Rise of the mafia queen

Chapter 1

I woke up at dawn all too reluctantly but my alarm kept blaring at me from my side table so I had no choice but to get up.

I get out of bed and arrange my sheets, draw my curtains to the side to let in the beams of the early morning sunlight into the room, and move to the en suite to take my bath and prepare for the day.

After the bath, I wore a light pink sundress and packed my red hair into a high ponytail.

Mornings like this make me think everything is as it should be: a bright and cheerful day, and I am immensely grateful.

I went downstairs with my bag and found my father sitting at the table reading the newspaper while my mother set the breakfast table.

"Good morning wonderful parents!" I greet them with a wide grin as I reach the dining area and hug my father's shoulder as my mum rounds the table to have a seat, "morning sunshine, I see you're preppy" my mother points out as she butters her toast. I kiss my father's cheek and round the table to have a seat beside my mother," just the usual joy that mornings should have, if not I'll be a gloomy mess" I said while taking my own toast and spreading butter," so how have your days in the library been sweetheart?" My father asks me as he takes a sip of coffee. I have been working in the library since I was 12 as a part-timer, arranging the shelves, clearing each aisle, and all, and in the last decade, I can say it is still my favorite place to be besides home.

There's a tranquility brought to me between each pages of every book, be it a paper back or a thick cover, a connecting tranquility between me and a memory deeply hurried but never forgotten," its as good as always, Tommy finally agreed on my personal librarian privileges on reading their books, just not on the clock" I grinned sheepishly as I talk about the library owner, Tommy Williams, and a long time good friend to our family.

He allowed a middle schooler to work part-time in his library to get a reprieve in life, just with the ruling that said middle schooler had to keep a low profile but he's always treated us kindly.

"Oh really now, don't go troubling poor Tommy about your silly request-oh! By the way, there came a letter for you sweetie" mum says and brings out a letter from her pocket and hands it to me," Oh really? What could be in here?" I ponder while opening the letter, I shriek after reading it, and jump up happily "I got it!! Mum, Dad I got admission into the University of Milan!!" I yelled happily while hugging my parents' shoulders, mum stood up and grabbed me in a bear hug," My baby! All your hard work paid off, I'm so proud of you my sweet girl" mum says happily with happy tears in her eyes, Dad stood up and pats my head and holds my hand," my girl, I know you will do wonderful things and excel wonderfully, congratulations " he smiles happily at me," thank you dad-oh my gosh! I'm gonna be late for work" I exclaim when I notice the time on the clock on the wall and grab what's left of my toast and shove it in my mouth, I hug my parents goodbye and run out the gate to get on my bicycle and ride out to town towards the library.

I greet the familiar locals that I see on my way to the library while thinking of what I'm going to tell Tommy.

I reach the library in 10 minutes, park and secure my bike then walk in.

I walk towards the desk at the reception and just as I'm breathing a sigh of relief," Well well, our wonderful librarian that's supposed to be here by 9 is making it by quarter past 9, do tell what delayed you?" Tommy asked as he came out of the aisle in front of the table with a stack of books till his chin and dropped them on the table, I gathered myself before asking," Aren't you supposed to be managing, you know, at the back?"I said jokingly while organising the books he dropped on the table," and you're supposed to be organising, don't give me sass" he says as he shakes his head at me and walks back to the aisle to organise the new order of books that came in today, "okay okay, forgive me, just lost track a bit because I got too excited about a good news at home" I pout apologetically as I take the books from his hand and arrange them in their places," good news huh, well let me hear it too" Tommy said while watching me," I got the admission that I was looking for" I smile and Tommy's eyes go wide with amazement before he breaks into a smile, he pats my head as the father figure that he is to me, "I'm very proud of you Rae, living up to your redhead nature" he teases and walks towards the reception table, "this calls for free caffeine, your coffee later is on me" he tells over his shoulder while walking away," thank you Tommy!!!" I yell at his retreating figure and he gives a thumbs-up as he closes his office door behind him.

Later in the afternoon, as I was attending to a customer checking out a book, I felt an eerie chill of being watched by someone and saw a shadow by the corner of my eye but couldn't find anyone suspicious looking my way, I dismissed it as nerves and continued with my work till it was time for my break. I informed Tommy before heading out, outside I felt the chills once again, and before I could register it, someone grabbed my arm from behind.

