Chapter 3 The Proposition

AMELIA

The smell of his cigarette assures me that this is very much real. A kind of hunger flashes in his eyes before her starts to say, "I can't give you any specific details but you need to get a name. Just a name. I'll give you a new identity and you'll be working in another bar, much like this one but fancier, so you'll be comfortable. You're the perfect candidate, and I wouldn't give you the job if I weren't sure you'd be capable of getting it done."

"How can you be so sure of anything?" I ask. "You haven't seen me in years, Devon. You don't know who I am anymore."

This is what I've been asking myself for the past few minutes now. Why did he end up thinking about me? This sounds to me like something serious, and it has to be big enough for him to even suggest taking Aaron out of jail for me.

"Sure I do," is his cool, nonchalant response to my question. " You have the kind of essence that never changes, Amelia. You're perfect for the job. I won't tell you details because I don't want to scare you. But I'll tell you this: if you give me that name, I'll set Aaron free."

Again, my heart starts to beat pretty fast in my chest. This is huge-big than I could've ever imagined. "What, you're a cop?"

"I have connections."

I can tell he's being sincere but I don't know just how much he's keeping from me. I guess I'll have to find out at some point. Devon has always been very honest, though, even when we were much younger his brutal honesty could cut you in half, so I don't think he's lying to me.

There's not much to think about for me. This is the deal of a lifetime. Getting our debts paid and helping Aaron get out of jail? That's a dream come true! And maybe after I get this job done, I can finally go to college. I didn't go because I had to work to keep the roof over our heads and food on our table. Mom's too tired to work now but she sews sometimes. I would love to give her the life she deserves. We could make it happen. The future is suddenly filled with endless possibilities. When I woke up today, I couldn't imagine that something this huge would happen.

After this, we can go back to having normal lives. All of us. With Aaron out, our lives will finally be as they should have. I'v been dreaming of this for so long. There's no way I'll say no. "How dangerous?"

He taps at a brown envelope in front of him. I didn't even see it there. My excuse is how distracted I am. "You'll have a new identity so those guys don't come after your mother." He slides it to me. Hesitantly, I open it, and inside, I see a new ID card, a new passport, even a brand new birth certificate. They all look original. The name on all of them is Yara Huxley.

"Get used to getting called that. That's who you'll become as soon as you get there."

I shove everything back in the envelope. "When do I leave?"

His lips twitch a little. "So you're doing this?"

"Of course. Just tell me what I have to do."

"There's one of our men there; his name is Jason Huxley, but of course that isn't his real name. He told me they've been in need of a bartender in one of their LA clubs. He'll tell them you're his cousin, so they'll take you in."

Los Angeles? I can't help but feel excitement course through my veins. I've never been out of town before. I can't believe I'm going to LA. "Who's 'they'?"

"The Keller family. They're a crime family associated with a government official, and we need to find out who he is. Your one job is to find out his name." He takes a sip of his drink. "Then, you'll be able to return to your normal life, as Amelia again."

The word crime makes me uneasy. "Crime family? As in Mafia?"

"I won't lie to you, they're dangerous. But I don't want to give you specifics, remember?" He drains his glass and I refill it. He gulps it down quickly. "As long as you keep to yourself and try not to stand out too much, you'll be safe."

"I'll try," I nod. I'll just have to trust him. I have to do this. "I'll get you that name."

Devon stares at me for a few beats and I'm not sure what I see in his gaze. My fear is that he'll take back the offer and I won't have a chance to get this done. I start doubting all the answers I've given him so far, then he says:

"I trust you. Now, close up, I'll drive you home. You won't have to come back to this bar ever again, so don't worry about having to wake up early." I turn all the lights off after I've packed his glass away. I look back at the bar one last time before I lock up. I'll still have to wake up early to give Donnie the keys, but I don't tell him this. I don't know when he expects me to leave, but I'm assuming it'll be soon.

I turn around and he's standing by his car, watching me the entire time. He's driving a rental. I shove the keys in my bag. "Did you say your goodbyes?"

I feel embarrassed, though I don't know why. I'm not typically the sentimental type, but saying goodbye always gets me a little emotional. I hate goodbyes. "Let's just go."

He smiles for the first time tonight. "Look on the bright side. You'll still be working at a bar, only one that won't smell like piss and shit. That," he points at me with his key, "I guarantee you."