No Pills

What If Tomorrow Never Comes

*Mia's P.O.V*

It's easy to laugh when I'm mad.
It's easy to smile when I'm sad.

But it's taking everything in me not to slap Joe.

She hisses in pain and says, "Mia, listen to me. Whatever you're thinking is wrong."

"Oh?" I halt. "Enlighten me then."

"That boy is evil. Do you have any idea the stuff he has done?! He-he seduced and killed a fucking widower..."

Then, she divulges this argument for eight minutes straight. When done, she sniffs as I release her. I don't regret hitting her head though.

*
*

Immediately Joe will return into the sunlight, she will head to the family corporation for a meeting with Granny. Granny will ask her why Igor is yet to show his face, to which she'll say, "He's a bit indisposed, but be rest assured that I can handle things here."

"Handle things?" Granny will raise a brow.

"Yes. I've dealt with the boy, you know."

"Good."

"And I wouldn't get distracted by my -" Joe will gulp. "Hobbies."

To that, Granny will shut her newspaper. Her gaze will stick to the wall above Joe's head. "Your brother has an attractive wife now."

"I don't know her. Do you?"

"Mr Palviokinsky's daughter," Granny will say.

Joe will grimace, causing her mom to chortle, "She's smart, and her business is also getting her millions."

"In that case, perhaps she should handle things," Joe shall rise. When her mother doesn't show an ounce of emotion, she will burst, "I can't believe you pushed me into this monstrosity! I have a baby -"

"Whom you can guarantee a future for because of me."

"Ya, well, Igor sells kids, mom. He.. He's not just fucking -"

"Walls have ears," Granny will cut in.

Joe will shrug that comment off until she flies home, only to meet utter silence.

Frantically, she'll call Willem. He will warn her to report herself.

*
*

Cynthia scribbles fast on the right side of the board - pictures of Igor, other Yeltsin family members, and Jawl cover the left half.

Then, she points out, "We can't bank our hopes on one person. We need people in power, in law enforcement, witnesses -" She side-eyes Autumn.

"Do you think numbers over trust is our best shot?" I ask.

When she shrugs, I click my tongue in concentration until a thought pops up.

"What is it?" Autumn sees my creased brows.

My mind travels to when I saw Anna at my former class's prom. She seemed fine - apparently, no one reported her for the magazine drama.

"Is Anna's dad still a mayor?"

"An... na. Anna?" Autumn tries to recall her, whereas I google for an answer. When it turns out that her father is still mayor, doubts cloud my thoughts.

"Wouldn't things look bad for him, though? Cuz, like, all this crime happened during his term."

"Ur, Jawl's cartel has existed for over a decade. He was wanted even before the term of office began." Autumn informs me.