In the Shadows of the Mafia Queen

Chapter 5: Shadows and Secrets

Alexander was listless, and couldn’t focus at work for days after he laid Emily off. He sat at the balcony of his penthouse, staring blankly at the cityscape below him after a long and tormenting day at work. It was as though a part of him had been rudely chopped off him. He needed to talk things out with Emily, but didn’t know how. Backing out of the relationship and maintaining a purely corporate relationship seemed like the sanest option. If her claims were true, she’d be hurt, but it was the safest course of action. He picked up his phone to dial her, but decided against it. He needed to see her in person.

He drove to her apartment, but she wasn’t there. He tried her number, but her phone was turned off. He remembered the logo he had seen on the surveillance footage. Somehow, he suspected the entire camera setup was a ruse. He knew the club fairly well. He got into his car and headed there.

***

“You know, Martin, it was audacious of you to bring your miserable self to my workplace where people of your kind are unwelcome,” Emily was spitting out hot at her ex. She had sought clarity after her suspension, and needed answers to so many questions to fix the mess that had erupted around her. She knew where to begin her enquiries. The strip club.

The club, a den of criminals, and frequented by the Rossi associates, was loud and smoky. The scent of alcohol, cigarettes, and sweat permeated the air. She’d found the person she’d come to see – Martin, her ex. He had been waiting for her in a dark corner, his expression unreadable.

“I will spare the both of us the query as to how you got my work address,” she continued. "I am here now, live and direct. What do you want from me?" Emily asked, her voice steady despite the storm brewing within her.

“You asked me out here to throw this ridiculous question at me, Emily?” Martin retorted.

“That’s absolutely not ridiculous, Martin,” Emily responded, looking straight in his eyes. “Or perhaps I should rephrase it? What did you come looking for me at my workplace for?”

Martin smirked. “You can’t pretend you don’t know I still have feelings for you, Emily. How do you expect me to let you go, with all that we had as partners back then.”

“Martin, we put an end to this thing a long time ago. I won’t have you ruin my career for anything, understand?” Emily’s voice was stern, like that of a strict mother admonishing an erring child.

“Look babe, spare us your career talk, ok?” Martin was growing irritable. “The issue here is that you walked away from me. And next thing you landed with a billionaire businessman. Is that fair?”

“Oh, I see!” Emily said, stationing herself more aggressively before him. “I would have called that jealousy, but in this context, that sounds pathetic. And I bet you are yet to take my long-time advice to go have a decent life out there.” She sighed deeply before continuing, her jaws tightening. “Anyway, newsflash: I am no longer with a billionaire businessman, and I just got a quit notice from my job, thanks to you bunch. I hope you’re happy now.”

Martin grabbed her within a twinkling and crushed his mouth against hers. The stench of alcohol on his breath made Emily’s stomach churn. Without wasting time, she returned the favor with a resounding punch that sent him reeling. She approached and dragged him closer by the collar. “You know me well, Martin. The past couple of years have not taken away the beast within me just because I’ve tried living a decent life like all normal human beings. I am still the street girl within, and I cannot be fooled. Will you speak or do I have to make you?”

“We’re in a public place, Emily,” Martin whispered, glancing around the room. A few curious faces were staring in their direction. “You know violence is risky out here.”

“That is not the answer to my question, Martin. We might as well have a big show right here if you want it that way.” Emily said, pinning him to the wall with her menacing gaze.

Martin sighed. He was still out of breath and panting from the sudden blow he’d just received. “Ok, here’s the deal,” he said finally. “I can cope with my own pains and losses, but only if I have the cushion effect.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Emily asked, her hands still firm on his collar. “I can’t understand you when you’re speaking in riddles,” she was growing impatient, her fist clenched at her side.

“Better life,” Martin said simply. “With a good cut from your billionaire boyfriend, I’ll be able to afford that and would be gone from your life for good.”

Emily could feel the rage within her boil to the brim, but she did her best to cage it in. “How am I going to go about that, assuming I’m still with a billionaire boyfriend and a juicy job?” She asked, her eyes fixed on his, baiting and waiting.

Martin shrugged, his face twisting in anger. “Anyhow you want to do it, it’s not my concern. You can’t just walk away from me. I want a cut from your boyfriend’s billions, or you’ll hate your life.”

Emily's patience snapped like a taut wire. She drove her knee into Martin's groin with a sharp jab, then punched him hard in the face, left, then right. The impact of her blows echoed through the club, causing heads to turn in their direction. "Tell me this is all your plan," she yelled, her voice low but seething with rage.

Martin doubled over in pain, clutching his groin, his face was flushed and eyes were wide with shock. "Remember, I have hands by my side, madam," he managed to say, rage blazing from his eyes.

Emily's eyes narrowed, her breathing heavy. She could taste the metallic tang of adrenaline in her mouth. "I am not blind to that fact. So what are they waiting for?"

Martin straightened up slowly, rubbing his reddened cheeks. "I was brought up not to hit women, and I have strict orders not to hurt you."

Emily’s heart pounded in her chest, her skin prickling with tension. "Orders from who?” Matin seemed more concerned with his groin and cheeks than the answering the question. “Look, Martin,” Emily went on when he did not reply. “Make this case simple and do not drag it, else we’re gonna battle it out right here till they call the cops on us, if you’re okay with that."

The word "cops" hung in the air, a dagger aimed at Martin's core. His eyes darted around the dimly lit club, now filled with a few more curious onlookers. Martin's expression shifted from defiance to dread as he considered the consequences. He sighed deeply, a shudder running through him.

"It’s the boss," he admitted finally, his voice barely a whisper. "We have to do her bidding. You can take the kill to her."

Emily's fists remained clenched, her knuckles white. She could feel the heat radiating off her skin, and the thrum of blood in her ears. Her gaze bore into Martin, searching for any sign of deceit. The low murmur of the club's patrons seemed distant, as if the room had shrunk to just the two of them.

Martin’s eyes avoided hers, staring down at the floor. The weight of his admission hung between them, heavy and unavoidable.

"Lorenza Rossi," Emily muttered, releasing him with a push.

It was time to meet the devil herself.

She turned to leave, and bumped into a man standing somewhere by the exit. She shoved him aside, her mind set on her next move.

"Jeez!" the man exclaimed.

The sound stopped Emily. She turned around and froze, recognizing the man she had pushed. "Alex! What are you doing here?"

Before Alexander could respond, a furious shadow they both recognized as Julia stood up from her corner and stormed out of the club, leaving them both bewildered.