Mafia Lullaby: A Dark Captive Romance

by Alta Hensley

  “Nancy’s part is what I want to talk to you about.” Costello said.

  “She’s a bitch, I know that. But she’s fucking blood, and Johnny won’t let me send her away. My brother’s always had a soft spot for that loon.” Frank walked over to the wet bar in the corner of his office and poured himself a drink. Costello didn’t wait for an offer for himself.

  “She and Johnny, they’ve been making plans, Frank. Johnny mostly, but she’s helping.”

  Frank downed his drink, then ran his tongue over his teeth before turning back to Costello. “Go on. And you better not be fucking with me, because I’ll yank your lying tongue out of your head right here and feed it to your little girl when I find her.”

  “Johnny’s been talking about not liking the way you’re running the Houses. He wants them all to spit out girls faster, which you’ve said yourself, so I know he’s bringing it to you. But he doesn’t want to wait for you to do it. He thinks you’re too old school.”

  Frank dropped his glass on the bar with a clunk. “You telling me my brother is going to make a play for my seat? I’m the head of this fucking family!”

  “Yeah, you are. But he’s already gotten the okay from enough of the committee to move ahead without worry of retribution. He’s promising bigger profits with less costs. He offered them shares.”

  Frank wiped his hand across his mouth. “The House was our father’s business. No one at the fucking committee was to touch it. It was a Romero business and only a Romero business.”

  “I know, Frank. But that’s what’s happening. He’s given them shares to get the okay.”

  “And how do you know this?” Frank accused with a shake to his voice. Hearing your lifelong partners and your own brother are setting out to whack you and take everything you’ve built doesn’t typically sit well with anyone.

  “Johnny likes his technology.” Costello pulled out his phone and swiped the screen to life. “I warned him about that.” He handed the phone over to Frank.

  As Frank scrolled through screenshots of Johnny’s emails and text messages to members on the committee, his face darkened. Once he was done, the fury in his eyes said everything.

  “That fucking asshole,” Frank raged and tossed the phone back to Costello. “What is it you want? Obviously, you plan to trade this information in order to keep the fucking girl. So what?”

  “I just want to leave. I want out. No one coming after me or Ariana. Let me walk.” Costello tucked his phone into his jacket.

  “That’s it? You just want to leave?” Frank asked suspiciously.

  “I’m done, Frank. Just want to retire with my girl in peace. That’s it.”

  Costello waited as Frank gummed his lips for a long moment, obviously mulling over options in his head. Costello knew the anger of his brother’s betrayal clouded him, but Frank would be able to see straight enough to give Costello what he wanted.

  “You bring your girl to the party tonight. Pretend you just wanted some fun with her outside the House, whatever the fuck you want to make up, but you bring her and it looks like she’s back on the adoption list. I don’t want Johnny suspecting anything. He’s hosting this fucking party. You’re going to help me take his ass down.” He stepped up to Costello and poked a fat finger into his chest. “You do that, you take him down for me, and you got it. Free and clear, you and your little girl can go live wherever the fuck you want. We won’t look for you. But you better be out of the life, Costello. I find you working for another family, and I’m taking back my promise.”

  Costello paused long enough for Frank to think he was considering it. “Fair enough. What about the clients? If this goes bad, one of them could get hurt.”

  “Then you better make sure that doesn’t fucking happen. You take out Johnny, and you get to keep your girl. That’s the deal.” Frank put his pudgy hand out.

  Costello took hold of it and shook. One life for another.

  He had no problems with that. Not when the one being saved was Ariana.

  “I better get back. It’s going to take a while to get her and head to the House. She’s still groggy.”

  “You need some Lullaby for her?” Frank asked, pointing at the monkeys behind Costello, ready to send them on the errand.

  “No. Thanks, but she’s not getting any more of that stuff.”

  “You really love this girl.” Frank sort of smiled.

  “Yeah, Frank. I do.”

