TOSSED; The Serendipitous Lady

The loud echoes of his groan filled the large dark empty room, he was in a lot of pain and was already losing his breath but the two thugs won't stop hitting him, running away or fighting back wasn't even an option, his hands were cuffed above his head and the number of men in and outside the room outnumbered him.

Steps of a female high heel shoe were heard approaching, as the steps approached, the pace at which the thugs were hitting him increased as if the steps were a trigger.

Every step of the way, every thug she walked passed made sure to show respect by bowing to her.

The door swung open, giving way for her cherry perfume which automatically refreshed the room, giving it a more conducive air to breathe in.

Xiomara walked flawlessly into the room, walking 5cm behind her were Luca and Yvette, the highest-ranking bodyguard she had.

"Stop!" She said immediately she sat down on the big cushion which was specially meant for her while Luca and Yvette took their position behind her, one at the left and the other at the right.

The two thugs stopped and prostrated before walking to the corner to stand with the others.

Xiomara's face curved with a short evil smile as she stared deeply at the young man by the name Almiro, his face was covered with bruises, and his clothes were ripped and covered with his blood which was already dropping to the ground, looking as if he would be giving up soon.

Xiomara closed her eyes as she puffed out smoke from her mouth and nose, she just had a mouthful of cigarettes and wasn't in the habit of swallowing the smoke.

"Don't I pay you well?" She said busy with her cigarettes.

"Ple...ase" was the only thing Almiro could say at that moment.

Xiomara's lips curved with a smile, "Please, what's that?" she gave him a cold stare that sent cold down his blood.

Almiro gulped down not knowing what to say next, Xiomara smirked as she dropped her cigarettes "I hate it when am being ignored you know" she said now looking at Almiro who was shaking like a weak leave blown by air.

"Make him sit" she ordered grabbing her glass of whiskey, the thugs quickly uncuffed his hands from the metal road above his hand and forced him to sit down before using a rope to tie him around the chair.

Xiomara gulp the remaining drop of whiskey in her glass before she stood up walking towards Almiro who was trying to catch his breath and subdue the pain he was in. Her eyes were fixed on him and a smirk plastered on her face.

"Does it hurt?" her voice was very soft and calm like that of an angel, no one would believe that the owner of the voice can hurt a fly not to talk of being a mafia consigliere.

"Please, please, don't kill me" he cried helplessly, to the point, begging for his life was the only thing he could do for himself even though he wasn't sure if they were going to spear him.

"Ahh, you should know am not familiar with those words, you've been working with me for a whole five or is it six years so am sure you know the rules" She paused flashing him a smile.

"And you should know that whoever comes into my dark room, isn't going to see the next hour but since am in my best mood today, I might make an exception" she blinked her eyes in the cutest manner ever giving him a charming smile while walking behind him.

"Thank you so much, then....."

"Shut it" Xiomara snapped at him not allowing him to complete.

"I think you should understand the sentence better, there is a might there" She whispered into his left ear making him gulp nervously.

"Listen carefully! I won't ask you twice" She was now standing in front of him, keeping a very serious and scary face.

"Who put you up to this?"

"Nobody I was just angry so I...." A heavy resounding slap landed on his right cheek making him groan in pain.

Xiomara stared at her hand and saw a blood stain on her diamond ring, "Hey!, Do you know how much this cost?" She asked angrily showing him her ring not minding how much of an injury the ring left on his face.

"You were angry and you decided to kill my daughter, why? would that make you feel better huh?" Xiomara asked but all Almiro could do was beg for mercy.

"I should just k*ll you"

"No... am sorry, please please, just this once, spear me please, My wife just gave birth, I haven't even seen my baby, please, please" he pleaded in tears.

Xiomara burst into uncontrollable laughter, "I didn't see mine either" she said as she stretched her hand, and Luca quickly gave her a well-loaded gun.

"You should have thought about them before betraying me, you know me too well, I don't let off betrayals," Xiomara said using the gun to touch his face making him shake in fear.

"Even if you don't tell me who put you up to this act, I will still find them and send them to hell am sure you would need a lot of company," Xiomara said.

"It was Assemblyman Borelli" Almiro blurted making Xiomara raise a brow at him.

"I needed the money urgently, my wife suddenly developed fibroid and she's pregnant, I needed a lot of money for surgery, please forgive me" Almiro confessed in tears.

"How much did he give you?" Xiomara asked sounding very calm and compassionate making Luca and Yvette exchange glances at each other.

"A hundred thousand euros"

Xiomara chuckled staring at him "You.. you have been a very good boy and you betray me for just a hundred thousand euros".

