The Last Season

Two

I opened the car door and stepped outside. My stomach turned with nerves as the bright lights of the house lit up the driveway. I rubbed my wet palms on my jeans as Sophia led us up the stairs and into the house. When we walked inside, I was blown away at the magnificent beauty of the interior. If you asked me what the inside of a mafia home would look like, I would not have imagined this. Instead of the dark walls and dim lighting, I expected the foyer to be filled with light. A large white staircase wound up the wall to my right. I followed it up with my eyes. Above me was a beautiful chandelier. The crystals from it scattered rainbows onto the floor.

I spun in a circle and giggled at the dancing colors around me. My eyes met Sophia's but I was shaken when I saw the serious look on her face. Her eyes were trained behind me towards the stares. I turned towards where she was looking and found myself looking at someone who made my heart stop. Something about the man seemed familiar but I couldn't place my finger on it. The stranger looked at Sophia before his gaze drifted towards mine. From a distance, I couldn't see his eyes clearly but I felt drawn to him. Like I had known him my entire life.

"Sophia." The man says and something clicks inside my brain. A vague memory from earlier in the day. As he walked down the stairs, the pieces started to fall together and I realized who the man was. The stranger from the coffee shop that morning. The one who had been standing on my scrunchie. I scoffed to myself and any pleasant feelings I had for him disappeared at that instant. The man approached us and pulled Sophia into a tight embrace.

"Sophia, my love, I've missed you." He said and an uneasy feeling filled me with his words. Who was this stranger? Were there more people in Sophia's life that she hadn't told me about? I thought we were family. Sophia pulled herself away from the man and turned him towards me.

"Asher, this is my best-friend Allie." So this is Asher Night? He doesn't look like the scary mafia boss everyone whispers about. No, he looked more like a runway model. With sharp jaw bones, and ink-black hair that hung down to his chin, Asher was dangerously handsome. I watched uneasily as his eyes scanned me from the top of my head down to my toes. I was probably only a few seconds, but those moments felt like they took an eternity.

"Why is she here?" Asher asked, his eyes void of emotions as he spoke. Something about the tone of his voice set me on edge.

"I would like to know the same thing. One moment I'm leaving the hospital and the next I'm dragged across town into some wannabe gangsters' lair." Asher must not have liked that answer because, for a brief moment, a flash of anger blazed in his eyes.

"You should show some respect!" Asher snarled towards me. I rolled my eyes and looked towards Sophia. While I may have seemed calm on the outside, everything in me screamed to run as far away as possible. Sophia huffed out in annoyance and stepped between us.

"Oh will both of you grow up!" She scolded. "Asher, I need a favor." Asher nodded and headed through the open door at the back of the foyer. Sophia grabbed my hand and led me through the door. Inside was a large study. No study is the wrong word. It is more like a library. Large bookshelves lined the walls filled to the brim with beautiful books. Sophia led us to the center of the room and onto one of the two plush leather couches. Asher sat opposite of us and crossed his legs. Sophia shot me a reassuring smile before she turned towards her brother.

"Asher, I need your connections. I don't want you to ask questions, simply know that if you help I might be able to save an innocent person's life." Asher watched Sophia. The only indication that he had heard was the small furrow on his brow.

"Sophia, you know I would do anything in the world for you. Unlimited access to my men without a reason. I can't give you that power." Sophia sighed and leaned towards her brother.

"No, I don't need unlimited access to your men. I need access to your information network." With that, the tension in Asher's face seemed to ease and I watched in fascination as he leaned back on the couch.

"That I can do, but as you know, everything comes at a cost." Sophia nodded and looked towards me with her eyes apologetic. I looked at her in confusion. Why is Sophia looking at me like she sold me out?

"I know Asher, that's why I brought Allie. I heard from Aiden that you need a new secretary. If you provide me with your information network, I'll give you Allie." My jaw dropped at those words. What does she mean by giving me to him? What am I some kind of prized hog sold off to the highest bidder? I was taken aback when Asher started to laugh. I looked at him unamused by the joy that had radiated from his direction. Oh, so he thinks this is funny?

