done with school, she’s gonna leave me far behind. I know it. I’ve accepted it. But I just got a taste of her. I’m not ready for this to end right now.

“You must be Maddy’s father,” I say as I reach my hand out to the old man. “Nice to meet you, sir.” He lets it hover there for a moment, a moment that lets me know what he really thinks. Finally he takes it in his with a firm shake.

“You must be Zane.” His voice is hard and unforgiving. “Maddy’s told me about you.”

I nod. “Yep. Zane Stone.” I say this clear and proud. Although shit, I wish I’d known he was here.

Maddy clears her throat, and I can practically hear her heart pounding.

Maddy takes a few steps toward us and pushes him out of the doorframe so she can take my hand in hers. My heart swells in my chest.

“Daddy, as I was telling you, Zane is my…” she hesitates to finish, but looks right into her father’s eyes with squared shoulders.

I’ve never been anyone’s boyfriend before. But for her, right now, sure. I can be her boyfriend. “Boyfriend,” I say the word with my eyes on her, but clear my throat and look up at her father.

He’s fucking pissed.

It means a lot that she’s willing to stand by me as her father clearly dislikes my existence, but I don’t need to stay around for this shit.

I just came by to fuck you. I can’t say that. But shit, it’s the truth. I was looking forward to it too. “I just came by to see how your test went.” She’s been on and on about this damn test lately. But I’m sure she aced it ’cause she’s a smart girl. And that sounds a fuck ton better than her dad hearing me describe all the ways I wanted to relieve her from all that stress.

She pulls me into the foyer and I resist, but she whips her head around and tugs harder. Her father stares at our hands and I wish I could just fucking leave. Fine. For her, I’ll put up with this. Only because she stood by me. And that felt so fucking good. She’ll never know.

I walk with the two of them to the dining room. Maddy’s books are open on the other end, with her notebook out and highlighter.

She takes a seat at the other end and pats a seat for me. This ordering me around shit isn’t my forte. But I’ll let her take the lead on this. After all, it’s her father. And I’m sure I’ll get brownie points if he likes me.

I take the seat next to her and look up at the old man. Fuck, there’s no fucking way he’s gonna like me.

He’s looking at me like… well, like I’m fucking his daughter. I can’t help the grin that grows on my face.

I lean forward and give Maddy a smile. “How’d it go?” I ask her.

I can feel his eyes on me, but I ignore him. I usually don’t take this shit. If a fucker’s gonna give me a look like he’s got something to say, I don’t stand down till that shit is dealt with. But this is her father, I’ve gotta show some respect.

He gets this one moment. One day. That’s it.

Maddy takes a deep breath and pulls her hair back. “Well, I think it went okay.”

Before she can say anything else, her father interrupts. “So your real legal name is Zane?” he asks.

I turn to him and sit straight in my seat. “That’s right, Zane Michael Stone.” I don’t like how he’s looking at me.

“That’s an interesting name.” He says the words in a monotone, his eyes boring into my face. Also, what the fuck does that even mean? An interesting name?

I shrug my shoulders and say, “I didn’t pick it.” Maddy huffs a small laugh, but it’s forced. The tension in the room is thick, and this is uncomfortable as hell.

“So, Maddy,” he says as he looks at her like I’m not even in the room with them. “You didn’t say Zane was a smartass.”

I keep my mouth closed and let him have that one. Point one for Pops, I guess.

“Daddy, please don’t do this now.” Maddy’s lips are pressed into a thin line and she’s staring back at her father like she’s ready to tear him apart.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Fuck, maybe I’m lucky not to have my parents around anymore.

Her father looks back at me, but before he can speak, Maddy tries to lighten the mood by saying, “So, I think we should all go out to eat. We could go to a nice restaurant,” she suggests. She looks at me and says, “Besides, you owe me a date. And this way Daddy could get to know you.” She sounds slightly hopeful and upbeat. I take a look at Papa Fuckoff, and I know that’s not happening. My stubborn peach is apparently also delusional.

“I just don’t get it. What do you see in him, Maddy?” he asks, leaning close to her with his elbows on the table.

I drop Maddy’s hand and clench my fists under the table.

“Daddy,” Maddy’s tone takes on a hard edge. I’m not sure what the protocol for this shit is. I’ve never been in this position before.

“She’s seen a lot of me, to be honest; she must’ve liked at least one part,” I say with a straight face.

He looks fucking furious. I can’t really blame him, but I’m not gonna let him talk to her like that. After a minute he shakes his head at Maddy like he’s disappointed in her and that’s the last straw, but before I can say anything, Maddy lays in on him.

“Daddy, I love you,” Maddy says as her eyebrows raise, and I can see she’s holding back that inner bitch she’s unleashed on me a time or two. “But you need to stop this. Now.”

I stare at my stubborn little peach who’s all full of sass today. But this isn’t the same shit she gives me. This is different. She’s not playing a game, she’s clearly upset, and I don’t like it.

“Hey, it’s alright.” I take her hand in mine and rub soothing circles on the back of her hand with my thumb. “It’s fine.” I’m partially amazed at how well trying to calm Maddy down diffuses my own temper. So what if he doesn’t like me? He’s not the first. And I’m sure he won’t be the last.

She doesn’t need to get worked up over this. I mean, isn’t a dad supposed to hate the prick who’s doing his daughter? I’m pretty sure this is all normal. And her father’s right. I don’t look like the kind of man who she’d normally pick. Not that she picked me. I had to fucking fight for her.

My heart sinks a little, and I hate all these bullshit emotions that are hitting me. I need to get the fuck out of here.

I stand up from the table and give Maddy a small smile as she grips onto my arm. “I should give you two some time, peaches.” I let her nickname slip, and see her father stiffen on my left.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Murphy.” I say it as a formality and don’t look him in the eyes as the words come out hard.

“You don’t have to go,” Maddy says in a soft voice with her forehead creased. I bend down and give her a chaste kiss.

“I get to see you every day.” I look back at her dad and give him a curt nod as I say, “You should spend some time with your father.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Maddy says and tries to get up, but I stop her.

“I’m only next door, I can find my place myself.” I have to repress my laugh as her father starts coughing. Maddy’s mouth presses into a thin line and she gives me a look. I can’t help the smile growing on my face.

“Talk to you later, peaches,” I say and give her another kiss goodbye.

“Have a nice stay, Mr. Murphy.” I give him a wave as I open the door and walk out.