Chapter 4

A M A R A

Flashback

TRIGGER WARNING - CONTAINS GRAPHIC MENTIONS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

"Angelo what are you doing?" He backed me into the wall. I started having a panic attack. "It's me, Amara." My breathing was ragged. "Put the gun down," I pleaded.

"Why would I do that? Your family embarrassed mine. Winning every fight. You're all cheaters," he accused.

"B-but we don't. I'm your girlfriend Angelo think this through. You train with us."

He shook his head with an evil look in his eyes. The slide of his handgun took a hit at my face. I started bleeding. "Angelo stop. My family will kill you when they find out about this."

"Your family is gone. It's just you and me babe," he confessed.

"What are you talking about?"

"We killed them."

My eyes widened. "W-what?"

"You heard me. They're all dead. It's just you and me now Amara," he sneered, a smirk forming on his face.

My eyes welled with tears, but my body was filled with rage. I took this opportunity to gain control over the situation.

While tackling Angelo to the ground, I was able to get ahold of his gun. He fired spontaneously, hoping to hit me, but in the process, he shot himself.

"Oh my god." I knew in this moment I needed to run.

"Amara, I will find you. You'll never be safe. Not even with me dead," he choked.

I ran out without a second thought.

____

A M A R A

I sat at my desk and pretended that I didn't just hear what they were saying. Thousands of questions filled my head. What mafia did he control? Did he know my past? Was I in danger?

They knew my family. They knew where we were hiding. Well, where some of us were hiding. Holy shit. I'm working for a fucking mafia leader.

I'm not fucking useless either. I was trained just like the rest of my family. Dick.

This was going to be interesting.

All this thinking was giving me a headache, so I gave Gabe as much meeting time as I could and called him back.

"Who's this?" He questioned.

"Amara from Moretti Enterprises. I called to tell you that I scheduled your meeting for 12:30 sharp. The later you are, the less time you have to talk," I informed him.

+

"Thanks sweetheart. I hope to hear from you more often," he flirted.

"If he doesn't fire me within this week, I'm sure you will," I joked.

He laughed. "See you later."

I hung up the phone and sighed. At least someone was giving me a good laugh around here.

Adrian exited Mr. Moretti's room looking distraught. "Lucian needs to see you," he said. After that, he left the building, his flirty personality gone entirely.

I got out of my seat puzzled. Was I in trouble already?

I lightly knocked on his door before entering. "Mr. Rossi said you wanted to see me?"

"Sit down," he commanded.

Hastily, I made my way over to the leather seats. I didn't know what to say to him. He had to know I was listening. Or who I was. Either way, I was fucked.

"If you lie to me, Amara. You will be fired immediately, maybe even worse. Do you understand?" He questioned.

That was the first time he had addressed me with my real name, so I knew it was serious. "Yes," I spoke hesitantly.

"Was your father Giovanni Hale?" He asked, though I figured he already knew the answer to that.

I gulped. "Yes," I spoke in my smallest voice.

"Speak up," he ordered, frustration painting his face.

"Yes. He was my dad alright?" This wasn't his business, mafia leader or not. "It doesn't matter who my father is."

"Did you participate in the underground rings?" His eyes never left my face. I stared at my nails. "Look at me when I'm speaking to you Amara."

I lifted my gaze to meet his. "I was the best," I confessed.

He leaned back in his chair and ran his hands over his face before confirming what I already knew, "how much of mine and Adrian's conversation did you hear?"

I sighed. He definitely had cameras. "I stopped listening after he mentioned where some of my family was."

Lucian nodded. "I'm the leader of a mafia called the Serpents. Have you heard of it?"

I shook my head and replied, "I tend to stay on the low."

"We're the most powerful mafia in the United States. Do you know what that means, Amara?" He asked in a snarky tone.

I shook my head no, which only seemed to set him off more.

He looked like he was about to go on a rampage. "It means that you're putting every single person in this building in danger. Did you know that?" He got up out of his chair. "You could've at least changed your name," he pointed out.

"I tried," I took a breath, "I tried to change it. The courts here wouldn't let me because of how soon after I gained my citizenship."

He brought a fist to his mouth and walked towards where I was sitting. His physique towered over me. "You join, or you die," he threatened.

"What?" I croaked

"You join the Serpents or you die."

"B-but isn't that putting you guys in more danger?" I never usually stuttered, but this was worrying me. "If I work alongside you? Wouldn't it?"

+

"Not entirely. In this case I can monitor what's happening with you at all times, and since you're my assistant, it won't be weird when you move into my home," he stated nonchalantly.

"Move into your home? Are you crazy?" I rose from the chair. I was still at least a foot shorter than him. How intimidating. "If I join your gang that's already enough sacrifice."

"Fine. Live in my house or you die," he threatened again.

My face dropped. "Stupid petty threats," I grumbled.

I was about to storm out of the room when he grabbed my wrist and turned me around to him. He stared at me intently, not saying a word. "Fuck you," I sneered as I shook my wrist from his grip and went back to my office.

+

L U C I A N

"Fuck you," she said before storming into her office.

It was what I had to do to make sure we didn't fall under the wrong person's radar. Plus, I wouldn't mind seeing her ass more often.

Just as I relaxed into my desk, Gabe strolled in the room and shouted, "Luc! Long time no see man."

I got up and gave him a hug. "Let's talk."

"I told your hot assistant that we had important matters to discuss, but I really just wanted to see my brother." He smirked at me before asking, "have you hit that yet?"

"No Gabe, I have not hit that yet," I groaned.

"Wow. She hasn't leaped into your lap? Shocking."

I rolled my eyes at him. "She's pissed at me more than she is turned on."

"And you haven't fired her yet? Also shocking."

"She joined the gang."

He raised his eyebrows, "You told her?! Are you on something man? You can't just tell some random assistant that you run the most powerful gang in the country because she's hot."

"She's a Hale," I informed him.

He stopped his rant, "Like, underground fighting Hale?"

I nodded. He shook his head and laughed sarcastically, "shit, man. How did you find her? They've been undiscovered for years."

"She found me and it was an accident," I started, "plus, we were never really looking for her in particular."

"Wow." He leaned back in his chair, stunned. "What does Adrian think of this?"

"It was his idea in the first place," I shrugged.

"Really? He's not usually one for making smart decisions."

A knock interrupted his thought. Amara peeked her head in, "Your 1:30 appointment is here Mr. Moretti."

I T A L Y, 8:30 P.M.

"Sir, Rachel said that he hired another new assistant," one of my insiders said.

"He hires a new one every week, why the fuck is that important?" I asked, annoyed. Imbecile.

"She said that while she was in his office, the girl walked in and he called her Miss Hale."

My head shot up. "What did you just say?"

"He c-called her Miss Hale," the messenger stuttered.

I laughed, "Finally, I've found her. After all these years, right under our noses. She didn't even bother to change her name." I turned to face the dumbass who worked for me, "Get the jets ready. We're flying to Chicago."