The Last Season

Three

The pale light of morning shone through the large windows of the bedroom. I rolled over and looked at the clock. When I saw the clock read six I groaned in frustration. Mornings and I have never really been friends. I pushed myself up in bed grateful that, at least for now, my head had decided to behave.

I got out of bed and stretched. My body cracked as the tension left my muscles. Inside the bathroom, I looked in the mirror and was startled by what I saw. I am the type of person who is very conscious of how I present myself and right now I look like crap. My hair was a ratted mess tangled around the back of my neck. I cursed and tried to calm down the knots with my fingers unsuccessfully. I wanted nothing more than to take a hot shower, but without clothes to change into, it seemed like a moot point. I splashed some water on my face to wake me up and tied my hair into a messy bun on top of my head.

I moved outside the bedroom and headed down the stairs. I moved down the large foyer staircase until I reached the landing. When I arrived yesterday, the only parts of the house I saw were Asher's office and the bedroom I slept in. My stomach growled angry and I realized I hadn't eaten anything yesterday. I noticed the door to Asher's office was open and I hesitated a moment before I walked towards it.

As I approached the door, I heard the muffled sound of voices inside the room. It took me only a moment to recognize the voices. One belonged to Sophia, the other Asher.

"Sophia, can you be honest with me now? Why do you want Allie to work for me?" My stomach dropped when I heard Asher's question. I didn't want anyone to know about my illness. I hated it when people looked at me with pity. My entire life I've had to deal with those stares. I lost my parents when I was 16. After that, people had begun to treat me differently. They would offer their condolences but I could tell they didn't mean it. They simply felt bad for me because I was alone. Sophia was the first person who didn't treat me like some charity case. When I had walked into the cafe in search of work, she had taken one look at me and hired me on the spot. To say she has been my savior would be an understatement. But, after the bombshell she dropped on me last night, I wondered if she felt the same way I had.

"Can't you trust me? Allie is my best friend. I wouldn't have brought her here if I had another option." I held my breath and waited for Asher to respond. I hoped with every ounce of energy in my body he would accept that answer.

"Fine, but she has to move in here." My hands started to shake at his words. I had to move in? To his house? It was one thing to work with the mafia, but to live with them. I didn't know if I was up to that. How would I be able to keep my illness a secret? Everything in my body was poised to run away. I took a step away from the door, ready to bolt when disaster hit. When I turned towards the entrance, I found myself face to face with the largest man I had ever laid eyes on.

"How did you get in here?" He yelled at me as he grabbed my arm. I screamed at the top of my lungs and struggled to get out of his hold. No matter how I moved, his grip remained firm.

"SOPHIA!" I cried out. I could hear the sound of feet headed in my direction and I looked over my shoulder, relieved when I saw Sophia step into the foyer. She looked over at me and walked up to the burly man, fury on her face.

"Aiden, let my friend go." Aiden glared at me but released my arm. I scrambled behind Sophia and watched Aiden from over her shoulder. He was tall, at least 6' 3" and had large muscular arms. His blonde hair was a darker shade than mine but was cut into a military style. What finally put me at ease was the way he looked at Sophia. He stared at her like she was the answer to every one of life's important questions.

"Aiden, this is Allie, my new assistant." Asher lamented from behind me. I could feel the heat from his body against my back, so I moved closer to Sophia. Something about him triggered something in me that scared me. I wasn't necessarily scared of him because he was a mafia boss... no it was more of an innate fascination that made butterflies dance in the pit of my stomach. Aiden looked at us both in shock and I don't blame him. Here I am some complete stranger that up until yesterday didn't even know my best friend was involved with the mafia.

"Understood Mr. Night."

"Aiden, Sophia requires your assistance on an issue." Aiden nodded and headed through the door into Asher's office. After Aiden left Sophia turned towards me and placed her hands on my shoulders.

"Are you feeling better?" She asked me. I gave her a smile and took a step back.

"Much, I think all the excitement yesterday overloaded my system." Sophia gave me a small smile in return and placed her hand on my cheek.

"I think you will like it here. I promise you my brother will take good care of you." I kept the smile on my face at her words, not wanting to contradict her in front of Asher. "Asher, Allie is probably starving, why don't you show her to the kitchen?" At her words, I turned towards Asher startled when I realized how close he was to me.

"Follow me." He said in a gruff voice. I watched him walk away and had to push myself to follow him. We walked down a large hallway and into one of the largest kitchens I have ever seen in my life. Along the walls were black cabinets that contrasted well with the white quartz counters. When I looked around, I was amazed to see a group of four women who were peeling a ton of potatoes.

"Deliliah," Asher said, and a young woman stood up from the table with a smile on her face. She was cute and petite. Her black hair was cut in a pixie style that suited her round face. She looked at me and her eyes widened.

"Mr. Night, how can I help you?" She asked. Asher looked over at me and motioned for me to come closer. I walked up to them still shy after my encounter with Aiden earlier.

"This is Allie. She will be my new assistant. Can you please make her some breakfast?" Deliliah seemed to be shocked at his words. I couldn't understand why everyone seemed so shocked at my presence. I guess it is because I'm not in the mafia. I have heard that these organizations tend to be very closed off. I guess it made sense though. They wouldn't want outsiders to intrude and leak information.

"Allie?" Asher questioned and I turned towards him. "Let's go sit while she makes you some food. We need to talk." I nodded at him and followed him once again into the dining room. Instead of the large table, I expected there was a small four person set up. We sat down across from one another and Asher crossed his arms and stared at me. I kept my gaze fixated on the table in front of me, afraid to look at Asher.

"Sophia told me you have been working in the coffee shop for five years." I nodded at that, unable to find my voice. Asher let out a sign of frustration and placed a hand under my chin until I was forced to look at him. "Please look at me when I speak to you." He said, his voice filled with authority.

"Yes sir," I stammered out. I wasn't a shy person by any stretch of the imagination, but something about him made me nervous. Asher sighed and dropped his hand.

"Don't call me sir. Makes me sound like my father." I couldn't help but let out a small smile at that. It sounds like something I would say if someone called me Miss.

"What would you like me to call you then?" Asher contemplated for a moment before he spoke.

"Asher, you can call me Asher." I was stunned. Can I call him Asher? So far, everyone else has addressed him as Mr. Night. Surely he had to be joking.

"Mr. Night, are you sure you want me to use your name? None of your other staff use it." Asher's gray eyes narrowed and I shrunk back into my chair.

"You will learn very quickly that I don't like to me questioned. Here my word is law." I nodded my head in understanding and laced my fingers together under the table.

"Understood Asher." That seemed to appease him for the moment. Before either of us could speak again, Deliliah entered the room a plate of food and a coffee cup in her hand.

"I apologize, Ms. Allie, I wasn't informed if you liked coffee but I brought some just in case." I took the cup in hand and inhaled the delicious smell of coffee. I knew after my diagnosis yesterday that I should quit drinking coffee, but right now I really need caffeine. I took a large gulp of the coffee and, for the first time all day, felt human.