THE VENDOR AND THE MAFIA BOSS

CHAPTER SIX

The silence of the night was broken only by the distant sound of a few passing cars and the low hum of the warehouse’s overhead lights. Amara’s pulse quickened as they moved further into the shadows, the dimly lit interior of the warehouse seeming to swallow them whole. The truck had just pulled in, and she felt the weight of Rafa’s expectations settling heavily on her shoulders. This was it—the moment she would either prove herself or fall short.

Marco was ahead of her, his every step calculated, confident. He was calm, too calm for someone who was about to rob a shipment of electronics. But that was the world he came from, a world where danger and high stakes were part of the daily grind. Amara wasn’t sure if she was ready for this. But she knew she had no choice but to keep up.

They reached the back of the truck, where several men in dark clothing were already unloading the containers, their movements swift and practiced. Marco signaled to one of them, a silent gesture that Amara could barely catch.

“This is our window,” Marco whispered, his voice low and steady. “We move fast.”

Amara’s throat felt dry as she nodded. She’d never imagined herself in a situation like this—not in her wildest dreams. She had always kept a distance from the dangerous parts of life, but now, she was neck-deep in it.

They approached the containers, and Marco pulled out a small device, using it to disable the truck’s locking mechanism. The sound of the lock disengaging was almost imperceptible, but it was enough to send a chill down her spine. They were moments away from making their move.

Amara’s heart raced as she positioned herself next to Marco, trying to stay out of sight. She could hear the sound of voices in the distance, but they were getting closer. The moment they’d been waiting for had arrived.

“Now,” Marco ordered quietly.

They both rushed toward the containers, quickly slipping inside the dark space. The goods were neatly stacked—top-of-the-line electronics that were worth more than Amara cared to think about. But her job wasn’t to question the value of these items. It was to make sure they got out of there without a hitch.

Marco moved with precision, quickly cutting the ties that secured the containers and beginning to load the goods into the back of a van that was parked nearby. Amara followed his lead, trying to keep her hands steady as she moved the boxes from the truck to the van. She was surprised by how quickly the minutes passed, but the anxiety gnawing at her was a constant reminder that everything could go wrong at any moment.

Suddenly, a noise echoed from the distance, the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. Amara froze, her eyes wide. Someone was coming.

“Stay low,” Marco hissed, grabbing her arm and pulling her behind one of the stacked crates. “Don’t make a sound.”

Her breath caught in her throat as she crouched down, trying to stay as still as possible. She could hear the footsteps getting closer, and her mind raced with the possibilities. What if they were caught? What if they had to fight their way out of here?

The footsteps stopped just a few feet away, and Amara’s heart seemed to stop with them. She held her breath, praying they wouldn’t be discovered.

Marco, ever the professional, didn’t move an inch. He stood completely still, his hand hovering over the gun he kept tucked beneath his jacket.

Amara couldn’t hear anything but the pounding of her own heart. Every second felt like an eternity.

Then, the footsteps receded. The tension in the air seemed to dissipate as the sounds faded into the distance. Marco let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

“Alright,” he whispered, rising to his feet. “We’re clear. Let’s finish this.”

Amara didn’t waste a second. They continued loading the van, the process moving faster now that they were no longer on edge. The last few boxes were moved with ease, and the van was packed to the brim.

Marco nodded in approval as they both climbed into the van.

“Nice work,” he said, his voice as cold as ever. “You handled yourself well back there. You’re not as green as I thought.”

Amara wasn’t sure if she was relieved or frustrated. This wasn’t the kind of praise she had been hoping for, but it was better than nothing. She was starting to realize that in this world, praise came in the form of subtle gestures, a nod of approval, a glance that said, “You didn’t screw this up.” It wasn’t the warm encouragement she was used to, but it was enough to keep her going.

The van rumbled to life, and they drove off into the night, the warehouse shrinking in the rearview mirror.

When they returned to the warehouse, the tension had already begun to settle in. The job wasn’t finished yet, but the hardest part was over. Marco parked the van in the back lot, and they both climbed out, making their way toward the back entrance.

As they entered the main room of the warehouse, Amara was met by Rafa’s piercing gaze. He was standing by a table, his fingers tapping against the surface in rhythmic, impatient movements. He looked up as they entered, his eyes scanning Amara with an intensity that made her stomach churn.

“You got the goods?” Rafa asked, his voice calm but sharp, like a blade.

“Right here,” Marco replied, gesturing to the van outside. “Everything’s secure.”

Amara stood silently, her mind racing. She was waiting for Rafa’s approval, the kind of validation that would tell her she had done the job well. But she wasn’t sure if it was coming.

Rafa walked over to her, his gaze never leaving her face. For a moment, the silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable.

“Impressive,” Rafa said finally, his voice low. “I didn’t expect you to do this well. You’ve earned your place. But don’t get too comfortable. This is just the beginning.”

Amara’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn’t show it. She had survived her first real test in Rafa’s world. Now, it was time to prove she could handle whatever came next.