Bow Down(150)

I kept seeing the fear in Cassidy’s eyes as I paced the plush hallways.

The compound was the center of the Barone family’s power. It was a large mansion situated on an enormous plot of land, with everything from horse stables to swimming pools. It was the absolute peak of opulence and power, and everything in it screamed riches and wealth. The hallway I was pacing down was carpeted in rich, plush red over deep walnut hardwood floors. Expensive paintings lined the walls.

I didn’t see any of that, though. I was pacing the hallway outside my boss’s office, trying to get my shit together, trying to figure out how I was going to play this.

Vince didn’t need this girl dead. I knew he wouldn’t care. But Ernesto was going to be a problem sooner or later. It all depended on what that girl Dasha told them, if it was useful or not. If it was good information, they’d likely forget about Cassidy. But if it was bad, well, they’d need someone else to pump for information.

I couldn’t let her get tortured. I didn’t know why I was drawing such a hard line for this girl. I barely knew her. I hadn’t even known her real name. She’d been playing me from the start, or at least she had been trying to play me. I’d seen through her pretty easily, but still. It pissed me off that she was a journalist and I had gotten sucked into her shit.

She didn’t seem like a callous user, though. She struck me as pretty naïve, especially after last night.

I had seen the real fear in her eyes. I hadn’t exactly come out and told her what I was there for, but she clearly had figured that out. The girl wasn’t stupid, and we both knew she was in a shit position.

I couldn’t tell if she was a real threat to the organization or not. She didn’t seem to know much about Dasha or the Spiders, though I hadn’t pressed her too hard. My gut was telling me that she was just a girl in over her head, and my gut was right more often than not.

The problem was going to be trying to convince the others. I had some power in the mafia, but I wasn’t the highest ranking guy. I was close, but Ernesto could order me or one of his guys to kill the girl, and I’d have to listen.

I heard some footsteps approaching and looked up. Vince smirked at me as he came toward me. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“Pacing,” I grunted.

“You look fucking crazy.” He opened his office door. “Get your ass in here.”

We walked into his office. It was a pretty big space. He had a desk toward the back wall, and I had a desk toward the front. Most guys didn’t have an office like this, but Vince ran his crew like a business. He didn’t fuck around like some of the other guys did. He was tough and violent and powerful, but he wasn’t a crazy piece of shit like some of the guys were. I wouldn’t have been working for him if he were.

“How was the girl last night?”

“Fine.”

He sat down at his desk, but I just leaned against mine. I had too much energy to sit down and act like we were working in some office.

I wished I could get out on the streets and crack some skulls. That was where I worked best. I had a way with people, especially with men who thought they were tough. I could break a man if I needed to, and I fucking enjoyed it. Breaking bad men was one of my favorite hobbies.

“What did she say?” he asked.

“She doesn’t know anything. She’s just some girl.”

“But that Spider knew her name.”

“True. She was writing an article about human trafficking and stumbled onto the Spiders. Apparently she gave them the location of our whorehouse without even knowing who they were or that it was our place.”

Vince nodded, frowning. “So you think she’s innocent?”

“Not innocent. But not a threat.”

“She was writing an article about us.”

“She was. But believe me, when I told her who I was, she nearly fucking flipped. She doesn’t want anything to do with it now.”

“Smart girl.”

“She is smart. And naïve. Vince, this girl isn’t going to be an issue.”

He looked at me for a second and then nodded. “Okay. I trust your instincts. But you’ll have to convince the others. You know I can’t stop them.”

“I know. I’ll do what I can.”

“Good. You have my support too.”

“Are there any updates on the Spider girl?”

Vince nodded. He took out a bottle and two glasses from his desk and poured two drinks. I walked over and picked one up.

He took his. “She’s dead,” he said.

“What happened?”

“Lonnie happened. Seems as though her heart gave out eventually. Blood loss and stress did her in.”