A deal with the devil

“How long will it take to reach the clubhouse?” I asked him as I stretched forth my left hand to give the phone to him, he took it and returned it to his left pocket.

“Thirty-five minutes on a high speed but you're not getting out of here. Carlos said I shouldn't bring you to the clubhouse no matter what.”

“Didn’t you hear what he said on the phone call?”

“Our Capo can't be easily hurt in his own house. Surely there'll be a bloodbath, but it won't be our blood.”

I shook my head vigorously. I wasn't entirely satisfied. I didn't know who Artem Kirill was, but he was bad news–a cold bloody criminal like my brother. “Thanks for letting me know my death would skip a day. I'll be driving us,”

I skipped a step close to the table, grabbed the car key, and headed out while ignoring Lenox’s nags.

I didn't give a fuck anyway. Going there wasn't to save Carlos—not that he ever needed me, I'd always been the one getting into trouble. I was only curious about this man. Since Ray knew about Martello there was a chance the man knew him too. The man had the guts to break into my apartment without getting caught.

I took the elevator alone, went to the parking lot, and waited in the car for them. My thigh still hurt like a bitch but I could manage a safe ride.

“Have you lost your fucking mind?” He snapped the moment he hopped in the car, fury reverberated through his voice.

”Fasten the seatbelt. It's going to be a stomach-turning ride. Emily, hold on tight.” I advised before igniting the engines.

The moment I drove out of the parking lot and hit the long road, I accelerated the car. Lenox cussed in Italian. I looked him in the eyes, a sly smirk lingering on my face. “That gives me goosebumps,” I stepped on the acceleration.

“Sia, Carlos is going to kill me.”

“He won't. What's he offering the man in exchange?”

“His next shipment. Drugs that are worth thirty million. Kirill isn't taking his offer, he's persistent. He wants you.”

I narrowed my eyes on him. “Why me?”

“I don't know,”

We arrived at the clubhouse within eighteen minutes. Emily peeped her head out through the window to puke before hopping out. Lenox and I alighted at the same time. I ribboned my hair into a high ponytail. “Not a fan of rough rides, huh, baby?” I said to Emily, whose eyes had dilated before heading inside.

Many men were guarding the entrance. They bowed their heads as we walked past them.

“This is insane,” He said behind me.

“I’ve never been sane all my life until now. Let settle this matter now,”

I halted in the VIP area. I saw two men sitting opposite each other, the one with the wide board unmistakably shoulders, his back facing me. I recognized him by the black flower tattoo across his neck. That was Carlos—I’d always loved his tattoos. He was sitting with his legs crossed, his shirt sleeves rolled to his elbows like sausage, looking at the man with the grey hair and grey beard in front of him with a dreadful look.

“You take my offer or your fuck off, Kirill. We've already reached the end of the terms.”

“This isn't about you, Carlos. I'm not here to negotiate this matter. I want your sister. It's either you give her to me right now or I kill her in front of you.”

“Touch her, and you'll die,” He wasn't joking when he said it. His voice intensified.

“That’s intimidating,” he slyly smirked. “I can't take you up on your offer. Ray is worth more than what you're offering. He's like a son to me…”

“He’s a bloody asshole. He shot me on my thigh—my fucking thigh. It almost damaged my bone.” I interrupted him.

Artem finally noticed me ever since I arrived in the VIP area. His eyes beamed with joy and another emotion I couldn't decipher. “Look who's finally joining us,”

Anger pulsed through his body as he exchanged looks with his second in command. Lenox leveled him with a helpless look. “What the hell are you doing here, Sia?”

“You don't have to lose millions because of me. This is my fight, not yours. Can I speak with him…alone?”

Carlos wasn't buying it. He leaped to his feet as his eyes stared dagger into mine. My throat constricted as fear pulsed through my veins. The expression on his face—it was dangerous. I knew what I was getting myself into but this was my only chance.

“No,”

“You’re not in any position to refuse, Carlos. You should excuse us before I change my mind. She walks in here, meaning that she knows who she's up against. Don't you trust your sister?”

He argued for a while, and eventually, he left the room. After all, there were many cameras at every goddamn angle. I sat opposite Artem, clasped my hands on my thigh. Now that we were alone I could look at him and have a real conversation with him.

“Does your thigh hurt?”

“It hurts like a bitch,” I snorted as I studied my surroundings. Artem appeared to be more relaxed despite being in the enemy’s territory. “You aren't here to kill me,”

“I would have killed you before getting here. No, I'm not here to kill you.”

I nodded. “Good. So what do you want from me?”

He chuckled softly. His smile was beautiful despite the huge scar across his cheekbone and lines of wrinkles on his forehead. He was probably in his late sixties because of his face, physique, and grey hair, yet he was as hot as hell. “You killed Marco and Ray.”

