A Soft Storm

chapter 5

This particular morning, I was more unwilling to walk into the Main Office. For Godsake, I had to sleep on top of a vacuum all night. I stood outside the doors for who knows how long just thinking of the different punishments that f*****g sadist would come up with.

"Cassidy?" A voice spoke, causing me to spin around and slam my foot into the entity out of surprise. I blinked for a minute, seeing I kicked Leo and let out a breath of relief.

"You scared me." I held out my hand to help him, bringing him back to his feet.

Leo fixed his jaw, wincing as he touched the developing bruise. "You've got one hell of a kick."

I shrugged, "You've probably felt worse."

"What are you doing out here? Boss'll be pissed if you don't go in soon." He spoke hurriedly as if desperate to keep from creating an awkward silence.

I placed my hand on my neck. The bruise was just barely still there, but still very much visible. "Stupid perverted demon man." I mumbled. I looked up to Leo who was still staring, awaiting an answer, "He's gonna be mad either way."

Quickly, I took a deep breath and opened the doors. Leo slipped in behind me and I tried to follow him but, of course the demon who sees all, stopped me, "Slave." His voice was stern, as if he were scolding a child. "Come here."

I turned, putting my hands in fists to fight the urge to run away. Why did I have to obey his every command!? What did I have to be afraid of!? Besides his gun, knife, fighting skills, terrifying temper, and the entire base full of killers he had complete control over. Okay, his entire being was something to fear.

Once again, I found myself in front of my douchebag boss, awaiting my inevitable death. I grinned, sweat pouring down my body, "Y-You know... Boss... I-"

"Shut up." He glared at me, resting his lips on his hands. I nodded, swallowing. "I don't like it when my pets disobey me."

'YOU DEMONIC PIECE OF s**t! WHO ARE YOU CALLING A f*****g PET!?'

I tilted my head, desperately pulling back from saying my thoughts. You know if I just happened to have a gun near me 24/7 like this bastard, perhaps I wouldn't be so scared. The air was completely still, all he was doing was glaring at me. It made me anxious and nearly drove me insane.

Right as he was about to speak, the loud ring of my holy, goddess, heroic phone interrupted him. His face puffed out like an angered toddler and I held up a finger, flipping the phone to my ear. "Not now, Helena." I growled into the cell.

"Oh, nice try but not quite the right person." A chilling, deep voice filled my ears. My stomach dropped and my throat tightened. I knew this voice all too well. My grip tightened and my expression tensed with pure anger.

"Why the f**k are you calling me?" My voice growled.

Mason started to speak to me, "Oi! Don't f*****g ignore m-"

"How did you get my f*****g number?" I interrupted the annoying the beast, earning an irritated slam of his fists into the desk. Instantly, I left the room as Mason began to scream at me, prohibiting me from hearing anything on the other end.

"Quite a lively joint you seem to be in. How is it to drop down to nothing but a lowly maid?" The voice chuckled.

I punched the wall, placing my forehead on my arm, "I have no interest to speak to pieces of s**t like you. Don't waste my f*****g time."

"What I want to talk about, is not something I can say over the phone. You understand fully well I desire so, be a good girl and come to the old base." The asshole on the other end hummed, boiling my blood.

"f**k you." I shut the phone, taking a huge breath as the silence once again began to surface around me. I kneaded my forehead, regaining my calm composure before going into the office. Upon entering, I was greeted with the scene of Mason tossing one of the side tables across the room, hitting Leo in the face. He was breathing as well as positioned like some wild ape and turned to me, a cigarette perturbing from his lips, with devil eyes.

Fuck.

"You little b***h, ignoring me. That better have been one hell of a f*****g call because it's the last one you'll ever have." He walked towards me but, was held back by Sebastian. "Let the f**k go of me you old bastard!" He screamed, kicking and punching like some infant throwing a tantrum.

"It's fine Sebastian," I sighed, not in the mood to run all the way to the storage room, "I don't really care."

Instantly, Mason was released and harshly shoved me into one of the golden side tables next to the wall, my impact breaking the plant on top of it. He was panting like a damn beast, his eyes intent on murder. "Why the f**k did you come in with Leo, 20 minutes late?" I blinked for a moment, hearing his words.

You're.

Fucking.

Kidding me.

"That's what you're so f*****g pissed about!?" I growled, matching his furious glare.

Mason gripped onto my shirt, bring my face closer to his. This was the point where I started to get petrified again, despite my previous courageous, angry screams. "What? You can f**k him but, you hit me and run? You f*****g little tease." He shoved me into the wall harder again, making me wince, "Who the f**k do you think you are!?"

So he was still pissed.

I opened an eye, still in pain from the impact, "You... are joking!" I opened both eyes, "We were talking cause I was too f*****g scared to come in here, bastard! What the hell is your problem!?"

"Who the f**k do you think you're talking to?" His voice was deep and savage. Awesome! Not only was he a demonic, perverted sadist but now he was f*****g insane as well! This day gets better and better! Slowly, I watched him close his eyes and clench his jaw, biting harder onto his cigarette. "Don't be late again."

Instantly, he let me go, causing my butt to slam into the table underneath as he turned back to the desk. I looked forward to the completely stunned crowd of gangsters, WHO DIDN'T EVEN THINK TO PRY THIS CRAZY BASTARD OFF OF ME! But, I suppose I couldn't blame them, Mason was truly terrifying sometimes.