  “Then for her sake, do good tonight.” Frank turned around and walked back to his desk. “Nine o’clock!” he shouted.

  Costello shrugged off the monkeys’ hands from his shoulders, accepting the return of his Glock.

  “I can see my own way out, boys.” He flashed them a grin and breezed between them.

  A few more hours and they’d be free. Completely free.

  “I’m nervous.” Ariana wrung her hands in front of herself. She was back in her room at the House, wearing the soft muslin dress Costello had given her to put on. He promised her fifteen times or more that everything was going to be fine, she only had to listen to him and follow his instructions.

  “I’ve told you, just do what I say, and you’ll be fine.” Costello pinned a yellow bow into her hair. He had refused Nancy and Maria’s attempt to come into the room to help her.

  “Can’t I do something to help? I’m not a little girl for real, you know. I can actually do things.” She turned around to glare up at him once the bow was pinned in place.

  Her head was still a little groggy, but she no longer felt ready to lose her lunch.

  He grabbed her shoulders to steady her when she wobbled. “Kevin was right, you shouldn’t be up and about yet.”

  She pushed his arms away. “We don’t have a choice, do we?” She went to the dresser and picked up the light-yellow gloves and started to wiggle her fingers into them. “Just swear to me none of those men will get to touch me. I don’t think I can handle it if it they do.” Images of what she’d seen at the playroom party floated past her vision, electrifying her nerves.

  “I know you’re capable of a hell of a lot more than you’ve ever gotten to do here, but tonight isn’t the night for superhero actions. I’ll handle what I have to handle, and you’ll just keep playing like you were. You’re six, remember that.”

  She huffed and sat on the edge of her bed. One that she’d never have to sleep in again. Where she’d sleep after the night was over was anyone’s guess, but anywhere would be better than the House. She had vague memories of the past few days while Lullaby had started to take effect. Even through the thick fog, it turned her stomach. The way she behaved, the sickly-sweet voice she spoke in. She’d grown used to the other girls talking that way but remembering herself do it sent a chill through her.

  “Fine, but if you think after this is all done, I’m going to be walking around behind you like an obedient little puppy, you’re wrong.”

  He laughed. “I wouldn’t go making promises you can’t keep.” He checked his watch. “We can talk about all of that later. After we get through this adoption party. Do you remember what I said?”

  “Yes. If anyone asks where we were, I tell them I was sick, and you took me to the doctor. But I’m all better now.” She rubbed her fingers together, the sensation of the material something new for her. “I think some of those drugs are still in me.”

  He grabbed her hand. “Maybe. Thankfully, you weren’t affected by the lower doses. Some of these girls would take days to get the drugs out of their systems.”

  “The other girls,” she said, jumping up from the bed. “What about them? Who’s going to get them out of here?”

  Costello cupped her shoulders. “I’m worried about you tonight. We can worry about them tomorrow.”

  She frowned. “No one’s going to save them, are they?”

  Costello pinched his lips together like he always did when he didn’t want to answer her question. “One thing at a time, okay?”

  Ariana tried to focus on her task at hand, but her t
houghts kept wandering to the other girls who weren’t going to be set free after tonight.

  “Hopefully, the other men in the room won’t have a chance to talk with you at all. Johnny’s trying some sort of new bidding strategy.”

  Another glance at his watch. “Okay, let’s go.” Costello opened the door and gestured for her to get going. She let him lead her to the stairs and up to the fourth floor. They used the playroom for their adoption parties because it was large enough to hold all the potential buyers.

  She could make out the mutters of everyone as they approached the doors. Her heart started to race and her breathing got harder. What if she couldn’t pull it off again? What if Nancy suspected and was going to out her at the party? Even though Costello promised her Frank was already aware and they had a deal, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t go back on his word.

  Costello opened the door for her, and she walked into the room. Many of the men from the play party she’d been to were in the room but there were more unknown faces. So many of them for only four girls? She’d forgotten to ask how the adoptions took place.

