Serenity

Chapter 97: Wallfacer

Jo's POV
The next day...

This room feels like a prison.

I always feel like I end up back here, at this table, except this time I'm in my own hell. The words my father said to me have just sat here, and I feel as if I'm stuck once again.

  "We have to plan this out perfectly," someone says, I'm not exactly paying attention to who though.

  "Go on..." Hero probes, sitting beside me. It's hard to look in his eyes in moments like this. They feel empty. He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. Little does he know he won't get it.

  "We can use our warehouse space, or someone's space," someone else chimes in and I close my eyes, clearly displeased.

  "Or I can just call the cops myself, it would make things somewhat simpler," I sarcastically say back. I can feel Hero's annoyance at my comment but I can't find the will to care.

  "Warehouse space is a good idea," Hero retorts back and I stifle my laugh.

  "In the middle of New York City?" I ask, and his eyes burn into mind. I hold my ground though, waiting for an answer.

  "We have the perfect one. It's downtown, enough out of sight to keep it out of people minds. Shit happens every day-" he says but I cut him off.

  "Mafia bosses don't just drop dead every day," I say, clearly pissed off. It feels like we're mentally fighting each other, trying to see who will roll over first. "Have it your way, we use the warehouse. Now how am I killing the son of a bitch?"

Someone pulls out a gun with a cloth, as if to not get any fingerprints on it. They slide it over and it stops right in front of me. I stare down at it, studying it, before looking up at the guy who slide it over. A guy I don't recognize. "I'm not using this shit." I say and can feel Hero's face darken.

"Yes you will, it's the only clean gun we have," I can't help but laugh softly at his words. His eyes darken again and I mess with my hair, leaning back.

"You think that I can't get a clean gun?" I ask as if he's stupid. "Clean guns are easy to come by, if you know where to look."

"You'll use this one," Hero says, clearly trying to control something in this situation. It's hard to hold control in a situation where you have none; even if that person doesn't know they have no control.

I just roll my eyes and shut my mouth. I let the boys argue until I finally pick up the gun. I inspect it, even facing the barrel at my face, looking as if I'll pull the trigger. Everyone slowly goes silent as I just stare down the barrel.

I put the gun down, looking at everyone staring at me. "Half of this table wants me dead, and the other half wants the power my death holds," I say and stand up, tucking the gun in my waist band, putting my shirt over it. "It'll be interesting to see who finally gets what." I say to everyone but stare at Hero when I say it, then I walk out with Maia following me.

  I make my way to my office and put the gun down. "Are you actually going to use it?" Maia asks softly and I look up at her, staying silent. She just stares at me and I sit down, staring at the gun on the desk.

  "They're trying to put me in prison..." I say softly, not meeting her gaze. I hear her breath hitch and I keep staring at the gun. "My prints would be on any gun, a clean one makes sure I'm the only one implicated."

  "I don't think it's like that..." Maia says softly but I stay silent again. "Or maybe I just hope it."

I laugh softly, "Don't let go of that optimism..." I say and I finally meet her gaze. "He's gonna kill me Maia."