Christiano's Angel

CASSANDRA

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Anything for the scoop. That should be my motto. I was a budding journalist, and in my eyes, there was no such thing as going too far. The bolder and more crazy the story, the more I wanted to be the one to cover it. The more dangerous the situation, the bigger the headline. I couldn't care less about the payout, I was in it for the story. My name would someday be a household name.

I was a reporter, there was no distance I wouldn't go. No rock I wouldn't turn. I would get that scoop. And someday, I would be the most sought-after journalist there was...

Someday.

Today, unfortunately, was not that day.

Today? Well, today, I couldn't afford to buy a pack of cigars from this stupid imported store I was standing in.

"I'm sorry?"

I rolled my eyes, "The rumors, that this establishment is somehow connected to one of the five families?"

"The...what?"

"The five families! The five original Italian American Mafia crime families of New York! The five families that have dominated organized crimes in the United States since the late thirties! The-"

"Early thirties," He interrupted.

"AH HA!" I gasped, "So you have heard of them. Tell me, who is your business coo hoots with?" I leaned across the counter further forcing the recorder closer to him. "Is it the Gambinos? No, no, I'll bet it's the Genovese. No! The Bonanno!"

"It's not my store. I just work here." He said, putting his hands up submissively.

I frowned, "Listen-" I glanced at his hand tag and then back to his face. "Pete, if you know something you need to talk. Not only would you be obstructing the Law if you didn't, but imagine how great your life would be if you did. I mean, if you helped uncover something like this-"

"If anyone uncovered anything to do with any mafia, they'd be a dead man."

He had a point there. I pulled the recorder away. "I'm not getting anything from you, am I?" I asked with a sigh.

He smiled, seeming partially sympathetic to my struggle, and shook his head. " Sorry, love, there's no story here."

I sighed, "Are you suuuuuuure?" I put on my best flirtatious face.

"Positive."

I pressed the stop button on my recorder, "Fine. Can I at least use the bathroom before I go?" I grumbled.

He smiled politely and pointed me in the direction of the bathroom.

I made my way to the restroom, I didn't even have to go, I was hoping that maybe there'd be some interesting pictures or something along the hallway or in the bathroom, a face that I could trace. The owner of this building leads to that building leads to... and so on. But nothing. I was feeling frustrated now.

I was sick of reporting dead-end stories. I didn't even have a paper I worked for. I haven't earned that yet. Yes, I was still stuck doing freelance, along with every other wannabe out here. If I wrote it, and they liked it, I was in. But that meant it had to be better than everyone else's, and if YT was a story their own company was covering, then it was useless. Finding my stories was essentially my only hope now.

I picked up the stupid swan dish with individually wrapped mints in it, scoffed, and slammed it back down. "Ridiculous!" I muttered. I pulled out a tube of ruby-red lipstick and applied a thin coat over my lips. I had time to kill in here.

I had just smacked my lips when I started hearing a ruckus. A loud ruckus. The kind of ruckus you generally hear from guns. Plenty of guns.

The building was being shot up? Oh yes, definitely mafia-related ties here. But that would have to wait. I dove into a stall and jumped up onto the seat, so my feet would disappear. And then? The reporter in me pulled her cell phone on and hit the record button. Holy sh*t. I was in the middle of a shooting. If I survived this, I would have inside footage! Well, inside the bathroom footage anyway.

The sounds of the continuous rounds stopped, and the bathroom door came open with a slam. The normal human being and terrified woman in me wanted to let out a shrill scream, but I remained completely mute, even when whoever had entered started firing off in the room. Bullets came through the bathroom stall, they seemed to never stop coming. I was covering my head with both of my arms and chewing my cheek so hard to keep from screaming that I could taste blood from them.

After what was probably a couple of seconds of open firing across the whole bathroom, the room was quiet. And then, I heard footsteps.

