25

Elena

Of course, Paul said nothing. The Kingpin, however, was unusually chatty. "I was very surprised to find out that you were the one who was taking my money. Of course, your family was so kind as to promise me multiples of the figure you've stolen," he remarked.

"I didn't steal anything from you. I won the money fair and square. Most of those fights were fixed. So tell me, how are you able to break the system?

This is the ironclad system that had worked for years before you came?" I replied, feeling a surge of defiance.

"I have my men looking into you, they found nothing. It's almost like you appeared from the face of the world suddenly," he chuckled as he walked beside me, the clanking sound of the tips of his gold-tipped shoes bothering me as I flinched with each step he took.

"But it doesn't matter now. You will get what is due to you, and I will get what is due to me. Your friend can attest to that," he gestured towards Paul, who stayed silent throughout the exchange.

"But