The Mafia's Jewel (BWWM)

16

I stare back at the man with fear. If he doesn't want money, then what does he want? I step back when he comes closer with the gun. Kiwi hisses from her carrier, but it's not enough to draw him away from us.

"You need to stay away from him," the man says, his voice calm but deadly serious. "I need to tell you something important right now."

"Like what..." I stammer, my heart pounding in my chest.

"He's not who you think he is," the man says in a whisper, and I'm confused by what he is saying. "If you value your life, you'll heed my warning."

"Warning from what?"

"You know who I am talking about."

I pause, not knowing what the man is trying to say to me.

My breath catches in my throat. "What do you want from me?" I whisper, barely able to get the words out.

"I want you to survive," he replies, his gaze never wavering. "Leone is dangerous, and if you continue to associate with him, you'll end up like all the others."

Kiwi lets out a plaintive meow from inside her carrier, and the sound snaps me back to reality. I swallow hard, trying to keep my composure.

"Why should I believe you?"

The man's expression hardens. "Because I've seen what he's capable of," he says, his voice tinged with bitterness. "I used to be part of the Sicilian mafia. I worked for Leone's father. I was lucky to get out alive, but I lost my eye in the process. You need to leave Leone because if you don't, you will surely die."

Fear grips me even tighter. "How can I leave when he practically holds me hostage in this country?" I ask, desperation creeping into my voice.

"I can help you," he tells me.

"How?" I ask, my voice shaking.

The man reaches into his coat pocket and hands me a small card. I glance at it and see a picture of the Pool of Venus.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" I ask, looking up, but the man is gone.

Confused, I look at the card the man gave me and study it again. The Pool of Venus. What could it mean? Is it a place where I can find help, or is it a trap? I don't have the answers right now, but one thing is clear—I want to find out what all of this warning about Leone means.

I shake my head in disbelief, staring at the card in my hand. This man has to be playing games with me or something. My mind races, trying to make sense of the encounter. The Pool of Venus is a well-known landmark, but what does it have to do with Leone or escaping from him?

Kiwi meows again, pulling me back to the present world. I tuck the card into my pocket and hurry home, my thoughts a tangled mess of fear, confusion, and a glimmer of hope. If what the man said is true, then maybe, just maybe, there's a way out of this nightmare.

~

When I finally reach my apartment, I lock the door behind me and set Kiwi's carrier on the floor. She meows again, and I open the carrier to let her out. She stretches and then pads over to her food bowl, looking up at me expectantly.

I pour some food into her bowl, my hands still trembling. As she eats, I sink onto the couch, my mind a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. The man's warning rings in my ears, and I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched.

I think back to my interactions with Leone. He's always been charming and attentive, but there have been moments when his demeanor shifted, when a coldness crept into his eyes.

I don't know what to believe, but one thing is clear—I need to be careful. If the man's warning is true, then my life could be in danger. I glance over at Kiwi, now happily munching on her food, making a mess.

A breathe leaves my mouth. I might as well get some chores done while the evening is young. I try to distract myself with chores and TV, but my mind keeps returning to the encounter with the scarred man. Every creak of the building, every distant sound makes me jumpy. I double-check the locks on my doors and windows and continue what I'm doing.

I jump when I hear the doorbell, the sound jolting me out of my thoughts. My heart races as I move slowly to check who it is. Peeking through the peephole, I see Camellia standing there, her expression unreadable. I take a deep breath and open the door.

"Are you busy?" she asks, her tone casual but her eyes sharp.

"No," I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Good, I need you to accompany me somewhere."

"Somewhere as in?" I ask, my curiosity piqued but also wary.

"You and your questions," she says with a hint of impatience as she turns on her heels. "I will be waiting for you at the car."

I glance around my apartment, feeling a pang of unease. It's not like I have a choice. I quickly say goodbye to Kiwi, who's curled up on the couch, and grab my bag. I lock the door behind me and head down to the street where Camellia is waiting by a sleek black car.

The evening air is cool, and the sky is a dusky pink. I approach the car, feeling a knot of tension in my stomach. Camellia opens the passenger door and gestures for me to get in.

I slide into the seat and close the door behind me. "Where are we going?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

"You'll see," Camellia says cryptically, starting the car and pulling away from the curb.

We drive in silence for a while, the city lights blurring past us. My mind races with possibilities. Is this about the warning I received yesterday? Is Camellia involved somehow?

After what feels like an eternity, we pull up to an upscale restaurant. Camellia parks the car and turns to me. "Follow me," she says, her tone leaving no room for argument.