The Atta-Rose || Season 1

CHAPTER 12 : Mistake #1

A few days after Nin and Erin's latest coffee meet-up, the Atta-Rose safehouse was buzzing with its usual energy. Everyone was busy with their own tasks, but when Liza called for a group meeting, they all gathered in the main room without hesitation. Liza, usually laid-back and goofy, had a seriousness about her that told everyone this was important.

Once everyone was seated, Liza began, pulling up a series of files and images on the large screen in front of them. "Alright, folks, I've been digging into the key players at The Marino or Marina or whatever... and I've found something that changes the game. So, we all know Vincent Moretti, right?"

"Scumbag who runs half the shady deals in Duncan," Sye chimed in, her chaotic energy barely contained.

"Exactly," Liza nodded. "But here's something we didn't know... Moretti has a daughter."

"Jeng jeng jeng.." Naz added, rising the suspension.

"And.. im not finished, I've found out her name, Erin Moretti, 21 years old." Liza puffed.

As soon as the name left Liza's mouth, Nin froze. Her mind raced, the name Erin echoing in her head, and the image of the woman she had met flashed before her eyes. Could it be the same Erin? The one she had bumped into on the street, shared coffee with, even started to consider a friend?

Che, always observant, noticed Nin's reaction. "You good, Nin? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Nin blinked, trying to mask her confusion. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just...processing."

Liza continued, oblivious to Nin's inner turmoil. "Erin's been kept out of the public eye, probably to protect her from the dirt her father's involved in. But from what I've gathered, she's recently moved to Duncan, likely trying to distance herself from Moretti's business. Still, given who her father is, she could be a valuable asset...or a, you know, dangerous liability."

Sye leaned forward, her interest piqued. "So, what's the play? Can we use her to get to Moretti?"

Naz, the group's doctor and voice of reason, frowned. "We need to be careful with this. If she's innocent, we don't want to drag her into something she doesn't deserve."

Nin remained silent, her thoughts a whirlwind. Erin was Moretti's daughter? The same Erin who had verbally sparred with her in the street, who had smiled at her over coffee, who had seemed so...normal and innocent? It didn't add up. How could the woman she had met be connected to someone as vile as Vincent Moretti?

Irr, always the weird but wise one, spoke up. "We don't know enough yet. We should gather more intel before making any moves. If she's trying to stay out of her father's business, she might not be involved at all."

Liza nodded in agreement. "Exactly. I'm still digging, but so far, there's no indication she's mixed up in any of his dealings. But if she is, we need to be ready."

As the group discussed their next steps, Nin's mind wandered. She thought about Erin's smile, her sharp wit, the easy conversations they'd had. It didn't fit with the image of a mobster's daughter. But then again, Nin knew better than anyone that people were rarely what they seemed on the surface.

...

When the meeting wrapped up, Nin stayed behind as the others dispersed. Liza noticed and walked over, a questioning look on her face.

"You sure you're okay?" Liza asked, her usual chill demeanor softened with concern.

Nin nodded slowly, still trying to piece everything together. "Yeah, just...it's complicated."

Liza raised an eyebrow. "You know her, don't you?"

Nin hesitated before answering. "Yeaaapp, I've met her. Didn't know who she was until now. Did I fucked it up?"

Liza's eyes widened slightly, but she didn't press. "No, well, if you need anything, let me know. This doesn't change our plan, but it might change how we approach it."

Nin nodded again, grateful for Liza's understanding. "Thanks. I'll figure it out."

As Nin left the room, she couldn't shake the feeling of confusion and a little bit of betrayal. If Erin was Moretti's daughter, where did that leave their budding friendship? Was Erin just playing her, or was she genuinely unaware of the danger surrounding her?

There was only one way to find out, and Nin knew she had to confront Erin—whether she liked it or not. But how could she do that without tipping her hand, without risking everything they had worked for? The line between friend and foe had never been thinner, and for the first time in a long while, Nin found herself uncertain of her next move.