The Mafia's Jewel (BWWM)

44

Days blur together as I'm held captive in the warehouse. Time seems to stand still, but at least I'm still alive. The monotony is broken one evening when I hear someone tinkering with the cell door. I sit up, my heart pounding with a mix of hope and fear.

"Who is there?" I ask, my voice shaky.

The door creaks open, and I feel a surge of relief when I see familiar brunette hair. "Camellia," I whisper, moving closer to the door. "What are you doing here?"

"Duh, what does it look like I'm doing here?" she replies, a sly grin spreading across her face.

Despite my situation, I crack a smile. "I was expecting a prince charming to save me, but I guess a badass like you will do."

Camellia smirks, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "How did you get here?" I press on, eager to understand how she managed to infiltrate the Rizzo stronghold.

She looks behind her, checking for any signs of trouble, then beckons me to move closer. "I just walked in, and they let me in."

"Ha ha, how?" I laugh, but Camellia doesn't join in. Her lips thin, and she looks deadly serious.

"Wait... are you playing with me right now?" I ask, the laughter dying in my throat.

"What do you think, little lamb?" Her voice turns cold, and a chill runs down my spine.

I take a step back from the door, my mind racing. "You are working for the Rizzos?"

Camellia's smirk widens.

My eyes dart back and forth, processing the betrayal that stands before me. "So you're the mole all this time, messing up Leone's plans."

Camellia's eyes light up with a malicious glint. "You figured it out. You are a lot smarter than I thought."

"Why?" I ask, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and confusion. "Why would you want to help the Rizzos?"

"Why wouldn't I want my uncle to succeed?" she retorts, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Uncle?" I repeat, the word hanging heavy in the air.

Camellia smirks, leaning against the cold, metal bars of my cell. "Yes, Rocco Rizzo is my uncle. The Montes killed my parents when I was young. I was raised by my uncle, and I owe everything to him."

The revelation hits me like a ton of bricks. I feel a pang of sympathy for Camellia, understanding a fraction of the pain she must have endured. "I'm sorry, Camellia. I didn't know—"

"I don't need your sympathy," she snaps, her face contorting with anger. "You've had everything you've ever wanted: love, family, friends. You don't know what it's like to lose everything."

"But Camellia," I plead, "we could work together. This doesn't have to end like this."

The meanness in Camellia's face intensifies. "You really think you can change anything? You're nobody."

My heart sinks. The person I thought was my friend is now my enemy. "I don't understand?" I manage to choke out. "I thought you cared for me all this time."

Camellia tilts her head, a look of feigned pity on her face. "It's not personal, Jules. Just business. Leone's world is crumbling, and I'm on the winning side."

I back away until my back hits the cold concrete wall. "I trusted you," I whisper, feeling the weight of her betrayal crushing me.

She shrugs, unbothered. "Trust is for fools. Now, you're going to help us, whether you like it or not."

The realization of my helplessness hits hard. Camellia, the person I thought might save me, is actually here to tighten the noose. "Camellia," My voice is barely more than a whisper.

She steps closer, and I flinch, but she frowns in a mocking way. With that, she turns and walks out, leaving me alone in the cell once more. The door slams shut, and the lock clicks into place.

~

The hours crawl by, and the darkness seems to grow heavier. My thoughts drift to Amara and the others. Are they safe? Have they managed to escape? And Leone, where is he now? I push these thoughts aside, knowing I need to focus on my own survival.

Camellia returns, this time with a couple of Rizzo thugs in tow. They drag me out of the cell and into a dimly lit room with a single chair bolted to the floor. They force me into the chair, strapping my arms and legs down.

"What is this?" I demand, trying to mask my fear with defiance.

"We just need to roughen you up a little bit to get Leone ticking," Camellia says with a smile.

"So what? You're gonna shock me to death or something?" I challenge myself, trying to sound brave but feeling a wave of fear rising inside me.

Camellia's expression darkens. Without warning, she slaps me across the face, hard enough to make my vision blur. Pain radiates through my cheek, and I blink back tears. "Something like that," she says coldly.

"Fuck you," I spit out, unable to hold back the words. Tears spill from my eyes, and I glare at her through the haze of pain.

Camellia pulls out her phone and aims it at me. "Smile for the camera," she sneers, snapping a picture. I turn my head away, refusing to give her the satisfaction, but she grabs my chin and forces me to face the lens. The flash blinds me momentarily.

"You're going to regret this, Camellia," I say, my voice quivering with anger and defiance. "You think you've won, but this isn't over."

She lets go of my chin, smirking. "Big words for someone in your position, Jules. But we'll see who comes out on top."

I glare at her.

"Jules," she says, her voice soft, almost kind. "You're strong, I'll give you that. But you have to know, this won't end well for you."

I look up at her, my body aching, my spirit unbroken. "Do your worst," I say, my voice a hoarse whisper.

She shakes her head, a look of genuine sadness in her eyes. "You don't get it, do you? Leone isn't coming for you. He's left you behind. You're all alone."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I refuse to show any weakness. "I don't need him. I'll get out of here on my own."

Camellia smiles, a sad, knowing smile. "We'll see about that," she says before turning and walking out, leaving me alone in the darkness once more.