Cleo

Warnings

Harry, Niall and Liam were gone by the time I finished my beer. Liam and Zayn were in the kitchen waiting for me. “You want us to check on the girls and make nice?”

“Yes.”

“I want in on the action.” Louis spoke up. I shot him a glare. “I was the top of this group before we grabbed you.”

Turning to him, I sighed, “If you wanted to be in control so badly, you wouldn’t have stepped down so easily. Listen, Tomlinson, you do as I say. Remember who got us to the top. No one cares about the petty little things you did before.” His face hardened and I just laughed, “You see this house? Could you provide your boys with that before?” Silence. “I didn’t think so. Shut your fucking trap and check on the girls. You can deal with Mar Rojo’s. Zayn, you’ve got The Pellino’s family. Make nice and get shit in order.”

Zayn nodded as Louis grabbed his keys. I faintly heard him mumble as he scratched at a scab on his arm. “Useless bitch.”

Zayn placed a quick kiss on my cheek before walking out the door. With that, I was alone to do as I pleased.

Since arriving in Cali, I was mostly with the guys. I didn’t have friends. The moment I reached the top, people became afraid of me. I was left in this castle alone. When I ran away, I was promised happiness and here I was, showering in a large house, sleeping with guys who forced me to leave and talking to prostitutes and gang members.

If this was happiness, then my life before was heaven. I had friends, family, and love. Here, I have nothing of importance and I couldn’t just leave, I didn’t want to. I loved the money and the power. I was blood thirsty, I wanted to be someone. Do something.

Most of the time, I just sat around the house, keeping up with news and plotting ways to sell more drugs or get more horny guys in my clubs. I don’t have someone to share my feelings with. Sure, I could talk to one of the guys, but it wasn’t like it meant anything.

The Mar Rojo’s had a small group of girls, mostly the girlfriends, but even then, they were not people I cared for. I hardly met with anyone from the Pellino’s family. I didn’t get out. I didn’t do my own shopping. I didn’t go out to eat. I didn’t do anything but visit my clubs every now and then and meet with people.

I took a quick shower and found myself on the balcony overlooking the driveway. My phone rang as I was quietly reading. “Yeah?”

“Jobs done. It got a little messy, but they should get the message.” Niall gave a small laugh and sighed, “These Cobra’s are serious, Cleo. Do you really think we should be doing this?”

A car pulled into the driveway as I thought about the question. “Niall, if we don’t, we’ll be run out of town or killed.” A tall man stepped out of the car. He wore a black suit and sunglasses. Behind him, a blonde girl no older than me followed. “Listen, someone just pulled up. I’ve got to go. Six, LRX, five, nine, one.” I hung up the phone as Niall tried to protest.

As I walked down the stairs, there were three sharp knocks on the door. I grabbed the gun we kept by the entrance and placed it in the holster I kept strapped under my dress. “Maria Caraway?” The man asked. He looked to be in his fifties. Black hair that was graying and age spots that littered his face.

“Depends, who might you be?” The girl coward behind him. She was a pretty one. She had to have been at least nineteen. I was only twenty myself; she couldn’t have been much younger.

The man nodded his head and cleared his throat. “The name is Edgar Grayson. This is my daughter Jasmine.” I kept one hand pressed to my side, in reach of the gun if need be. “I am aware that means nothing to you, we are here to request a favor.”

“I don’t do favors, Sir. I am sure you can understand that. I’m sorry, but I think you should leave.” I started closing the door, but his foot stopped me. I tapped the gun lightly and looked at him, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“Miss. Caraway, you have to understand, this is life or death, and not for me, but my daughter.” I kept myself from caring. I honestly didn’t have time for this, I had other girls to worry about and there was nothing special about her. “I’ll pay you.”

Finally my interest was sparked. I smiled and opened the door to invite them in. They didn’t say a word as we walked from the front of the house to the living room. “So, Mr…Grayson?” I sat in an armchair on the other side of the large rug and looked at the two sitting on the couch. “What can I do for you?”

“My daughter has made a few mistakes. Well, I have made some and she’s been there to clean them up.” I slowly waved my hand, motioning for him to move along. “I got in some trouble with a few casinos and Jasmine tried to pay off my debt.”

My hand went up, forcing him to stop. “If you have a gambling problem, how am I to be sure you will pay me?”

“I have the money; I just had other things to do.” He sighed. “I can promise you a large sum, starting with the ten thousand I have in the car.” Satisfied, I nodded for him to continue. “Jasmine bailed me out, but at a price. She gave her life for mine.”

“Your daughter was stupid enough to sell her soul to the devil, then? Is that it? Which casino?”

Jasmine was glaring at me as I sat back, a smug grin on my face. “Sevens.”

“So it wasn’t just any devil, it was the king himself.” I laughed and shook my head, “I have enough problems with Manny and his Cobra’s already. I don’t want to stir up much more.”

Edgar stood up, his voice growing loud as he moved halfway between where he sat and where I sat. “You said you’d help me. I am willing to pay you everything I have. Ten thousand is just the down payment. I have plenty more where that came from!”

I pulled the gun from its holster and pointed it right at his face. “Mr. Grayson. Have you watched the news lately? How many mysterious deaths have been reported? Eight. Eight girls fucking raped, gutted and left in a garbage bin.” He froze, keeping his eyes trained on my gun. “Those girls are mine. I have plenty where that come from, but do you think I don’t take it personally? I do.” I flicked the gun and he sat down instantly. “I have enough trouble on my hands protecting my own. Why should I add your stupid little brat to my pile?”

Jasmine stood up and shook her head. “I didn’t understand what I was getting into.” So she speaks?

“What’s it matter to me? You put yourself in this position; get your own ass out of it.”

She scoffed, “So you think you are big and bad with a gun? You didn’t have to be who you were. No one forced you to do this. You can walk away anytime; get away from the trouble, the murders, the death. But you sit here, laughing and blowing your nose in hundreds.” She placed her hand on her hip, “I didn’t want to do this. I just wanted to save my family.”

I slowly lowered the gun as I listened to her. “Shut up.” I bit the inside of my cheek and set the gun on the coffee table. “Fine. But I swear if you ever talk to me like that again, bitch, you will wish The Cobra’s were gang banging you.”