Indebted to the Mafia King
By the Balls

Eleni

Something thuds upstairs, and even though we know it's probably one of the other families in the building, Mama and I spook and scurry out. She nearly drops the keys as she locks the back door behind us, but by the time we emerge back onto the street, we're laughing.

"Is it really like this for you every day, zouzouni?" she asks breathlessly.

I gulp down air. Do I tell her about the nights I spend sitting awake, terrified? How often do I kiss Dante and think it might be the last time? How the heartbeat that made my baby real scares the absolute shit out of me because that's a whole, real person I'm responsible for?

"Yes and no," I say. "Should we replace Gianna?"

Mama peers at me, then nods. She knows I'm hiding something. For her sake, all I care about is that she doesn't press. NTU. Hm.

We replace Gianna nursing three cups of coffee at a table outside the shop she mentioned. She waves as we approach. "See? You were here the whole time." She gestures at the other two drinks.

Mama grimaces. "Coffee? At night?"

"Test it." Gianna smiles secretively.

Tentatively, Mama lifts the cup to her lips, then smiles. "How did you know I drink peppermint tea at night?"

"I smell it in the kitchen after I get home from work." Gianna laughs, then looks at me. "I got you decaf."

I groan and sip the bitter simulacrum of my favorite drink. "Thanks, I guess."

Mama shakes her head. "You'll be happy when baby comes out with the right number of limbs."

"I really don't think coffee does that," I say.

Mama makes the spitting sound and ignores me.

Gianna chuckles. "Shall we head back?"

"Fine." I glance around. Yep, there in the shadows stands Leo. I wonder whether he came with us or stayed with Gianna when we split up. I jerk my head in the direction of the apartment, and he nods. "Let's go."

As we walk, Mama and Gianna bicker about Mama paying her back for the drink. Gianna categorically refuses. Mama says she knows Gianna doesn't have steady work right now. And around, and around. It's sort of soothing, in its own way. They argue differently than Mama did with Christos, but it reminds me all the same.

My stomach kills. Not like I'm going to throw up-thankfully-but between the food baby resulting from dinner and baby, these pants really don't fit. Sneakily, I unfasten the button and drape my shirt over it. I'm not really showing enough for people to notice, but my jeans definitely have.

We turn a corner, and as is my habit now, I scan the street for anything out of place. Streams of busy New Yorkers pour this way and that, giving no sign dinner has come and gone. Tightly packed cars add to the choreographed chaos. My heartbeat synchs with the rhythm of the city. Hopefully baby's does too.

A sour note in the symphony catches my eye. Despite a blaring walk signal, a man stands against a streetlight, not moving. People shoot him dirty looks as they move past. Normally, I'd chalk it up to any of the million little incidents that knock the city out of harmony, but then he turns.

Henry Alcott. And he's making eye contact with me. Like he's waiting.

"Stay here," I say across Mama and Gianna's arguing. "You too, Leo."

Leo scowls. Mama and Gianna both try to follow where I was looking, but while Mama remains confused, Gianna's gaze narrows.

"No." She crosses her arms. "I'm going with you."

No one but me, Dante, and Tony know about Dante's arrangement.

"You're not." I cross my arms right back at her. "And if you try, I'll tell Dante you really want a bidet for your bathroom in the apartment." Her mouth drops open. "You wouldn't."

Gianna hates bidets. "I very much would."

Before anybody else can argue and as the walk signal starts to count down from ten-I turn and sprint across the street.

Ugh, maybe I am a little nauseous.

I arrive in front of Henry moments before cars begin screaming across the road again, and he looks down at me with a small smile.

"Ms. Calimeris," he says. "Or is it Cattaneo already?"

I tuck my engagement ring behind my back. "It's Eleni. What do you want?"

His smile grows. "I'm just on an evening constitutional. I was thinking this area would be such a nice place to live."

We're on the same block as the apartment. He knows where we live. And judging by the lumpy ankle of his suit, he decided to tell me he knows while armed. "Really?" I summon up every last remaining thread of ice-Eleni. "I think it would be loud."

He shakes his head. "I grew up in the city. Quantico is the quietest place I've ever lived, and I graduated from the Academy some time ago now."

"You were in Chicago last, weren't you?" I smile prettily.

Henry's eyes flash. "I see why you and Dante work now. You both have a crap sense of when it's time to shut your mouth."

My temper blazes, and I take a step closer to him. The endless human tide of the city pays us no attention, and Henry can't be wired. Well, he can't be wired usefully. It's far too loud for usable audio.

"I know better than some turncoat fed snake," I hiss. "Tell me what the hell you want."

His irritation seems to burn brighter as I don't back down. "History has proven again and again that Dante can't protect you. Do you really want to try your luck with me?"

I look him up and down, from his greased-back hair to his poor imitation of Tony's good looks, and laugh. Every muscle in his body tenses at once.

"You think you have me by the balls, huh?" he snarls. "Well, let's fucking see who has whom. The Russians are making a mess right now, but who do you think is next on this list after them?" He smiles viciously. "Darling Dante and his Saints. I've got a RICO case that would make you weep, and I'm just waiting for a chance to pull the trigger."

Confidence lines his mouth, the clenching and unclenching of his fists. He'll do it. Fuck. I want to run away, curl up in a little ball, and figure out how to give birth to baby in a way that no one can tie them to me.

In my mind, I hear Mama's spitting noise. Warding off ill omens. Like Henry fucking Alcott, who I will not let see me flinch. Icy Eleni takes the reins, straightens my spine.

"Do it," I say. "But know that if you ever approach me again, if I see you waiting for me like this, anything, you're going to wish you never heard the name Calimeris." "Good luck with that." He smiles, glances down. "By the way, your pants are unbuttoned."

My heart slams into my rib cage. The question "does he know" sets the pace of my frantic steps back across the street, my breathless explanation to Mama and Gianna. As we hurry away, I keep checking over my shoulder. Henry just remains against the streetlight, watching us.

Stepping into the elevator usually calms me. This place is damn near impossible to attack. Tonight, I just rub my belly, spitting mentally in threes. When we get inside, I tell Mama and Gianna I'm turning in for the night, head to the room, then grab my phone and dial Dante's number.

"El?" he says, confused.

"I want to sleep at the old place tonight." The words tumble out of my mouth. "We need to talk. Just us."