STUCK WITH THE MAFIAN TWINS

"Chelsea, I want these files signed and stamped by tomorrow morning, understood?" My boss growled, dropping tons of heartbreaking papers on my palm.

"Yes boss." I breathed, irritated as hell. This man stands on my nerves everyday and he knows it.

'Your evil looks can't hurt me. I'm your boss.' Those are his favorite words. I turned around to walk away but his eerie voice called me back.

"Chelsea," I could feel him smirk at how disgusted I am of him. I turned around again, counting the seconds with urgency.

"I'll need you to get ready, we have very important visitors coming tomorrow. I don't want stupid excuses. Am I understood?" I nodded slightly and walked away, cursing him under my breath.

From being the owner of a coffee shop in Italy to being a yes-man in the US? Somethings are worth dying for, and my elder sister, Marie, is first on that list.

Nothing prepared me for the shivering cold that enveloped me after hearing her sharp cries and a sudden deafening silence few seconds after. That day took something too valuable away from me, my peace. My family and I were set on a wild goose chase away from our hometown after a series of deathly threats from an unknown darkness. Marie's death was the last straw.

My mother's health has been failing ever since, my younger sister has had nothing but nightmares and terrible seizures and my dad, my dad has been even weirder. He receives long phone calls, he is always on his laptop, he could be out of the house for weeks then suddenly he is back home for three whole months and other times, he could just be lively and fun.

Whatever is up with him has definitely doubled these days because now he whispers, even in the house. I have been on the hunt for the demons that snapped life right out of my sister and it's been five long fruitless years. I even landed a high profiled job as the senior secretary of this stupid organization.

I deal with loads and loads of confidential information everyday but every clue that logically links to my sister's murder is more twisted and useless than the last!

"Done." I sighed, stamping the last file. I packed up and tossed my things aside. Picking up my bag and my leftover sanity, I strolled out of the building and into my car. While others have their 9-5 from Monday through to Friday, I have 8-7 from Monday through to Saturday but it's all worth it because today is Friday and it's the busiest day at the bar.

Yes, Chelsea Ambers is not only a secretary, she is a busy ass bartender.

"Chels!!" Aria, my best friend, yelled from a distance. I got off my car and immediately ran into her warm embrace.

"Girl where the hell have you been? It's already nine. The crowd has multiplied even more."

"Cassey isn't here today?" I frowned, searching for my lazy assistant.

"Who is Cassey?" Aria hissed, her voice deep in bitterness.

"She flirted with your man one time and suddenly she doesn't exist to you?" I asked, drowning in laughter as the memories of their fatal fight flooded back.

The club's rowdy atmosphere comforted my spirit as my drunk friends hailed me absentmindedly. Sweaty bodies swaying here and there, cards, alcohol, vomit and weird music blasting resonated with my spirit very quickly.

"Chelsea!" Mr Rick called out, snapping his fingers to get my attention. I lifted my head and locked eyes with him as a response. "One Espresso Martini for me and one Negroni for the lady." He smirked, cupping a chick's butt.

"Tsk, does your wife know you are here, Mr Rick?" I smiled, lacing my voice with the needed menace.

The lady stormed off but Mr Rick looked ready for a show down.

"What's your business with my wife? What's your fucking problem? Chelsea I,"

"Your faces on the ground now, everybody!!" A startling hoarse voice vibrated through the room.

Everyone and everything froze. In a flash, masked men and bullets took over, throwing the bar into commotion. Dust, shouts and gunshots filled the air leading to a brutal stampede which Aria and I managed to escaped by crawling on our bellies through the door till the fresh air outside touched our skins.

"Chels, Chelsea," Aria gasped, trying to find her foot on ground.

"Where- ugh." I paused, bumping into a huge figure. "Sorry, sorry." I muttered, picking up a large steel ring with two Rs inscribed on it that fell after I bumped him. Unable to locate his eyes, I placed the ring into his opened palm.

Breathing hard with a banging headache, I collapsed into Aria who in turn crashed into a bench by the corner.

"What just happened? Who were those men?" Aria asked, panting even harder as she dressed her bruises.

"We need to get out of here." I gulped, trying to hear myself through the continuous noise and echoes. "Where's my fucking key!?" I seethed, aggressively searching for my key with an eye out for the dangerous looking men dressed in black tuxedos.

"Let's start walking, we'll get a cab soon." Aria suggested, grabbing my wrist as we scaled through the dark alley.

"We can't walk all-" my phone interrupted me. I picked it out of my pocket hurriedly, scanning the screen and noticing my father's name. I tapped it and glued the phone to my ear as the neighborhood chaos intensified. "Dad? What's going on?" I asked, screaming at the top of my voice while running in the direction of my house.