  Would she be put on a stage and bid on?

  Would one of the men try to take her?

  The further into the room she was brought, the more her worry consumed her. She didn’t see any of the girls who were up for adoption. The only girls she saw in the room were the ones who belonged to the playroom.

  “Daddy.” She tugged on his arm. “Where’s Shelby and Mae and Courtney? Where are all of them?” she asked.

  Costello brought her closer to him and leaned down to her ear. “Frank wanted me to bring you in later than the other girls. It looks like you’re the last one.”

  “What does that mean?” she asked panicked.

  “They’ve all been adopted, Ariana.”

  She gasped.

  “Don’t worry about that right now,” he said firmly. “Just stick to what you’re supposed to do.”

  “Hey, Costello.” Gianni approached them with a drink in his hand. His nose looked red, like he’d already imbibed a few. “Ariana.”

  “How’d it go?” Costello asked in his usual Daddy voice.

  “Fine.” Gianni sipped his drink. “She got adopted.” Another sip. “By some seventy-five-year-old fat fuck.” He downed the rest. “And all I could do was stand there and watch him as he kissed her, as he…fuck!” He wiped his hand over his face. “I’m getting out of here.”

  “Gianni. Don’t do anything stupid,” Costello said after him, but Gianni was already halfway to the door.

  “Shelby? She was adopted?” Ariana tugged on Costello. “We can’t let her be taken away like that. We have to do something.”

  “Costello. So good to see you.” Uncle Johnny showed up next. He patted Ariana’s head. “You have a lot of Daddies waiting for you, little girl. Let’s get you to the front of the room so they can start putting in their bids.”

  Her throat closed up when he grabbed her arm, but Costello’s glare warned her to stay calm. With an inaudible whimper she let Johnny pull her to the stage. Her stomach flipped but she managed to keep her composure. Costello promised nothing would go wrong. He would keep her safe. She only had to do what she was told.

  Johnny led her to an area on the stage where a pink blanket was spread out with several toys and coloring books. She sank down onto the blanket and picked up the yellow teddy bear, holding it firmly to her chest. It didn’t matter what age she was supposed to be, she needed any comfort she could get. And the stuffed animal would do just fine.

  “Prospective Daddies. The last girl up for adoption tonight, Ariana, is ready for your bids. If you’ll proceed to the table to the right and cast your bid, we can begin.”

  “Don’t we get to talk to her, spend some time with her?” one man called out.

  Johnny shook his head. “Not this time. You’ve all been given a profile of Ariana and a video of her playtime here at the House.”

  Ariana’s stomach dropped. Video? She sought out Costello in the crowd. His scowl didn’t improve her mood. What were they watching on their little devices?

  After slow tortuous moments passed, the men made their way to the bidding table. She swept the room again for Costello but couldn’t locate him. Just as she was about to get up and look for him, she found him.

  Except.

  No. It was Kevin.

  She could tell because Kevin had a scar on his left cheek from a boxing match in college. He’d told her about it while they were waiting for Costello to come back to the cabin.

  What was he doing there?

  “Stay here, I’m going to check on the bids,” Johnny told her in a cold tenor then stepped off the stage. As he moved through the crowd, Costello appeared, standing before him. It looked like they were tangled up, both trying to walk around the other.

  Finally, Costello’s face tightened, then relaxed as Johnny slipped to the floor. A smear of blood trailed down Costello’s shirt.

  She jumped to her feet, ready to run to him. Why hadn’t anyone else seen it? Where was the sound? Who had been shot?

  As she reached the edge of the stage, a strong hand wrapped around her arm.

  “This way, Ariana.”

  Kevin. She looked from him to where Costello had been, but he was no longer there. She pulled against Kevin’s grip, but he was as strong as his brother and wouldn’t release her.

  “This way. Now, Ariana,” he said in the same dangerous tone as Costello.

  “Is he okay? Where is he?” she yelled.

