Mafia Queen

Lazy Day

Jade's POV

Lying on the beach at Teela's family villa, I finally relaxed. Jewel and Donna lay under the umbrellas next to me. I can see Teela showing Rose how to surf. The breeze blows across us lazily. I turn my head to Donna.

"That was so much fun last night," I say, stretching and sitting up.

"It was the best," she agrees. "But come to think of it, they have all been the best."

"How many times have you two done that?" Jewel asks.

"Four!" I say.

"Three!" Donna responds.

"And Rose?" Jewel asks.

"Rose is complicated. That was her first time. You may have noticed how timid she is," Donna replied.

Jewel nods her head and waits for further explanation.

I signed and started the tale. "When we went to the meeting at her family's home, she sat in the back not speaking. Much like the rest of us, aside from Teela, when we suggest a show of strength, so the gangs of the city knew what our family's would and could do if they trespassed on our territory. She spoke up asking that we not cause pain. She doesn't like to see people hurt."

"It's one of her charms," Donna chimed in.

I nodded and continued, "Teela saw the need to bring someone with less of a bloodlust into the group. We wanted it to be balanced, that is the way you show true power. So with already having three with a bloodlust. We added a gentle soul. Teela wants her to be a little rough around the edges. You need that when dealing with men, but having her on the court is refreshing."

"I'm just glad she came last night. I could have done without the puke, but seeing how she reacted to him when she wasn't throwing up harmed my heart," Donna added.

"Balance is the way of life," we all turned to look at Teela as she spoke.

"I'm getting that," Jewel replied.

Rose and Teela joined us.

"I'd like to know what brought us to this point," Jewel replied.

We all look at Teela, she nods and starts from the top.

"My brother, as you all know, wasn't worthy of his position. My only regret is that I ended him so quickly. I wish I had prolonged his torture, like we did to the rest. But knowing that his life ended by my hand is enough, so long as I can help others like me achieve the same. Next, we took out Jade's brother. That was our first real taste of blood. I won't go into detail. We have video if you want to see it. Next we took out Donna's brother. Yes, there is a video of that one also. Their deaths were much the same. When it came to Rose's brother, we knew that people would start to ask questions if all the brothers ended up dead in the same way."

"Plus there were all the other people we tortured," Donna reminded Teela.

"Ah yes, there is also that. Miss Donna is good with cars. She used that knowledge and he had an accident. That lead to knives in his back and a gun shot to his head."

We look at Jewel judging her reaction. "And you have videos of all of this?"

"Not Rose's brother. That was listed as an accident and a gang hit because of where he was found. Anything we did in the warehouse we were in, or in Donna's family's torture room."

"Wait, you have a torture room?" Jewel asks, looking at Donna.

We all shake our heads. "You will see it when we get back." I let her know.

I see a twinkle in her eyes. "So is that about it?" she asks.

"Yes, you are up-to-date. You can watch the videos whenever you want. That way, you have a complete understanding of what we have done," Teela assured her.

"So what does one do at a beach after killing a stupid man?" I inquire.

"This was my plan," Donna replied, laying back on the beach towel again.

"Same," Jewel responded.

I see Teela looking at something in the distance. I know that look. We hear the argument as a woman approaches.

"I don't care what dad said, Owen, I'm not marrying him!"

"You don't have a choice, Sophia."

Teela stands as the girl runs past us. Blocking the man's way. "I think she said she wasn't marrying this guy. The best thing for you to do is walk away. Or do I have to remind you who I am?"

We all watch as Owen's face makes a stupid look. "I didn't know you decided to take a vacation down here, Teela and company," he sneered at us.

"We go where we want. I thought that would be clear to the men at the head of each family. We don't need your permission, and we don't have to explain ourselves," Teela said evenly.

"We are investigating how each of you got your seats, especially that one," he said, pointing at Rose. "Did you have your brother killed? God knows that you don't hate the guts to do it yourself. The rest of you, we wouldn't put it past you to take them out yourselves."

"Or maybe their irrigant, cocky lifestyles made them easy targets for those who wished to dismantle the system that my father put into place and take a piece of the action for themselves." Teela said, coldly.

Owen's eyes flashed with hate and he walked away. We all turned to the girl who now knew was Sophia.

"So you are the second born child of the Loca family," I said, looking at her closely.

"Sophia," she replied.

"We heard your i***t brother call you," Donna replied.

"Are you okay?" Rose inquired of her.

"I am now," she confirmed.

Teela only stares at her. Judging what we can not see. When she speaks, her voice is even and deliberate. "What is your specialty?"

"What do you mean?" Sophia asks.

"Teela is our strategist. Donna has control of the weapons. Rose keeps everything straight, without her, we wouldn't know what is going on. Jewel handles all the tech we use and has written code and set up fire walls, to keep all of our documents and dealings safe and outside the prying eyes of the men we are forced to endure. I am the one who covers security," I tell her.

Her mouth drops open, "You are that organized?" she breathes out.

"Yes," Teela responds. "So what is it you do?"

"I have a large media footprint. I don't know if that is something you would need," Sophia responded.

Teela looked to Jewel for an explanation. Jewel clears her throat and explains, "She has a lot of people who watch videos she makes as well as things she shares."

Teela's eyes turned back to Sophia. "So people listen to you?"

"In a way, yes," she confirmed. "But it's a little more than that. I have a network of people I can call on to help when needed."

This made Teela's eyebrow shoot up, "Now that is something that we could use."

"You can use me?" Sophia says, hopefully.

"Yes, that is something that will help us move forward in our plans. Having a network of people who can offer support. The reason all the families have been so stagnant is because they don't know how to change with the times. We are starting a movement. Sadly, the men who sit in the seats are in the way. So we remove the roadblocks," Teela explains.

"Aren't you afraid they will find out?" Sophia inquired.

"They won't last long enough to finish their investigation," Jewel replied. "Plus, our roadblocks will derail them. We have two hackers on the court. They have nothing. They will find nothing."

"Court?" Sophia said curiously.

"Yes, the Royal Court. Us," we all say to her.

"I think I am starting to get this," Sophia replied.