"Chels," he began, whispering as usual.

"Yeah?" I shouted again. "Where are you?" He continued.

"On my way home." I replied, pissed at his wrongly timed call.

"Chelsea, stay where you are! Do you hear me?" He suddenly ordered, sounding fierce yet weary.

"What?" My breathing hitched, an uncomfortable shiver ran through my spine.

"Why?" I slowed down much to the confusion of Aria.

"Don't come home tonight, you hear me?" He instructed, breathing through his teeth.

"Tell me what's going on?" I snapped, tired of the unnecessary suspense.

"I don't know what's going on either but it's not safe here. Please stay where you are, I can't afford to lose another person tonight." He murmured as his voice shook with impatience.

"Lose another person? What are you talking about?" I froze, thrown into oblivion. He sighed as tears mixed up his words.

"Chelsea, your mother and your sister are gone."

"Mom? Wait-" my father hung up before I could breathe another word.

What the hell just happened? I stood with my arms akimbo and my lips agape as my mind blanked out in confusion. The noise slowly died down but the panic in my heart picked up its race. Aria stared at me, tensed and covered in sweat.

"Well? What did he say?" Aria asked as the neighborhood slowly gained its sanity.

Huge tankers zoomed off, leaving a cloud of thick smoke. Everywhere became dead quiet.

"He told me to... to stay where I am. He said... Aria he said, he said my mom and my sister are gone. What is he talking about, Aria? Gone to where?" I stiffened, letting droplets of tears run freely down my cold cheeks.

"Let's go, we will call him in the morning." Aria immediately replied, pulling me into her embrace.

"Aria didn't you hear me? My mom is gone!" I yelled as my voice echoed through the sketchy alley.

Cats and whatnot fled at the sudden change in my voice, scrambling away on cans and dirt.

"He is probably drunk, Chelsea. Why do you keep letting his words get at you? He is a stark drunkard, okay? Let it go! You have work in the morning. Your mom and sister are probably fast asleep already. Stop bothering yourself!" Aria insisted, pulling me along as we walked towards her house.

"So why am I going to your house if you insist everything is fine in my house?" I whispered, lost in my own thoughts.

Even if my dad jokes, he doesn't joke about my younger sister.

"Just to be safe. I mean, after everything we just witnessed tonight and the destruction done to your bar, I can't let you be by yourself. Okay love?" Aria responded, doubling our pace.

"But Aria, I-" she interrupted me immediately.

"Enough! Enough Chelsea! You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow, that's if it's not past midnight already. It's going to be all black suits and files for you in a few hours so why not let your brain rest while it can? We will sort your dad when the sun is high up in the sky, okay?" With that, the conversation ended.

*THE FOLLOWING DAY*

After the sleepless, tiring and restless night I just had, the last thing I want to do is go to work but here I am, standing face to face with the Rutherfords Empire. This Organization has the largest infrastructure under the sun and Chelsea Star Ambers is in charge of every single nibble of it.

I walked in, my nose high like I didn't almost lose my life last night at my bar.

"Good morning," a clerical staff greeted, breezing past me with a green jacketed file in her hand.

I ignored her flimsy greeting and walked into the elevator as my boss's words rang into my brain. An important meeting... I am sure as hell not ready but whatever.

"Miss Ambers, thank goodness you were able to make it." My boss sighed the second I stepped into his office. What? Like he cares for me or something?

"What do you mean sir? I'm always early to work." I scoffed, dumping the stamped files on his table.

"The news of the invasion at your bar is all over the media, Chelsea. People died last night so I automatically assumed we had lost you." He shrugged like it was that ordinary.

"I'm alive sir, you can drop the sad face." I bluntly replied, turning around to make my way out of his office.

"The meeting starts in an hour!!" He yelled again before his office door closed.

Before I could catch a breath, different files in dire need of my attention, landed on my table. My face remained buried in the books until a call came in.

"Office of the senior secretary," I paused, waiting for a response.

"The meeting is starting in three minutes, make yourself available immediately." My boss's grumpy voice echoed.

I dropped the call, stood up and hurried out. I arrived the extremely cold conference room and scaled through to my seat because for some reason, my boss has started speaking already.

"The Salty Huggers Oil Group reached out to us few months ago, requesting a share of this empire because they've traded with us without pay. Their lawyers submitted this court order to us last week and that's the first thing we would trash out. The Rutherfords are needed because the media will not let a debt slide by." My boss stopped, taking several deep breaths as his eyes frolicked around the room in search for a response.

