Taking Down The Mafia Boss

Behind the counter of Rover's club, I was mixing all sorts of concoctions for my customer, a patron who was not only an alcoholic, but also addicted to cocaine. He needed something to calm him down so his nerves wouldn't want to jerk up and cause commotion like he does most of the time.

From where I stood, I could see the uneasy movements his body was making, and I knew he was running out of patience.He couldn't wait to have a taste of what I was going to serve him and get knocked out. One of his men wouldn't take his eyes off of me, I maintained eye contact with the particular man as I approached them with a tray of drinks I had mixed.

" Here you go" I placed it gently before them with a smile plastered on my face, "You'll be happy when you taste it" I said, as the man took a tentative sip, his brows furrowing slightly as he did so. He didn't like that much. He'd been drinking enough lately to know better, still he took another mouthful. Then spat it out, staining the crisp white shirt and black leather skirt I was wearing.

" That's bullshit!" His raspy voice cut through the music, at the same time slamming his fist angrily on the table. I jumped backwards, almost crashing into another customer behind me.

" Sorry" I mouthed an apology to the customer.

" Get me something else bitch! " He yelled at me as he wiped away a small stain of blood forming at the edge of his lip with the back of his hand. 

" Sure" I smiled, trying my best to hold in my rage.

Without more words I went back to the counter, and leaned at a slightly secretive corner to make a call.

" Hello?" I spoke in whispers when the person on the other end picked up right away.

"Hey, I need you to send them in now!" I whispered again, as I glanced around at the patrons sitting in the secluded spot.

" Sure"

And with that the line went dead.

~

"Here you go, sir, here is your complimentary drink" I placed the glass carefully in front of him, watching the man closely to see if there was any trail of dissatisfaction.

He lifted the glass to his lips but didn't take a sip from it; instead he just stared at it, the ice cubes clinking together as they slowly melted. Finally he reached over and set the glass aside without taking a single sip.

" The fuck are you waiting for?" He asked, now staring directly at me.

" Well, I just wanted to be sure you like what I made" I replied, feigning innocence and turning to walk towards the back of the bar. At that very minute the entrance flung open and a group of officers pulled in, the men around the grumpy man's table tried to pull out their riffles but they were covered in a flash by the cops. I watched with a smirk on my face as my colleagues dragged them away.

~

" Mabel... Forgive me, I meant Layla" My boss, Desmond, chuckled as he took his seat behind the table. I smiled back awkwardly and waited for him to get down to business, which was my my promotion.

 I wasn't sure why Desmond had insisted on giving me such a big job when he first told me about it, there were way better cops to carry it out. Why me? I had never done anything like that in my life. But then again... Desmond has seen what I was capable of and entrusted me with the task. And it seems the more he sees how hard I worked to keep up the job, the more he realized my worth. Now that I was the head of our crime department, I was more eager to get to the next position.

Desmond adjusted in his chair and cleared his throat " So... Layla, have you wondered what it will feel like to take up another case like this one? Something new and more adventurous?" 

I paused, wondering what he was getting at. He looked serious, not the usual laid back grin he usually showed me after a particularly stressful case. I was beginning to notice that Desmond rarely had that expression, I hoped it was not what I was actually thinking.

" What do you mean, boss?" My voice cracked nervously as I tried to play dumb. It seemed to be working though.

" The last case you worked on didn't seem too exciting. You know" he continued with a mischievous grin, raising an eyebrow as he looked at me, " You kind of remind me of someone I once knew."

" Who?" I responded quickly.

"Never mind" He dismissed.

He sighed deeply, running a hand through his curly hair and looking straight into my eyes as he did so.

" There's another assignment for you" He dropped the bombshell and leaned back into his seat to watch my reaction.

" Er... I thought I was getting a promotion and a break after this?" My eyes widened slightly, but I kept a calm facade on my face, I wasn't quite sure how my boss could be so inconsiderate.

He slammed a file he retrieved from his drawer on the desk, " Here is all you need to know about the Mafia boss you will be taking down" 

He said it very casually like it was as easy as cheese, and it pissed me off.

" But that wasn't our agreement before I embarked on the last mission..."

 I stated in a monotone voice, hoping to sound angry rather than disappointed.

" You're aware of the rules we follow, Layla" he responded, a little irritated that I would even argue.

I crossed my arms in frustration." But-" I started. He held up a hand to stop me. 

" Listen Layla, you've got three months to hunt that bastard or I'm sending someone to do it"

My jaw dropped, " What?!"

 He raised his eyebrows quizzically. I knew it wasn't a request, but an order, and I dare not defile it.

" Yes Sir" I mumbled and ...

" What do you think you are doing!?." Pamela's shrill voice cried, jilting me out of my thoughts.

" Ermm...I" I stumbled on my words, feeling confused about what to say.

Don't just stand there! Go be with the girls!" She snapped impatiently at me, her tone leaving no room for argument. I didn’t want to argue anyway.

" Yes Ma'am" I gave her a nod and turned to hurry away, heading for the other side of the room to the dressing tables. I passed several tables full of girls giggling and gossiping with each other as they dolled their face, then stopped at the last one where there were just two girls.

" So I was wondering how the whole system works here" I smiled the second time, trying to be persistent if anything could come out.

" We don't know" One of the girls eyed my entire body before looking away.

" Yes. We don't" The second one chipped in .

I ignored their bitterness as I eavesdropped on a conversation between three other girls at another table.

" She thinks she is the finest because she escorts Lord Grey to most of his events" One of the girls muttered, you could clearly see that she was envious of the escort girl.

My eyes followed their own to see who it was they were backbiting, and they fell on a very pretty ginger head being adorned by Kira, the head servant. She looked very innocent and graceful in the white lacy gown that cladded her body, revealing a good view of her cleavage.

I etched closer and heard Kira saying. " And what did Mr Grey think of the outfit you wore to the last event ? " 

Escort girl blushed visibly before speaking, 

" He found me quite attractive, and by the time we were home he was too wasted to touch me. I was so mad because I was really looking forward to getting laid, but what would I do? I'm nothing but a sex slave " She ended with a smug face and the girls around her laughed, even though their laughter whooshed off faster than it erupted.

"He was wasted by the time they got home?" The words echoed in my head. My thoughts wandered and an evil grin appeared on my lips.

" Did you say anything?" Kira called, looking at me and seeing the look on my face.

" No, I didn't" I chuckled nervously before turning to look at the poor girl having her face caked up with layers of make up.

 I looked back to Kira with a smile plastered on my face. " The make up looks great!" 

" Thank you" gave a small polite smile and turned back around, focusing on putting on a bright blue shimmer on the girl's eye lids.

I remained that way for a couple of seconds before leaning backwards when no one was looking, and I a short moment I was out of the dressing room.

" I'm sorry sweetie, but I have to be with Grey tonight" I muttered to myself, an apology to escort girl who wouldn't be accompanying Grey tonight.