'Oh, f*ck. Oh! sh*t. Oh, God!. Oh! D*mn. Oh, no. Oh, hell. Oh, I'm going to die- I thought frantically in my head. I heard the door of the stall beside me get kicked open, and then silence. I had left my lipstick on the counter! F*ck*r. F*ck*ng f*ck*r! More footsteps. I pointed my phone camera towards my stall door, my hands were shaking so badly, but I was ready to capture him when he came. Not that anyone would ever see this.

The stall next to my own was kicked violently open.

'Oh hell'

After a few moments of silence, I swallowed the lump in my throat. This was it. I was going to die. And I did t even get the story. I saw his shoe from under the stall, I held my breath as he took a step forward.

"Sbrigati, sprigati!" I heard someone yelling. "Andiamo! Polizia!"

("Hurry, hurry! Let's go! Police!")

"Figlo di puttana. Si arrivo." He groaned madly, suddenly the feet in my line of vision were retreating. Feet and voices I had on camera! Holy d*mn!

("Son of a b*tch. I'm coming.")

I stayed holed up in the bathroom for what felt like three eternities before finally bringing my still-shaking feet to the floor. I turned back to look at the holes in the stall, the stall that I had just been leaning against. How had they missed me? He knew what he was doing, the bullets were not in a straight line, Oh no. They were high, low, right, left, and somehow, no one had touched me.

Someone was on my side tonight, and I wasn't going to let that go to waste. I was going to get my scoop.

While still wielding my phone set to record, I made my way out of the bathroom.

CASSANDRA

"And if the timing is right to sneak off into the night, I'll let myself be taken just for the thrill."

~*~

After the shooting, the building was deserted, if ever there was a time to investigate it was now. There were rumors of a secret 's*x room' but of course, the administrative crew denied this. I walked around slowly, crouching slightly. I covered my mouth, remembering the polite, but annoying cashier that I'd spoken to earlier, I was careful as I stepped over his body. What was I doing? This was easily the most insane thing I'd ever done in my life, if I got caught in here it would be the end, I mean just look at this place! If these people were willing to go to some extreme lengths here and kill the poor innocents involved, what would be done to the person mobbing around? Every part of my brain told me to just get out, hide, pretend I was just a bystander who'd been knocked out, and go to the police now, but some, handicapped section of my brain kept me going.

I realized I probably looked stupid slowly tipping objects hoping to activate some sort of trap door or something. It occurred to me I never actually considered what I would do if I had found the place I was looking for. I couldn't just waltz in, could I? I was willing to bet that it would have been abandoned with the shooting as well, but the stakes were pretty high. If I was wrong, then I was betting my life here.

I went from room to room, slowly, moving things, pulling out things, knocking slightly on walls. I was finally about to give up when I jumped. I threw my hand over my heart and exhaled loudly as the sight of my reflection in a large mirror had given me the largest fright of my life. I shook my head at my skittishness. I leaned closer to the mirror.

"Could it be...?" I muttered softly to myself.

Leaning closer still I could see it for sure! The mirror was a two-way! There was another room hidden behind it! But how could I get through? It was bulletproof, so breaking it wasn't an option, I could only hope to find the entrance because obviously, it wasn't going to be easy. Maybe even a trap door perhaps?

I walked around the room even slower this time now paying attention bro the sound of my feet on the floor as well, listening for a change in the sound. I heard a loud clank and quickly darted behind a counter and ducked low. A man emerged from the wall beside the mirror. His height was nothing to be impressed with and I could tell he was Italian by the tan, the dark thick hair, and the nose. He straightened his suit, took a long drag of the cigar in his mouth, and took two long looks back and forth across the room. "Tsk tsk tsk." He muttered as he walked a few steps and stepped in front of the cashier's still body, nudged it with his foot, and then continued on his way as the wall behind him closed itself.

If I didn't know otherwise, I would have written it off as just a panic room. I saw where he had come from was built into the wall, and watching him walk out of it looked like it was just a small metal room, but I knew it would have some sort of way around.

