DON JULIO Early in the morning there was a certain quietness that comes only when the world is just beginning to wake and you don't need any kind of need to relax and mind your business. Coffee in hand, nursing it slowly, not ready to take a sip and a magazine in front of me. I looked busy but it was my mind that way. The curtains were parted a little and the sharp rays came in slowly. I wasn't drinking it though. I was deep in thoughts and then my eyes moved to something else. I was focusing on her instead. Sarian. She lay on the bed still asleep, the sheets just barely covering her body. Intimate but unsaid memories of last night were still hanging in the air between us. I shut my eyes and then ran my fingers through my hair. Although it had been close, we hadn't made love. I teased her body, made her arched for me, made her dripping wet and left her exhausted. We had a stronger bond than I had experienced in years, something that no one had given me, not even Allegr
SARIAN The engine hums a steady rhythmic sound that drowns out everything else in the car. It's almost calming but it made me feel like we were taking a trip to help. But my anxiety isn't eased by the calmness that seemed to be around me. The tension that has existed since we left the mansion stayed even though I didn't want it. This feeling of something bad approaching—something, I can't quite place but know was coming—was sending shivers up my spine. Two cars ride behind us and another two before us leaving us in the middle. Don Julio sat opposite me, with his piercing eyes fixed on the road ahead and his firm unwavering grip on the steering wheel. He had instructed his men that he wanted to drive and his eyes were filled with anger again. The car was so quiet and as usual, his words were precise and clipped and he only spoke when absolutely needed. And I was thankful for the quiet at the moment. Particularly at this point and I was not sure what I would say to him if
DON JULIO Her eyes bulged. NahShe didn't expect this.She blinked rapidly at me which didn't surprise me. That look in her eyes as if I had just caught her red-handed told me everything I needed to know. I had expected her to fight back, to tell me a few more lies, and argue as usual because she had a sharp mouth. It didn’t happen.She parted her lips slightly and blinked once and twice while she fumbled for an answer. I could almost hear the wheels turning in her mind as she weighed and calculated but nothing came. She then swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on mine.I scoffed and continued driving.The unavoidable and weighty truth hung between us. Calcutta was not the location of the vault. That I was aware of. And she didn't know I knew she was lying.Silly..Although she underestimated me she thought she was smart. She was unaware that my eyes were constantly on her, constantly observing and calculating everything.I didn't miss a single word or movement. And I took pride in wh
DON JULIO Supper was awkward. My expectations were unchanged but for some reason tonight's silence between us felt more burdensome. Rohit had been killed and his body disposed properly. Let The Crows wait. Let them wait for information they won't get.As I closely observed Sarian, the hum of the dimly lit restaurant and the clinking of silverware against plates faded into the background. For the most part, she kept her head down, her eyes darting anxiously over the food I had ordered for us both.I knew there were a thousand and one questions she wanted to ask but she did not. I wasn't sure if she was just preoccupied with whatever was on her mind or if she was scared to look at me or the questions were pulling her down.Whichever it was, it was better that way. But then, I didn't want to put up with her silence for too long.“ Eat.” I told her calmly but firmly.I wasn't asking. It w
DON JULIO She pretended like she wasn't scared but I knew she was.Although it was subtly concealed behind her typically composed face. I shut my eyes and said nothing at first then before she could understand what was happening,I pulled her up.“Dinner is over.”But she was stubborn and she refused to get up like her bum had been glued to the seat.One of my men from the sides of the room briefly raised his shirt up showing a gun and she complied.“Sometimes you need a slap or two to reset your brain.” I said as we left the restaurant to my room upstairs.However tonight didn't feel like any other night. She tried appearing shock once when I asked her if she knew why we were at Calcutta apart from the stupid lie she had told me.“I'm sure you’re wondering why we’re here.” I said reclining in the chair across from her. “For people like us India isn’t exactly on the travel map is it?” She took a tiny breath and
SARIANDust and cheap air freshener mixed with the smell of old wood in the motel room. That was all I got after travelling for hours only to inhale this.The mattress felt like it wanted to engulf me as I sat on the edge of the bed. Don Julio had instructed me to go to my room and stay put so the door clicked behind me and my thoughts were swirling like they wanted to consume me.Even now, his deep smooth voice echoed in my ears tinged with that familiar, derisive tone that made my blood boil. At the time I didn't respond to him. All I did was turn around and leave. But that didn't mean I wasn't thinking. I was damn angry and then the next minute, I didn't know what to feel, my eyes grew heavy but I didn't want to fall asleep either.What made him bring me here? What was it that he wanted from me? If that Allegra girl would be here, then he shouldn't bring me along. I had nothing to do with his business. Actually, no. Not at all, maybe in a way. I shrugged, picked up a book, old but
