Three

Stephany’s POV

 “How do you know my name?... what do you want from me?” I asked, pushing back the crippling fear that crept into my voice.

“You don’t know me, but your father does,” a smile tugged at Don Mario’s lips as he reached for another puff.

My father? Why does this man know my father? I thought silently, my brows squeezing slightly in confusion.

 “I heard he died tragically… poor soul,” he clicked his tongue while shaking his head slightly. “But Stephany… you see, your father and I” he sucks in another breath from his tobacco and exhales “…had a little business arrangement.”

 “What?” My heart beat violently at his words. “What are you talking about?” the heat of his smoke grazing my face. Beads of sweat begin to form on my forehead.

 “Your father took a loan from me before he died, and now, as agreed, it’s my turn to get the end of the bargain… but since he’s no longer here…” He leaned forward, his thick breath invading my nostrils. “… you’re taking his place, naturally.” He chuckled.

 A dreadful chill seeped into my bones as the remaining breath in me dissipated. I couldn’t believe my ears.

My father owed Don Mario? It was already enough that I lost my father, but now I had a debt to pay for him, a debt I knew nothing about.

Don Mario was someone to avoid at all costs; everyone in the neighborhood knew that. I knew that. Father knew that as well, so him running to Don Mario to ask for money didn’t make any sense at all. Nothing did.

“LIAR!” I yell angrily. “My father would never borrow from a criminal like you!” My voice cracked, trembling with rage. Don Mario’s laughter, filled with mockery, followed.

The sound made my skin crawl and fueled the rage overshadowing the fear I felt. “Your words cut deep, Miss,” he said, exhaling another stream of smoke that enveloped me, making me cough and gasp for air.

He turned to one of his henchmen standing behind me. “Bring the document,” he commanded, sinking deeper into his plush sofa.

 A large brown envelope was promptly handed to him. He opened it, pulling out a sheaf of papers. “See for yourself, sweetheart. Your father and I had an agreement.” He extended his hand, offering me the documents with a sly smile.

I hesitate at first and then collected the brown envelope from his hands slowly. My fingers shaking as I turned the paper to read. My muscles tightened as I read the contents of the paper.

It was true, I saw my father’s signature at the bottom of the paper. My father did borrow from Don Mario, a large sum at that.

My widened as I read the amount written on the paper.

“One million dollars?!! I gasp in disbelief. My whole began to tremble visibly.

Why did my dad borrow such a large amount of money? What did he use it for?

Don Mario grinned at the fear and disbelief written all over my face.

“I hope you now believe me miss” . He took a sip of whiskey from his glass.

“No! Please! My dad would never borrow such amount! Please! I don’t know anything about this!” I pleaded, clasping my hands in desperation.

“oh but he did” he responded, his voice devoid of emotion or warmth.

“I can’t pay you this amount, it’s outrageous!!!” I screamed in protest.

“Well if you don’t pay miss…what’s her name? Ahh Elise isn’t it? Such a beautiful name” he spoke enthusiastically.

My heart sunk almost to my ass at his mention of my younger sister’s name.

“I’m pretty sure she’d make a good puttana, ehh” he glances up at his goons and chuckles. “A young girl like her, I bet she’d taste good”. He said licking his disgusting lips mischievously.

I began to hyperventilate with my body covered in sweat. I rushed to his feet bowing my head as I continued to plead.

“please don’t touch my sister, please I beg you” tears began rolling down my cheeks. I could hear the silent laughter of mockery that filled the room along with my cries.

“Its really simple miss” . He answered.

My head shot up at his sentence as he continued

“You pay me my money or I take your dear sister” a glint of joy in his bulging eyes.

“I’ll pay you!, I’ll pay you I promise” I responded desperately.

“Good choice Miss! Twenty-five grands a month, no delays or you know what happens”

Twenty-five thousand dollars every month? I can’t afford that?”

“Please I can’t afford that” I begged again.

“Your sister it is” Don Mario responded with a blank expression.

“Okay okay I’ll pay you but please don’t touch my sister” the blood in my veins pumped with anger. Anger that I felt so helpless and alone, that I couldn’t do anything to end this disgusting man. That my father somehow got himself and us involved in this mess.

“That depends on you miss” he exhales before gesturing to his boys to take me away.

Before they reach the door, he stops them again and calls out to me.

“if you try to run, I’ll find you” I inhaled sharply

 “Remember…I’m the Don Mario, no one messes with me” he finished before shifting his gaze away from mine.

I returned home that night to find Elise passed out in front of the door. Her eyes were swollen and she looked like she was struggling to breathe.

I rushed to her and grabbed her crying while slightly patting her face to wake her up. She woke up and wrapped her arms around me tightly as if to never let me go again and the sounds of our tears filled the room as the night passed.

The next morning, Elise asked about why Don Mario wanted to see me, I told her dad owed some money but I lied about the amount he owed telling her it was a couple of ten thousand dollars. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth.

Ever since the shadow of Don Mario and his goons hung over Elise and I as I struggled to reach the amount he requested every month.

I snapback to the present, the busy streets of las Vegas, my pulse still racing, my body coated in a light sweat. The sharp sound of a car honking jarred me out of the memory, and for a moment, I can’t tell if I am still stuck in that nightmare or here, in the suffocating reality I now live.

I check my phone for the time and realized I was getting late. I hasten my steps to get to the store faster.