VETTAThere was so much noise around me, so loud and frightening, but I couldn't place where it was coming from, or if it was even real. I was enveloped in thick darkness and couldn't move. My heart was beating so rapidly and my mind thinking so many things at once. Confusion, fear, panic were the emotions I felt. Where am I? I tried to move and realized I couldn't. My right hand was angled at an awkward position above my head that was very uncomfortable, my left hand on my stomach. I was lying on my side. I tried again, harder. I struggled, but it felt like the struggle was only in my head. I couldn't move, my body wouldn't listen. Filled with a dread, I tried to scream, but I couldn't open my mouth. What is this? Beads of sweat were beginning to form on my forehead and temples. I tried again, begging my body to cooperate, it wouldn't budge. I felt tears roll down my left eye into my right. It stung and I blinked rapidly. I was crying. Why are my eyes the only thing functioning? The

"Boss-" One of my men barges into my office, disrupting my meeting. I give him a cold glare, temped to shoot the mother fucker in the leg"I'm sorry boss" he apologizes, looking at his feet."Return in an hour" I say to him and turn back to my meeting with Rico and Dominguez. "Where is Marley?" I ask. She should be here already. I know I upset her last time, but she's supposed to be over it by now. She can't be missing meetings like this. She's still a part of the team. "I gave her a call, but she said if you want her in the meeting, you should call her yourself." Rico tells me, a small smile playing on his lips. Dominguez barks a laughter. "What did you do this time?""Nothing of consequence" I reply curtly. Marley is a stubborn hot head. She reminds me of myself, and I should be proud of her. She's strong and likes to stand her ground, but she has to understand why I shield her from some things. These waters are testy and not very friendly, especially to women. So if leaving her o