BETWEEN TWO MAFIA KINGS

Zyra's POV -

I should've known something was wrong the moment Marcus refused to look at me.

Three years bartending at Obsidian had made me an expert at reading people. The show-offs, the liars, the sweet talkers, the ones hiding something in their pockets or behind their smiles. But Marcus? He was the calm in the middle of the chaos. Predictable. Dry. Annoyingly unshakable.

Tonight, he looked nervous.

"Zyra." He appeared beside me as I was restocking glasses, his voice low. "VIP lodge needs a delivery."

My hands stilled on the shelf. "The lodge upstairs?"

A muscle in his jaw ticked. "Is there another one?"

The air between us felt suddenly cooler, despite the heat of bodies dancing under neon lights. Even the crowd seemed to fade into a distant blur.

"Why can't their bartender take it?" I asked, keeping my voice steady even as I felt my pulse rise.

"She called in sick." His gaze slid past mine. "Just go up, drop the drinks, and come straight back down. Don't stay. Don't talk. Don't look around."

A warning disguised as instructions.

"Marcus-"

"It's not a request." He walked away too quickly, like he didn't want to answer what he knew I was about to ask.

Something twisted in my stomach.

People came here for danger, not fun; everyone knew this place belonged to men whose names were spoken with lowered voices. But I needed the money. As long as I followed the rules, I was safe and Damien's education depended on it. But the fear still linger in me, my heart racing twice the normal.

Jen brushed past me, touching my arm. "You okay?"

"No. Yes. I don't know." I swallowed. "Has anyone ever asked you to deliver to the lodge?"

She went rigid. "God, no." Her voice dropped. "If they ever did, I'd quit on the spot."

"Why?" I whispered.

Her eyes darted toward Marcus, then back to me. "Nothing. Forget it."

But she'd already turned away, suddenly very interested in slicing lemons. I looked at the rest for an advise or something to prepare me but all I got was..... Silence.

No one looked at me. No one spoke. It was as if the question had never been asked causing a chill to crawl over my skin.

I gathered the Dom Pérignon, locked-up bottles meant only for the highest of high rollers and set them on the tray with hands that weren't as steady as I wanted them to be.

Just drop them off. Get your paycheck don't forget Damien needs new textbooks.

The staircase to the VIP lodge hid behind a plain door, quiet and heavy like it was guarding secrets. With every step, the club's noise faded, swallowed by thick carpet and dim amber lights.

Up here, the world felt... different. Thicker, expensive, like even breathing it cost money.

Four identical black doors lined the hall, each with a brass plaque I couldn't quite read. But the last one had a metal plate:

Knock twice. Wait for acknowledgment.

I knocked again still no word just Silence so I knocked again. This time I heard urgent voices from behind a second, heavier door inside the room.

The door wasn't fully latched. When I knocked the third time, it drifted open an inch.The voices were coming from behind it. Clear enough now that I caught fragments:

"-can't move it until-"

"-too many questions already-"

"-loose end-"

My breath caught. I should not be hearing this.The voices stopped. "Did you hear something?" My breath stopped.

"Check the door."

I stumbled backward, my hip catching the corner of a side table. The champagne bottles rattled as Footsteps, heavy and quick, moving toward the inner door.

Just as I was about to take another step, a hand closed around my wrist from behind.

There was a pause, then he breath against my ear, so quiet I almost didn't hear it: "Zyra, Leave now."

That was all it took.

Something in his tone sliced through me, deep, commanding, almost... protective?

I didn't see his face and I Didn't dare turn around.

I bolted, sprinting down the staircase, heart pounding like it wanted to break free from my chest. I didn't stop until I reached the noisy, crowded part of the club again, gasping for air, palms sweaty, mind racing.

My shoes skidded on the stairs, one hand gripping the railing as I half-fell down to the main floor. The music swallowed me whole.

I pressed myself against the wall near the staff entrance. My wrist still burned where he'd touched me, an imprint that felt too deliberate to be accidental.

