Chapter 27: Cuddling to Chris.

"Who is there?"

Rauf dropped the dog with a sigh, while it whimper in its hand.

Finally, a short man with curly black hair came out of an inner room. "I’m sorry. I was just trying to out some things in place." He apologized to Rauf.

Then his eyes were fixed on the dog. "What happened?"

Rauf told him how he had kicked a stone on it.

The man nodded. "It’s a minor injury. I’ll be done some."

He picked up a wool and clean the blood, then he disinfected it. Soon, he was working on the dog as if Rauf wasn’t standing just few inches away from him.

Once he was done, he passed the dog to Rauf with a smile and charged him for the treatment.

Rauf carried the dog that had fallen asleep while getting treated, paid for the treatment, and left the clinic.

Again, he ordered another cab to take him back to the hotel.

His night hadn’t gone how he expected, but it hadn’t been too bad.

With no idea what to do with the dog, he took him back to the hotel. It slept peacefully in his hand as if it were just at the right place.

Henson was waiting right at the front of his door with his hand right on his phone as if he were ready to make a call. Then his eyes dropped on Rauf.

"Sir?" His eyes moved towards the dog. He didn’t have to ask the question as Rauf could see it on his face.

"I found a stray."

Henson nodded. "I just got a report from those watching Miss Amie."

Rauf nodded, moving into the hotel room. He dropped the dog on the floor, making a mental note that he would buy the things it needed early the next week.

"Tell me about Amie."

"She went to Trevor house today and now she’s on her way to New Central State."

Rauf frowned. "So fast. Samir must have told her to get prepared and start coming over here."

Henson agreed. "I thought as much, sir. But now that she had left Kansas, the guards can’t report anything on her again."

Rauf waved his hand. "There’s no point anymore if she was in New Central State. I’m sure we will get some intel on her."

Then he swallowed. "Did you try looking for Miss June again?"

Henson nodded. "But with limited connection here, it isn’t easy."

"Well..." He rubbed his hand together. "You did what you can. I’m sure she would turn up once the Junox Mafia joined the search."

Henson eyes moved to the dog snuggling on the floor. "Sir, what do you intend to do with this?"

Rauf stared at the dog for a while. "I haven’t decided yet, but I should at least keep it till it’s well. After all, I cause it to be in pain."

Henson stared at his boss as if he couldn’t understand the sentiment he had towards a dog. But it wasn’t his right to question his boss on what’s right and what’s wrong. So, he only stared at the dog and later left the room.

<<<

"Did you just say Chris Vassari came over to the clinic again?" Ellie’s eyes were widened.

June nodded, chewing on the bone of the chicken she had just finished eating. For some reason, the bone felt more delicious than the chicken itself. "Yeah. He came to drop Milo for some check up."

But Ellie was hardly listening to her anymore. "Do you guys have any vacancy at the clinic?"

Rolling her eyes so hard, it almost fell out of her eyes, June ignored that question. "And did you know what I did?"

Ellie waited for her to answer the question.

"I asked if he had slave in his house." She said, using her other hand to smack her head, gently. "I was so embarrassed by my question, but then I thought I was acting brave."

Ellie who couldn’t hide her feelings, laughed. "You’re joking right now?"

"I’m serious!"

"You asked a mafia guy if he had slaves in his house. You aren’t afraid of what he could do to you."

June dropped the remains of the bone and picked a new one. "I was more concerned about my mother and I had no idea how else to ask him about her than through that way."

"And what did he say?"

"He assured me that everyone working with him is of free will and if he had any idea who my mother was, he will help me."

Ellie swoon. "What a nice Mafia guy?"

But just was rolling her eyes again, "Don’t ever associate Mafia and nice together?"

But Ellie ignored at piece of advice. "You’re only saying that because you have only met your piece of shit father mafia. I’m certain they’re some nice guys out there."

Having no urge to argue, June accepted defeat faster than normal. All she wanted was to enjoy every bit of her bone. But this was the last piece on her plate. So, she chewed on it carefully.

Ellie was watching her with so much interest. "Ever since you got pregnant, you’ve been eating more and more strange stuff."

June shrugged. "I guess that’s what it means to be pregnant, and it’s exactly what the baby wants."

Ellie nodded. "Baby deserves to get what baby wants."

"Yeah." June concluded, as she suck her finger dry from the water that drip on it.

The suddenly Ellie held her finger, stopping her from sucking the rest of the juice that had dropped on her hand.

"I think I have a solution."

June sighed. "Solution to what?"

Her excitement dim a bit because June wasn’t as excited as she expected. "Solution to knowing if your mother is at the Vassari’s mansion or not?"

June who wasn’t interested before, became very interested now. "What are you proposing?"

Ellie wore her ’I know you will be excited’ look before she continued. "All you need to do is cuddle up to Chris?"

June lost interest as quickly as she had gained it. "You want me to cuddle up to another mafia guy when I just survived one?" Then she pointed to her stomach. "Look at this. I haven’t even figured out how I am supposed to take care of this baby once it arrived and you want me..."

Ellie raised her hand up to stop her before she started overthink everything. "Eh. That’s not what I meant."

June glared at her. "What do you mean?"

Wanting June to understand her and not get angry for no reason, Ellie took a deep breath. "See, from everything you have been telling me about Chris, I think..." She paused and stared at June. "It’s just a thought oh."

"Okay."

"I think Chris likes you."

As if on autopilot, June started debating the probability. "He doesn’t like me. He only came over for Milo’s check up."

Ellie nodded as if she were listening to her, but she was barely paying attention. She already knew June was going to disagree with it. So, she wasn’t a bit surprised.

"Of course, he only came for Milo’s check up." She agreed. "Well, I think whenever he comes for Milo’s check up again, try to act friendly with him."

This time June didn’t interrupt her.

"Maybe you’re friendly with him, he could allow you into his mansion to look for your mother."

June’s eye widened.

Why didn’t she think about that?

"Our old plan was to save enough to go to the address. But fortunately for us, someone living there had been dropped into our life by some luck. So, all we need to do now is find a way to get access to the house. I was thinking since it’s a mafia lord house, it wouldn’t be easy to get into the house."

Suddenly, Ellie tripped on her chair as June threw herself at her. "You’re a genius Ellie."

Ellie had to pull her back, while carefully avoiding pressing her stomach.

"Of course, I am a genius. That’s why we are friends."

June nodded. "I like the idea. So, I just have to pretend to like Chris, right?"

Ellie stared at her in disbelief. "Pretend? I have seen pictures of the guy all over. Someone as hot as that. There’s nothing to dislike about him. Liking him should be pretty easy."

If June was being honest, Ellie did have a point.

But from the moment she had discovered he was mafia, she had decided not to like him.

She choose to dislike him because she hated what he represent.

"Whatever you say? As long as the possibility of seeing my mother has increased. I am down for anything."

Ellie stared at her in disbelief.

"I still don’t understand why you should search so hard for a mother you don’t know. Or how you have come to love her."

But June only smiled. "It’s all because she represent hope for me. In a world I have been abandoned twice, where I thought I had no one. Then I suddenly found out I had a mother. My own flesh and blood. Of course, I’ll do anything to search for her."