The Mafia's Collateral

The sound of shattering glass ripped through the silence of the night, making everyone in the house alert. Ariel didn’t flinch. She had heard it too many times, too many times that her body had learned to accept it. Still… her chest tightened, squeezing and suffocating her, she wasn’t ready for this. Not after what happened earlier today. *EARLIER TODAY* Ariel dressed up, ate breakfast and went to her workplace. She was a waitress in a bar, which was the only way she could make money for her father and her little brother. She clocked in going table to take orders when her manager walked up to her and ordered her to take care of a particular table. As she approached the table, she realized it was filled with wealthy heirs. Ariel dreaded encountering people like that. They always lacked manners, but what option did she have? She walked towards the table forcing a small smile, and asked for their order. She took their order and returned with their drinks. She had to bend down to drop their order and then one of the young men groped her ass. She flinched and mistakenly poured the drinks on another man. He hurled insults at her and slapped her. She got so angry that she slapped him back and also slapped the man that groped her. The young people alerted the manager. Ariel told the manager, but the manager scolded her and asked whether she didn’t know they were important people. Ariel tried to defend herself, but she got fired without even getting paid for the work she had done. The young people laughed at her. The man who groped her even asked her to beg him if she wanted her job back, but her pride didn’t let her do that. Ariel walked out of the bar with tears running down her cheeks. *PRESENT TIME* The door creaked open slowly, like it was afraid of what waited inside. “Dad?” Ariel called, already moving. “Dad, is that you?” Peter Rein stumbled in, nearly losing his balance as he slammed the door behind him. The smell hit her instantly. Alcohol. Again. Ariel swallowed the disappointment rising in her throat and forced a small smile. “Did you… go out drinking again?” Peter waved her off, his movements careless, unsteady. “Of course not. I was just out playing games with friends.” His voice was dismissive. Final. Like the conversation didn’t matter. Like she didn’t matter. But she knew he was lying. Ariel hesitated before speaking again, her fingers curling slightly at her sides. “Dad… the landlord came today.” That made him pause. Just for a second. “He said we have three days,” she continued, her voice softer now. “If we don’t pay, we have to leave.” Silence filled the room. Heavy. Uncomfortable. Then Peter turned sharply, irritation flashing across his face. “Is there no food in this house?” he snapped. “Didn’t you cook anything?” Ariel shook her head slowly. “There’s no money.” She couldn’t even finish what she wanted to say, the moment those words left her mouth— Peter exploded. “HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?!” A glass flew from his hand and smashed violently against the wall. Ariel gasped, stumbling back as her heart pounded wildly in her chest. “You stand here doing nothing, and you have the nerve to tell me there’s no money?!” “I—I’m sorry—” “You useless—” The door burst open. The sudden noise cut through the tension like a blade. Heavy footsteps filled the room as a group of unfamiliar men walked in without hesitation. Everything froze. “Where are you taking my dad?!” A small figure appeared at the entrance. James. His tiny hands were clenched into fists, his wide eyes filled with fear. Ariel’s breath hitched— she had forgotten to pick James up from school, “James, stay back—” “Let him go!” she shouted instead, rushing forward, but one of the men blocked her path effortlessly. “Miss,” one of them said calmly, “our boss would like to see your father.” Confusion was written all over her face, “Boss?” Ariel’s stomach dropped. “We’ll return him safely,” the man added. But there was something in his tone— Something that made her not believe him. “Please!” she cried. “Don’t take him—” It didn’t matter. Peter was dragged out like he didn’t have a choice. Like he wasn’t in control of his life anymore. The door slammed shut. Silence fell— thick and suffocating. Then— “Big sis…” James ran to her, his small body trembling as he held onto her tightly. “What did Dad do?” Ariel’s mind was a mess. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. So she just held him. She didn’t even know whether she should pray for him to come back. *PETER POV* Peter had never felt fear like this before. Not even when the debt started piling up. Not even when he began running. But this— This was different. The building they dragged him into was deep within the forest, hidden like a secret the world wasn’t meant to find. Cold air wrapped around him as he was forced inside. His heart pounded harder with every step. Then they stopped. A door opened. And everything changed. The man sitting behind the desk didn’t look like a criminal. He looked… untouchable. Perfectly composed. Dangerously calm. Joshua Lee. That name commanded respect and fear. He didn’t look up immediately. His attention remained on the documents in front of him, flipping through pages as if nothing else in the room mattered. As if Peter didn’t matter. “Come in,” he said. His voice was quiet—so quiet that Peter almost lost control of himself. But it carried control and authority. Peter’s skin crawled “Boss, we’ve brought him.” Joshua finally lifted his gaze. And Peter wished he hadn’t. Those beautiful eyes— Cold. Sharp. Unforgiving. “Tie him,” Joshua said simply. The ropes tightened painfully around Peter’s wrists as he was forced into a chair. Helpless. Exposed. Joshua stood, tall and mighty. Every step he took toward Peter felt deliberate. Like he was enjoying this. “So… Mr. Peter Rein,” Joshua said, stopping right in front of him. A faint smile played on his lips. “You’ve been very difficult to find, but… nothing is too difficult for me to find.” Peter tried to speak. Failed. “You owe my company a significant amount of money,” Joshua continued calmly. “And yet, you’ve been… avoiding me.” A pause. “I don’t like that. You, of all people, should know.” He reached into his pocket. Pulled out a knife. The metallic sound alone made Peter’s breath hitch. “I also don’t like having my time wasted.” “I—I don’t have the money!” Peter finally blurted out, his voice shaking uncontrollably. “Good, I prefer when there are no complications.” Joshua walked towards him with deliberate steps, the knife glistening in his hand. “Wait.” Peter screamed, but Joshua did not stop. His lips trembled. His mind raced for something__anything. "I can give you something else—something valuable—" he quickly blurted out. Joshua stopped in his tracks and raised a brow. “Something… else?” For the first time, he looked interested. “Go on.” A long pause Tears filled Peter’s eyes, he sighed in relief and whispered— “My daughter.” The room was still. “I can give you my daughter.” A beat. Then— Joshua laughed. Soft. Dangerous. “Do I look like a man who lacks women?” he asked, stepping closer. The knife pressed lightly against Peter’s throat. Cold. Deadly. “Or do you take me for a trafficker?” “No—no, sir!” Peter cried. “I didn’t mean it like that—I’ll add my son as well! They can work for you—just please—” Joshua pulled the knife away. And smiled. Not kindly. “Interesting. I need more men to work for me.” He turned slightly. “Tiger.” “Yes, boss.” “Call my lawyer.” Thirty minutes later… “Sign it. I like to work safely.” The document landed on Peter’s lap. His hands trembled as he picked up the pen. He didn’t even fully understand what he was signing. But he knew one thing— He didn’t have a choice. So he signed. “Good,” Joshua said, already turning away as if Peter no longer mattered. “Take him back,” he added. “And bring the children to the manor.” Minutes later The car hadn’t even fully stopped when Ariel sensed something was wrong. The same men. Her heart dropped instantly. Her dad was pushed out, and they walked towards her and James. “Hey—what are you doing?!” she shouted as one of them grabbed her arm. “You can’t take me anywhere without my permission!” “Big sis!” James cried as they hurled him into the car, tears streaming down his face. Ariel struggled, panic rising fast. “Let me go! You can’t do this. I’ll call the police.” Tiger exhaled slowly, clearly irritated, and then handed her a document. “We’re not k********g you,” he said. “Read.” Ariel’s hands shook as she took it. Her eyes scanned the page. Then froze. Her blood ran cold. Because at the bottom— Was her father’s signature.