The Toxic Deal

13. JOURNEY TO THE DOOM

BRIA

I was the most horrible person alive. I was selfish and coward. I was not worthy of their love. I never was. I knew what I did was wrong in so many ways. I knew this was the only thing that would disappoint Benji but I had to do it. Kids never complained but I knew how Juan wanted to study business administration in a good college but he compromised that dream because we didn't have enough money and the scholarship was not enough to cover all the expenses. I had seen kids compromising toys, hangouts with their friends, new fashionable clothes and almost everything that their friends who came from well to do families had.

Sometimes I cried to Benji that I might have made a bad decision to take them under the care. If not me then someone else might have taken them under their care and the kids might have had a better life than I could ever be able to provide. Though he and kids tried their best to not show anything I never missed those secret stolen glances to ice creams and toys in parks, shiny cars and bikes, glittery branded dresses. I never missed anything. I carried that guilt within my heart for years working hard for my family. But that was not enough. It never was. But this was my chance... Only chance to provide them with the life which I could never afford to provide them with.

"Why did you agree?"

I was so lost in thought that I forgot that I was sitting beside the devil himself. His calm but deep strong voice startled me and I remembered that we were in one of his cars, heading towards his place which was my doom.

"what?"

He sighed and after a small pause repeated his question, "why did you agree?"

He didn't need to elaborate the question.

"I know after three months the moment I sign the papers you-you will kill me." s**t! My voice just cracked at the end. I dared to look up at his face for any reaction, forgetting for a moment that I was talking to the stone.

"How do you know that?" he asked casually as if we were discussing if there would be rain on the next day or not.

"Are you willing to take the risk of me taking help from the authorities and expose your deeds in the media? I don't think so. Besides isn't it what you mafia people do? Finish the witness after you get what you want."

He didn't say anything but I could sense the confusion in his hidden eyes. Well I guess so.

As a mature person that I was, I took it on my own to explain.

"I knew it from the start ok. But I was not sure how I was gonna explain it to the kids. So, I never mentioned killing part in front of them. But you solved my problem when you put your rule. I- I just want one more favour from you. A personal favour at the sake of whatever the last ounce of humanity might have left in you if there is any, that is. They should never get to know about- um- whatever will happen to me after the signing. I want them to be happy. I know living without me will not be a good thing for them but at least they will live in relief that wherever I will... I will be alive. Benji is one smart old guy. He will know it. Hell, he even knew it from the start that's why he was adamant about me not agreeing to this deal but I am sure he will keep this secret to himself."

It was beyond my mind horses how he managed to maintain that stone face all the time. I mean, I had gone through a rollercoaster of emotions and expressions in the span of three hours while he was still the same. Like a f*****g stone. And that was... Scary.

I stretched my hand opening my palm in front of him and still... No reaction.

"Can you promise me that? Please?"

Silence And...no reaction.

"I know I hurt your men but you didn't give me enough time even for a proper goodbye to my family whom I may not see again, ever. I think I deserve this."

Silence and Again..... no reaction.

"umm... consider it as my last wish then?"

Before I get replied with more silence And....no reaction, the car stopped with a jerk and both our doors were opened. A man grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the car. With a dreaded feeling, I turned to my left to avoid looking at the evil faces to only met with a large house. 

Scratch that it was not any large house, it was a f*****g b****y mansion. I swear the thud sound was nothing but my jaw hitting the ground in awe/shock/surprise. The establishment stood there with all its glory and beauty decorated with hundreds of lights and shiny glasses in the middle of a vast green garden. It was a three-storey mansion with many balconies covered with glasses. The designer white coloured chairs and tables were set in the large porches to enjoy the morning coffee. I could see the striking interiors through the large window panels which were illuminated by the dozens of lights. It was kind of a mansion I had downloaded pictures of from Tumblr. I always dreamt of having one in my life.

The property was surrounded by a large wall and a giant white gate we passed through when I was busy expecting a cruel monster to turn into Shrek. Many men in black suits stood around the property ready to attack any trespasser.

My world of l**t shook when someone pushed me a little. "stop drooling and walk"

Gabriel's grumpy voice was like a bucket of cold water thrown at my face which brought me back to reality. And a dreadful feeling of fear settled inside me. oh no! I was going to live here. Away from my family. For three f*****g months and then... I was going to die. Oh no! that was not happening no.

Without my permission, my tear glands decided to perform their function and the very purpose for which they were created by nature, that too, over efficiently. A hysterical cry left my lips and I started thrashing and crying loudly in between the crowd of at least fifty men like a small kid throwing a tantrum embarrassing her parents in the middle of the mall for an ice cream. 

The devil watched me with an inscrutable face like I was three years old on her first day of school. All happy until she saw her classroom and then started crying and rolling on the ground, clutching to her parent's hand to not leave her there. After ten minutes of me throwing a tantrum and Him watching it in calmness, I cracked open my one eye into a thin slit. I was already in the shiny mansion. H.O.L.Y s**t!

When did they get me here?

Panic settled in my heart at the thought that I would never get to get out of here and my mind went into its crazy ninja mode that was normal for me. When Gabriel loosened his grip on me, I flung my fist into his face and started running all around the living room which was as big as a playground near my home. Three men ran behind me to catch me but I managed to dodge them as I ran in circles looking for an exit frantically. I didn't pay attention in my attempt to save my life when a hand shot through the air and grabbed my neck in a vice-like grip. My body slammed into a hard wall and a white pain shot through my back. My eyes snapped open to land on none other than the furious Greek god.

