The Mafia’s Code

Chapter 003- captured

RUBY

I walked slowly through the dark alley; the shadows seemed to swirl around me as the only sounds that echoed through the walls were the sound of crunching gravel beneath my feet. A shaft of moonlight cascaded down at me, illuminating a pool of silver light.

I held my shoes in my hands as my feet hurt due to running. I finally got to the street that faced my house as I walked weakly into my apartment. But to my surprise, the whole house was dark.

I traced my steps to the corner of the house where the lights were, trying to find them in the darkness that gleamed around me. It seemed like Hailey wasn’t at home yet, which was a good thing as it would give me quite enough time to get ready and flee from the city.

I finally found the lights, but as I turned them on, I wasn’t prepared for what I saw next.

“Hmmm, hmmm,” Hailey’s voice mumbled from the couch as her hands were tied behind her back and her mouth taped. It was then I took a good look at my environment. The three men who pursued me earlier and the scary-looking handsome guy were all in my living room.

Hailey was at gunpoint, as was I, as one of the men appeared behind me with a gun to my head. And the scary-looking guy sat in the shadows on one of the couches.

“Ruby Wane, a twenty-five-year-old waitress who works at the diner downtown, an orphan who lost her mom in a fire accident, graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in interior decor. Dated Ethan McHenry, also known as Demarco, for the past three years; well, I’m not sorry for your losses,” his deep, hoarse Mexican voice echoed through the room as he stepped out of the shadows into the light, revealing his alluring features.

He had long dark brown hair that cascaded down to his neck; his hazel eyes shone brightly from their sockets as they changed colors due to the reflection of the light in the room. He was immaculately dressed in a black tailored suit and a slightly unbuttoned collared shirt.

His chain peeked from his exposed chest; he was in a very sexy man spread as his veiny, tattooed hands held his cigar. I had to admit he was more handsome up close.

“You’re quite the stubborn type,” his voice was deep and gruff as he spoke in his Mexican accent. I gulped instinctively as all thoughts of running away from here came back again, but this time I was cornered, with no way out. The memory of Ethan’s pale face as soon as he was shot came flooding back into my mind.

He moved closer to me with his intimidating height; even with my 5’8”, he was still way taller. “Ple… please…. Let her go. I’m the one you want.” I stuttered, my voice shaking with fear.

He stroked my hair backward as he stared into my eyes deeply. “I’m afraid I can’t, darling,” he said with a smirk on his face.

“What do you want?” I asked in a shaky tone, trying to be brave, but every other part of my body failed me. He just stood there and let out a chuckle.

“I must admit Demarco has a really low taste in women,” he whispered in my ear as his warm breath surged through my skin, making me raise my head high and close my eyes.

His cold scent sent shivers down my spine as I batted my lashes in fear. “Sir, should I pull the trigger?” the man behind me asked, making my heart skip as I shook with fear. Was I really going to die this way? I thought.

He moved slowly away from me as he stared deeply into my eyes. “No, she comes with me,” he said sternly, “but kill that one, though; she’s too much of a talkative, and it irritates me,” he said, referring to Hailey, who was bound to the couch.

“Please, no! No! Please don’t kill her. I’ll do anything. Please, just spare her life,” I pleaded as I looked into Hailey’s eyes, which were already shaking in fear. My knees grew weak, and my body failed me as it could no longer carry the weight of my organs, making me fall to my knees.

“Please, she has nothing to do with any of this,” I pleaded. “You can kill me, but please spare her life.” I sobbed uncontrollably. He moved his hands, signaling the man holding Hailey at gunpoint to stop as he bent down to my level, looking deep into my eyes. “Anything?” he asked with a stern look on his face, but my mouth was too heavy, so I just nodded.

“Speak!” he ordered.

“Ye… yes… anything,” I stuttered.

“Good,” he said as he stood up.

“Untie her,” he ordered, and I watched as they untied Hailey, who ran swiftly into her room with teary eyes. This was the first time I’d ever seen her cry.

“She’s coming with us,” he said, pointing to me.

“But Lord Lanza, what about the code?” the guy behind me protested.

“f**k the code; now pick her up,” he ordered as the other two guys grabbed me by the arm.

“The Don wouldn’t…” he continued, but before he could finish his sentence, my captor, whose name I just learned was Lord Lanza, pulled out a golden gun from his suit, and the next thing I heard was

“BANG.”

And the guy dropped dead right before my eyes. Two horrifying incidents in one night. Ruby, what have you gotten yourself into? I thought as I shook in fear. How could someone be so carefree and bloodthirsty this way, I wondered.

This was the second time in one night I had been bathed in blood—first Ethan’s, now some unknown guy who just wouldn’t keep his mouth shut.

“Anyone else have anything to say?” Lord Lanza asked with a stern voice as he blew out the smoke from his gun. But all the other two guards shook their heads frantically as they watched their colleague's lifeless body spill out blood onto Hailey's favorite fur rug in the entrance.

“I thought so too,” he said and ordered that we follow him. We all left my apartment as they lifted me up, carrying me to the parking lot of my complex and letting me down in front of a slick black Rolls Royce.

“Get in,” his deep voice echoed in my ears, and without any objection, I got in and was knocked out by one of his guards as everything suddenly went black.