The Mafia's Secret

Chapter 2 ✔️

SCARLETT

The second the ice cold water hit my face, I shot up in an instant. I gasped out in pain when the ropes around my wrists dug deeper into my flesh. Glancing around, my eyes connected with Xavier's as he sat down in front of me. I eyed him up and down as he sat there with a smirk. He put an empty bucket down onto the ground before picking up a glass of water that had been beside his chair. He took a few sips of the liquid before moving it down to his lap.
"Good morning. You want some?" He raised the glass towards me. I only rolled my eyes, looking away from him. I wasn't in the mood for whatever game he was playing. Especially not now since I was drenched in cold water. "No? Alright," He set the glass down beside him, pulling out a lighter and a cigarette. I watched him with no choice as he lit the cigarette, taking a long puff of its fumes. He stayed silent as he puffed twice more before finally looking at me. "I have a question for you." He casually stated as he dropped the cigarette on the ground, wastefully crushing it beneath his foot. "Where's your brother?"
I scoffed. "Even if I knew where he was, I wouldn't tell you."
He leaned forward, causing me to flinch back. Knowing Xavier, he was anything but safe to be around. I felt too close to him despite his sudden unexpected smug demeanour around me. He moved a hand under my chin, forcing me to look at him. He then brushed back my wet hair from my face.
"I'm not going to hurt you, because I know you won't lie to me. Am I right?"
I pulled back my head, eyeing him angrily as I kept my distance despite how little I could move. I stayed silent as he leaned back. A smug look was plastered all over his face. He was making my blood boil and I hated it. I knew his words were fake and had no real meaning behind them. He was nothing but a liar. He would do anything to find my brother. Even if it meant getting his attention by hurting me.
"I can't help you, Xavier. If he's back then that's your problem. I'm not involved with any of the drama the two of you may have."
"That's where you're wrong. Caleb, bring her in!"
The moment I saw Bianca with bruises and cuts all over her body, I went mad. I angrily looked at Xavier, letting my aggression get the best of me. I struggled to get out of the tight rope around my wrist, pulling at them as hard as I could. I had to clench my teeth to prevent myself from crying out in pain. Bianca was shoved to the ground, forced to her knees by Caleb. He kept a firm grip on her shoulder as he pointed a gun to her head. Bianca looked up at me in horror. Fear was written all over her face and I was certain I held the same expression.
"Scarlett, what's going on?" I could hear the fear in her as her voice broke mid sentence.
"Fuck you, Xavier! Let her go! Bianca has nothing to do with Darren and Zayn. You know that! She's just a child!"
She was. Bianca was four years younger than me, leaving her at fourteen. I was eighteen. Bianca and I became like sisters since the day my brother and Darren disappeared. We have stayed by each other's sides since then. We were basically inseparable. I always kept her out of trouble when needed but I guess I failed this time and I had a feeling one of us was about to pay for it.
"I have a deal for you. Your brother killed a lot of my people. A whole damn lot of them. And for that, he's going to pay. So you have to work for me. But if you don't want to work for me, your friend here will die."
I wasn't quite sure how I managed to do so but I broke free of the ropes despite the pain that shot through my wrists in doing so. I lunged for Caleb. The first thing I did that Zayn had taught me, was knock the gun out of his hand as he hit the floor. I didn't dare think about the consequences to my actions as I threw a punch to his jaw. Once I was satisfied with the amount of punches I threw, I grabbed the gun. Grabbing Bianca by the arm, I stood, pulling her with me. Keeping her behind me, I aimed the gun at Caleb and Xavier. I kept a firm grip on Bianca's wrist as I kept alternating the gun between Xavier and Caleb. I wasn't dropping it.
"You can't stop me from pulling the trigger, Xavier. A bullet between the eyes is more than what you deserve."
"Well then, what are you waiting for? Go ahead. Pull it." He challenged.
I wouldn't have hesitated if I had known the two better. The clip was empty. A quick blank shot to the roof was all it took to prove my theory. Xavier chuckled, shaking his head. Looking up at him, he had amusement written all over his face. Caleb held out a hand, exposing five bullets as he dropped each one onto the ground.
"I guess you aren't as stupid as you seem. It was Darren's suggestion to keep loaded guns away from your crazy ass." He paused, smirking when he saw how shocked I was to hear that name. "Oops. I guess I wasn't supposed to mention that part."
The door behind me suddenly opened. I spun around to face my new opponent. I barely got a look at them before the gun was knocked away from my grasp. A blurred object came flying towards my face. The entire left side of my face stung with pain as I was knocked to the ground. Caressing my cheek as my vision spun, someone loomed over me. They crouched down in front of me, placing a hand under my chin. Forced to look up at them, my eyes widened in shock at who was crouched down in front of me.

