The Mafia's Secret

Chapter 13 ✔️

SCARLETT

        I had hardly made it passed the doors before I was grabbed by the arm and pinned against the wall, only to be face to face with the last person I wanted to see. Tyler. It took all the mental strength in me not to strike him with my free hand. It didn't surprise me that Xavier would send one of his most trusted men to my place. That or Tyler was here without him knowing, which also wouldn't surprise me.
        "Going somewhere?" He asked as he flicked his cigarette to the ground.
        "I thought Caleb told you to stay away from me."
        "Hmm," He moved his hand to my face, running his fingers over the burn he had made the other day. It had started to scab and heal but it still hurt to the touch, so I couldn't help but wince from the pain his fingers caused. "Caleb doesn't scare me. But don't worry, I'm here on official business only. I've come to deliver a VIP pass to Xavier's club. He expects you to show up in three days."
        "Or what? He'll kill me? Why don't you just do it now? I know you're dying to." I challenged him.
        "Tempting but I've been given my orders." He took a step back, offering a card. I had no time to take it from him before he flicked it to the ground. "Oops." He smirked, shrugging as if he hadn't meant to drop it in the first place. He waited for me to pick the card up before he turned around, heading back towards his dark blue mustang. He got halfway into the driver's seat before he stood over the door. "Oh, and do show up. I really don't want to be the one to clean up the mess of your murder."
        He drove off without another word. His mustang revving loudly as he did so. Glancing at the old card, the words, Guns N' Roses Bar, were written in big bold letters. Written underneath were smaller letters that were capitalized. VIP ACCESS. It seemed odd to me to have never known Xavier owned that nightclub. Not that it mattered since I was too young to even go inside a Bar. How Xavier expected me to get inside without getting fined or arrested was beyond me. Especially since I still looked as if I were fourteen years old. I had gotten the slow aging from my mother and that wasn't necessarily a bad thing but more of an obnoxious thing.
        Shoving the card into my back pocket, I Continued on walking down the street. It was a warm afternoon. The sun shone brightly, radiating heat that was toned down by the light breeze. The perfect weather for a jog. As much as my body needed it, it was still quite painful to walk. The only thing masking the pain was the desperate need to find Zayn. He was the only thing stopping me from just ending this here and now. The desire to find him was far stronger than finding a bridge to visit permanently.
        I had walked a few blocks from my place now, taking random twists and turns in case I was being watched or followed like Xavier said I would be. I couldn't risk having anyone else find him but me since I just needed the truth from him and having anyone else around would obviously jeopardize that.
        Having walked another few blocks, I started to get the feeling that someone was watching me. I hardly had the time to look around cautiously before I was grabbed from behind. There was no time to scream as a hand clamped down over my mouth, silencing me as I was dragged into an alleyway with no witnesses around. Which was my fault for avoiding busy streets like an idiot.
        Pinned against a wall yet again, I looked into the eyes of my attacker, only to be shocked at who I saw. Caleb. He kept a hand over my mouth as the other pinned me across the chest. He took a quick glance around before finally looking down at me. His expression was frantic yet serious as he opened his mouth only to close it again as he released me, backing up a few steps.
        "What the hell, Caleb! They sent you to spy on me?!" I snapped before he could say anything.
        He seemed taken aback at my accusation, rolling his eyes in annoyance. "No one knows I'm here. I came to deliver a message to you."
       "Mmhm. Yeah, Tyler already beat you to it." I pulled the card from my back pocket, waving it in his face.
        Caleb shoved my arm down. "You need to stop looking for your brother. He doesn't want to be found, Scarlett. For Your safety, leave him be."
        "Why the fuck should I listen to you? Unlike you, I actually know where he is and when I find him, I'll fix whatever mess he got me into. And how would you know what Zayn would want?! No one has seen him since the day he left."
        "If that were true, I wouldn't be here. I want all this to end just like you do–"
        "–I don't have time for your lies, Caleb."
        I had barely gotten a step away from him before he grabbed my arm. "Listen, do as you wish but be careful who you trust. Nina wasn't together with Zayn for months before he was forced into hiding. Nina cheated on him with Xavier and then she must have told him everything about Zayn and Darren that forced them into Hiding. How else do you think Xavier found out about Darren's wife and kids? The only reason Nina was killed wasn't because of you, but because she asked him to kill her. She didn't want to live with this betrayal. You're so blinded by seeking the truth that you don't even realize you're falling into a trap."
        Shaking my head, I refused to  process anything he had said. If I shouldn't trust anyone then he certainly gave me a reason not to trust him by making up such bizarre lies. There was no telling what was true and what wasn't with so many people telling me different stories. I just wanted the truth and now it seemed as if I would never get it.
        By the time I was able to dismiss this confusion, Caleb was long gone. He had vanished, leaving me to my thoughts. It had only taken a minute or so to decide not to take what he had said to heart. The only one who would tell me the truth was Zayn and it didn't matter who I ran into along the way. Eventually I would find him and this shit show would be put to rest.
        It was unclear how long I had been walking but the sun was already starting to go down and I hadn't even covered half the distance of where I wanted to go. Some part of me wished I had taken a vehicle but I couldn't risk finding my brother with unintentional company. I had already run into two people I didn't want to see and for some reason I had a feeling that there would be more unwelcome company along the way since I still had a ways to go and it was already slowly getting dark. I was used to walking long distances but now it seemed as if every bone in my body was slowly breaking. It didn't take much thinking to know it was from everything I endured in the past couple of days and it was bound to get much worse knowing who was all involved.
        Finally unable to walk anymore, there happened to be a small coffee shop on the corner of the block. It was a new local place that had just opened a few months ago. I had heard about it but never got the chance to go there. So without a second thought, I slowly made my way to the glass doors. The judgmental stares I received while finding my seat was unsettling. I didn't blame them. I was a mess being covered in blood, sweat and bruises.
        Within seconds a woman walked over, placing a menu and mug in front of me. Glancing up at her, she was a frail woman but by the facial wrinkles and gray hair at the roots, she was up in age. Most likely in her early forties. Her brown eyes were calm and kind looking as she smiled down at me, filling the mug three quarters full of hot coffee.
        "On the house. You look like you need it."
        "You have no idea."
        I leaned back in the chair, taking a sip of the bitter sweet coffee. I couldn't help but moan in delight as the hot liquid slid down my throat. I hadn't had a decent drink of coffee in days and it was desperately needed like the woman had said.
        "I'll give you a few minutes for the menu." She smiled again before walking over to another customer to refill their cup.