"Sis, you have always had interesting ideas. I trust you. I will take Allie and in exchange you will have full access to Aiden." Sophia grinned at that and wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

"Perfect! You won't regret this, Asher. Allie is one of the best people I know." I looked at her in shock. Hurt and betrayal rang through me. How could my best friend just trade me for some information? Tears of anger well within me and I pushed myself off the couch.

"f**k you Sophia!" I yelled. My body vibrated as I struggled to catch my breath. Sophia looked taken aback by my outburst. I turned away from her and towards Asher. I wanted nothing more than to slap that smug look off of his face. "Why are you laughing? I didn't agree to any of this!" I started to walk towards the door when it slammed shut in front of me. What the hell? I spun around and screamed when I saw the small remote in Asher's hand. Everything inside me snapped and I walked towards him. That was until it hit.

The debilitating pain brought me to my knees. I clutched my head and I could feel my lungs struggle to bring in air. I felt a warm pair of arms wrap around me. I looked up and saw Sophia. Even though I was mad at her right now, I couldn't hold onto it. The feeling of pain was too overwhelming for me. She led me to the couch and laid me down on the soft surface. The contrast of the cool leather on my warm skin made me shiver.

"It's okay. I need you to breathe with me." I heard her say through the fog in my brain. Her steady voice counting with me helped me to have something to concentrate on as the pain began to subside.

"One, two, three..." It seemed when I focused on the never ending repetition of these numbers I was able to find my way to push everything back. When the world came back into focus, I pushed myself up.

"Are you okay?" Asher asked me and I turned towards him. I nodded my head and winced as the pain grew for a moment. Noted, don't nod after an episode.

"Asher, I'm going to help Allie to a room. When she's settled we will talk."

"Okay." Sophia helped me to stand and led me back towards the foyer. When we reached the door, it opened on its own. I looked behind me to see Asher, remote in hand, as he watched me. The eyes that had been so filled with humor moments ago were now filled with what appeared to be worry. Why does that look seem to worry me so much? I wanted to go across the room and reassure him that everything is okay.

"Allie?" Sophia asked me. I turned my attention back to her and gave her a little smile. We climbed the large white stairs. When we reached the second floor, she led me to a room right off the landing. Inside was the largest bedroom I had ever seen. On the far wall was a large bank of windows with a plush window seat. Dominating the center of the room was a bed built for a queen. Covered in beautiful white pillows and fairy lights. It was everything I had ever dreamed of in a room.

I walked towards the bed and climbed onto the soft comforter. My body sighed when it sunk into the mattress. Sophia sat next to me and took my hand. I opened my mouth to talk but she held up a hand.

"Before you say anything, let me explain. When I got your diagnosis earlier today, I had a long moment of panic. I felt helpless, like there was nothing I could do. That was until I thought of my brother. The doctors here say you will die, right?" I nodded at her but my stomach swan with a swarm of butterflies. "Well, Asher, his information network is connected to everything. If the doctors here can't cure you. Maybe I can find one that can." Everything makes so much sense now. It wasn't that Sophia had turned against me. No, she was scared that I would die.

"Sophia, I get it. I understand why you would panic. But, you can't sell me to your brother to save me." Sophia chuckled at that.

"I'm not selling you to my brother. If you keep working at the coffee shop, I can't keep my eye on you all the time. What if something happened to you and I didn't notice? If you work for Asher you will be around someone 24/7. That way, if you need help, it's only a moment away." What she said made sense. I wasn't happy about the situation, but if this would put less of a burden on Sophia, then I would agree.

"Fine, I will be Asher's assistant. But, you can't tell him I'm sick." Sophia studied me, her eyes filled with frustration before she gave up and dropped onto the bed next to me. I knew that I had one this battle. Exhaustion took over my body and I felt my eyelids grow heavy until I faded into a deep sleep.