SARIAN I had no idea when I'd fallen asleep. I had wanted to read a book, do something rather than let the anger I was feeling consume me. But then I didn't know why I was even angry in the first place. I was sitting on the edge of that miserable motel bed, one minute looking at the discolored ceiling and wondering how I had gotten into this mafia nightmare. How I hated my life right now and what my life could have turned out if just one act hadn't been put into consideration.The following morning I woke up to the sun still hiding behind the clouds, making everywhere look gloomy like it was about to rain and to a sound that I was unable to identify at the time—sharp, far away and strange. Not a warning. No thunder. It wasn't the sound of rainfall.No. A pop. Next came another. Then threw more. Then there was a shout. After that the glass broke. My eyes remained heavy as I blinked rapidly, my heart unable to keep up with the confusion. I briefly thought I was having a dream, that t
SARIAN.”“Which looks good on me, the blue or pink one?” Silver asked as she stood before the mirror and giggled. “ I want to make as much money as possible tonight.”“Pink is better,” I said as I did a little touch-up and glanced at the mirror, my strapless bra was perfect and showing just enough cleavage.I was a stripper and it was the only way I could get enough money to pay my drunken father's debts including what he had stolen from a mysterious man, the mounting bills and taking care of my little sister.The room was crowded with so many girls and I had heard that one of us might go home with a customer tonight.I sighed and we stepped out just in time with the music. I was in a hurry to leave but I had to dance to get just enough money. The club smelt of cigarette smoke, sex and desires. I strut across the stage with my heels clicking against the sticky floor, every movement deliberate and in time with the rhythm, I know too well, that my face is partially covered with a smal
SARIAN I had no idea when I'd fallen asleep. I had wanted to read a book, do something rather than let the anger I was feeling consume me. But then I didn't know why I was even angry in the first place. I was sitting on the edge of that miserable motel bed, one minute looking at the discolored ceiling and wondering how I had gotten into this mafia nightmare. How I hated my life right now and what my life could have turned out if just one act hadn't been put into consideration.The following morning I woke up to the sun still hiding behind the clouds, making everywhere look gloomy like it was about to rain and to a sound that I was unable to identify at the time—sharp, far away and strange. Not a warning. No thunder. It wasn't the sound of rainfall.No. A pop. Next came another. Then threw more. Then there was a shout. After that the glass broke. My eyes remained heavy as I blinked rapidly, my heart unable to keep up with the confusion. I briefly thought I was having a dream, that t
SARIANDust and cheap air freshener mixed with the smell of old wood in the motel room. That was all I got after travelling for hours only to inhale this.The mattress felt like it wanted to engulf me as I sat on the edge of the bed. Don Julio had instructed me to go to my room and stay put so the door clicked behind me and my thoughts were swirling like they wanted to consume me.Even now, his deep smooth voice echoed in my ears tinged with that familiar, derisive tone that made my blood boil. At the time I didn't respond to him. All I did was turn around and leave. But that didn't mean I wasn't thinking. I was damn angry and then the next minute, I didn't know what to feel, my eyes grew heavy but I didn't want to fall asleep either.What made him bring me here? What was it that he wanted from me? If that Allegra girl would be here, then he shouldn't bring me along. I had nothing to do with his business. Actually, no. Not at all, maybe in a way. I shrugged, picked up a book, old but
DON JULIO She pretended like she wasn't scared but I knew she was.Although it was subtly concealed behind her typically composed face. I shut my eyes and said nothing at first then before she could understand what was happening,I pulled her up.“Dinner is over.”But she was stubborn and she refused to get up like her bum had been glued to the seat.One of my men from the sides of the room briefly raised his shirt up showing a gun and she complied.“Sometimes you need a slap or two to reset your brain.” I said as we left the restaurant to my room upstairs.However tonight didn't feel like any other night. She tried appearing shock once when I asked her if she knew why we were at Calcutta apart from the stupid lie she had told me.“I'm sure you’re wondering why we’re here.” I said reclining in the chair across from her. “For people like us India isn’t exactly on the travel map is it?” She took a tiny breath and
