𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛.✔️

#17

Essence

Mafia?

"We—we are the Italian mafia"

I kept replaying the whole thing in my head, trying to make sense of it. What did he mean by "we are"? How was it even possible? I thought mafias were just something out of movies... What have I gotten myself into?

A knock interrupted my train of thought, pausing me from my constant pacing. I tightened my grip on the bat that remained in my hand, refusing to let it go. Without argument, they let me keep it. Though I remained stuck in this room, at least I had something to protect myself.

The door creaked open, revealing Brianna. She looked at me with such sorrow, her eyes red and tear-streaked. I softened my gaze unintentionally as she spoke.

"Hey," she muttered, looking down at her fiddling fingers.

"Hi," I replied sternly.

"Can I come in?" she asked. I nodded in response, and she walked in, sitting at the corner of the bed, giving me space. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. It's not exactly something you tell somebody you just became friends with a month ago."

"I don't want to be involved in this," I said, crossing my arms. She looked up at me from the bed with a sigh and nodded.

"I understand. It's probably a shock and maybe even a little scary..."

"A little? I'm stuck in a house full of criminals, Brianna," I said loudly, taking a step closer to her.

She stood up. "I didn't want this for you. You have to know that. It was all his plan. Killian doesn't listen to anyone but himself. I tried, trust me. I tried to talk him out of it."

"Plan. You mean he planned out that entire thing?" I started to grow angry.

"You weren't safe at home," she said, and I paused mid-freakout at her words.

"I'm sorry?" Fear tingled through my entire body.

"It's Vain. The boys told him about your run-in the other day, and he threatened you. They were all so afraid-"

"Threatened? He doesn't even know me," I interrupted. Why would he possibly send someone to threaten me?

"Some of Killian's men are out looking for him, scoping your house. If he was to do anything, they'll catch him." My heart started to speed up. How did I get myself caught up in danger once again? It seemed that trouble followed me everywhere. "You have to believe me when I say I had no part in this. I love you, I would never put you in danger-"

She ranted on before I cut her off. "It's fine," I quickly said. It wasn't her fault. She was raised in this world; they may be bad people, but she's only ever shown me kindness. She looked surprised at my reply. "You're the first real friend I've had, and I can't lose you or blame you for this," I shrugged, turning around and continuing my pacing.

"I know you're scared, but we're one of the most feared Mafias in the world. You're under constant watch; it's the safest place to be," she said, trying to reassure me. But knowing that I was watched twenty-four seven only made me feel more uneasy.

"Great," I sarcastically laughed out. "Just what I needed."

"I'm really, really sorry," she said, her voice filled with genuine remorse.

"I know..."

"Come down to eat with me?" She smiled, weary but hopeful. Just the mention of food made my stomach growl loudly. She stared at me knowingly, her hand held out.

"I'm bringing my bat," I disregarded her hand and gripped the bat under my arms.

"Alright," she said. "If it makes you feel better."

I followed her out the door, leading down some stairs. My heart pounded against my breastbone so hard that I started to hear the beat. With Brianna a few feet away from me, she walked into the kitchen, leaving me in the hallway for a few seconds.

Come on. It's the same people that you hung out with plenty of times before, Essence.

I walked into the kitchen to see everyone's gaze on me. I didn't say a word as I moved to sit down on a free stool with nobody near it. With my eyes trained on my hands, I didn't bother looking at anybody's face.

"So, is the shipment ready?" Killian asked shamelessly, the bluntness in his voice catching my attention. I stared at his glass with ice and assumed liquor of some sort swirling around. He sat down on the seat across the counter from me, placing his drink down and chin into his palm. I couldn't help but look up into his eyes that were trained onto me.

"Yeah, the shipment is set to start while the auction is going on," Neil said while pouring himself a similar drink to Killian's.

"Auction?" I spoke up immediately, regretting it after. Easton sat beside me, causing me to uncontrollably flinch at the little contact that his leg made with mine. A hint of hurt crossed his face.

"The black market auction for people who are criminals, as you would say, or just work within the underground world," he noticed my confusion once again. "You know, like underground fighting, trafficking-"

I cut him off. "Do you traffic people?" My eyes widened, and Zail almost spit his water out.

"No, we don't do that," he cleared his throat and leaned on the counter. "We don't hurt innocent people, like you."

"You barely know me," I said in almost a whisper, looking at my hands on my lap. They looked at each other and then to me.

"We know you're a good person, and you've become important to some of us," Brianna said.

I didn't say anything more as I stayed looking at my lap until a mouthwatering smell flew up my nose. I looked in front of me to see a plate full of food. I widened my eyes. "I can't eat this much," I said.

"Just try," Killian said before standing up and walking to the other side of the counter I was on. He rolled up his sleeves, and I could now see some veins popping out. Holy damn. He gripped the ledge of the table, leaning on it and studying me. "I got people to get your stuff from your place," he said very coyly about it.

"My stuff—what! I am not living here," I said, standing up and following his actions. We held a gaze.

"Until I know you won't blab your mouth, you're stuck here," he smirked. I looked at him like he had two heads.

"It wasn't my choice to know in the first place, dumbass," I screamed at him. His face twinges when I swear.

"It was for your safety, which everyone in this room seems to give a fuck about. You'll stay here. End. Of," he said sternly. I scoffed, looking away and breaking eye contact.

"Seems like you're the one who gives a fuck," I mumble under my breath.

He raised himself a bit, gripping harder. His knuckles were turning white. I looked down at his hands, which immediately stopped gripping and turned over his chest.

I looked back up at his face. He raised his brows, shaking his head. I said nothing, and he sighed. "You'll retrieve your things with them and come straight back here. End of discussion, Bambina," he said. I laughed a bit, shaking my head. Un-freaking-believable.

He looked like he won a battle as he smirked again, keeping his eyes on me. He continued to talk. "Jacob, Zail, go with her so she doesn't run away," he ordered. I shook my head. "And Anna can go too, maybe then she'll behave," he shrugged, walking closer to me.

"Eat," he said sternly, making my body shiver. He stalked off before stopping at the door once again and looking at only the boys. "Any of them get hurt, best friends or not, a bullet will be between your eyes," he warned, and with that, he was gone.

"He wasn't just protective over me this time," Bri wiggled her brows. How could she possibly be shipping us in this moment? I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms.

Just great.

"Well, finish your food before we get yelled at," Jacob said. I kept my face neutral before sitting back down and throwing my forehead onto the counter.

Living here... with criminals. I'm going to die.