Forbidden Desires: A DARK ROMANCE NOVEL

Chapter 7

"What exactly does a fourteen year old know about getting rid of someone?"

It is obvious the question made Austin angry. He is tired of the people looking down on him and treating him like a child. He can be brutal too, merciless if he wants to be but no situation has called for that side of him. If everyone continues to treat him like a child, he just might show them what he's capable of doing.

"What did you say your name was?"

"I never told you my name but it's Mickey."

"Your real name is what I want not your underworld name."

"My real name is none of your business and it has got nothing to do with this meeting. Everyone in this business knows me as Mickey and the same applies to you."

Austin glares at Mickey. Had he misjudged Mickey? Is he really capable of taking down an entire Mafia organization by himself?

"Are you going to help me or not?"

Mickey is silent for a few minutes, drumming his fingers on the table; the only sound that can be heard. Austin's left eye twitches in frustration but he's smart enough to not say anything.

Nothing really is going through Mickey's head, he just enjoys the fact that he's making the arrogant little bastard squirm in his seat.

"If I do consider helping you, what do I get in return?"

"I told you, I might consider partnering up with you."

"There's the word again, 'might', it shows that your decision isn't definite. I'm not going to risk my life over a might, so you had better decide now. Will you or will you not give me a seventy percent share of your father's business?"

"Seventy percent?!" Austin yells. "That's is not going to happen. I can't give you seventy percent of what my father worked hard for!"

"Then I guess our meeting is over." Mickey gets up from the chair and adjusts his suit jacket. "You'll just have to find some stupid person willing to destroy the organization responsible for your father's death, for peanuts."

Austin's eyes widens in shock. "H... How do you know that's the organization I want you to get rid of?"

"You're a fourteen year old boy who brutally lost his father. You're young and thirsty for revenge and I would have been really surprised if you weren't trying to get back at them."

Austin bites his lower lip, contemplating his decision. He can't let Mickey leave, there's just something about him that he can trust. He's not like the others who came seeking to take over his father's business. Mickey's different and probably even more dangerous than all the other Mafia Lords combined.

"Fine, what about sixty, forty? I'll take sixty you'll take forty."

"Not happening."

"Fine! Fifty, fifty? We'll both have equal share of the business." At least he should accept this one.

"No."

"What?! But that's fair!"

"Seventy percent, Austin or consider our meeting over. I'm not as desperate as you are, there are other organizations I can take over with just a snap of my fingers. And trust me, taking seventy percent is me being generous. I could as well have asked you to have over the entire business to me and I would have gotten it, either by your cooperation or by force." He pauses, making sure his words sink into Austin's head. "For your own good, I suggest you take this deal while I'm still being nice."

"Is that a threat?"

Mickey smirks behind his mask but of course, Austin can't see it.

"I'll give you two days to think about it. If after two days I don't get a response from you, I'll consider this deal null and void."

"There's no need," Austin murmurs. He has lost his resolve. Having just thirty percent still works for him, at least, he'll still be in on what's happening in the business unlike if his father's men succeeds in kicking him out for good and probably even killing him. Behind the bravado act, he's really scared, he doesn't want to die and he doesn't want to see his father's business destroyed. Mickey is the answer to his problem, at last and he isn't going to let his fake bravery ruin it for him.

"I accept. You want seventy percent, you'll get seventy percent."

"I want it on paper. Saying it doesn't make it valid."

Austin nods. Mickey stares at him for a few seconds before turning away to knock on the door. He actually feels for the poor boy and behind his attitude, he can tell that the boy is scared.

Well, luckily for him now and his smart decision, he has nothing to worry about. As long as I am the Mafia Boss of this organization, I will not let anything happen to him. I never thought I'll feel attached to someone, a child, especially. I really hope to God I am not totally f****d.

XXXX

Finally, it's the day I get to go to camp. I can't believe I'm going to be a Cadet. Ziana thinks in her head as she gets down from her bed. She is so excited and can't wait to begin her military training. Her father had always wanted her to take over his company as his heiress but she had never been interested in business, the military lifestyle was what she was interested in and she is finally achieving her dream.

She had gotten her undergraduate degree from Yale and had gone to Harvard business school then went back to Yale for her Master's. Everything her father wanted, she had done. When it was time to take over the family business, she had finally found the courage to tell her father that she wasn't interested and what she really wanted was for join the military. Her father was extremely disappointed and he made it known in the way he treated her. He gave her some time to think about it and change her mind but that was never going to happen, she had made her decision and she was going to stick by it. Eventually, she left and got a place with Leah and it was the best decision she had ever made in her twenty five years of existence.

Of course, deciding to join the military and leaving had huge consequences. Her father revoked her inheritance and locked her trust fund so she couldn't access it but luckily for her, she was smart to have been saving since she was an undergraduate and that is why she's been able to afford a nice apartment in a nice neighborhood. Of course it's nothing like she was used to, the mansion, the house staff, the cars and drivers, not having to work for anything and just having it at your beck and call.

To be honest, she doesn't miss that life, it was filled with very little happy memories.

She rushes to the bathroom to get herself ready. She can't afford to miss orientation, that will be a strike on her record and that is definitely not a good way to make an impression.

Once she's done, she heads down to the kitchen with her bags properly packed and ready to go.

Leah looks over her shoulder as she flips the eggs. "Leaving already? Aren't you going to have anything to eat, first?"

"I'm running late, already. I don't think I'll be able to eat, anything, sadly." Ziana sighs and she walks into the kitchen. She drags Leah by her shirt and pulls her in for a hug. "I'm really gonna miss you, babe. You gave me a place to stay when I had nowhere else to go at no cost, you've been with me through thick and thin and these past few years, we've become more than friends. We're sisters now and I love you so much, Leah. It really hurts me to leave you all alone, especially when we've gotten so used to living together but you and i both know I need to find my own path, I can't depend on you for the rest of my life."

"You know I wouldn't really mind if you did depend on me forever." Leah says with a small laugh. "I'm going to miss you so much, Ziana. The apartment won't feel the same without you. I love you so much."

They both stay like that, enjoying the warmth in each other's arms. Life with Leah was the best thing ever for Ziana. Leah made her rediscover herself and for that, she will be forever grateful.

Few minutes later, when they are no longer sobbing, they break apart.

"I really have to go. I don't want to make a bad impression on the first day."

Leah nods. "I understand. I'll see you off."

"You really don't have to. I can find my way to the camp. Just stay here, have something to eat and go spend the rest of the day with your financé. I'll text you once I get to the camp."

"Promise me you will. As you're stepping foot into the camp, I want you to call me immediately. Call not text. I need to hear your voice to be sure you're fine."

"I promise," Ziana says and with one last hug, she walks out of the apartment building.

"This is it," She says to herself before walking to the bus stop. "Finally, Ziana, your dreams are coming true. Finally, you can prove to Dad that he was wrong about you." With a deep breath, she begins walking to the bus stop.