Chapter 2

I turned around and nearly doubled over in relief," Jas what the heck is wrong with you?! Who sneaks up on a person like that?!" I yell at my best friend, Jasmine Dalca, who just grins sheepishly at me like she didn't just scare my soul out of my body," chill girl, a little scare never sent anyone to their graves" I was just about to argue otherwise when she interrupted," you going on your lunch break right? Lets have a chat together before you go back" she says and drags me to our usual coffee shop.

At the table, we ordered our usuals, I with a latte and Jasmine with an espresso. Why would a lady like a sweetless drink such as that is beyond me," so wassup girl, How's it been? I was out to surprise you and figured you'd still be going to the sanctuary" Jasmine states as she takes a sip of her coffee.

Jasmine and I are childhood friends, we've been through a lot together, both good and bad times. We are a contrast though in appearance, where I'm a 5'3 redhead with grey eyes, straight nose, round lips, and some freckles on the bridge of my nose, Jasmine is a 5'8 blonde with blue eyes, pointed nose, full lips with a character that screams 'don't fuck with me'.

It's always been our dream to go to university together but unexpected grief strikes out of nowhere, leaving me here trying to build myself up and her in another country moving on with life as per her parents' instruction.

Jasmine as an only child sees it as her responsibility to build herself to the expectations of her parents, but I admire her perseverance." It's been good, started working in the library after high school so I'd say a dream come true'' I smile at her as I take a sip of my coffee," of course that's be a dream of yours" she shakes her head playfully and I shove her while snickering," whatever, I also got admission into the school I told you about " I share the news with her, we may not see each other a lot anymore but we always make sure to keep our friendship alive through calls and chat," that's wonderful babe! So happy for you" she smiles happily and squeezes my hand," thanks hun, now what have you been up to in London?" I ask her and we keep on chatting and updating each other on our lives till my break is over.

After the coffee date, we hugged, and said we would see each other later. She'll come around in the evening to greet my parents and hang out for a bit, maybe even for a sleepover.

As I walked back to the library I had that eerie feeling of being watched again and turned around but still found nothing suspicious, I quickly walked back to the library,' maybe I'm just being paranoid' I thought to myself, and continued with my work.

I continued with my work till it was close to closing time, Tommy came out of his office looking haggard and walks towards the table," you look like a mess" I tell him, he gives me an 'are you kidding me look ' and rolls his eyes "thanks, I feel like one" he says and stretched his back out," ill be heading out first then, use your keys and lock up after your done" he says and walks towards the door," sure thing" I say just as he's out of the door and get started on clearing the place for lock up.

After locking up, I collect my bike and cycle towards the spot I visit frequently but not as frequently as I would have hoped to.

I arrive at the cemetery and walk up the silent steps towards the place where one of the most important people to me rests now. I walk towards the tombstone and kneel in front of it in loving memories of our son and brother Mihai Alexe 2003-2015.

I stare at his tombstone for a while remembering the day I lost a part of me, my twin.

We were on our way back home from school as usual, I, Mihai and Jasmine as always, when a car from nowhere speeds right at us and drives away to get out of trouble, next thing I know I'm waking up in the hospital to a fractured hip with 4 broken ribs, Jasmine with a fractured leg and a concussion and the emptiness of hearing that the one I shared a womb with was gone, adding depression to my list of wounds.

I blink slowly at his grave and smile softly at it, "Hi Mihai, I'm back again, I'm sure you missed me" I stare at his picture on the tombstone, my lookalike but male, we both inherited my mum's looks but where I took my dad's eye color, he took mum's.

I sit with him and tell him about everything including my admission," so ill be gone for a while and won't be able to see you for a while, sad news I know but ill be here at every single break so don't miss me too much okay" I tell his picture, after a moment of silence I get up and dust my dress," see you later Mihai, I promise to bring your favorite chocolate next time" I whisper before I walk out of the cemetery.

As I step out feeling solemn and with a heavy heart, I grab my bike and just as I am about to hop on and ride home, a van stops abruptly and 3 masked men rush out and 2 of them grab me," What the-who are you-help! Let me go!" I thrashed in their hold but it was of no use, they were too strong, I screamed but the place was silent, the absence of any living soul, the third one walked up to me then yanked my hair and I felt a sharp sting on my neck before everything went black.