But as the panic slowly faded, one thought kept drilling itself into my mind, louder and sharper with each heartbeat:

Those men behind the door never said my nam

So how did he know it? or rather who was that

Zyra's POV -

"Hey... hey."

Damien tapped my arm again, pulling me out of the fog in my mind. I blinked rapidly, realizing I had zoned out.

"Hi, babe," I murmured, trying to force a smile as I collected myself.

"What's wrong? You totally blacked out." He dropped his bag on the bedside table and sat beside me, wrapping his arms around me with that warmth only he had. I rested against him and placed a small kiss on his lips.

"It's nothing, babe... just a little work problem," I whispered.

"Is your job stressing you?" he asked softly.I gave him a tired smile. "A little. But I'll be fine."

He gently lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. His eyes glistened a little, and it made my chest tighten.

"I'm sorry you have to go through all that just to see me in school," he whispered. "I'm really sorry."

"Hey, don't do that," I said quickly, cupping his face. "I want to see you get through school. I just want the best for you."

"You sure, Zyra?" he asked.

"I'm sure," I breathed. "I just had a bad day at work. It's messing with my head, that's all."

"You wanna talk about it?" he offered.

I shook my head. "It's something you shouldn't worry about. All I want is for you to get that engineering degree and make us wealthy one day." He kissed me again...soft, deep, reassuring. I smiled into the kiss.

"I promise I'll make you proud. Us proud. And one day, we'll laugh at everyone who mocked us for staying together," he said.

"Thank you for believing in me," he whispered.

"I love you, Damien," I said, my voice low. He pulled me close again. "I know, Zyra." His lips brushed my forehead while his fingers threaded through my hair.

"I... I went to the VIP lounge today," I confessed quietly.

He froze, pulling back to stare at me. "What?"His voice echoed with shock and fear.

"Why would you do that?" he asked, almost in a shout.

"Marcus made me. The VIP bartender wasn't around and I had to fill in," I explained.

He let out a shaky breath. "Is that why you're scared?" he asked and I nodded slowly.

A part of me wanted to tell him what I heard... that whisper behind the curtain... the two men whose voices dripped with danger But I swallowed it. It wasn't his burden.

It was mine.

I signed up for this job so I have to take it in I just hoped whoever that voice belonged to wouldn't come for me.

"Zyra," Damien whispered, tilting my chin up. "I'll pull you out of that place soon, okay?"

I smiled faintly. "Okay, baby."

"Oh-by the way," he said suddenly, his mood brightening, "I got us a ticket to the fan club!" He wiggled his brows playfully.

"Really?" My smile lit up instantly. "Yes! I knew you'd like it! He pulled out the ticket. I squealed and jumped onto him, making him laugh.

Then his phone rang.

"Babe, I have to go. The boys are waiting for me," he said, kissing my hair before grabbing his bag and rushing out.

I checked the clock. I needed to be ready for work by 6 p.m so I lay down for a moment, trying to shift the thought of what happened away but it's was so impossible, my body refuses to Keep Calm "should I talk to Jen about what I heard."

I asked nobody in particular with no other options I sighed, closing my eyes, forcing sleep to come and eventually, it did.

The alarm dragged me back at exactly 5:30 p.m.

I quickly got ready and grabbed my things. As I was adjusting my shirt, my phone rang. I picked it up without checking the caller ID.

"Hello? Zyra on the line."

No one replied but Just... breathing. Then a low voice whispered: "You are being watched. Don't stay in private places alone. They will come for you."

The line went dead.

My heart slammed against my ribs. I threw the phone onto the bed and rushed to the door, checking the hallway, the corners, the shadows.

I saw nothing but I didn't wait as I grabbed my bag and hurried out of the house.looking half way unkept.

As I stepped outside and locked the door, my phone buzzed again. A new message from an unknown number entered making me paincked

You left the house too fast...Nice reflex. But nothing changed.

