The Mafia's Secret(Book 1)

✔️Chapter 1✔️

SCARLETT

        This all felt surreal. I was trapped. Stuck in the back of a trunk like you see in the movies. The memory of last night was nothing but a fog and the growing headache brought me to the conclusion that I had been drugged. It wasn't the first time but this time, my hands and feet were bound by a thick rope; which were numb from the tightness of it. There was.  pillowcase covering my head, allowing no light to pass through. It was completely pitch black.
The car engine was faint. Muffled by the extremely loud rock music playing on the radio. I knew the only purpose of it was to hide any screams expected to leave my lips. I wanted to scream in hopes someone would rescue me from this unknown Hell but I held my tongue.
        The car finally came to a stop. My heart began to rapidly beat out of control. My breathing quickened as an unbearable silence filled the air. Footsteps started to make their way to the back of the car. The trunk door opened, allowing in a small amount of light. The strong smell of cigarettes was overwhelming me in seconds. It was as if someone held a lit cigarette right in front of my face. It made bile rise in the back of my throat, making the urge to vomit grow with each passing second.
        The pillowcase was removed from my head, causing me to wince as I took on the overpowering light of the sun. Blinded, I could barely make out the two tall figures in front of me. One of them loomed over me. A smug look was plastered on his face as he moved a hand to the side of my head. He brushed back a few strands of my hair. His unexpectedness action causing me to involuntarily tremble. He chuckled in response. It was like he enjoyed seeing my fear.
        "Don't be scared. We'll be together soon." That was all the stranger said to me before his fist came flying towards my face. My mind barely had time to register the sudden jolt of pain before darkness began to take its hold. The man straightened himself before backing away. His last words echoed in my mind as darkness overcame me. "Boy's, grab her."