Once he was out of the building, I waited a few moments before I tiptoed to the mirror. I looked around at the wall and felt a small lump under the paint, pushing on it, the door opened with a loud hissing noise. I jumped into the box and shut it behind me. It was small, had it not been for the small light of my phone it would have been pitch black. I quickly turned the flash on it and began investigating the panic room for any sort of lump, a loose nail, anything.

Finally, I caught a finger off of a loose nail, cutting my skin in the process. I gave it a hard push and took a step backward as another door opened. Genius. Absolute genius! I followed the small walkway, it was going down and lit dimly. I didn't hear any noises. Confident in the vacancy, I hurried down, down the stairs, down another path, and finally I saw a low light up ahead, and a cracked door. I slowed my pace and itched my way to the door and peered into the crack.

Another room.

I stepped into the room now. It was a long room with several winding exits and sheer curtains hanging in different places, the floor was soft to touch, feeling like a foam mattress under me. The room smelled sweet and was a light pastel pink with rose petals across the floor. I had to get this, I had to freaking get this. I walked around extra slowly, making sure to capture every detail, from the low-lit red lights on the ceiling to the carefully scattered rose petals on the floor.

When I got to the first archway I stopped and stepped backward quickly. 'Sh*t. Sh*t. Sh*t.' There was a couple in the room beside me, I was quick to move to not be seen, but from what I gathered, his head seemed to be in between her naked legs. I but my lips, if I caught that on video I would have all the proof in the world, and I mean, it's not like they were paying attention to their surroundings at this point. I took a deep breath, the sane part of my brain, the part that had been screaming for me to get out of there in the first place seemed to be getting smaller and quieter the further I got. I held my breath as I leaned over the corner. Her head was back, if her eyes were opened she would be looking directly at me, but they were closed and her hand was at the top of his head. She panted, and moaned loudly, hips bucking. I felt intrusive here, even though they were aware of my presence.

"What are you doing?"

I must have jumped thirty feet, right out of my skin, through the roof, and back down again. Turning around again, a tall lanky man was standing before me, his trousers were up and his jacket on but his shirt hung crinkled and unbuttoned under it.

CASSANDRA

"I-" I could feel my face paling, "Uh, I-"

He swung an arm over my shoulder immediately, "I know, pretty nice stuff huh? Are you off the lock sweetheart? I thought the old man kept you ladies working around the clock?"

"I- I-" I fumbled frozenly. I looked back at the couple, they had changed positions, and he was on top of her.

"You want to join baby?" The guy beside me asked. He pulled the phone from my hand, "I know you're off duty but you know the rules, sweet thing."

"I, uh, I, um..." I still couldn't speak, my handheld position as if they still had the phone in them. I was sinking, and fast.

"They sure do look like they could use some company." He whispered and nibbled on my ear.

I felt like I was going to pass out, "She looks plenty satisfied down there." I finally managed in a faint voice.

"Then, how about we go have fun? Just the two of us, huh?" He slid his hand freely up my blouse and squeezed my left breast.

And here I thought that dying was the worst thing that would happen when I came down here.

My eyes were wide but I couldn't move. The guy in front of me pressed more on my bossom, "She isn't one of them Dicks."

He paused from beside me and looked at me.

'Great, so now the cat out of the bag, and now is when I die.'

"Is that true?" He asked as he lowered his hand from my bosom.

I swallowed hard and nodded.

He jumped backward immediately, "Well sh*t! Why didn't you say so? Son of a b*tch, Christiano is going to have my *ss for this one."

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. I was confused, to say at least.

The guy from the other room had pulled his trousers up as well and came over. "What are you doing back here?" He paused just long enough for me to assume I was dead again, "If you're not one of the pink ladies you're not supposed to be back here. What are ya, lost?"

"New," I muttered, my voice sounding rough and raspy. What on earth had I gotten myself into?