"Ya!" Almiro jolted at the pitch of her voice

"If you want to sell me off, do that for a good price, it's upsetting if you sell me off cheaply, you understand," he asked turning towards the other thugs and letting them know the statement wasn't just for Almiro.

She was a mafia consigliere and betrayal was something that was bound to happen, no matter how hard you try to avoid it, there must be a Judas who loved money more than anything in life.

"Yvette!!"

"Yes Ma'am" Yvette answered immediately coming towards her.

"Use his phone and call the hospital, He needs to know how his wife and kid are doing, right?" she asked looking at Almiro.

Hot tears dropped from his eyes as she looked at Yvette who didn't hesitate to call the hospital, she wasn't going to let him off, today was indeed his last day.

"Put it on speaker" She ordered immediately after the call connected.

"You have just three minutes" She smiled at him.

"Honey, Where are you? everyone is already here, is the rain adding to the traffic?" Brenda his wife asked all at once immediately the call connected.

"Is it a girl?" he asked, he didn't have the time to answer his wife's numerous questions.

"Yes, and she looks just like you, your mum is here and she won't stop bragging," Brenda said over the phone smiling.

"Really" he tried as much as he could to hide his cracked voice and sound as if everything was okay.

"Yes, Do you want to speak with her" Brenda didn't even complete her statement before her mother-in-law collected the phone?

"Son, where are you?, you should come quickly to the hospital, your daughter looks exactly like you, your nose, your eyes, your big ears she has everything," The woman said beaming with a smile making Xiomara chuckle.

"Son are you still there?" she asked.

"Yes mother, am...." he stopped halfway trying to hide the sorrow in his voice, he just became a dad and it was a thing of joy and sorrow.

"Can you make her cry so I can hear her voice?" He managed to ask.

Brenda stared at her phone for a while getting suspicious of her husband's weird request but she simply waved it aside as nothing and pitched her daughter, the baby girl felt the awful pain and began to cry.

The baby's crying voice caused a stir in Xiomara's memory as she imagined how her own son's voice sounded, she sniffed smiling hard, if only she had gotten the opportunity to hear him cry.

"Time up," she said with mixed feelings and fired two bullets straight into his heart, the sound of the gun shattered everyone including Brenda and Almiro's mother.

"Hello, Honey what was that sound?" Brenda asked sounding very worried, Yvette quickly ended the call without saying anything to them.

"That was poetic" Xiomara commented staring at Almiro's lifeless body on the seat, a dead silence followed as Xiomara does the sign of the cross

"That's what you get for betraying me" she broke the silence, taking his wristwatch. "This is going to be my trophy, hope you don't mind," she said staring at the old wristwatch that had some bloodstains on it.

"Yvette, make sure you send gifts to the little girl, drop a bouquet on his grave and extend our condolence to his family and you Luca, get me information on where congressman Borelli is, I need to pay him a visit," Xiomara said with a smile plastered on her face.

"Okay" Yvette and Luca responded in unison.

"Matt, take care of this neatly understand," She said leaving the room, she was done with her business there.

"To Borelli house" Her eyes were shut as she relaxed at the back of her limousine.

Both Luca and Yvette gave her a sharp glance "Actually, he's out on a family vacation at his penthouse, we should visit him tomorrow" Luca said.

Xiomara gradually opened her eyes and stared at Luca and Yvette, they were both seated at the back of the limousine with her while Foschi her private driver occupied the driver's position.

"Family vacation huh?" she smirked "I love family vacations, especially when it comes with a surprise and unexpected guest"

"Don't you agree with me Luca?" she gave him a hard stare which could only mean one thing "Don't ever tell me what to do ever again".

Luca gulped hard retracing his previous words to Xiomara, although he was suggesting they visit Borreli the next day but he made it sound like an order, Xiomara hates it when people order her around, especially when low life bodyguards like him do it.

"Am sorry" he was fast in apologizing.

"Call Nevio, I have a little assignment for him" she ordered.

"Right away ma'am," Luca said and quickly placed a call across Nevio.

The car stopped at a black iron gate, leading to assemblyman Borreli's penthouse.

"Looking for someone?" one of the security guards asked.

"Boss Xiomara is here to see your boss," Foschi said keeping a straight face.

At the mention of her name, the security guard didn't ask any further questions.

Xiomara was a huge name in Italy, aside from that she and Assemblyman Borreli were acquainted with each other. The gate opened, giving them access to the building, the distance between the gate and the main house was between fifteen to twenty meters long.

The car finally stopped in front of the magnificent penthouse and Xiomara walked in alongside Yvette and Luca while Foschi stayed outside.

"What a pleasant surprise Xiomara" Assemblyman Borreli sipped his wine.

