I need your help!

Leandra’s POV

I thanked Don when I got out of his car. I wonder if he’s delusional. What if the Italian Mafia still exists? Normal citizens like me will never know. Oh, well, I will never see him again. Tomorrow, I am starting a new chapter in my life. I cannot wait to tell Tommy about our luck. Ten thousand dollars is a lot of money. Tommy can get his motorcycle at last. He will be so happy. I am glad I can fix Daisy and maybe buy a new car. It depends on how much Tommy’s motorcycle costs. I gave Tommy a key to my apartment. He needed a place to hang out for a few days. We do not say together, and we do not sleep together because Tommy says that he respects me, and he wants us to start a sexual relationship the day he marries me. I have a spare key for the apartment. I did not tell Tommy I had a spare key because we had to knock when we rented a place in our old neighbourhood.  After all, there’s only one set of keys.  The landlord held the other set of keys. Our old neighbourhood was dangerous, and sometimes the landlord needed to get inside in case something was wrong.

I open the door softly because I do not want to disturb Tony if he is sleeping in the guest room. I hear giggling coming from my room. I wonder who is in the room with Tommy. It sounds like a woman. Did Tommy invite some of his friends to sleep here tonight? I hope not because I need my bed. I take the money from my purse and put it inside my bra. I always do that when Tommy’s friends are around. Because if they find out that I have money, they will take all my money. They do not care if I need money or if Tommy needs money. They are a wild bunch of people, and I do not like them.

“Oh, Tommy, are you not afraid that Leandra will come home and catch us together in bed?” I hear the woman’s voice. I recognised the voice it was my best friend Mary. What is she doing here? And why is she in bed with Tommy? Is it cheating on me with my best friend?

“She will have to knock. I have the keys. Did you forget? If she knocks, you’d just go to the spare room. Leandra can sleep on the couch. You know, I do not sleep with her. I only have one woman that I love, and it is you. I only use her for her money. And now she’s going to get a nice job. I can live over her without even having to marry her. I can buy you a lot of things. She can buy me that motorcycle I want,” Tommy says. I’m glad I know where I stand with Tommy. My heart is breaking inside of me. I loved him. I thought he was the first person who ever loved me. I will not show them that they are hurting me. I am going to go in there and challenge them. I open the door to the bedroom.

“Wow, this is interesting. My boyfriend and my best friend are sleeping together. I should have known better than to trust the two of you. Get out!” I shout.

“Calm down, Leandra. Mary and I are only friends with benefits. We are not going anywhere. Either you can go sleep in hotel or you can take the spare room,” Tommy says and Mary giggles.

“You took me for a fool. Tommy, I am not going to take this. I do not have to take this. This is my apartment. The least is in my name. Besides, I hurt everything. I heard how you told her that you love her. You never loved me. I was a fool to believe you. Get out now!” I say.

“What are you going to do? Throw us out?” Tommy laughs.

“Yes,” I say.

“You and what army?” Tommy asks. He is still laughing at me, and I do not appreciate him laughing at me.

“Leandra, you are overreacting. Tommy and I are nothing. Come on. We are best friends. He promised you would get me a job at the same place you are going to work,” Mary says.

“Get out!” I shout.

“That ain’t gonna happen, darling. The only one that is getting out of here is you. You have pretty beautiful clothes. It will be a pity if you cannot go and work in your new clothes. Mary, do you like her new clothing?” Tommy asks.

“Don’t you dare touch my things!” I shout.

“I like the clothing. It looks classy. I think I can get a much better job if I’m wearing these suits. What do you think, Tommy, honey, should we take over her apartment and take her clothing? The lease is in her name, so she will have to pay it. She can stay here with us if she wants to because I am not going to lie to her anymore. Tommy and I are in love, and there is nothing that you can do about it. You will look after us. You are going to get a nice job. You will buy a lot. Three people can live off your pay,” Mary says. I cannot believe that I thought she was my friend. What am I going to do? I cannot call the police. Tommy knows most of the police, and they will not help me. He is working with some corrupt policemen. They share in the drugs’ profit that Tommy and his gang are selling on the streets. Tommy will call his friends. They will throw me out on the streets, or even worse, they will throw me in jail.

“Fine, stay if you like, but if you take my clothes, I will not be able to go to work and look after you,” I say. I needed to get out of there and get into the bathroom. They may think they have won, but I still have a card up my sleeve.

“Fine, you can keep your clothes. You will not look sexy in those old woman clothes, my love. Let her keep it,” Tommy laughs. I walk to the bathroom and grab my purse on the way. I lock the door and look in my purse for the card.

“Well, Don, I hope you are from the Italian Mafia because you are my only hope now,” I think. I got the card and called the number.

“Dante,” Don answers.

“Don, I need your help,” I say.