*   *   *   *  

        For a moment it felt as if I hadn't even blacked out. The pillowcase that has previously been on my head, was there once again. Pressure jabbed into my waist and abdomen as my body roughly bounced on someone's shoulder with each step they took. The position was extremely uncomfortable and with the tight grip around my waist, it was impossible to shift into a position that was less so. The stairs the man walked down didn't help the situation either. The cold surroundings of what felt like an uninsulated basement only added to the discomfort. My skinny jeans and thick sweatshirt hardly keeping me warm.
        Shivers consumed my body as if I was convulsing from a never-ending seizure. Once I was put down, I nearly said "thank you" but I held my tongue as I had done in the very beginning. My knees seemed to have a mind of their own, buckling beneath me. A hand quickly grabbed my arm with a painfully firm grip, catching my fall. They steadied my balance in seconds.
        "Search her." A man demanded. His familiar voice echoed in my head as I tried to place who he was.
        Hands started to roam my body, starting at my ankles and then slowly working their way up to my waist. The way he touched my body made me feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. My legs were growing sore from how tense I was. The fear within me was growing as the seconds passed. It clouded my ability to figure out who these people were and why I was here. Wherever here was.
        The hands continued to roam my body for a few more uncomfortable seconds and then I was suddenly forced to sit on an extremely uncomfortable metal chair. The binds around my wrists were temporarily removed but only for a second before tied behind the chair. The binds around my ankles were permanently removed. Taking this to advantage, I kicked out in hopes I would get someone. When my foot made contact with someone, a small spark of satisfaction filled me. Only the satisfaction was short lived when a strong force slammed into the side of my face.
Gasping out in surprise, pain instantly began to form. My cheek burned hot from the pain and my lip stung from biting down on it. A metallic taste began forming on my tongue as blood spilled out from the small cut that had formed from the strike.
        Someone leaned in towards my face. Their breath smelling of cigarettes. "Actions have consequences. Kick out again and you won't like what comes next."
        "Fuck you." I responded, not thinking about the dangers my aggression would cost me. He had all the power. I was useless in this vulnerable position.
        Another force slammed into my face and then into the left side of my ribcage. I cried out in shock. My lips started to tingle as they swelled. Blood dripped down over them as my nose started to bleed. My ribs were aching from the second blow. The pain only grew as I straightened my posture.
        "Enough Tyler! Leave the girl alone. Xavier won't be pleased to know she was harmed."
        The man sounded familiar as his anger echoed in the room. His name was on the tip of my tongue. Only that wasn't what caught my attention. It was the name he had said instead. Xavier. He was the leader of a rival gang to my brother and Darren's gang. Their gangs used to be separate but when Xavier and his own gang came into play, the two joined forces to try and win over Xavier's people. It hadn't worked because of a mole Xavier had planted in their hands. He ambushed them, taking control of the three small gangs to make one huge gang. He had kicked Darren and my brother out of town. The only reason I would be now in the hands of Xavier was if the two were back in town. Xavier clearly must have thought that meant I knew where the two were, which I didn't. I hadn't spoken to Zayn for over a year. A few months before they were kicked out of town.
        A door swung open, causing me to jump as footsteps echoed off the walls. A dreadful screech overpowering their footsteps as what must have been a chair, dragged across the floor. The dragging continued until I knew whoever was there, was right in front of me. Their chair creaked as they sat down, pulling the pillowcase from off of my head. I was greeted with the bright lighting of a basement. It took a moment to adjust to my surroundings before I was able to look at the man in front of me.
        I couldn't help but scoff at the all-too-familiar face of Xavier. He was sitting there, smoking a cigarette.
        "How's our new guest?" he asked as he took a puff of his cigarette, blowing the smoke towards my face. The smoke burned my eyes and the smell filled my nostrils, burning the small hairs. "Hi." He said casually as he took yet another puff of his cigarette, blowing the smoke in my direction once again. The smoke burned my throat, causing me to cough. Xavier suddenly squinted, leaning forward as he focused on my lips. He reached a hand towards my face. Flinching back didn't stop him from resting his hand under my chin. "Sorry, you have a little blood right here." I winced back in pain as he applied a small amount of pressure to my bruised lip. He pulled his hand back, seeming to be examining the blood for a moment before looking up at me. "Who did this?" I wasn't sure who he was asking since he was refusing to look away from me. He finally turned to the two men standing only two meters away. I recognized them in an instant. Tyler and Caleb. Followers of Xavier. Although Caleb was less of a follower than Tyler was. "You hit her?! She's a woman! I wanted her unharmed! Now get out of here! All of you!" Xavier's rage towards the two shocked me.
        Xavier took another puff of his cigarette before slowly standing. He dropped his cigarette onto the floor, smothering it with his foot. As the two others left, it looked as if Xavier was leaving too but instead he walked behind me. I could hear water running behind me for a few seconds before being cut off. Xavier walked back into view, sitting back down. He held a cloth in one hand while reaching for my chin with the other. I eyed him cautiously, leaning back away from him. That didn't stop him from grabbing my chin, pressing the cold cloth to my lip. I pulled back, taking in a sharp breath from the pain. He tried to grab my chin again but I turned away.
        "I don't need your fucking help." I snapped.
        Xavier leaned back in his chair. A smirk spread across his lips as he crossed his arms. "So she says." He leaned forward, freeing one of my wrists from the binds. He offered the cloth. "Clean yourself up."
        I grabbed the cloth, wiping away the blood from my nose and lips. It hurt to touch my face but I didn't care.
        Xavier silently observed me for a minute before taking the cloth. He dropped it on the floor beside me before tying my wrist back to the chair. "So, have you figured out who I am yet?" He asked with a smirk.
        "You're the bitch that ruined my life. You took everything away from me, all for your selfish desire." I responded.
        Xavier shook his head, chuckling." Well, you're not wrong. Clearly you know he came back, otherwise why else would I have you? So where is he?"
        I didn't respond. If Zayn and Darren were really back, then it was for a good reason. They would never reveal themselves even if it meant risking my life. I had been down that road once before. I remembered the last time I was held at gunpoint all because an old friend of Zayn's had a disagreement with him and he took it out on me. I still had the scar that was clear as day, on the right side of my abdomen.
        Xavier sighed, standing. "Very well. Your silence will cost you. In the meantime, enjoy your stay." He left, closing the door behind him. All I could do was scream at him, calling him a coward as he disappeared from my sight. The lights went out, leaving me in complete darkness.