The room remained dead silent as the owners stared back. Their eyes remained tucked away behind a mask. Dressed in all black, even with gloves, their scary aura overwhelmed the room. Never have I seen their faces and I have been working with them for five good years.

"What are your suggestions, Chelsea?" A grimly voice spoke. I turned in the direction of the voice as my eyes meet him, glaring at the table as he played with his ring.

My mind paused. This ring... I know this ring. I saw this ring last night. Am I hallucinating? The double R. I can't be mistaking, I remember it as clear as day. From the shooting yesterday. My mind refreshed and replayed it all... even the call with my father. I squinted my eyes, lost in thought as I watched him slide his ring in and out of his finger while tracing the Rs on it.

"Miss Ambers!" My boss snapped. I jerked back to reality.

"Sorry, sorry. I think it's best we give them the share." I spurted without giving my words a second thought. The deadly glances shot at me nearly pulled life out of me.

"How much do we owe them? What did we buy from them?" Mrs Nathara, the world's deadliest woman spoke.

"They have turned down money, ma." My boss replied with his head bowed.

"Why?" She asked again.

"Apparently, it was not a commercial transaction ma. The deal was between us, them and a certain Mr Giovanni who disappeared immediately, many years ago." My boss nodded. My ears tingled.

A certain Mr Giovanni? This is new information.

"End the meeting at once, I will handle it myself." Mrs Nathara said in a flash, rising to her feet and walking out. Her huge sons followed behind her.

*LATER THAT DAY*

"Aria, you will never believe what happened." I giggled as we sat in the cold, drinking and gossiping in front of a dilapidated hotel on a dark alley.

"What?" Aria asked after downing a shot of Whiskey.

"Remember yesterday, during the stampede?" I paused, making sure she follows my explanation.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Well, I saw a ring on the floor. It fell from one of the men who..."

"Miss Ambers!" A strange manly voice echoed from a distance.

Instinctively, Aria and I got up, ready to throw hands. The body emerged under a thin ray of light, all masked up with that same ring! My eyes widened, scared to the depths of my soul. Who is this person?

"I am not here to hurt you, I think we could make a great team." He responded in between subtle laughs.

"Who are you?" My voice cracked.

"That's no ordinary information to just hand out, you know." He replied as more men surrounded him. Aria gummed herself to me; I could hear how fast her heart beat against her chest.

"Your ring," I paused, trying to be bold. It's after hours and I am still sober, why is this man everywhere?

"You know me, Chelsea, but not as much as I know you." He stopped, taking three steps forward.

"I don't like mind games, young man. Tell me who you are and what you want or leave me the fuck alone!" I snapped, heaving like a fool.

"I have a message for your father. He has fifteen days to report back to me, or else, he will never see them again. Am I understood?"

The tense air became even worse. My father?

"Who are you and how do you know my father?" Confusion swirled my whole being.

"Non gioco con le mie informazioni." He whispered before turning around.

As he walked away, something flashed my mind. He is Italian, he knows my father and he is wearing the same ring! Something is definitely fishy! An idea dropped.

"Ho un gioco per te!" I yelled. He stopped, turned around and gazed at me.

"What would that be?" His voice suddenly became gentle, twisting into darkness.

"A man as sexy as you can't leave me hanging at this time, come, let's have a drink. I bet I can make you say your name before you know it." I smirked, walking towards him. As my hands touched his chest, he flinched.

"How do you intend to do that?" He asked, gesturing to his men to step back.

"That's an hotel behind us, right?"

"Amo i rischi ma se perdi, mi dovrai qualcosa di più grande dei soldi." In a flash, he lifted me, leaving Aria behind.

The desolate hotel had no life in it. He threw me against a bed and immediately undressed, leaving his mask on. Without his permission, I wrapped my hands around his length and took him whole into my mouth.

The morning sun appeared as fast as lightning. As much as I tried to lift my weight off the bed, it remained impossible. The pleasurable pain of a few hours ago spiraled across my body. My nipples perked at the thought of everything. Whoever this stranger is, sure knows how to use his tongue.

"So Chelsea, you do know you owe me, right?" His firm voice itched my ear.

"How?" I yawned, pulling the bedcover over my naked body.

"You can't remember our bet last night? I gave you one hour and while you were crazy good, you still don't know my name neither have you seen my face." He replied, dressing up.

The thought of having to go to work flashed my mind and weakened my spirit.

"So, how much do I owe you?" I laughed, standing up.

"We can't put a price on it just yet. First, deliver my message to your father. Tell him, a second strike might take his life." He swiftly left the room.

Scared, cold stranded, I stood gaping into thin air. What's my father's deal with this man? I picked up my phone and called my father; he owes everyone an explanation.

"Chelsea," he answered, whispering as usual.