“So?” I entwined my trembling hands.

“You don't kill my men and get to live. I'm thoroughly impressed by your exceptional skills and outstanding performance in black ops training. Your father talked about you a lot. It's good to finally meet you in person. I need you to find someone for me.”

“You don't prattle, do you? I see. Are you here to get me to work for you?”

His eyes glinted with doubts. “We aren't debating it, Black Fang. I'm not here to hear your rejection, you're going to do it.”

“And if I decline?”

“You die. Right here. In the next second, you said that again.”

I swallowed heavily. The traitorous way my body reacted to his threat, I felt an indecipherable sensation surging through my spine. Somehow I couldn't seem to relax.

“Who do you need me to find?”

He snapped his fingers. The man behind him stepped forward and put a photo on the table with a gun. “He’s a Russian Mafia. He'll be visiting Italy soon and that's all I know. I need you to find his location when he arrives in two weeks.”

“Why do you need him?”

“It’s none of your business,” he snapped. “You don't ask questions.”

“If you don't trust me enough to share sensitive information with me. I'm afraid I can't get involved. You tell me who this man is or I'm out.”

“I knew you'd ask. This bastard hindered my shipment, which is worth forty million, and went into hiding. I need to find this son of a bitch and put a bullet into his skull.”

“Carlos can find you the man you're looking for.”

“It’s you I want. That's what you do. Your late father always hails your exceptional skill. I want to see what you've got up your sleeve.”

I contemplated for a while. This wasn't the first time I'd been tracking criminals ever since I regained consciousness. Before I did it for Pedro in exchange for names. I could always do it again. “Fine. It'll take a month.”

“Just two weeks, that's all you have. Find him or I kill you. I'll be waiting for your call.” Then he rose from his seat. “I heard you're looking for him.”

“Who?” I raised a brow. I picked up the gun; it was loaded. I scrutinized the serial numbers on it. I took the photo and his business card.

He pivoted his head over his shoulder. “Martello Don Viktor. If you find me that man in the photo I'll tell you all I know about him. You're desperate,”

“Why not now?”

“Not so soon, darling.”

“I saw him last night. He came to me. Do you believe me?” I inquired, anticipating a negative response from him.

“I have no reason not to believe you because he's been tracking you right before the accident. He even faked his death because of you. You're a hell of a top deal.”

“His death? Why is he after me?”

.

“What your family owes him won't let him rest in peace until he gets it back. Especially you, Sia. You owe him what you can't repay and I hope you're up for the deal with the devil. Sadly, you don't remember anything.”

“I don't remember anything. Could you tell me?”

“This mission you're taking should jog your memory of the past. It's similar. Make sure you don't get yourself killed. The next time he shows up, make sure to kill him on the spot if you don't want him to drag you into his hell. That'll be excruciating. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.” He waved at me, signaled to his men, and then they exited the VIP area.

I stared at the photo in my hand. “If I'm going to get the information I need only after finishing this job, I should get it done in two days.”

Carlos entered the room, snatched the photo from me, and tore it into pieces.

“Carlos!”

“Sia,”

“How could you do this?” I attempted to gather the pieces, however, he stepped on them. Lenox came over, took the gun on the table, and disarmed it.

“You’re not taking any risk. I told you not to get involved.”

“Why won't I get involved? None of you believed me. When I told you that he came to my apartment, did you believe me?” I faced Lenox.

“Stop spouting nonsense. Stop this crazy obsession. The man you're looking for isn't real.”

My hand cropped into a fist, and I gritted my teeth, trying to suppress my anger from simmering up. I felt the desire to land a punch on him but that'd make everything worse in the end.

“So is it my nightmare? You're the one who doesn't know what he's saying. You're obsessed with me. I don't know if you're trying to protect me or if you're also using me like everyone else. Do you know what terrifies me most? Not knowing who the foe is. How did he get into my room? How did he drug me when your men were on watch? Lenox, can you answer that question? Were you truly watching over me?”

“Nora told me it's a side effect of your medicine.” Carlos seethed.

I laughed hysterically. “I didn't even take the medicine last night. If you're not going to help me, then don't stop me. I don't need you to protect me every time. I'm old enough to save myself.” I stomped out of the clubhouse. Arriving at the car park, I hopped in the car and drove back to my apartment.

I turned my bedroom upside down. There was no way he'd come over without leaving a trace. I saw the book he left on the couch. Checking it, he highlighted a few words. I read out. “YOU ARE NEXT,”

While I was flipping through the pages, a card fell to the floor. I crouched down, and an excruciating pain I'd been ignoring hit me on my thigh; I shut my eyes as I picked up the card. The location and the time were written on the paper. I knew the location. “The day after tomorrow at Ray’s warehouse. Why?” I paused momentarily. Furiously, I threw the paperback against the wall. ‘Are you fucking with me?”