All Chapters of THE MAFIA’S ANGEL: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

SIARA.I sat on the edge of my narrow bed, staring at the cracked screen of my phone. My throat tightened as the cruel truth stared back at her: $100. That was all I'd managed to scrape together after four days of relentless work.Four days of juggling three part-time jobs, four days surviving on two hours of sleep each night if at all, stretching half-empty water bottles and stale crackers as the gnawing in my stomach growled for more. I fought with everything she had. Yet, I was way out of reach of the required $7,000 necessary for mom's life-saving treatment.My fists clenched, and I pressed my palms into my eyes to stop the tears. But they threatened to spill anyway, hot and bitter."I can't fail her," I whispered-a quiet vow to myself.As I'd come home that evening, the familiar stench of stale beer and cigarette smoke wafted through the cracked front door of the apartment. Dad's gravelly laugh echoed inside, punctuated by the clinking of bottles.I had stepped inside, taking in

SIARA.The morning after the hack, I walked briskly to the hospital with the envelope of cash clutched in my hand so tightly my knuckles turned white. Every step was echoing in my ears, its sound magnified by my paranoia. My whole stomach churned with nerves as if the walls of the city were alive and watching me, waiting for me to make some kind of mistake. I felt sick.The hospital loomed ahead, its sterile fluorescent lights visible through the tall windows. The smell of antiseptic hit me as I entered, making me feel strangely exposed. I approached the receptionist’s desk, my heart pounding so loudly I could barely hear my own voice.“Hi, Mrs.Yvonne. Good morning. This is payment for Mrs.Osana Movark. Here” I mumbled, sliding the envelope across the counter without looking up.The receptionist, a sweet-looking elderly woman, turned to me and smiled. "Good morning, Sisi dear, and thank you. This will cover the overdue bills, and we'll start treatment immediately. Your mother's condit