CHAPTER FOUR: …how ruthless the boss can be.

HOPE

I stood there, glaring at him with pure contempt. I wished I could report him and the master for their crimes. I wasn’t an object. None of us in the master’s house were objects to be exchanged between rich criminals.

I used to dream of working at the Mason enterprise. But just a few days ago, I discovered that the image he projected to the world was nothing more than a shadow of his true self. He was a criminal. And anyone associated with the master was just as guilty.

“I can see the anger burning in your eyes,” he said, studying me. “How did it feel running for hours thinking you could escape from me?”

He was provoking me on purpose. I could feel it.

I squeezed my fists tightly around the fabric of my dress to stop myself from hitting him.

“You should be the one telling me how fun it was,” I snapped. “How did it feel watching me run, knowing I had no chance? You’re a sick bastard, and no matter how much you try to hide it, it’s only a matter of time before the world sees you for what you really are.”

He chuckled. “And how will they find out? Are you going to tell them about the master?” His tone was mocking. “I bet you enjoyed playing dress-up with him, hoping some charming somebody would finally notice you. After so many failed attempts, how did it feel? Were you... desperate?”

He knew. He knew everything about my time with the master.

He knew me longer than I thought.

What did Ace want with me?

“What do you want from me?” I finally asked.

“Everything you can offer,” he said, walking toward the walk-in closet.

“And why should I give you anything?”

“You’ll feel better when you do it yourself,” he replied coolly. “I could take anything I want from you... without your permission. But I’m giving you the chance to offer it willingly.”

Then he disappeared into the room. A moment later, he returned holding a large bathrobe.

“You're mine, Hope. The sooner you realize that, the better for you.” He moved closer, and I instinctively took a few steps back.

“Your room is two doors down from this one,” he added.

“You’re sending me away so soon?” I said, locking eyes with him.

“Well, you’re free to spend the night with me,” he said with a half-smile. “I’m sure it’d be more fun than the master’s club.”

He gave me a strange look before walking past, his arm brushing against my shoulder... not hard, but enough to be noticed.

Was that contact necessary? Probably not.

And yet, it bothered me more than it should have.

“Close the door behind you when you leave,” he said, and I could’ve sworn I saw a smirk on his lips before he turned away.

ACE

After my shower, I dressed and headed to one of the warehouses for a meeting with Bob. It seemed some people had forgotten who the boss was. I needed to remind them.

I lifted the aluminum door guarding the entrance and stepped into the darkness. Walking past stacks of boxes and crates, I reached an iron-barred elevator. I punched in the passcode. It beeped, the doors slid open, and I stepped inside.

The elevator descended automatically.

When the doors opened again, I entered a dimly lit room and spotted Rob shirtless across the space, holding a bloodied spanner. Tied to a chair nearby was a man—bruised, bleeding, barely conscious.

“Boss,” Bob and the other three men acknowledged me with a nod as I entered.

“He still not talking?” I asked, taking the spanner from Bob.

He shook his head.

I returned the tool to the wall, where others like it hung. Then I turned to face the man in the chair.

“When you came to me, eyes swollen, begging for money to save your wife, what did I tell you?” I asked, though I didn’t expect an answer.

I crouched beside him and pressed my thumb into the fresh wound on his thigh. He screamed.

“Please stop,” he begged. “I have nothing to say. I didn’t betray the Cosa Nostra, from the moment you helped me to save my dying wife, my unwavering allegiance has always been yours.”

He thinks I’m a joke

I pulled out the pistol behind my trousers and fixed the silencer.

“I waited for you to come clean and you just blew up your last chance. Tell me! Who sent you to get information about my family?” I shot his kneecap and he only screamed without saying a word.

“I will ask again Martin, why and who sent you to my family?” I pointed the gun to his shoulder blade and pulled the trigger. “The more you waste my time the worst it’s going to be for you. You should have spilled your guts when I wasn’t here.”

“I’m going to die anyway, so what’s the point in saying anything to you piss of shit!” he spat on my face.

“I should have shot your tongue first if not that you have very important information for me.” I wiped the spit and smirked at him. “I’m going to find your wife and children and I’m going to look after them for you when you go to hell. You lied to me!” I raised my voice

“W...what.” his voice was shaky. He realized that I knew the truth. His wife wasn’t sick and the story he told me was a ploy to get into the family. I knew he was lying though. His betrayal was an advantage to me and the business.

“Don’t lay your hands on them,” he said looking at me with rage.

I shot his second shoulder and the other knee and aimed the gun at his balls.

“FBI! They sent me. I was approached by one of them two months ago and he convinced me to do it. They told me that there was a way to get me out of the Cosa Nostra and keep my family safe when I’m done with my mission…” he continued talking and saying everything I needed to hear.

“That wasn’t so hard was it?” I asked rubbing his cheek with the mouth of the smoking hot gun. “I had six bullets in here and guess what? I was going to empty them on you but you just saved yourself from one bullet.”

He looked at me in dismay. “I told you everything!” he screamed.

“No one betrays the Cosa Nostra and live to tell the tale. Your wife and children will be fine, that’s my forgiveness for you,” I released one more shot on his forehead at a very close range.

“Shit, my shirt got messy” I whispered before one of the men came to me with a towel in hand.

“We have spare shirt for you in the dressing room upstairs, boss.” He informed me.

“I knew you could get him to talk in no time,” Bob said and turned to the men, “let’s get this mess cleaned up.

“Sometimes I forget how ruthless the boss can be” I heard one them whisper as the elevator moved up.