  “Johnny’s been shot!” One of the men finally realized what happened and called out to the others.

  “Get Ariana out of here, Costello.” Marco, Courtney’s Daddy, urged Kevin. “Take her back to her room.”

  “I’m on it.” Kevin nodded and pulled Ariana’s hand harder. “Now.” Kevin pulled her through the room, weaving through the spectators and the other little girls until they were in the hallway. “The car’s in front. Hurry,” he said. She swallowed against the fear that threatened to paralyze her.

  “But what about Costello?”

  “He should be there. Let’s go, Ariana. We don’t want anyone to think you left with anyone but him.”

  She raced down the stairs behind Kevin. By the time she made it to the front door, her lungs burned, and her thighs ached. But the sight of Costello sitting in the back of the car, gave her the energy to sprint forward.

  She flung open the back door and jumped inside.

  “Go!” Costello yelled to Kevin who took the driver’s seat.

  Costello pulled her close as Kevin hit the gas and the car sped away from the House.

  “Are you hurt? I saw so much blood!” Ariana felt his chest, looking for the injury.

  “No, no, I’m fine.” Costello grabbed her hands. “It’s Johnny’s blood.”

  “You killed him? Frank’s never going to leave us alone now.”

  “I killed him to keep the Romeros off our backs. He was going to try to take out Frank. I dealt with the problem for Frank, and he’s given me our freedom in return.”

  Costello shook out of his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.

  “Really? We’re completely free?”

  “Completely.” Costello nodded and hugged her to his chest. She inhaled, letting the musky scent of him wrap her in warmth.

  “How’d you manage to get those screenshots anyway?” Kevin asked.

  Costello laughed. “I didn’t. I can’t tap into emails and all that bullshit. But I can use a simple graphic design software and create it.”

  “No shit?”

  “Totally made up. It doesn’t matter. Johnny was planning to overthrow Frank, and he did have at least one member of the committee backing him. They can sort the rest out themselves.”

  “And Nancy? She was helping Johnny wasn’t she?” Ariana asked.

  “Frank will take care of her. With Johnny out of the way, he can get rid of her. He hated her as much as everyone else. It was only as a favor to his brother
that he kept her around.”

  “And what about Shelby and the others?” she pressed.

  The car went silent.

  “Ariana. The deal I made with Frank was that I go away. I can’t interfere at all in his business or anything that touches his business.”

  “And if you don’t? If we try to help them?”

  “He’ll come after us. The entire Romero family will be out for us. It’s too dangerous.”

  She swallowed around the lump forming in her throat, thinking about the other girls. How scared they must be.

  “They still have Lullaby, Ariana. They’ll never know anything different,” Costello said, as though that could make it any better. “The men who adopt them—”

  “Buy them. They buy them,” Ariana interjected.

  “Yes, well, the men who buy them keep them on the Lullaby. It won’t be much different than being at the House. That drug will keep them in a reality prepared to face what comes their way.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I can’t promise it, but I hope.”

  Ariana sank into his lap. He was right, she knew it. Going after the others and trying to save the day would put them both in too much danger. At least for right now.

  Kevin turned onto the highway and the overhead lights illuminated the inside of the car, casting Costello’s features in a yellow light. His brow wrinkled.

  “What are you worried about then?” she asked, turning to face him.

  “You have a decision to make, Ariana,” he said in a low tone. “And it’s your decision. I won’t choose for you, and there’s no pressure. You can answer however you want. I will respect it.”

  Her insides twisted. “You’re scaring me. What is it?”

  “You’re not my prisoner. You’re free just like me. You can go anywhere and do anything you want. Wherever you want to set up your life, I’ll make it happen. And I’ll leave you to it if that’s what you want. I won’t force you to stay.”

  She touched his cheek, feeling the tension in his jaw.

  “You’ll let me go?”

  He cleared his throat. “I will. I’ll fucking hate it, but I’ll let you go.”