________

"Salaam Misa. I have some work at the hospital so don't wait for me please. I'll try coming back as soon as I can, although no promises though" I iterated in a low voice. I glanced down at my left hand, the guilt washing over me one more time.

"Don't worry about it Laili you're okay right? Your voice seems hoarse. Have you been crying?!" She exclaimed so suddenly.

Damnit. Did she really have to catch on!

"N-no. I've just got a cold. I forgot to wear something underneath my shirt" hopefully that was a good excuse.

"Oh" she exclaimed, doubt lingering her words. "If you say so. Do you want me to drop off something warm?"

"No!" I bit back a little too forcefully.

"No. Don't worry Lameesa. I'm so sorry but I have to go check on the patients. I'll see you later. Khuda hafiz" the words rushed out from my mouth not wanting to lie further to her.

I ended the call not waiting for her reply.

The scary ladies words kept running around in my mind. Was the demons name Rafael? Was that him or someone else. Who was she? Who was she working for? How did she know me?!

Growling in my head, I Was frustrated. My mind was not by my side right now. My thoughts were hundred miles per hour and there was no stopping. God, I just wanted to bang it against the wall and have some type of memory loss where I would forget everything.

A clear of a throat bought me back to earth as I glanced up. I was more than shocked. What was he doing here! Did he just think he could come and go as he wishes.

Rafael has some nerve involving a Muslim girl into his mess.

Itzels' words rung in my mind like a broken record. I thought I was free, I thought I could escape the Mafia and keep it in the past, but looks like I was more involved than I could have ever comprehended.

With a gust of anger, I stood up, not caring if I ruined his pristine white shirt with the blood. The blood of Antoinette who was currently fighting for her life.

Tears sprung to my eyes, but I refused to let them out.

"You! This happened because of you. Where were you huh?! Where were you when I asked for you?!" I didn't realise how loud I was screaming until I could see doctors lingering around the hallway, their eyes wide.

The demon before me stood emotionless, not caring at all about anyone around us.

He said something In Spanish with a hard face, his eyes never once leaving mine. The doctors shuffled from the hallway and into the elevator, carrying themselves elsewhere.

My eyes held an equal amount of fire as his. If not more. I was livid. I don't know what but he seemed like the best target for me to vent upon. After-all it's because of him I was stuck here. It's because of him I'm tangled in this mess.

I guess my mind was too slow to comprehend what was happening as in the next second, the demons eyes softened for the first time since I'd been around him, as his arms enveloped around me.

I was too weak to fight back but also too weak to lift my arms and reciprocate the act. Instead I opted to rest my head against his chest, his heart beating below me.

Astaghfirullah. What am I doing.

The demons hand snaked around my back, whilst the other rested on my hijab clad head. We stood like this for the longest time, out heart beats in synch.

"Why do you worry so much, when I promised you protection" he mumbled in his deep voice and if possible, his hands tightened around me. I looked up at him, his eyes already on me.

"But I wasn't the one that was hurt Rafael" he didn't look shocked at the mention of him name. It's like he expected it. "It was Antoinette. Those around me. Them being hurt is like me being hurt, maybe not physically but emotionally. So did you really think you kept me protected?" I exclaimed softly all the while Rafael looked at me, calculating my words. My actions.

" I don't care about anyone else" for some sick reason, my stomach fluttered. Maybe because I was hungry and nothing else.

I was about to protest and tell him about the infamous quote whatever comes round, goes round, but I shut up when he spoke.

"It's a hard world Laila. Get used to it" and with that, he stepped back, letting me go. A sudden wave of shame crossed me. I should have been the one to step back first.

"A lady came here for you. Her name was Itzel" I glanced at him only to see nothing.

"I know" came him monotone reply

"She said to sort your shayt out" I said as I felt heat burning my cheeks. He raised his eyebrows in amusement.

"I also know that"

He was getting on my last nerve.

"She also said you dragged me into your mess"

"I know"

"I know? Is that all you can say right now?! After everything that's happened?" I screeched, having enough of his nonchalant attitude.

"Do you want to hear the words you want to hear or the truth? Because either way you'll be disappointed, my sweet" he seethed out stepping closer to me.

I didn't back down. Neither did he.

