the mafia

Chapter 10

Diamond's POV

"Well I sure as hell didn't expect to see you here." I said walking towards him. 

He was walking backwards and we were leading out into the living room again. "What are you doing here?" He asked. 

"Well, I had to get out of New York pretty quickly. Y'know. Get away from everything. I guess that didn't work out." I said trying to sound tough. I think it was getting to him. 

"Why are you doing this to me?" He drawled. 

"I'm just curious. Hell, you would have gotten away with it if it weren't for this." I said holding up his ring. 

He snatched it out of my hand and I grinned. "Umm... how do you two know each other?" Darrel asked. 

I gave him a fake pouty face. "You really didn't tell them about me? Dang. I know I played a big role in your life." I said with a grin. 

"I'm sure they know about you. I tell them how I know you, it doesn't end well for me." He said trying to look intimidating. He was. But I didn't let it get to me. 

"Are you like some celebrity?" The guy named 'Two-Bit' asked. 

I thought for a second. "You can say that." 

"Movie star famous?" Sodapop asked. 

I grinned. "Oh God, no." I said. "Hell, you probably don't know you know me." I said. 

They all looked at each other. Dallas finally spoke up. "Ok, Alex, just get out of here." He said. 

"Why did you say her name like that?" The tanned kid asked. 

Dallas realized he messed up after he said that. I laughed. "Alex is a nickname." I walked away from Dallas. "What's your guys' names?" I asked. 

"Johnny Cade." 

"Steve Randle." 

I thought for a second. "Ok. That's a bad example. We'll use this instead. Just like Dally is short for Dallas. Or Darry is short for Darrel." 

"So is your name like Alexa or Alexandra?" Ponyboy asked. 

I shook my head. "You might know me as Alex Holtz. But I have absolutely no relation to any of those names. My real name is Diamond Ross." 

They were all still. "Wait, Alex Holtz? Like that mafia person in New York City?" Ponyboy asked. 

"Correct." I said checking my manicure again. 

"You're a murderer!" Steve yelled. 

"Incorrect." I said not looking at any of them. 

They all started looking at each other and rambling. "You see, most people hate me for something I didn't even do! I never killed anyone, I never stole from anyone, I just witnessed it all." I said. 

"This doesn't make sense. You're a girl!" Soda said. 

"Can you just go?" Dallas asked. 

"Well, if everyone's still confused, I can clarify." I said. 

"NO!" They all yelled. I laughed. 

"Alright. I'll go. But one more thing, you guys say anything about this, nobody will ever hear from you again." I said with a grin. 

"So you are a murderer?" Steve asked. 

Dallas nodded but I just pretended I didn't see it. "No. I never said I'd kill you. You just won't be heard of again." I said. I walked out the door and I was off to find a job and a place to stay. 

Dallas' POV

Something about her laugh gave me chills. It was unsettling. It sent shivers up my spine. "So... should we tell somebody?" Darry asked. 

We all glared at him. "Are you crazy?" Steve asked. 

"She said she wasn't gonna kill us." Darry responded. 

"I'd still like to live my life." Johnny said going into the kitchen. He continued. "I think we should shake this off and avoid her." 

Easier said than done. I feel like she's everywhere. 

Diamond's POV

I walked and walked until I came across this place called 'Bucks.' It was a bar. I saw a sign in the window that said "Rent an Apartment" so I went inside. I just wanted to see the price. 

I walked up to the bar and looked around. The sun was about to set and there were a few people inside. I realized it was more of a night club once I got in. 

"Excuse me." I said politely. "Can I talk to the owner of this place?" 

The guy turned around and he had a cigarette in his mouth. "You're looking at him." 

"Perfect. Can I ask you about the apartments for sale?" 

"How that works is that you gotta work here. It's not a set schedule. I ask you to work here and you come down and work. There's two apartments upstairs and one is taken." 

"Well, what's the job?" I asked. 

"Bartending." 

"Can I apply?" I asked leaning on the bar. 

"Any experience?" He asked. 

"No." 

"Then no." 

"I don't even get a chance?" I asked desperately. 

"No experience, you don't work." 

"Well, is there anything else besides a bartending position?" I asked. He shook his head. I rolled my eyes. "What do I gotta do?" 

He sighed. "You really ain't giving up, are ya?" I shook my head. "Fine. If you can sell 10 beers within the next minute, I'll give you the job." 

I looked around. "Alright." I said. "How much are the beers?" I asked. 

"75 cents." He said. 

I went over to the drunkest guy I could find. He looked about 25 years old or so. "Hi." I said. 

He looked back at me. "Hey, pretty lady. What's a fine girl like you doing out here?" 

"I'm just lingering. But I got a question for ya." 

"Ask away." He said trying to keep his balance. 

"If you give me five dollars, I'll give you ten beers for only 75 cents a bottle." 

He grinned. "75 cents? That's a hell of a deal." 

He looked for a five dollar bill in his pocket. "Does a ten work?" He asked pulling it out. 

I grinned. "Are you sure?" 

He nodded. "If you're gonna give me a great deal on 10 beers, it's worth it." 

I took the ten dollars out of his hand and he walked up to the bar. "I'll take 10 beers. The pretty lady next to me said you would give 'em to me for only 75 cents." 

He raised an eyebrow. "Alright." He said skeptically. 

"Thanks for the deal, doll." He said. 

I winked and looked back at the owner. "Well?" 

"I mean, a deals a deal." He said. "What's your name?" 

"Diamond Ross." I said. 

"I'm Buck. Your room is the second door on the left once you go up the stairs." He tossed me the key and I caught it. "I probably won't need ya tonight but I normally ask for help on Fridays and Saturdays. Sometimes Wednesdays but only if it gets real busy. And finally, we aren't opened Sundays so this building will be empty. Since you have no experience, I'll have the other guy who lives up there show you what to do when I ask for help next time. Feel free to fix up the room the way you want to." 

"Alright. Thanks."