Chapter 3

I regain consciousness with an ache in my body and my neck is stiff. I groan as I try to stretch my joints but feel restrictions in my body.

I open my eyes to a dimly lit area and blink, trying to adjust to the dim lights. The whole place is too dim to make out. There is only a small window by the wall on my right, but it's barred down, letting only a few streams of sunlight into the room, facing me are stairs leading up.

I look down at my limbs and see that I've been bound to the chair with ropes. I try dragging my hands free but the rope bites into my skin. I struggle for a while then stop as the rope digs in tighter.

I sit there in confusion, wondering where I am and how long I have been tied up. As the sun sets, I cry to myself, thinking about how worried my parents are about not seeing me back home until sundown.

Just as I was about to force the restraints on my hands and feet again, the sound of keys rattling made me freeze. I hold my breath as the door atop the stairs opens up and I get momentarily blinded by the sudden light that comes through.

Just as I adjusted my eyes to the sudden light, slow, calculated footsteps came from the door, then the figure of a large man blocked the light passing through the door and covered my form in his shadow.

He stands by the doorway but I couldn't make out his facial features," Who are you and what am I doing here?!"I shout at his form but I'm just met with silence, just as I'm about the shout profanities at him, he comes down the steps calmly and stands in front of me.

My breath catches in my throat at the sight of the large man, he has sharp black eyes that pierce into one's soul, a chiseled jaw, full lips with a beard framing them and his hairstyle is that of being cut short on the sides and a few inches longer at the front. He's a really attractive male but he stared at me like he'd crush me with his shoe and I don't recall knowing such a man.

Two burly men also come down from the stairs and close it behind them, plunging us into darkness momentarily before turning on the light for a single bulb above us.

Being surrounded by all these strangers, I feel the surge of panic start to bubble up within me as they surround me from all sides," answer me God damn it! Who the heck are you?!" I shout at them in panic and in a flash, the man on my left grabs my jaw harshly and forces my head upwards to stare at the man with the piercing dark eyes.

I take in sharp deep breaths to quell my rising panic attack, I couldn't afford to get a panic attack in front of these men.

The dark eyed man looks deeply at me," your a loud thing for someone powerless ", his deep voice sounds off in the enclosed space, he bends towards my face and studies me," you owe me a debt that is very much overdue so I decide to see to this matter myself" his breath fans my face as he speaks, a mix of tobacco and mint.

I stare at him with furrowed brows in confusion, I've never met this man before in my life so his talk of a debt is all new to me," What do you mean by debt? I don't even know you" I tell him as I watch his eyes. He raises one brow in silent amusement and takes a step back with a smirk on his face," Oh really? Want to play the innocent game with me, pretend you know nothing, quite original" he says mockingly as he takes slow, predatory steps around me," but no issues, let me play along and jog your memory shall we?" he asks while still circling round me," in 2015, Roman Alexe and his wife had a sudden decline from business that they tried to rise from, then all of a sudden got struck with the accident of their children which resulted in the demise of one and the long term hospitalisation of the other and with all those bills rounding up they had no way to go about it" he continues while I pale upon hearing his words,"how-how did-"," but then, left with no other option, they decided to steal from my shipment and stab me in the back" he interrupts me while still taking circles round me," nobody, will betray me and not get what's coming for them, hence why you're here", he finished and stops in front of me.

He stared at me with his cold, hard eyes at my pale self. The man holding my jaw lets go of my head with a shove making my hair stick to my sweaty, tear-stricken face. The hard-eyed man roughly grabs my hair by the roots and forces my face towards his," and now the option left is to pay me otherwise...." he leaves the statement hanging and draws out his gun from his back and grazes it at the side of my face.

The cold pistol is pressed to my forehead as the smirk falls from his face and he looks at me like a nuisance he would not be bothered to shoot right this instance," a life or two has to be traded for it" he pushes my head backward with the tip of his pistol and turns away towards the stairs," so now we play the waiting game, shake them up then we see what option they choose" he says without looking back and like a silent command, he's two men follow him up the steps and open the door for him," no, stop wait!!!!" I shout just as they slam the door behind them, plunging me into darkness.