* * * *

I couldn't take my eyes off of him. I was in total disbelief as I stared at the very familiar man in front of me. Darren. A mischievous grin spread across his lips as he stared down at me. He chuckled, shaking his head. It seemed as if he fed off of my shock, enjoying every second of it. He seemed to be a completely different person compared to before he was kicked out of town. Who he used to be, was gone.
"Wasn't expecting this now, were you?" He finally said, interrupting my thoughts.
"Darren?" Bianca's small voice came from behind me as she took a step towards her brother.
Darren stood, meeting her shocked expression. "Hello sister. Miss me?"
"What are you doing? What is this?"
"Isn't it obvious? I returned and this time I can get us the money we need to get our own place. A home you dreamed of away from mom and dad. Isn't that what you want?"
Bianca stayed silent for a few moments as she looked down at me. I could see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes. She didn't know what to make of this. I didn't either. Darren was my brother's best friend. He didn't deserve this. Wherever he was, I only hoped he knew Darren had betrayed him. I hoped he knew that the betrayal would soon be carried out by me if I wasn't careful.
I suddenly felt cold metal press up against the back of my head. Remaining completely still, I was pulled to my feet. The gun now pressed up against the middle of my back. I kept my hands up, only hoping Darren wouldn't pull the trigger. Knowing what he had done to others in the past for threatening his sister, I didn't dare move.
"Darren, what the hell are you doing?" I seethed through gritted teeth.
The gun was pressed more firmly into my back. "Dealing with Zayn's mess. Starting with you."
"Darren, stop! This isn't you! I'm not going to let you hurt Scarlett!" Bianca yelled, stepping closer to Darren.
"Well, then. Stop me." Bianca didn't move. "Or don't."
He moved the gun away from my spine, aiming it towards Bianca. Before I could even blink, he pulled the trigger. The loud bang rang in my ears. I could hardly hear my screams as Bianca fell to the floor in an instant. The bullet had gone straight through her skull. I fought to get out of Darren's grip but I couldn't. He forced me to walk forward. Tripping over my own feet, I hit the ground. My wrist landing at an awkward angle that made me bite my tongue to prevent myself from crying out.
Darren grabbed me once more, forcing me to look at him. He brushed back my hair, placing the barrel of the gun under my chin, using it to raise my head to meet his eyes. A smirk was plastered on his face as he stared down at me. He used his thumb to roughly wipe the tears that were in the midst of falling down my cheeks.
"How could you?!" I sobbed.
"It's quite simple really. It was only a matter of time before she would learn of the gangs and the work we do. My parents work as police officers. Bianca would only reveal our work, shutting down the biggest operation just outside the city. I doubt that's something you want. Especially since your brother's crew pay for your schooling, housing and protection."
"You're a piece of shit." I spat as I caressed my wrist.
"Hmm. Well then."
He slammed the butt of the gun against my head. In an instant, everything was blurry. Every sound began to fade, clouding my mind into a fog of confusion. My head began to ache tremendously. My vision became dazed as I looked up to see three figures looming over me. I couldn't see who they were. I could hardly focus on my surroundings. I hardly realized I had been picked up by an unknown figure. Voices rang out all around me. I couldn't focus on which voice belonged to who. I could hear the breathing of whoever held me. Their exhales and inhales seemed louder than they should have been. Their heartbeat was beating at a steady rhythm. Before any more thoughts could engulf my mind, I slowly slipped into darkness.