"Alright," He sighed, "I won't tell Christiano' about you wandering back here or changing out of uniform, alright?"

I nodded, still frozen.

"But, we're going to have to hand this phone in, he's pretty adamant about the no cell phone thing."

Who was this Padrino'?

I grimaced, "Can I see it first?"

He shook his head, the guy who was all over me moments ago handed him the phone. I knew if that video was seen I was dead meat.

I bit my lip hard and thought, "I'm just so embarrassed!" I finally sighed. "Can you just delete that video for me? I just don't want anyone to know I was back here spying..." It was not like it was entirely a lie.

He smiled, "He's going to love this video." He assured. Not bothering with his shirt, he took me by the elbow and began leading me through the tunnels. I noted the guy who had been with me earlier went forward to the girl who was still on the floor naked.

"No, I mean, I'm embarrassed. I'm new and all, I don't want him to get the wrong impression..."

"Working in the wrong place, don't you think?" He asked, letting my elbow go now that I was following him on my own.

"I guess you could say, I didn't know what I was getting myself into." I sighed. It was the truth, I had no idea what I was getting into.

"If you say so." He shrugged.

I watched him delete the video and breathed a sigh of relief. With the video not weighing heavily on my shoulder, I felt almost brave enough to examine my surroundings. Once we were out of the pink tunnels, the rest of the underground structure looked like a mix between an upscale hotel and a shady bar, if that makes sense. All the men wore suits and all the women, lingerie. Though no stripper poles or cages were hanging from the ceiling, it still felt sick to me. I couldn't believe this place was underground, it was at least three times the size of my apartment and I suspected the rooms went on much further than I could guess.

"Here we go," He said stopping in front of a large frosted glass door. "You'd better put on a uniform before we go to Christiano'."

I nodded but didn't move.

"Just so you know, I'll be staying right here so don't even dare make a run for it or anything." He laughed at his joke.

"Of course," I grumbled to myself and turned to the door, "Okay." I opened it up and went inside, I was making as many mental notes as I could about this place. It was essentially a walk-in closet, and the only wardrobe options were lingerie and all of the walls were full-length mirrors. I sighed heavily. At least, there was a wide variety of shoes, ballet-styled, stilettos, knee-high boots, shirt boots, pumps, flats, essentially anything except sneakers. There were a few other girls in there changing freely. I looked up and down the roll of clothes if you could call them that.

"First-time sweetie?" A girl beckoned at me. She had big, wavy red hair, a black and red lace pantie set, and knee-high black boots with red laces.

I nodded.

"It'll be fine, might as well get used to it now." She shrugged, "They accommodate you nicely, these are all big shots here, classy acts."

Somehow, I highly doubted that.

"Aside from a little *ss slap here and there, no one is going to touch you or make you anything you don't want to do. If you decide you want to do more, that's all for you, Christiano is legit about not letting any of the guys force you to do anything. Of course, if you want to be kissing on them or sitting on laps, the friendlier you are, the nicer you'll be accommodated."

"What do you mean by accommodated? Like, tips?" I asked. The reporter in me looked to get the scoop and wished I had a pad to take notes with.

"Tips? Sweet we don't need money down here." She laughed, "The nicer you are, the better your room is going to be, the nicer stuff they'll be bringing in for you, nicer the day trips are going to be."

I opened my mouth to probe further, but she adjusted herself one last time. "Now, you listen here, if you need some more help we've all been where you are, you just ask any of us ole gals but I've got to get going." She went to the frosted four and paused, then looked at me, "Choose a corset for your first day, it covers more."

I bit my lips and focused on the wardrobe for what to wear. I pulled a simple white corset with purple lace and embellishments. I frowned and made my way out, my big black heels clanking off the floor. He was indeed waiting for me outside the door, he didn't even bat an eye on me, just merely led me further through a hallway, down a flight of stairs, through a smoky bar, and stopped in front of two large wooden doors. He knocked, then pulled the handles and pushed the doors open simultaneously.