The high tables

The docks were much quieter than usual at night; the stillness was only disturbed by the occasional lapping and noise of water against the boats and the creak of the wooden planks beneath my feet. I walked slowly, my steps deliberate and calculated; I was on my guard, the distance of the city lights fading into the background. The smell of saltwater and oil hung in the air, mixing with the scent of the ocean breeze. It was a night like any other except for the man waiting for me at the end of the pier. Gabriel Rossi. I had no idea what he wanted, but that message slipped under my door and held my curiosity just enough to bring me here. It was too close for comfort "Meet me at the docks. Midnight." An invitation from the heir to the Rossi family empire. A hated but respected rival If it had been anyone else, I wouldn’t have bothered, but Gabriel was different. He wasn’t like the usual thugs and power-hungry fools I dealt with daily. He was calculating, deliberate. Dangerous. Smart, he was a threat I couldn't ignore, one that I couldn't just erase, And I needed to know what he was planning. As I approached the end of the pier, I spotted him, leaning casually against the railing, staring out at the water as if he had all the time in the world. His dark hair moved with the breeze, and his posture was relaxed, too relaxed for a man who was about to face a rival. Even in the dim light, I could see the calm confidence in the way he held himself as if nothing and no one could touch him. I hated that about him. How composed manner angered me beyond measure. I hated that he always seemed so unbothered, so in control. While everyone else fought to maintain their hold on power, Gabriel Rossi moved with the ease of someone who knew the game better than anyone else. And that just made me boil. I wasn’t here to play games. I was here to get answers. “Rossi,” I said, my voice sharp, my tone and calm as I stopped a few feet away from him. “What the hell do you want?” He didn’t turn around right away. He stayed there, leaning against the railing, steering point blank at the dark water as if I hadn’t spoken. I tightened my jaw, irritation bubbling up inside me. I was already regretting coming here. I didn’t have time for whatever nonsense he was about to spit out. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Gabriel turned to face me. His expression was unreadable, those cold, dark eyes locking onto mine with a calm that gave me goosebumps. He didn’t speak right away; he just studied me for a moment as if he were weighing his words carefully. “I’m glad you came,” he said, his voice smooth and even, completely unaffected by the edge and somewhat fear in mine. “I didn’t come here to listen to pleasantries, or give any, Gabriel,” I snapped. “If you’ve got something to say, then say it. Otherwise, I’m leaving.” His lips twitched into a faint smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “You always were impatient, Isabella.” I crossed my arms, my stance rigid, every muscle in my body was full of tension. “I don’t have time for games, and I don’t have time for you. So, get to the point.” Gabriel straightened, stepping away from the railing, but there was still no rush in his movements. He seemed completely unmoved by my hostility as if he’d expected it. Maybe he had. His calm nature was driving me crazy “I called you here because things are changing,” he said, his tone still calm as ever. “And if we don’t change with them, we’ll both be swallowed whole.” I scoffed, narrowing my eyes at him. “What the hell are you talking about?” He took a step closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “You’ve noticed it, haven’t you? The tensions rising, the deals being made behind our backs. There’s something bigger going on, something that’s going to affect both of our families.” Ember is planning something. I tilted my head slightly to the right, eyeing him with suspicion. “Are you trying to scare me, Gabriel? Because if you think” “I’m not trying to scare you,” he cut in, his voice firm but still ever so calm. “I’m trying to get you to see that we have a common enemy.” A gutsy and bitter laugh came out from my lips before I could stop it. “Common enemy? Don’t make me laugh. The only enemy I see here is you and your family.” Gabriel’s expression didn’t waver or shake. He didn’t react to my accusation, didn’t rise to my bait. Instead, he took another step toward me, closing the distance between us. His presence was overwhelming, not because of his size or stature, but because of the way he carried himself with that same quiet, unshakable confidence. “You and I both know that’s not true,” he said quietly. “Our families have been at each other’s throats for decades, but the real threat isn’t coming from us. It’s coming from the Ember. Someone’s stirring the pot, pushing us toward war, and if we don’t stop it, they’ll destroy everything.” "We are both Mafians, everyone is our enemy" I roared I stared at him, my mind racing, trying to process his words. Part of me wanted to dismiss him outright, to tell him that he was full of it, that he was just trying to manipulate me. But another part of me, the part that had been raised to trust my instincts, knew that he wasn’t lying. There had been whispers and rumors of new players entering the game, of deals being made in the shadows. But I’d dismissed them as just rumors. Now, standing here, listening to Gabriel, I wasn’t so sure. Surly if something is going on I would have noticed “Even if what you’re saying is true,” I said, still In my thoughts, my voice full of skepticism, “why should I care? Why should I trust you?”