"Mr Andrea," I began, burying my words in his soul. "A man has a message for you."

"Who?" He asked, obviously scared to his guts.

"I should be asking you sir! Where's mom?" I barked, suddenly heating up.

"I don't have time for this." He hissed and hung up. I called him right back.

"The man said a second strike might take your life. Dad what the hell is going on with you?" I shouted, raging internally. The most secretive, unstable human being is my father!

"Where did you meet this man?" He queried as though I'd sit and lie to him.

"What the fuck do you mean? Do I look like a child? Dad you-" another call interrupted. It's from my boss- oh God no!

"Good day sir." I grumbled, sick to my stomach.

"Miss Ambers, you have a query to respond from Mrs Nathara Rutherford. You must be available in ten minutes." He hung up.

Fear slashed my heart in half as my phone fell to the bed. Tension oozed out of my system as I stood, dripping in cold sweat. Of all the persons in the world to need my attention, it's Mrs Nathara? I threw my clothes on and hurried out, now fully aware of my damn condition. I am half naked and stranded in a dilapidated hotel in the middle of now where good. I picked up my phone, ordered a ride and arrived at Aria's house.

Lucky for me, she wasn't home so I grabbed a dress and escaped with the last air in my lungs.

"Good morning, ma'am." I muttered, saving my life as I coughed out the dust particles that clung to my throat.

"Miss Ambers," she called my name like a demon, roll-calling sinners. Mrs Nathara might be the devil herself. "What are you doing?"

Unable to think of any lies or truths, I remained numb.

"Speak!" She shouted banging her fist on the table.

I jerked up, breathing very hard as my sanity flew to the wind. What does she want me to say?

"I- I ahm..." I muttered, struggling terribly. She embodies a very dangerous aura, it's like sitting on spikes- if you get too comfortable, you'll bleed.

"What are these pictures for?" She sighed, sliding her tab across her table till it hit my fingertips. My world stopped.

"Ma I, I don't-"

"You don't know? You no longer recognize yourself, Chelsea?" She frowned, flying to her feet.

"I swear to you, this isn't what it looks like." I bit my lips knowing my gloomy fate.

Why the hell am I staring at naked pictures of myself and that masked man? And why the hell is it trending?

"Who is this man?" Mrs Nathara asked, furrowing her gaze as she pierced a painful gaze at me.

"I don't know him." I murmured, shaking like paper in the storm.

"Do you have-" a call came in and so did ten bulky men. Rushing into the room like spies sent to a new planet, they surrounded Mrs Nathara.

"Hello," Mrs Nathara answered the call but her countenance only got worse. "No, that can't- listen I... hello?" The call ended.

In a split second, she aggressively brushed aside all the papers on her table to the floor. Her breathing intensified as she approached me.

"You fucking bitch!" She screamed, landing her right hand on my face. Light left my eyes as I staggered. "Do you know what you just caused me?" She shouted again, placing a sting on my face. I stepped backwards and darkened and water filled my eyes. "For two years! Two fucking years I chased this contract! Now your stupidity has cost me twenty billion US Dollars!!! Twenty billion you fool!!" She shouted again, connecting another painful slap to my face. Her men rushed forward, seeing how dizzy I had become. "Guess what, Chelsea! You will pay me back! You must pay me back! I don't care how you will do it, just know if I don't see my money before next week runs out, consider yourself a dead man." She shivered, slowly taking her stare off me before walking away.

Two weeks to produce twenty billion dollars? My consciousness remained in the wind and my teary eyes remained glued to the ground. Who even took those pictures? Is this the second strike that man was talking about? What's his name to even begin with?

"Miss Ambers," my name echoed weirdly as my boss approached me.

Goosebumps covered me, squeezing life out of me.

"If you think you can tarnish the image of this astounding organization, then you have it all mixed up. Your vile images running fly in the wind of social media cannot in anyway speak for our legacy. You have what you deserve coming at you soon. Understand?" He hissed, sassy much. I glanced at him, wondering how the hell I wound up here.

He walked out, slamming the door and leaving my thoughts to go even louder. I sat on the bare floor, sniffing cigarette and alcohol out of Aria's dress as my heartbeat got louder and louder.

"Hi," a calm, sweet voice startled me. I sprung to my feet, recognizing the same mask from last night.

Instinctively, I stepped back, colliding with a furniture.

"Take it easy." He rushed at me, grabbing me to stay still.

"Stay away from me," I shuttered, raising my index finger as a barricade.

"No, no, relax. I'm not him, I'm a different person." He whispered, wiping my tears. My heart froze.

"What?" I breathed.

"I am Matteo Rutherford."