With each word he let out of that sinful mouth the more I sat at the edge of my seat.

"The night my men spotted you, spying on them wasn't supposed to happen" he began, getting up and walking towards the window. It was clearly dark outside, so it didn't make sense for him to stand there overlooking the oblivion. His fingers occasionally brushed against the bud of the cigarette, small specks of ash falling down.

"You were supposed to die, along with your family friend, Lameesa Mukhtar. But my men at that moment had other priorities, such as taking the child that they were carrying safe" he glanced back at me, willing me to recall that indeed those men were holding a child on their arms. But what shook me more was how much this man before me knew of my life and those around me. Lameesa. Mukhtar. Family Friend.

"Now don't look so surprised, my sweet girl" he exhaled the smoke, smirking.

"There's a reason why I'm the Mafia lord. I didn't make my way up to power by mere intimidation. This isn't a life for everyone. If you're smart and know what you want you'll eventually succeed, but, if you're stupid and act on your emotions, you can only go so far" nodding, I let out a gulp, which sounded almost too loud in the eery quiet. Was he talking about me in the final statement? Because I for one was that person described as acting on my emotions.

" S-so what changed? Why didn't you end up killing us?" I found myself whispering the words without so much as a thought. I glanced at his back, not being able to tell with the way he stood whether he was expecting that question, but one thing was for sure, I'd get my answers tonight.

"Because, some things are meant to be left untouched. Especially what belongs to me" he stated, his voice gruff and almost demanding. Was he angry that I'd ask such a question?

"I cannot say the same for poor Lameesa though. After-all, she was the one who coaxed you into informing the police about that night, no?" I was now met with his waistline, as he came to stand infront of me. Immediately my eyes met his, a low fire burning in them.

"Don't h-harm Lameesa, please. She was the o-one who initially said not to go to the police. Please, I beg you!" I exclaimed feeling helpless. He smirked down at me.

"And if I do choose to save her, what will I get out of this?" His voice took a sharper turn. No longer was he a smirking man. His tone held patience, yet I could detect the underlying threat behind his words. I'd have to offer something good in order to spare Lameesa's life.

"Our silence?" It came out like more of a question than a statement. He chuckled but there was nothing funny about it. It was dark and sinister. Goosebumps erupted across my body, as I witnessed his head falling back into place, all traces of laughter vanishing from his visage.

"Try again"

"What do you mean? I don't have anything else to offer you" I frowned.

"Oh but you do, love" his eyes roamed my body, until they landed on my left hand. In this moment, I was thankful I had on my doctor's uniform along with a large coat to shield me from the cold. Buy now, to also shield me from the demons piercing gaze.

"There's so much you can give to me, you just have to agree is all" it took me a good couple of seconds to figure out what he was alluding to. Of course this comes down to that darned marriage proposal. It was always about that.

"I said I cannot marry you!"

"Cannot or will-not. There's a difference, girl. And also, don't confuse my words as an option. You have no choice but to submit to my proposal, that is if you value the lives of all those dear to you" today I realised how cruel he could be. Before I could stand up in fury, his rough hands on my shoulders stopped me.

"Now now. I am yet to complete my story until then, I want an answer before you leave. Preferably one that provides me with joy" this was all a trap to get me to agree to his terms and conditions. He could not give a rats backside about what I felt and what my simple agreement would do to me.

Just like always, he seemed unfazed, as he continued with the story.

"I figured, rather than kill you or your friend Lameesa, I'd enjoy watching you two bend under my will. And that you did" it felt like a snake crawled into my body and bit out my organs. Was this what encountering the Mafia felt like? I wanted to vomit from his sick mind.

"It didn't take long to figure out your entire history. I'd say an hour max. I had you right where I wanted, with all that I'd put you through. And besides you'd be a great asset by working at the hospital, my job would be much smoother" what did he mean? Gosh, could he be anymore cryptic.

"I'm sure Antoinette has informed you of something... Insidious going on in the hospital, am I right?" He questioned, but didn't need an answer. He knew everything, and he was smug about it too. Each puff of smoke clouded the office, making it harder for me to breath. He probably also knew I went to Antoinette's house the other night.

"And I'm also sure that you've witnessed a coupler of old, white men going into the restricted area?" I nodded.

"Well my love, they're not your average men who enjoy a good family reunion with their grandchildren, no. I had my doubts about something those people in that hospital, but i didn't know that things were getting this serious" he mused, sitting back down, deep in thought.

