𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒

𝐎𝐍𝐄

"I think that's all I have to say for today. Any questions?" I scan the room as all my staff stay silent. "Alright then."

Everyone silently grabs their things and exits the room, leaving me and Emilia alone in the meeting room.

"Are doing okay Tate? You've been acting weird recently," She touches my forehead. "Are you sick?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm great actually." I look down so she doesn't read me by my facial expressions. She clears her throat loudly causing me to look up and see her glaring at me, brows raised.

"Alright no, I'm not okay. You know Matthew, the guy I was seeing?" Emilia nods slowly. "Yes well, he has a girlfriend, such a waste of time!" I groan.

I have officially decided to just give up. I've been on four dates in one month and all of them aren't working out.

"I'm gonna end up single in my apartment drinking wine all day." I sigh.

Emilia smiles. "At least you have money. When I have kids you can be their single, cool, rich aunt!" She sighs at the thought.

I narrow my eyes at her daydream. "Who said you'll be the one with a husband and kids? You haven't dated in months."

She flicks her long blonde hair. "I'm on my self-care journey. No boys. No problem."

I nod. I wish I was like her. The men- the boys, I've been with this month have been nothing but terrible. I grab my bag and exit the meeting room, Emilia slowly following behind me.

The day was slow and boring. Not to mention I'm hungry. I had to skip lunch to finish finalising new products.

"Make sure to lock up when you're done," I tell Nancy. She gives my thumbs up and heads straight back to typing.

My stomach rumbles. I'm carving Italian.

Just as I was about to sit in my car, my phone starts to vibrate from my pocket. I roll my eyes at the contact name.

Alex.

What could my brother want? "Hello?"

I hear shuffling but no voice is heard. "Alex?"
The line is silent for another 10 seconds before I hear His heavy breathing from the other end.
"Ew Alex are you-"

"Tate," he lets out, "I- come home quick." My eyes widen. "What? Why?"

"I'm in some serious trouble. I- oh my God" he groans in pain. "They're gonna k-kill me."

I freeze. They are what? Who are they?

"I- I'm on my on my way."

𖤐𖤐𖤐

Thank goodness there wasn't so much traffic today. I shake nervously. Alex needs to stop getting himself into trouble.

First stealing, then joining gangs and now and I don't know what to expect. He's turning into my father and I don't like it. Both our parents and My brother have decided to keep out of the mafia until Alex is expected to be the new leader.

I'm glad Father has basically disowned me though. He only calls when he needs me. And that's rarely.

I take long and quick steps until I'm at the entrance of my apartment. When I reach my door. It's silent on the other side. I frown. What?

Taking deep breaths, I jiggle my Keyes into the keyhole. "ON YOUR KNEES!" Someone yells in what sounds like a deep Italian accent.

My eyes widen. My brother is in my living room: blood on his face and hands. Five large men in black suits stand around him, one pointing a gun to his head.

"Talk!" One of them shouts. Alex gulps. "Erm...Tate, I owe a lot of money to these people. I-I lost some drugs. A lot of them" he swallows. "I'm sorry Tate"

Oh my gosh.

"Um... how much?" I ask quietly. The men in the room exchange hard looks.

"Three million dollars worth of drugs ma'am."

I gasp. All heads turn to me. I don't even have up to half that money in my account. My heart pounds.

"Ma'am we're sorry to say this but, if we don't get our money right this second your brother's dead"

The large man holding the gun presses it closer to Alex's head. I feel my tears roll down my heated cheeks. Shutting my eyes tight, I silently pray for the best.

I keep squeezing my eyes shut so tight waiting for the gunshot but I don't hear a sound. I don't open my eyes but I hear the sound of my wooden floor moving.

Someone just walked into the room.

"Il capo lo sa. vuole che glieli portiamo." Another man speaks.
{"Boss knows. he wants us to bring them to him."}

I slowly open my eyes to see the large men in suits dragging my brother out of my apartment. One of the men grabs my hand gently. "What's going on?"
I question.

"Ma'am we're going to need you and your brother to come with us."

𖤐𖤐𖤐

The large black car moves slowly, as they drive through the New York traffic. That seems to have gotten worse from when I was driving before. My brother sits across from me trying to make eye contact. He knows I'm mad.

Always dragging me into his problems.

I press my lips together while looking out the window. It feels like forever before the car stops in front of a large mansion. I stare in awe.

It's a shame this might be the place where they kill us for real.

The men lead us into a gloomy-looking room. "Boss isn't here. Watch them."

The tallest of all the men leaves the room leaving three other men. One by the door, one by the bars, and one three feet away from my brother and I.

This was going to be a long night.