Chapter 2- Mira & Mr Morretti

MIRA

Lucius sat in the patch of moonlight that flooded in through the window while his thin, evil face broke into a smile when he saw me staring at him.

Although he had grown a beard that made him look different, it still couldn't hide the ugly scar that ran across one cheek.

"Hello, Mira," he said. “It’s been a while."

“How?” I gasped, breathing heavily. How did he find me?

I shuddered as anger slowly took the place of fear. I had done everything I could to be free of him. Now he was in my house, holding my son and me hostage.

"What the hell are you doing in my house?" I barked, placing my hands on the cold floor.

His grin widened.

"That's one of the things I have always loved about you," he said in the same low, teasing voice. He crossed one leg over the other and leaned back in the chair. "The way you can go from frightened to pissed just like that—"

He snapped his fingers. "even if there are three guns still pointing at you. You're quite a woman, you know that? Such a shame that you had to leave me just like that."

"What do you want here?" I asked again. "You know what? Don't even bother answering that. Take your”

I was going to say 'thugs,' but considering the fact that they were still armed, it wouldn't be such a good idea to get them angry.

"Take your men. Leave my house. Now!" I finished.

"Afraid I can't do that. At least not yet. You see, I need you for a job."

I was shaking my head before he had finished speaking.

"No," I said. "I can't. I won't! I quit, remember? I don't work for you anymore."

"Yes. Yes. We all know that, but you seem to forget that you will always belong to me. I bought you with a lot of money, remember? His eyes roved around the room. "...I saved you."

"You didn’t save me, Lucius," I said firmly. "I'm done with that life. Nothing is going to make me go back."

He slowly stroked his chin.

The trick in dealing with Lucius was not to show fear. He could smell it like a shark smells blood. So although I was cold inside, I glared right back at him.

The thought of going back to my old life, being Lucius's tool, living life with the knowledge that I was in constant danger while doing one of his 'jobs,' was something I didn't even want to think about.

"I can see you're very firm on this," Lucius finally said.

"Very," I said, resisting the urge to sigh in relief.

I waited for Lucius to stand. He didn't. Instead he sighed regretfully.

"I saved you, and this is how you treat me? I have the power to do whatever I want with you, don't you know?" he said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He looked over my shoulder. He nodded. The man holding Rocco released him. Rocco ran right into my arms.

He was crying so hard he couldn't speak. Struggling not to cry too, I buried my face in his hair.

"It's okay, sweetie. It's okay," I murmured. "You're safe. The bad men are leaving now. It's over."

Lucius chuckled. I heard the sharp click of a lighter as he lit a cigar.

"Don't lie to the boy, Mira," Lucius said. "This is far from over."

Still holding Rocco

tightly in my arms, I twisted around to face Lucius. There was something in his voice I didn't like.

I spoke slowly and carefully. "I'm not doing your job even if it pays a million dollars. Just go, and I won't tell the police that you broke into my house."

One of the men shuffled forward.

"Boss, how about I teach her some manners?" he said.

Lucius shook his head. He peered at my face and frowned. "No. Seems one of you got a little too active with her already. She needs her face for the job. My beautiful Mira." He smiled.

The man nodded and stepped back.

In a blink, Lucius lost his calm, friendly manner. His face suddenly hardened.

"You'll do this job," he said. "You'll do it if you ever want to see your little brat again."

And for the second time that evening, my son was taken from me.

"No!" I screamed.

"Shut up!" one of them growled. "Attract the neighbours, and the snotty brat gets the first bullet!"

In panic, I lunged for Rocco, but all I could grab was a piece of his pyjamas, which tore in my grip.

His little hands stretched out for me before they were pulled behind his back and something was stuffed into his mouth.

I whirled around to face Lucius.

"Give me back my son, you bastard," I cursed, my voice shaking with fear and anger.

His lips pulled back from his teeth in a snarl. The next instant, his face relaxed.

"I'll let that slide just this once," he said, standing and blowing a cloud of smoke into my face. "You're his mother, so naturally you're upset. We'll be leaving with your boy now."

"You—you can't do this," I stammered.

"Watch me," he said.

I saw that he wasn't bluffing.

With a sob, I flung myself down on my knees. I held on to his leg and turned my tear-streaked face up to his.

"Lucius, don't do this," I begged. "We can negotiate. Just leave my boy out of this."

With a laugh, he shook himself free. "I know you too well, Mira. You're stubborn as hell. This is the only way you'll cooperate.”

He searched in his pocket, drew something out, and threw it at me. It was a card. "That's my card. My number's on it. My address too. Come when you've thought this out, and let's discuss terms. Come on, boys. Knock the brat out and let's hit the road."

I was forced to watch as one of the men pressed a napkin firmly over his nose. Rocco twitched and then went limp.

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. The tears ran down my face.

"Watch yourself," the man threatened, waving the gun as I made a move to spring forward.

Lucius was the first out the door. They carried my son out of the house. One of the men remained behind with a gun pointed at me to make sure I didn't get too close.

When they pushed Rocco into the car, I lost it.

"Rocco!" I yelled, not caring who heard me now.

"Rocco!"

Not caring if I got shot, I ran at them, my one thought to save my boy from these monsters.

My bare feet flew over the ground as I screamed his name again and again.

I was too late.

Just as I got to their car, the last man jumped in. The doors slammed shut. The car shot forward and was gone in a squeal of tires.