I got into the car next to Adrian.

"You knew." He said.

"I had my doubts." I replied, still pissed off.

"You did betray him too, you gave me his name." Adrian said. Playing his stupid mind games again.

"Then I should probably make up for it right? Help him out." I snapped.

Adrian's lips tightened into a thin line.

I saw the Abandonato family crest in his room, the hawk and the rose, when I went to his house. I recognized it from the newspapers. It was the reason I gave up his name. There was nothing Adrian could do to hurt him. It was a risk but I was just a girl kidnapped by the Mafia. I took it and I was right. Dylan was in the Mafia.

I needed to get my mind off it. I was only ruining my mood.

"Give me the clue." I said.

Without taking his eyes off the road, he reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out the printout.

"The first few numbers are dates followed by a time." He said.

"Never would have figured that out." I muttered.

"Well, with your thinking capacity..."

"Shut up, Adrian. Just shut up." I growled in a ladylike manner.

Adrian probably got the hint and stopped talking.

"I've asked Damien and Antonio to get you some clothes." He said.

"Thanks," I replied distractedly. "What happened on 21st August 1993?"

"I thought you would have guessed." He said quoting my words.

"I don't know, but today will be your date of death if you don't answer." I said.

Adrian laughed humorlessly. "Try me."

I shrugged. "Or don't. Figure out this shit yourself." I said, handing the paper back to him.

I don't think that's how you were supposed to talk to Mafia Bosses. But fuck it. The guy I had known for eight years was a fucking Mafia Boss. I knew nothing.

"Dylan is not a Mafia Boss." Adrian said suddenly.

How did he know?

"I know because your questions are written on your face. Dylan Di Angelo is Theresa Di Angelo's son. She married the Abandonato Boss and cheated on him. Nevertheless, he's the heir to the Empire because Abandonato can't produce an heir."

"Proof that nothing good ever comes out of cheating. So he hasn't done anything... Bad...yet?"

Adrian didn't answer, but I got one all the same.

"You're taking this awfully well. Normal people would be kicking or screaming, way to panicked to actually think." He said.

"I am not normal." I said smugly.

Adrian laughed under his breath, "You could say that."

"The date."

"It's my birthday." Adrian said. "The anniversary of the day I was born." He clarified.

"I may not have an IQ of 160 but I know what a birthday is."

"What else did you find out?" He asked, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Mostly pictures in which you were smiling like a sociopath. How many human sacrifices did you make to the Puberty God to fix your face? And there was this really pretty woman smiling beside you. Your mother?"

"Well, I'm sure those sacrifices paid off." He said smirking like an arrogant bastard. "And yes, she is my mother. Carelia DeLuca. She was an actress, she is the kindest woman on earth."

"She's beautiful." I murmured wistfully. "Are you sure you're her son? You seem to be lacking in the kindness department."

"If I had compassion too, I'd be weak." He said. His composure faltered for a moment and I saw the twenty three year old within.

I didn't reply. Truth was, I agreed with him. Did that make me a bad person? I thought about my father, the major fight we had. I spent the first few weeks in LA guilt ridden. I couldn't focus on my grades. Dylan, my only friend betrayed me. If I were an uncaring bitch life would be so much easier.

So I looked outside the window in silence.

Wait a second.

"Umm...this is not the way to the house." I said.

"I know."

I waited for a further explanation but none came.

"Can you please tell me where the hell you're taking me? Are you going to kill me and dump my body somewhere?"

Adrian looked at me with his signature 'why do you even exist' look and shook his head.

"I'm going to roll down the window and scream 'HELP' at the passersby."

I heard a small click as the windows locked.

"Or I can just talk to you till that head of yours explodes." I added.

"By God, what is wrong with you!?" Adrian said, exasperated.

"Um...I'm trapped in a car with a Mafia Boss who's taking me somewhere I don't know?" I asked sarcastically.

"We're going to one of my casinos."

"One of your casinos." I deadpanned.

"Yes, I do own legitimate companies, and...well..."

"Well what!?"

"Can I tell you once you've calmed down?"

"I AM CALM. NOW SHUT UP AND TELL ME!"

Adrian paused for moment. When he spoke, I kinda wished I had waited. So he wouldn't be behind the wheel and I could have my first attempt at murder.

"Have you heard of this guy called Isaac Hale?"

I had heard of this guy called Isaac Hale.

Isaac Hale was a computer genius. He was about a year older than me. If he were my age I'd come second place in the institute and I was pretty damn good. Facts, not overconfidence. That guy was a legend. He taught me once, when our professor was indisposed (due to an unfortunate incident with Dylan and a stink bomb gone wrong. Looking back there was no way I could have guessed that idiot would be in the Mafia). I vaguely recalled him.

"Yes. I'm kind of nervous that you know his name. Whats up with him?"

"He's in the Mafia."

Okay...

This was taking a while to sink in.

"Hale, Dylan, Roy. Me. Is everyone in LAIST involved with the Mafia!?"

"Laste?" Adrian asked.

"L-A-I-S-T. Los Angeles Institute of Science and Technology." I clarified.

"Logically, if you think about it, it's not that strange." Adrian mused.

"As in?"

"Don't really have the patience to explain economics to you. But supply and demand. New technology, new buyers, initially at least but very lucrative. So science is always a good investment. Your college is the best here for science. Hence a Mafia hotspot, plus it's in the area." He shrugged.

"And?"

"What Roy came up with is revolutionary. Project Stelle is a plan for a super efficient geostationary satellite for communications. Military communications. I'm not going to go into specifics. But let's say that it's a big leap."

"And you guys are interested in Stelle for the good of mankind? I bet Dylan doesn't even know how to spell 'satellite'."

"Stelle is worth a lot."

"Lot?"

"About one point seven billion dollars."

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It helps more people see the story, Thanks ❤

So I'm setting a goal for myself, 4

votes on this chapter before I update, (though I might update anyways, 😂) if you have any suggestions, please please please tell me. I would love to hear them, even if they are derogatory. It's so I can improve my writing.

Thank you guys so much for reading! I love you guys! Even if most you are on the other side of the globe!

PS: I'd Love to hear your theories. Any idea what's with the clue?

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