Chapter 3
1190 Words
_Dario’s POV_
I watched her stumble, her eyes wide with fear. She was a beautiful thing, this girl. So fragile, so delicate. And yet, she had seen something she shouldn't have.
I took another step closer, my eyes never leaving hers. I could see the fear radiating from her, like a palpable force. She was frozen in place, unable to move, unable to speak.
I smiled, a cold, calculating smile. It was a smile I had perfected over the years, a smile that said "I'm in control."
"Run," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the music and laughter of the club.
And then, like a bullet out of a gun, she sprang into action. She turned and ran, her heels clicking on the pavement as she disappeared into the night.
I watched her go, a sense of satisfaction coursing through my veins. She had seen something she shouldn't have, and now she was a liability. But I had given her a chance to escape. A chance to live.
Mostly because if she had stayed there a second longer, Raffaele wouldn’t have hesitated to put a bullet through her head.
It would be sad to watch her die.
I turned back to my men, who were still standing over Julian's lifeless body. "Clean this up," I said, my voice firm. "Make sure there's no evidence left behind."
They nodded, their faces expressionless, and began to drag Julian's body away.
I watched them for a moment, my mind already turning to that girl. She was a loose end, a thread that needed to be tied up. And I was the only one who could do it.
“Dario,” Raffaele’s sinister voice called to me. “I believe you know what to do,” he raised a brow in the direction the girl had gone.
I paused, going through the pros and cons in my head. I couldn’t kill an innocent person. I may be the second in command of my mafia family, but I never killed an innocent. That was the one rule I lived by.
Yet, if I refused, Raffaele would send men after her and they would do more than kill her. Those twisted fuckers might slit her throat and f**k her while she bled out.
“Consider it done,” I told him firmly.
He lit up his tobacco and tapped me on the shoulder before walking away.
I gritted my teeth.
Why did that silly girl have to get involved in this mess? I thought to myself.
I stepped out into the night, my eyes scanning the crowded streets of Seattle. The music and laughter of the club still echoed in my ears, but my mind was focused on one thing: finding that girl. I had given her a chance to escape, a chance to live. But now, I had to find her before Raffaele's men did. Before they could hurt her, exploit her, and ultimately kill her.
I pulled out my phone and dialed a number, my eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of her. "I need a favor," I said, my voice low and even. "I need you to track down a girl. She's about 5'6, long brown hair, brown eyes. She was last seen running out of the club on 5th and Main."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then a voice spoke up. "Got it. What's the story, Dario?"
I gritted my teeth, feeling a surge of frustration. "Just find her, okay? I don't have time to explain."
The voice on the other end of the line chuckled. "Alright, alright. I'll get right on it. But you owe me one, Dario."
I nodded, even though I knew he couldn't see me. "I'll owe you one. Just find her."
I hung up the phone and slipped into the night, my eyes scanning the crowd. I knew these streets like the back of my hand, every alleyway and side street. I had grown up in this city, learned its rhythms and its secrets.
As I walked, my mind turned to the girl. I had only seen her from a distance, but she was beautiful. I wouldn’t say she was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen, but her beauty sure would make anyone take a second look.
There was just something about her that I couldn’t place my finger on, and I wanted to find out what it was.
I quickened my pace. The streets seemed to blur together as I walked, my eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of her. And then, just as I was starting to lose hope, I saw her. She was walking quickly, her head down, her frantic eyes scanning the streets. She looked scared, vulnerable. And I knew I had to act fast.
But I wasn't the only one after her. I saw two of our men, Vinnie and Marco, closing in on her from the other side of the street. They were rough, untrained, and would likely scare her off.
I knew I had to act fast. I sidestepped into the alleyway, using the shadows to conceal myself. I watched as Vinnie and Marco approached her, their eyes fixed on her like predators.
But I was quicker. I emerged from the alleyway, my eyes locked on her. "I’ve got this under control," I growled, my voice low and menacing.
Vinnie and Marco hesitated, their eyes darting to me and then back to the girl. They knew better than to cross me. I was the second-in-command, after all.
With a nod, they backed off, disappearing into the night. She looked up at me, her eyes that looked like drops of coffee in a bowl of milk, wide with fear.
“Get away from me!” She yelled, and took off.
“f**k,” I growled under my breath in irritation.
The last thing I wanted was to exert myself. Why run when I would still catch her anyway? She was beautiful but dumb.
I took off after her, but she was quick. But as I ran, I saw her glance over her shoulder, her eyes widening in fear.
She saw me closing in on her.
She picked up speed, her heels clicking on the pavement as she sprinted down the sidewalk. I gave chase, my heart racing with excitement.
But she was fast, this girl. She darted between pedestrians, weaving in and out of the crowds. I had to think fast, had to anticipate her next move.
I gained on her, my hand reaching out to grab her arm. But she was too quick. She spun around, her eyes flashing with anger.
And then, she saw me. Really saw me. Her eyes widened in recognition, and she tried to struggle free.
But I held tight. "Stop fuckin running or I’ll actually hurt you,” I growled.
She kicked and punched, her body thrashing against mine. But I held her firm, my arms wrapping around her like a vice.
And then, just as she was starting to tire, her eyes closed and she collapsed in my arms.
She was mine now.
- Writer