DON JULIO Supper was awkward. My expectations were unchanged but for some reason tonight's silence between us felt more burdensome. Rohit had been killed and his body disposed properly. Let The Crows wait. Let them wait for information they won't get.As I closely observed Sarian, the hum of the dimly lit restaurant and the clinking of silverware against plates faded into the background. For the most part, she kept her head down, her eyes darting anxiously over the food I had ordered for us both.I knew there were a thousand and one questions she wanted to ask but she did not. I wasn't sure if she was just preoccupied with whatever was on her mind or if she was scared to look at me or the questions were pulling her down.Whichever it was, it was better that way. But then, I didn't want to put up with her silence for too long.“ Eat.” I told her calmly but firmly.I wasn't asking. It w
DON JULIO Her eyes bulged. NahShe didn't expect this.She blinked rapidly at me which didn't surprise me. That look in her eyes as if I had just caught her red-handed told me everything I needed to know. I had expected her to fight back, to tell me a few more lies, and argue as usual because she had a sharp mouth. It didn’t happen.She parted her lips slightly and blinked once and twice while she fumbled for an answer. I could almost hear the wheels turning in her mind as she weighed and calculated but nothing came. She then swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on mine.I scoffed and continued driving.The unavoidable and weighty truth hung between us. Calcutta was not the location of the vault. That I was aware of. And she didn't know I knew she was lying.Silly..Although she underestimated me she thought she was smart. She was unaware that my eyes were constantly on her, constantly observing and calculating everything.I didn't miss a single word or movement. And I took pride in wh
SARIAN The engine hums a steady rhythmic sound that drowns out everything else in the car. It's almost calming but it made me feel like we were taking a trip to help. But my anxiety isn't eased by the calmness that seemed to be around me. The tension that has existed since we left the mansion stayed even though I didn't want it. This feeling of something bad approaching—something, I can't quite place but know was coming—was sending shivers up my spine. Two cars ride behind us and another two before us leaving us in the middle. Don Julio sat opposite me, with his piercing eyes fixed on the road ahead and his firm unwavering grip on the steering wheel. He had instructed his men that he wanted to drive and his eyes were filled with anger again. The car was so quiet and as usual, his words were precise and clipped and he only spoke when absolutely needed. And I was thankful for the quiet at the moment. Particularly at this point and I was not sure what I would say to him if
DON JULIO Early in the morning there was a certain quietness that comes only when the world is just beginning to wake and you don't need any kind of need to relax and mind your business. Coffee in hand, nursing it slowly, not ready to take a sip and a magazine in front of me. I looked busy but it was my mind that way. The curtains were parted a little and the sharp rays came in slowly. I wasn't drinking it though. I was deep in thoughts and then my eyes moved to something else. I was focusing on her instead. Sarian. She lay on the bed still asleep, the sheets just barely covering her body. Intimate but unsaid memories of last night were still hanging in the air between us. I shut my eyes and then ran my fingers through my hair. Although it had been close, we hadn't made love. I teased her body, made her arched for me, made her dripping wet and left her exhausted. We had a stronger bond than I had experienced in years, something that no one had given me, not even Allegr
SARIAN It had begun to rain and I felt so cold. One of the girls had brought dinner which I had eaten in a hurry. I wanted to sleep but it was hard and this room felt like a prison even though it wasn't locked. The small table in the corner, the rigid bed without sheets and the white walls were all so empty exactly as I felt on the inside. It had been hours since I had shed a tear. He would be happy to see me cry and I didn't want to but the sting persisted behind my eyes and in my chest like an unhealing wound. Too many things were happening at the same time and Don Julio had thrown me in here as if I were a teenager who threw tantrums. On the edge of the bed, I curled up with my arms around my knees and my eyes fixed on nothing. Then the silence descended like a fog and I wanted to embrace it when I heard it.Click. The door flew open. I didn't look up until his shadow struck the floor. Don Julio.The devil himself. He was standing there as though he had every right to be
SARIAN The room felt cold as though the coldness I had felt outside while sitting on the bench was nothing compared to this.I was shaking, my eyes never leaving the body and the blood. My head was pounding and I felt like fainting as my legs seemed to give out.I was still suffocated by the metallic smell of blood that filled the air and stuck to everything.I swallowed hard and then the next second I was unable to look at the body. I didn't want to again as my eyes stung with tears.But the girl they dragged away was still crying and begging and I could still hear the muffled sounds of her cries leaking into my mind and making my stomach turn. Through the pause Don Julio's voice asked .“Where did you go?” I went cold. So cold that I thought my heart would stop beating and I might just have a stroke or something.I could feel his gaze piercing me like daggers slicing through whatever remaining self-control I might have. My legs melted beneath me and I fell to the ground before