"enough is enough. You agreed to the deal and you will fulfil it. This is my house and you will follow my rules until you live here, whether you like it or not." His dangerous voice was sending goosebumps all over my body.

I was wriggling but his hold only tightened around my neck.

"I- I d-don't wa-want to li-live here. L-et me goo." It was getting harder to breathe as the pressure increased on my throat also my back was paining like a b***h.

He inched towards my face completely invading my personal space. I held my breath as I was experiencing such close proximity with the person from the opposite gender for the first time in my life. Of course, Benji, boys and a guy from Ninth grade whom I tried to kiss don't count. 

"I will not repeat myself, Miss Maxwell. Here, I rule and you follow. No questions, no complaints. And if you think that this deal made you immune from getting killed before the agreed time then you are very wrong. Don't test my patience, Miss Maxwell, ever!" He hissed in his best my-voice-can-make-a skeleton of dead man-shiver-in fright voice. I tried to say something in a pathetic attempt which resulted in only some unladylike guttural sounds.

"Are we clear here?" he dropped his voice again by an octave to intimidate me. And let me tell you that he succeeded in it perfectly.

"c-cry-crystal clear"

My body landed on the expensive shiny floor with a thud and I could see my red face, more red eyes and mess of hair on the top of my head clearly in them.

He commanded with his head and Gabriel dragged me upstairs but not before I accidentally broke one of the vases in the living room which was surely worth of my five years working three jobs.

It didn't help my condition at all but I was succeeded in releasing at least 0.5% of my anger.

KING

I finished my third drink, feeling the burning sensation in my throat. I was not a regular drinker and did so only when I had many things on my mind. I was in my office and it was already past three in the morning. These past few days were rough for me but today... it was the most exhausting day in my life. And the sole reason behind it was that notorious, thick-headed girl.

That crazy, weird, stubborn, hot-headed and stupid girl. She was like... Like a fire. Yes. That was the right word for her... Fire.

A few days back when that i***t Kyle came crying to Cameron with his b****y nose, I barely managed to control my urge to kill that bastard right then and there. How could a trained man like him get hit by a little, weak girl? But Cameron took the responsibility to handle her.

Pressure from my puppets in government and law was growing on me. I might have done some reckless things in the fit of anger and now I needed something to clean up that mess. I needed some kind of clean investment to come off the hook of the law book. One day one of my acquaintance told me about a beautiful plot in near town, out of city limits and near it at the same time. He sent me photos of it and I decided to use it to build a grand resort with a casino.

My money would come clean along with my name and who would mind some extra income. Two targets in a single shot!

But the main obstacle was this stupid girl with her six kids and one old useless man. I could have acquired that property in a single snap of fingers. But I didn't want to attract the unnecessary attention of authorities hence I decided to play it soft.

I wrote down the two notes and sent them with a clock. I could have used a real bomb but why take so much efforts to deal with a weak girl. I thought it was enough for a girl to give in but NO. She didn't budge. She was different. And that difference intrigued me and made me furious at the same time.

Gabriel, one of my best man and a companion for years visited her in her small café. He was the only one amongst us with an ability to handle the delicate situations in a controlled and peaceful manner. It was best to let him talk some sense to that girl without creating any chaos. I was expecting positive news but all I got was how perfect their coffee was. I thought he would have threatened her with a g*n or blade or even a f*****g toothpick but what he did? He threatened her with his phone call... a f*****g phone call. I mean who does that when you are a part of the strongest Mafia family? I swear sometimes I think that I have all idiots recruited in my business.

I was getting impatient. This was such a small task. Threaten the girl, scare her, take the signs and then kill her with her family. As simple as that. But none of my men was able to complete this simple task.

My last option was Cameron, my right hand. Gabriel was a little soft and easy-going person exact opposite to Cameron who was a serious, no-s**t-only business kind of person and hence my next natural choice for the task in hand. He took the responsibility and I was sure that this tom and jerry game would finally end.

He broke through her house and called her but that stupid b***h had the audacity to tell him that I, THE KING, leader of the mafia and world's most feared man would have my family jewel in my mouth. A loud growl escaped my mouth when I heard that.

No one and I mean, no one ever dared to disrespect me in such a downgraded way. She signed her death wish at that moment and I would be pleasured to complete it.

The call this evening was the last strike for my running patience. When I saw how much damage she caused my men including Cameron, I decided to take the matter in my hands. She was already destined to be dead because when King took matters in his hands, not even god dares to cross his way.

The first time I met her I don't know what I was expecting. But I was certainly not expecting to meet such stubborn and fierce girl. One look in her eyes and I knew she was many things but not weak. She was not weak when she was yelling profanities at me and my men who had weapons in their hands. She was not weak when she kicked Kyle, punched Gabriel and the most amusing part where she locked her legs around Cameron's neck. She was not weak when her eyes were filled with determination to protect her family. She was not weak when she thrust her chin up and crossed her hands in an attempt to intimidate me, challenging me openly. She was not weak when she put those conditions in front of me. She was not weak.

But she was broken at the same time. She was broken when that old man was dropped unconscious. She was broken when she heard the kids crying and pleading. She was broken when that pathetic excuse of man- what was his name- yes, Cody was shot dead. She was broken when that Juan boy got punched by Cameron. She was breaking slowly when she was making that deal. And she was on the verge of breaking into small pieces when she finally realised she has agreed to...her fate.

I was informed that she loved her family and none of the members were related to her by blood. This was what love does to people. It breaks them apart. It causes their downfall. It turns people into the dust of nothingness.

I was The King. And the secret behind my success- I haven't love anyone or anything. Ever.