Deceptions of the Heart II: Love is going to be the death of me

Encounter

A car stopped right outside the bar of the picture. The door of the backseats opened. A young man stepped his leg outside. He then proceeded to get fully out of the car. That man was none other than Max Rider. The young mafioso had just arrived at his home city and the bar he owned. He took one more glance at the photo of the building and then he approached the door.

The noise and every kind of dirty sin dominated the interior of the bar. The lights were dim and the crowd was going wild alongside the company of the crazy beat of the music. Alcoholics were downing bottles of hard liquor and prostitutes were trying to lure their prey. Waitresses were pacing all over the bar taking orders and serving the drinks. The barman seemed to be on fire.

Near the counter sat a familiar waitress. She had long dark brown hair almost at the shade of chocolate. Her eyes a shiny teal color and her skin pale like porcelain. Her rosy cheeks were easily visible and she also had a few freckles on her upper cheeks. It was none other than Roxanne McCathy, the most popular waitress in that bar. However that night she didn't seem like herself that night.

Roxanne was sitting all alone at a stool nearby the counter. She wasn't in the mood to serve any of the customers nor accept any of their complements or flirting. One of her colleagues noticed the aura around her so she approached.

"Roxy? Are you alright?"

Roxanne turned her head to face her colleague and shook her head.

"Is it because-" she was cut off.

"You know very well that I don't wanna talk about it".

Roxanne's colleague said nothing more. She returned to her job knowing she shouldn't mess with her coworker's temper.

The truth is that all of her colleagues and friends at the bar know about her loss. None of them dares to talk about her past lover knowing its a sensitive topic for Roxanne. In a few words, no one dares to mess with her temper. Even her boss is aware of the seriousness of the matter. To the girl's surprise the scolding became lighter.

All of a sudden the music in the bar stooped. The doors bursted open and at their frame appeared the owner, Max Rider. Everyone in the bar froze. Some of them bowed respectfully. Roxanne froze at the sight of him. The images of their last encounters flashing in her mind.

Max entered the bar and slammed the doors behind him. With a raised head and a bossy attitude he made his way through the crowd and approached Roxanne. He then lowered his head towards her ear.

"We need to talk" he whispered to the young woman and then he disappeared in the corridor at the back of the bar.

The young waitress followed the mafioso at the corridor. The music at the bar had started again. Max was already waiting for her while he was leaning against the wall.

"You're back..." Was the first thing Roxanne uttered.

"This doesn't matter much now" said Max trying to stay as much as possible in the topic.

"You said you want to talk to me? What you and I have to discuss!?" Asked Roxanne with a hint of hatered for Max.

The male sighed.

"Look, I know you probably despise me for Richard's death, but don't pretend as if I didn't warn you. I told you to stay away".

Roxanne didn't speak. She was piercing Max with her hateful gaze. The mafioso sighed again and continued.

"I escaped with my ex wife in Malta for a reason I can't reveal. At least not yet. However, I felt a desire to return to America and specifically at this place for one and only reason. And that is you-"

"Wait, what!?" Roxanne cut off the male. "What are you trying to say?"

"Let me finish" Max interfered. "What I'm trying to say is that I've always had a weakness for you Roxanne. So I have a special offer-"

Before Max could speak about the offer a slightly shorter than him yet muscular man with messy, long brown hair and a tattoo on his neck interrupted his talk with Roxanne.

"Max! You're back!"

"Jackie boy! Glad to see you after two years!"

"We need to make an important discussion you and I".

Max thought for a moment before he answered at his partner.

"Sure. Let's go in my office. I missed that place" he then turned to Roxanne. "We'll talk later".

With that he walked further in that corridor with his partner.

"So tell me max, what is your opinion?" Asked Jack after a long private talk with the young mafioso.

"Its as I told you Jackie. That woman is the light of my life and under no circumstances will I let her slip out of my hands. I'll keep her close to me as my subordinate if needed".

"And do you think she'll suffice? Will she provide the strength needed for the gang to survive?"

"I'll personally train her. She's so desperate for love that she won't make any move against me. I love her, yes, but sometimes people need to go beyond the limit to keep something valuable by their side".

"But won't you endanger her life?"

"I know what I'm doing Jack. I'll make her trust me with her life. We'll build our mafia again and we'll dominate the underworld".

Jack praised his glass of whiskey.

"To a new start then".

Max smirked and raised his glass as well.

"To a new start".