Our Intense staring match was broken with the shutting of a door. My head turned towards the commotion first, as I could still feel the demons gaze upon me.

Doctor Eli stood before us, his face not holding any emotion. I tried to look for anything to relieve my heart but could not find what I was looking for.

"Hola ¿son alguno de ustedes los familiares o cuidadores de Antoinette?" Came his shaky voice.

I could feel the demon stood behind me, whilst he spoke in his deep voice.

"Si" is all he said.

I wish I finished those Duolingo classes in Spanish. I wouldn't be stood like a fish out of water had I did.

"Bien. Su operación fue exitosa y ahora mismo está bajo sedantes. Sugeriría encontrarnos con ella cuando se despierte mañana por la mañana" and with that, the doctor leaves us. A few seconds later, nurses exit the room in which Antoinette resides, their eyes gradually increasing in size at the prospect behind me, before quietly ushering from our view.

I turned around to the demon, dying to know what the doctor said.

"What did the doctor say?"

"She's dead" he said gravely taking out his cigarette bud and placing it between him lips.

My world crashed down before my eyes. I immediately sat down on the steel chairs, my mind haywire. This is all my fault. This is completely and utterly my fault!

How did my life come to being the cause for someone's death! Without realising, tears slipped from my eyes, burning the skin as they moved down.

If I hadn't intervened. If I hadn't smart mouthed back to the killer lady. If I hadn't done anything except hide like a shadow in the crowd.

"Shh. I'm sure she must be dreaming about this whole situation" the demon said from beside me. I stopped crying.

"W-what do you mean s-shes dreaming?" My confusion was clear through my tone. His sick smirk added to my confusion. Someone's just died and he has the audacity to be smirking?!

He leaned his big hands forward, wiping my tears from my face. He was so quick In doing so that I didn't have the chance to wack him away.

"She's been through tougher situations sweetheart. A bullet to the chest is but child play" what? What is he blabbering.

"S-so y-you means she's a-alive?"

"Si"

"Why would you lie about such a thing" I fumed, standing up and heading towards her room. I must meet her to actually see whether she was alive or whether I was walking into another sick and twisted game of his.

"Everything's fun when you lie, no?" He gripped my waist, preventing me from going forward.

"Let go of me" I grunted. But of course he didn't. He pulled me closer to him, his mouth next to my ears.

"When you gain someone's trust enough, that they believe whatever you say. You do. And just like that, with one word, their hope dies down. Hmm that feeling is beyond words. Exhilarating, just like the feeling of when you take someone's life, but of course less fun" I could practically feel his sadistic smirk stretching out next to my ear.

What a bloody psychopath.

"I said get off of me! Let me go" my breathing was almost knocked out for a second as his grip tightened.

"Let you go huh? You really want that?" He soothed, but I could pick up on the malice lacing his words.

"Who would protect you then Laila? Who would you run to when you and your family are in danger? Tell me" he prided on.

"T-the pol-police" gosh why do I sound like an emotional mess.

"The police huh?" His head reached towards my face, his hands now resting flat on my stomach. I was practically helpless. I had no strength to pull him away.

"Stop. Stop touching me please"

"You really think the police give two shits about you" I guess my plea fell on deaf ears.

"Why do you think no police came here after the shooting. Go on Laila answer this since you seem to know the answer to everything" I opened my mouth to reply, but had nothing to say.

"These policemen you so desperately cling to for protection are the mafias pawns. They're corrupted" my hope faultered down to smithereens.

"You give anyone enough money now a-days and they forget humanity. Where their loyalty lies"

"That's rich coming from someone like you" you will regret that Laila. I shut my eyes in despair. But I wasn't expecting this type of reaction. A chuckle vibrated next to my cheeks.

"Oh Laila. So innocent. So naive. You think I've been inhumane to you? Well why not live up to your words. I'll take you to my house today. Show you the real ways of a Mafia man" my face paled at the thought of going to his house with him. Who knows what he'd do to me there.

" N-no please don't. I didn't mean what I said"

"Of course you did Laila" he smirked, turning me towards him. "Your words contradict your eyes. You can never lie to me, my love"

_____

- hello. Are any of you the family or caretakers of Antoinette.

- Good. Her operation was successful and right now shes under sedatives. i would suggest to meet her when she awakens tomorrow morning