I remembered those men which Rafael seemed to be referring to. Ever since Itzel had visited the hospital, their appearance stopped altogether. Before all three of these men would come and enter the restricted area together, but as the weeks rolled on, perhaps one or two would go there separately, one leaving and another entering. But never those three at the same time. And it was also during the night, which made me always wonder what was really going on.

What were these men hiding.

"But, why would these men choose to handle their business at a hospital? I'm sure there were other places they could go? So why there, in the hospital?"

"Smart girl" he smirked, pushing the end of the cigarette into the ashtray, and eventually leaving it there.

"What is the purpose of a hospital?"

"To save people's lives"

"And would you say these buildings are safe and trustable?" He pressed on.

I nodded, not knowing where this was going. "Yes. I mean, doctors and nurses work there ensuring the health of the patients..." I trailed off. "So, what is it that they're doing? What's so secretive that they resorted to communicating in a hospital"

"Bien" he exclaimed. "And that's why those men decided to situate themselves there" but I didn't understand. They seemed capable and perfect to me, so what was the reason?

Rafael from across me growled in anger. It wasn't my fault he was being cryptic with his words and questioning.

"That means the perfect place to carry out anything illegal or discussing anything important would be in a hospital. It's one of the most safest and unsuspecting buildings in the entire world. No police members or government spies would ever guess such a place when looking into these criminal's!"

I was speechless. Everything that the demon said made sense. I mean, that explains why all their meetings would be held at night and that no one from the public was allowed there. That also explains the hefty amount of cameras installed in each turn, for such a small vicinity.

"B-but that can't possibly be true"

"Oh but it is, dear" he looked lethal. I bet he was wondering what his next steps would be. "It all makes sense now doesn't it" yes it does, and I hated to admit it.

"You see, this is why Itzel was sent there. People around here know of the Mafia, and criminals, and Itzel was only a ploy to divert the attention from these old men. Questions were arising regarding them which you, among many other hospital civilians, I'm sure, had. They needed to do something fast before someone ratted out to the police, or worse, the intelligence service came down their throat. It was for the public and only the public to know of. And someone was bound to get shot thankfully it was Antoinette-"

"Thankfully? Do you know how bad I felt for being the sole cause of Antoinette's pain" I burst out in outrage. These lives were nothing to him.

"You'd rather have someone trained to become accustomed to such violence get shot, than someone who has no idea how to survive in such a situation. And besides, she was in a hospital she'd be saved eventually" my mouth hung out in surprise. I wanted to shoot him right here right now and see if he'd be able to survive it.

Actually Laila, he would. My brain retorted.

"Anyway, these fuckers know exactly what they're doing by diverting the attention from them to Itzel. I'm sure they were able to instill fear into many people, just like they planned" he sneered.

"Wait. Antoinette informed me no one knew what you looked like, so how did Itzel know that I knew you?" I exclaimed in shock. If Itzel had associated me with Rafael back then, that means these dangerous men would also know of me. On no!

"Because she's family" what?!

"Wha-what do you mean?"

"What you heard. She's my cousin to be more specific. And to answer your question from a few weeks ago, she enjoys intimidating people and you just happened to be that person that caught her eye"

"So what you're saying is, Itzel is related to you, yet still working for those men?" I wondered Incredulously. "How does that work? Surely those men would know of you by now"

"Ah, now there's your problem. You see, Itzel may have been hired by those men to intimidate the public, but I'm the person whom controls what goes on In the background, baby"

"Only me, and now you, know that Itzel is related to me. But no one else knows that, especially those men, so if anything, they walked into my trap" his smirk lit up his entire face, making him look all the more evil and intimidating. "Itzel would be able to retain some key information from them, whilst simultaneously reporting back to me. Now how does that sound for family?" He looked amused. Actually no, he looked like a blood thirsty killer who had sucked on the souls of innocent people, before regaining back his health.

I didn't know what to answer him with, but instead asked another question.

"Family or not, are you not worried that Itzel might rat you out?" His lips adorned a cruel smirk, as he leaned himself against the desk infront of me. I looked up at him.

"Omerta"

"What's that?"

"Code for silence. So if you do decide to discuss any information with someone outside the Mafia, you'll break the code for silence, and hence as a result would be killed" damn, that was scary.

"And if Itzel decides to do so, what would you do?"

There's was no amount of hesitation with what he said next. "Well, she'll be killed of course"

"B-but she's family" I tried to reason.

"Not everyone in the Mafia are blood related which means we build each other's trust through our actions. Breaking those rules would only lead to a painful and slow death, family or not" he concluded firmly.

"Now all that your questions are answered, how about you answer mine" I had no escape.

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