My breath caught.

Slowly and terrified, I turned my head to the each directions but I saw nothing till I saw a car few miles away from me and I gasp .

what I saw made my entire body freeze.

Zyra POV -

I jolted awake, chest rising and falling like I had been running for my life. My heart pounded so loudly it drowned out the silence of the room.

What was that?

This nightmare again. Ever since I received that message, the same terrifying dream kept returning, chasing sleep away every night. I pressed a hand to my forehead and sighed.

"What did I even sign myself up for..." I muttered into the empty room.

For the first time, the thought slipped out clearly: Maybe it's time to quit the job before these nightmares consume me.

Dragging myself upright, I shuffled into the bathroom. When I caught my reflection, I groaned I was still in my work clothes. I didn't even remember lying down. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me how exhausted I must have been.

"Where's Damien?" I mumbled, stepping out of the room.

The smell of food led me to the kitchen, and there he was.....quickly hiding his phone the second he saw me, like he didn't want me to hear whatever he was saying.

"Hey babe, you're up," he said, but the panic in his voice was so obvious. "Is everything okay?" I asked, studying him.

He laughed nervously. "Yeah-yeah, everything is fine. Come sit, I made breakfast."

I sat slowly. He brought out two plates... bacon with melted cheese and placed one in front of me. "Here, this is yours. And this is mine."

"Hmm, yummy," I said after the first bite. He smiled, relief washing over his face. "I'm glad you like it."

"What do you mean? I always love your food," I teased, taking another bite.

"So, babe... today's the day," he giggled. "You're ready for the fan club?"

I chuckled. "Of course I am. And since it falls on my off day, I will be staying till the end this time."

He nodded. "Yeah, you will."

After breakfast, he went upstairs while I washed the plates. Then I got dressed, a simple floral gown, my hair neatly packed. By the time he returned, I was already by the door.

"You look beautiful," he said softly.

I blushed. "Let's go."

We arrived at the venue in no time. Music pumped through the hall, colors and lights mixing in a dreamy chaos.

"Gosh, I love this place," I giggled.

Damien laughed and took my hand. We walked around, taking pictures and laughing. After a while, we bought ice cream and sat in the middle row, waiting for the show to begin.

But something felt wrong.

A chill crawled down my spine. I kept feeling eyes on me watching and studying me but every time I turned, I saw nothing.

Get it together, Zyra... just have fun. But the feeling didn't leave.

When the lights went off for the show, I leaned closer to Damien, gripping his hand tightly. My head rested on his shoulder, but my eyes kept drifting to the far corner of the hall.

That was when I saw a man in a black suit and dark glasses. He was making a call, but something about him felt... wrong and Creepy, Like he wasn't there for the show.

"Babe?" Damien whispered. "You're not listening." I forced a smile. "I'm fine."

But I wasn't. And the man wasn't hiding it anymore, he was staring straight at me. My palms got sweaty and my heartbeat hammered painfully against my ribs.

"You scared?" Damien whispered.

I shook my head, even though fear was squeezing my lungs. Minutes later, Damien leaned close. "Give me a minute, I need to use the restroom."

I nodded quietly, letting go of his hand and He disappeared, and I tried to focus on the performance, but my mind kept returning to the man. His dark glasses, His stillness and His eyes on me.

An hour passed and Damien hadn't returned. My worry finally won as I slipped out of the room, scanning the hallway and the man followed.

My instincts screamed RUN.

I quickened my pace toward the restroom. I tried to step inside and hide but a hand grabbed me from behind, hard. Another hand clamped over my mouth.

I struggled, kicking and twisting, but he was strong. Desperate, I slammed my elbow backward, hitting something soft. He grunted, his grip loosening just enough for me to break free.

I didn't look back.

I ran straight into the crowd, searching for Damien ...and that was the mistake.

Because running into the crowd was exactly what he wanted me to do.