Small hands clutched a worn teddy bear as she tried to cover her ears. But the loud shouting from downstairs cut through her feeble defenses
“Please stop, mamá, papá, please stop! I’m scared!” A little girl, no older than five, stood at the bottom of the stairs. She stands against the railing, her eyes wide with fear and tears streaming down her face. Her quiet cries were nearly drowned out by her parents’ fight.
“Why do you always make things so hard for me?” Her father yelled, his voice shaking with anger.
“I’m trying to protect us! To keep us together!” her mother cried, her voice trembling with fear.
“No a woman like you can't keep us together! You’re bad luck!” her father shouted louder. He clenched his fists in rage. “You and that unwanted child of yours are a burden on me–a very heavy burden and I will never forgive you for making my life harder!”
In a burst of anger, her father grabbed a heavy glass vase from a nearby table. He swung it violently at her mother’s hea–
---
“Signora, il suo biglietto,” a sudden voice brought Maya back to the present.
“I... huh... pardon?” Maya stammered, shaking her head slowly.
“Your ticket, Signora. Please give me your ticket,” the conductor repeated, holding out his hand
Maya blinked, her vision clearing as she focused on the conductor’s hand. The memories from before still buzzed in her mind, making her feel off-balance.
Taking a deep breath, she searched her bag for her ticket, then handing it to the conductor with a trembling hand.
“Sorry,” she whispered. The conductor took the ticket, nodded, and continued to check other passengers.
Maya sighed softly, resting her head against the cool glass window of the bus. The early morning light gave a gentle glow to the city, making everything seem calm and almost dreamlike.
She had left the house earlier than usual to avoid any conversation with Denver. She couldn’t handle another apology from him today. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand his regret—she did. She just needed a break from the tension and conflict. Violence and fights weren’t her things, and after what happened in the university's courtyard yesterday, all Maya needed now was peace and quiet more than ever.
---
The grand hall is quiet except for the soft hum of the lights and the occasional footsteps. Two people in perfectly tailored suits stand side by side in front of a large, eye-catching painting. The artwork is a bright, abstract piece with swirling reds, blues, and golds that seem to pulse with energy– but their focus is not on the painting. The art museum is just an excuse to keep the suspicion away.
“Everything seems to be in order, Boss” Mason’s voice echoed through the earbuds. “We’ve got what we came here for.”
“Well done!” A small smirk of satisfaction appears on Cassio's face as he exchange a knowing glance with Marco, who stood beside him.
“Clear everything and move out fast,” Marco ordered, his voice urgent but controlled. “We need to slip away before anyone notices"
After studying the painting and gathering information about the safe route ahead, Cassio turned and began walking toward the museum exit, with Marco following closely behind him. The crowd of art lovers and museum visitors parted as he approached. Heads turned to watch him as he walked past.
YOU ARE READING
"My Mafia Roommate"
General Fiction"Bring her to me, RD!" The command rang out through the vast, empty street, carrying a tone of authority and urgency. Her eyes were wide, full of tears, showing a deep vulnerability that cut through the tense atmosphere. She clung to me like I was h...
