West

Chapter one.

                West

I clenched my teeth, keeping the forced smile on my face, as I wrapped my legs around the bastard's waist. His hands crept up my thigh, upwards to my belly.

“You're so beautiful-” He paused.

“Ria,” I said quickly. “My name is Ria. And I love how your hands feel on my body.” I leaned in, to his touch, letting his eyes rest on my cleavage. He stared at me hungrily, as I counted down the time, inwardly.

How I wanted to snap the leering bastard's neck. But I couldn't.

He was Enzo, the renowned cartel, after all. And I couldn't afford to make a mistake, else I'd be dead before I even knew it.

“Suck my cock.” He grabbed my hair, forcefully, and I almost punched him on the face. In the dimly lit room, devoid of his usual bodyguards, he was vulnerable. To him, I was just a harmless young woman, he'd picked up at the bar.

 I could do whatever I wanted, and escape if I wanted to. But, I needed to get the documents first.

Few weeks ago, we'd gotten information that Enzo was selling expired drugs to his customers. It wasn't our business, but my father couldn't pass on the opportunity to bring one of his rivals down.

Revealing my full set of dentition, I nodded at him. “Of course, Master.” 

His eyes lit up, and he leaned back on the bed. Holding his gaze, I took off my lacy bra, and threw it to the floor. Slowly and ever slowly, I inched my hands towards his bulge, while stifling the urge to just snap his neck. That'd be much more efficient, and fast.

“Okay, West.” A voice came on, from my spy buds. “We've disabled the alarm blarer, and the documents are in the west wing of the room. You can knock him, but don't kill him.” He warned. 

I almost scoffed. There was no way I'd let the bastard live, after he touched me.

“Why don't we spice things up?” I tied up my hair, as I crouched on the bed. I leaned in, till my head was just few metres away from his neck.

He nodded foolishly, and I hid a smile.

“What do you suggest we-” Before the words left his mouth, I knocked him out.

The documents didn't take me much time to find. Hidden in a safe drawer, with 'Enzo,' as the password, was the drive and documents we needed.

I was halfway to the window, when I took another look at the unconscious bag of asshole. Wordlessly, I brought out my gun, and aimed directly for his head.

And then, I jumped down the window.

“You shot him? Fuck you, West.” Romeo grunted into my ears.

“You wish.” I tucked my hands into my coat pocket.

“Five men, three o'clock.” he said, and I nodded.

“Got it.”

Picking up speed, I brought out my gun, and fired at the unsuspecting men, as I rounded up on them.

The gates was unguarded, as I hurried towards it. Jumping into the waiting SUV, parked at an obscure corner of the almost deserted street, I muttered, "Drive.”

I took off my gloves, throwing them on the passenger seat, and leaned back on the backrest. I calmly took out a cigar, and lit it. 

“Get your ass down here, West.” I almost groaned, when Romeo's annoying voice sounded, yet again.

“You should stop misusing the spy buds, Romeo. Are you that anxious to see me?” I watched as the smoke made circle rings, before dispersing.

“Maybe you should say that to Papá. He's waiting for you.” 

I sighed. Taking off the earbuds, I stared at the starry sky, through the open window. 

                  ***

“Smile, West, you just completed a mission.” Romeo's voice rang out, as I stepped into the large office. 

Five men were present in the room, and three of them smiled at me. At the extreme end of the room, a man sat, puffing at his pipe.

I walked over to him, and nodded stiffly. “Papá.”

“You killed him?” His voice was calm, and almost emotionless, as he stared at me. I didn't flinch. I'd long gotten used to Capo Fausto's cold looks. I'd always been afraid of him, if he made that face, in the past. But that was longtime ago. Before I carried out my first murder. Before I was recognized as a real member of the Lucchese family.

“Yes, I did.” I placed my hands behind me, waiting for him to lash out.

“You weren't told to. You almost jeopardized the mission.” He placed the pipe on an ash tray, facing me fully.

“But I didn't. I'm not sorry, Papá.” The silence which reigned in the office after my words, was deafening. But I wasn't bothered.

After a while, he chuckled. “Well done.”

I nodded, and brought out the drive, and documents from the deep pocket of my coat. I placed them on the glass table in front of him, before going over to sit on one of the vacant chairs, close to Romeo's.

“Are you guys celebrating something?” I asked with a shrug, gesturing at the bottle of wine on the table. 

“Of course. We're celebrating the fact that you weren't killed by Enzo's men.” Romeo poured himself a glass, and raised it at me.

I flashed him my middle finger, and turned back to Fausto. He always retired to bed early, and he wouldn't be up, if he didn't have something to say.

“How're you feeling?” His question was odd, and I didn't bother hiding the confusion on my face.

“Satiated.” I cocked my head to the side. I needed to take a long bath, and soak up in the hot tub, too. Wash off every part that lewd fool had touched me.

“That's good, because I have another mission for you.” Fausto said, tapping loudly on the armrest of his chair.

I didn't blink. Missions had become a part of me. But I wasn't ready for his next words.

“You'd be leaving for Italy. Your mission is to infiltrate Capo Dante's 'Ndrangheta.”

My face was blank, completely emotionless after his words. The New York Italian Mafia had relatively been at peace for the past few years. Steering clear of each other's path.

Why then did he want me to-

“The King of Hearts has been stolen.” He sighed, and that finally got a reaction from me.

“How?” I intertwined my fingers together, leaning back on the chair.

“We don't know. But we all know how powerful the 'Ndrangheta is.” He continued.

“I know. And that's why I'm wondering why you're sending me on such a mission. Do you want to get me killed?” I rasped.

His eyes narrowed. “You'd speak to me with respect, West.”

I snickered. He didn't speak until I nodded slowly.

“Sorry, Papá.” 

“You'd leave all traces of you, that links you to us, behind. Your phone, spy buds, your clothes too, and your gun. You'd get a change of wardrobe, and we'd transfer some money, through an untraceable account, to you.”

I almost yawned out of boredom. “I still don't understand how I'd take on the 'Ndrangheta, and bring back the King of Hearts. You know that isn't possible.” I ran my fingers through my hair.

“Nice to see you admitting you can't do something, for a change.” Romeo chuckled, and I fixed him a hard glare. 

“It's simple. Pretend to be a harmless woman, and make him fall for you.”

I stared at him, wide-eyed. Like doing so would make him see the sheer ridiculousness of his words.

Was he actually telling me to seduce a man who could end our Mafia family, without as much as a finger jostle?

“Papá-” I began.

“You'd be doing it. The order isn't open for negotiation.” He raised his hand.

But I pressed on. “I refuse. Romeo can go, or someone else. Can't I skip on this mission?” I asked brusquely.

Capo Fausto rose to his feet, suddenly seeming larger than his usual 6'2. With his hair tied in a ponytail, my foster father, looked every inch capable.

But I had every reasons to question his recent order. I couldn't do it.

“Listen carefully, I wouldn't give you the details of the mission again. Make Dante fall for you, but don't fall for him. Bring back the King of Hearts, and I'd make you the head of our ammunition section.” And with that, he strode out of the office.

I exhaled, helplessly. “And what'd be my name?” I called out.

He didn't reply, but shut the door, on my words.

“You've really pissed him off, this time.” Ferdinand chuckled. He was the closest thing I had to a friend.

I rose to my feet. “Who cares? See you guys later, I need to wash up.” I wrapped my coat around my body, as I approached the door.

“Need helping hands with packing?” Romeo called out, with a loud laugh.

I turned back to him, with an arched brow. “Focus on knocking yourself out, bastard.”