Running From My Mafia Family

Episode 004

As I pushed open the door to Agustin's office, I braced myself for chaos. After all, his nickname was "Bloody Knuckles." But instead of tools and grime, I found myself stepping into a time capsule. The air hung heavy with an abandoned stillness, almost suffocating. In the centre of the room sat a meticulously organised desk, its surface adorned with stacks of papers and a couple of faded coffee rings. Not a single loose tool or engine part in sight, as if the space had been carefully curated and preserved. It was a stark contrast to what I had expected from someone known for their rough and tumble nature.

“Bet you didn’t think he’d be the meticulous type,” Hitomi said, brushing past me to the computer.

“You’d win that bet,” I muttered, running my fingers over the edge of the desk. The wood was smooth, worn from years of use, like the room had been alive with purpose until it wasn't.

With a light tap of her finger, Hitomi brought the screen to life. The soft glow illuminated her delicate features, accentuating the sharp angles of her jaw and the fierce determination in her eyes. She moved with fluidity and grace, her fingers dancing across the keyboard like a skilled musician playing an intricate melody. Every keystroke was deliberate and purposeful, as if she held all the secrets of the world in her hands.

“What exactly are we looking for?"

“Anything that doesn’t make sense,” she replied without looking up.

I almost laughed. “That’s a pretty low bar around here."

“Fair point."

As she worked, I studied every inch of the room. The walls were adorned with glossy photos, each featuring Agustin with a different group of people. They stood tall and proud in front of a sleek black car, their faces beaming with the satisfaction that only comes from victory. In another picture, Agustin held a gleaming trophy in his hands, his expression fierce and triumphant as if he had conquered the world. My eyes traced over each detail, taking in the intricacies captured within each frame.

What had gone so wrong?

My eyes landed on a stack of notebooks shoved into a shelf. The pages were filled with cramped handwriting, notes scribbled in the margins, and arrows connecting phrases I couldn’t make sense of. Agustin’s mind was a maze, and I was starting to see just how deep it ran.

“Got something,” Hitomi said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I walked over, peering at the screen.

“What am I looking at?"

“Encrypted files. Agustin wasn’t exactly an amateur when it came to hiding shit."

“Can you c***k it?"

Her lips curled into a smirk. “Please. This is a child's play."

She typed faster, her confidence radiating off her in waves. I envied it—the way she seemed so sure of herself in a world that constantly felt like it was spinning out of control.

As I waited, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. It was subtle, like an itch at the back of my neck. I glanced toward the door, half-expecting someone to be standing there, but it was empty.

“You okay?"

I turned back to Hitomi, who was eyeing me with mild concern.

“Yeah, just... this place gives me the creeps."

“Agustin was the paranoid son of a b***h. He probably would’ve taken that as a compliment."

The screen beeped, and a folder popped open. Inside were dozens of files, each labelled with cryptic names—"Project Phoenix," "Silver Ops," "Hawk Schematic."

“Silver Hawks,” I murmured, feeling a chill crawl up my spine.

“Looks like they were more than just rivals.” Hitomi opened one of the files, and a series of emails appeared. The subject lines were enough to make my stomach twist.

*Compromised shipment. Increased surveillance. Unreliable contact.

“s**t,” Hitomi muttered, scrolling through the messages.

“What does it mean?"

“It means someone was playing both sides."

The words hung in the air like smoke. Someone inside Ruby Pista had been feeding information to the Silver Hawks. Agustin must have found out, and if he did...

“He didn’t die in a racing accident, did he?"

Hitomi leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “I’d bet my left kidney he didn't."

The weight of her statement settled over me, heavy and suffocating. I thought I’d stepped into a world of fast cars and questionable morals, but this was something entirely different. This was betrayal.

“Why would someone do that?” I asked, more to myself than to her.

“Money. Power. Take your pick. In this world, loyalty’s a luxury most people can’t afford."

I felt a flicker of anger, hot and sharp. “That’s bullshit."

“Maybe,” she said with a shrug. “But it’s reality."

Before I could respond, there was a knock at the door. Danny poked his head in, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

“You two finding anything interesting?"

“Define interesting,” Hitomi quipped, gesturing to the screen.

He stepped inside, his gaze darting between us. “You might want to be careful. People are starting to ask questions."

“Let them,” Hitomi said, her tone laced with defiance.

Danny looked at me, his eyes softening. “Emma, this isn’t your fight. You don’t have to get involved."

“I’m already involved,” I said, surprising even myself with the conviction in my voice.

He frowned, running a hand through his hair. “You don’t know what you’re stepping into."

“Then tell me."

For a moment, I thought he would. His jaw worked like he was chewing on the words, deciding whether or not to spit them out. But then he shook his head.

“Just be careful,” he said, and then he was gone.

Hitomi snorted. “He’s good at being vague, isn’t he?"

“Yeah. Annoyingly so."

We turned back to the computer, diving deeper into the files. Each document was a piece of a puzzle that painted a picture of deceit and danger. The Silver Hawks weren’t just rivals—they were predators, circling Ruby Pista-like vultures. And someone on the inside had been laying out the feast.

As the hours passed, I couldn’t shake the nagging thought at the back of my mind. If Agustin knew about the betrayal, why hadn’t he told Alfredo? Or had he, and Alfredo just didn’t want to admit it?

As we exited the office, the sun slowly sank below the horizon, painting the city with a warm palette of golden hues and rosy tones. The world seemed to transform before my very eyes as I stepped outside, leaving behind the sterile environment of work and entering the bustling streets filled with life and energy. However, despite the vibrant surroundings, the heaviness of what we had uncovered weighed heavily on my mind, like a second skin that refused to be shed. The stark contrast between the beautiful scenery and our troubling discovery only served to intensify the conflicting emotions within me.

“You think Alfredo knows?” I asked Hitomi as we walked to the parking lot.

“Probably. But whether he admits it is another story."

I glanced at her, trying to gauge the truth behind her words. She met my gaze, her expression unreadable.

“Why do you care anyway?” she asked.

“Because Agustin deserves the truth,” I said simply.

She studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Fair enough."

The city lights blur past my car as I speed towards home, heart pounding with adrenaline and mind racing with thoughts of the files. The betrayal burns like acid in my veins, but it's nothing compared to the nagging questions left behind by the man who met his untimely end.

Agustin's death was no accident; that much is crystal clear. And if I want the truth, I'll have to be willing to cross lines that terrify me, risking everything for justice. My hands grip

the steering wheel tightly, knuckles turning white as determination hardens in my jaw. Tonight, I will find answers, even if it means opening doors that should remain closed forever.