"Decided to visit an old friend" she sat down looking around as if observing her environment, Luca and Yvette both kept standing behind her.

"Care for a drink"

"Sure" She smiled and one of Borreli's men poured her a glass of wine.

she smelt the wine and shook the glass lightly before taking a sip "Sorath 1854" she smiled.

"Hmm, impressive, you know your wines," Borreli said.

"Yes, I know everything, every single thing," Xiomara said staring deeply at Borreli while smiling.

Borreli seemed to notice something was off and adjusted on his seat "Do you need anything Mara" Borreli asked.

"It's Xiomara, I don't like it when my name is shortly formed" she took in a deep breath and dropped the wine glass.

"Why?" she asked looking at Borreli.

"Why what? Am I missing something here?" Borreli asked.

"I see you want to play the dumb card with me, but don't worry, I got that covered already" Xiomara signaled Yvette who walked towards Borreli and played a video for him, it was the video of how Almiro was killed, Luca had filmed everything.

"I don't know him," Borreli said nervously, it was easy to tell because he was looking very uncomfortable.

"I didn't ask" She smiled.

"So, what are you trying to prove?, why did you show me the video" Borreli said a little courageous.

"I was curious, why would Almiro mention your name?, the last I check, neither of us was in each other's black book, so what happened?"

"I don't know what happened," Borreli said and sipped his wine.

"That was a rhetorical question" Xiomara scoffed.

"Are you being sassy with me, Get out" Borreli ordered angrily and Xiomara burst into laughter.

"Do you think you can walk into my den to threaten me, I would advise you to wait for me to come to yours" Borreli said confidently.

"But you already came to mine Borreli and am just returning the favor, you know me, I always return favors, whether good or bad, I always return them" Xiomara paused to stare at him.

"You tried to kill my little girl as if that wasn't much of a crime, you burnt three of my warehouse, Gosh do you know much I lost?" Xiomara asked.

"So, do you want me to pay you back" There was a tune of mockery in his voice which made Xiomara scoff.

"Your lucky your overly devoted nanny took the bullet for her, if not your little girl would have been in the cold room chilling" Borreli sipped his wine.

"You look too confident than I had expected"

"Why, are you scared?" Borreli gave her a "you can't do anything kind of look"

"Am not scared Borreli, am just thrilled, For someone who's going to die, you look very confident" Xiomara said.

"Who is going to kill me, you?" Borreli burst into laughter "Don't be ridiculous Xiomara, am not like those politicians scared of you" Borreli said.

"Am glad your whole family is here, it would save me the stress of sending my condolence to them, but I will make sure to drop flowers on your graves, I will surely do that". Borreli stared at her deeply with lots of resentment.

"So how many is it going to be, you, your wife, and three kids... Five, take note Yvette" Xiomara said smiling.

"You can't do anything to me, just take your men and leave while am still being nice to you, and stop making empty threats," Borreli said.

"I don't like long talks Borreli, even you should know that and neither do I make empty threats, I try to fulfill them all" Xiomara said.

"Indeed, I don't regret doing what I did, you keep up to your threat, maybe you should consider keeping up to your promised to support my political campaign but what did you do, you went ahead to dine with Paolo who is my sworn enemy," Borreli said, Xiomara stared at him shocked.

"Paolo?" she asked.

"Oh you mean the peace dinner" she got a glimpse of what Borreli was saying.

"You thought I was dining with Paolo" she burst into laughter as Borreli stared at her.

"Too bad, your insecurity and trust issues have gotten you into problems, what to do"

"Am not scared of you" Borreli said boldly to her face.

"If I were you I would be, you don't know what is waiting for you" Xiomara smirked.

"Xiomara Della Rocco, I no longer have any business with you and I seriously think you have overstayed your welcome" Borreli stated

"Are you sure about that?" She asked.

"Am yet to fulfill my daughters' late nanny's dying wish, I would be a devil if I don't so am here to do it" Xiomara said.

"So what was her wish, Money?"

Xiomara scoffed at the question "What will she be doing with that in hell unless you have hell currency, then you can send me to her when I send you there, she needs company, a lot of them" Xiomara said standing up.

"But, I can spear you, if you would step down from your government position and admit to your crimes in a press conference"

Borreli burst into laughter, stepping his right foot on the ground her a kid "What do you think I am, a fool" Borreli said.

"Why don't you admit to yours first, you aren't any better than I am Xiomara" he added.

"You should respect your elders you know" Borreli didn't let Xiomara say another word.

"That you are now the lady of the Rocco family and ruler of the Pyxinx empire doesn't give you the right to disrespect me, I know when you were just a piece of trash Ursula, crafting your way deceitfully into your present position, you were just fortunate enough that's all".