I let out a breath, and hopped off the table, my hands patting down my now messed up clothing. My eyes turned to Mason who was perfectly comfortable in his little throne, as though none of that f*****g happened.

Hastily, I rushed over to Leo who was groaning with bits and pieces of the broken table all over him. Who in God's name throws a f*****g table out of all damn things!? "Here we go." I grunted, taking his arm over my shoulder and pulling his heavy body up.

"Stay away from each other." Mason spoke, his voice tense with absolute order.

I growled, fed up with his unbelievable attitude. As I helped Leo to the couch, I turned to Mason, "Would you stop being so ridiculous?" I shook my head, taking out a couple of bandages from my bag. "Why the hell does it matter to you who I f**k or not?" Delicately, I placed the brown bandage over Leo's cheek.

"Are you trying to make me angry?" Mason lit another cigarette, staring at me with vague eyes.

I let out a sigh, putting another bandage on Leo's chest, which seemed to tick Mason off a bit. "There's no use in trying when I've already succeeded."

"I simply don't like when others touch my things." Mason let out a puff of smoke, grinning. "Especially my special ones."

I shook my head, averting my gaze to the door as I headed towards it. As I shut them, I let out a breath, feeling my face get hot. Why the f**k was I blushing!?

"Don't say stuff like that..." The word special echoing through my brain as I whispered, "... idiot."

Sucking in a breath, I headed down the elevator to prepare for Dinner. Today was way more exhausting than I prepared for. I looked down to my phone... very exhausting.

. . .

Everything seemed normal, I was on the couch, gambling with the other boys and Mason was at his desk, discussing something with Sebastian. A normal evening inside the Hoodlum Hangout. Until Vincent came bursting through the doors, panting with nothing but pure worry occupying his face, "Boss!" He ran forward, "Answer the phone!"

Mason looked up to Vincent, his eyes sinking into panic as he instantly pulled the white phone on his desk to his ear. Everybody was staring at him. What was happening? There were several thoughts going through my mind, ranging from another Mafia threat to their pizza running 15 minutes late.

The widening of Mason's eyes made the whole air grow tense, it was suffocating. "What the f**k!?" He grit his teeth, slamming his fists into the wooden surface. He stood up instantly, making the gangsters around me repeat his action. "Yes. Okay."

He slammed the phone into the receiver, making me jump a bit. Instantly, he put on his coat, placing another cigarette in mouth, "Get the car." He stared at Sebastian, "That little f*****g bastard Shawn has been trying to send our goddamn data to an unwanted group of people right under my f*****g nose."

Shawn?

Was he joking?

"What data, sir?" Lyam walked behind him, as they headed for the door.

Mason fixed his tie, "Our f*****g list of allied Mafias as well history of our debt collects and crimes. If the asshole succeeds, we'll have the government and enemy Families all over the f*****g place."

Almost instantly, the whole place filed out and I was by myself. It's not like crazy s**t doesn't happen all the time but, I've never seen the boss panic like that. They must've done a lot of illegal s**t to worry that much. But, I suppose this was a mafia and I had no right to judge.

I yawned, sinking int the couch and pulled out my phone, shocked as the screen lit up. 21 missed calls from "Helena Scarlet." Why the hell would that girl call me so many times!? Right as I was going to call her back, she beat me to it, her contact lighting on the screen as the phone rang.

"Jesus, what is it?" I growled.

Helena's voice was serious, catching me off guard, "I know you talked to him earlier. What did you say?"

I let out a breath. Oh that. I played with my nails as I talked to her, "I told him to f**k off, the usual."

"It's not the usual, Cassidy." She scowled. "Do you even know what's happened to him and the others over the last f*****g year?"

I tensed, "What are you talking about, Helena?"

All she did was breathe, as if she were trying to find the words. What in hell was she talking about? "... Look, you should get out of town or something. Things have gotten worse than you think. The jackass came by the base f*****g looking for you and forced your number out of me. I don't know what pricks he has spying on me and I don't want a cap in my head, so I can't say much."

"Leave!?" I leaned forward, my face stiffened, "I couldn't even if I tried! I live here now, there's no chance of escape. What the f**k are you talking about!?"

She let out a breath and seemed to be in a hurry. "You live there? Okay, that's probably best for you then. We probably won't be talking for awhile after this but, please be careful and stop answering his calls. "

"Helena, why are you so f*****g freaked out? It's not like he can do s**t?" I was angry. Helena was acting like some pussed out kid after watching a horror movie. Why was she overreacting so much?

"I'm not f**k-" She paused and took in a deep breath. "Listen, everyone's lives have changed since you left, including yours. You know what he wants but, I don't think he's messing around anymore. He and some of the others met some people... Some real shitty people with power." It was silent again. Then I could hear her faint breaths that eventually turned into words, "I gotta go. The rest of us are doing the best we can to keep them from hurting you but, if we continue to have contact he'll find you. Stop talking to him."

The rest of us? Who else was involved now?

Then the line disconnected. I stood silent, staring at the wall across from me. What the f**k was going on? I began to call Layla who just said the same damn thing. Stop talking to him. Don't call us. You're in danger.

Who the f**k was in danger? Me?

Bullshit. I was in more danger here in this base.

There really was something going on but... what exactly was I supposed to be afraid of? Perhaps my ignorance or own cockiness of my personal skill was the cause of my future trouble. I should have listened to them but, I guess it was a habit of mine to get into trouble.