The both of them went into ten minutes staring competition without saying a word to each other and the guards too.

"Nice pendant" she broke the silence shocking Borelli who was expecting her to react in a different way to what he just said.

He gazed at her with eyes and ears wide open, still waiting for the worst but was caught unaware as Xiomara quickly grabbed his pendant off his neck, making him groan in pain.

"This is going to be my little trophy hmm," Xiomara said with her chin up.

"You know, like a sort of remembrance that I was here today and something to make me remember that there was a family like yours on this earth" she added and Borelli scoffed shaking his head vigorously.

"Addio (goodbye in Italy)" Xiomara said and walked out of the room together with Luca and Yvette.

Borreli banged his hand forcefully making the wine glass fall off the table and shattered into pieces pouring out its content.

"Who does she think she is to threaten me?" Borreli asked picking up his phone.

"And that pendant is a limited edition and very expensive, why did she have to take it" He whined typing some messages on his phone, just then he stopped when he began to hear a beeping sound.

"Honey! Honey!!" his wife called running downstairs, "I think the gas cylinder is leaking," she said immediately after she saw him, Borreli turned to her, he was now standing.

"And that beep, where is it coming from?" he asked.

"The kitchen too, I traced it to there, even though I what's beeping," She said.

Borreli turned to the door but it has been like three minutes since Xiomara walked passed the door.

"Call the fire service and rescue team, call the security guard and make sure Xiomara doesn't leave this......" Borreli was saying this when a loud noise was heard.

They all turned in the direction of the noise only to see a walking fire coming to consume them.

"Xiomara!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Please! Please! Please!" she cried in pain.

"Please!!!" she increased the pitch of her voice to know if someone would hear her and come to her rescue.

"Shut up, no one can hear you, even if they hear you, no one will come here," the boy currently having his turn in her said slapping her hard.

She kept crying and begging them to let her go but they won't listen to her as they kept taking turns raping her.

"Please," she said weakly and passed out, the guy currently taking his turn on her, noticed she was no longer breathing and became scared, "I think she's dead" he stuttered looking at the others in the room.

One of the guys rushed to her and checked her pulse "She's still breathing, but I think we should go now, she might die, her pulse isn't very strong" he said.

"But I haven't even had my turn yet... Gosh, what's this?" the last guy amongst them nagged.

"Am out, I don't want to get into trouble" the second guy said and quickly left the room, one after the other they left the room leaving her there.

**

"Mum, Mum help me" she cried walking towards their house, she was very weak and was walking as fast as her leg could carry her, she couldn't bear the pain again

"Dad, Mum, help me" she shouted, she was very weak so she couldn't increase the pitch of her voice.

She managed to make it to the doorpost but stopped when she heard a gunshot she gasped and quickly covered her mouth so she won't make any sound, she walked to the window and saw her dad laying on the floor and her mum was on her knees while one of the killers had a gun pointed on her head.

Xiomara jolted up at the sound of the gunshot, she was breathing heavily and sweating furiously, she grabbed her bedspread tightly trying to catch her breath.

She looked around taking notice of her environment, she had a sign of relief noticing she was still in her luxurious bedroom "It was a dream, it's just a dream" she calmed herself down.

"Oh you mean the same dream you have been having for a year plus now" her subconscious screamed at her.

She closed her eyes as the bright morning sun reflected its room "Why do I keep getting this dream" she thought out loud, "It's tiring" she added.

A soft knock was heard on the door interrupted her, she stared at the door and then at the clock beside her bed "oh my God" she didn't know it was this late, last night was hectic for her.

"Come in" the door cracked open revealing Yvette.

"It's morning ma'am," Yvette said.

"Am not blind you know" Xiomara replied sarcastically getting off her big king-size bed.

"The family members are here" Xiomara turned to her giving her a confusing look.

"For the family breakfast which you proposed days ago" Yvette added, she could read the look Xiomara was giving her.

"Oh! right, it's Friday already" Xiomara muttered.

"All of them?" Xiomara inquired

"Yes Richelmo was the last to arrive," Yvette said "They are all waiting at the dining table ma'am" Yvette added.

Xiomara closed her eyes touching her forehead, "I will be done in ten minutes" Xiomara said walking towards the bathroom

"Sorry to a bug in but didn't you have the same dream again" Yvette stopped Xiomara on her track.

Xiomara turned to look at Yvette "I would appreciate it if you leave me alone Yvette" her voice came very rude with lots of commands.

"Am sorry, just that I might have someone who has solu....."

"Get out" Yvette was cut short, she gulped and bowed slightly before leaving the room.

Yvette has served two bosses which made Xiomara her third boss but out of them all, Xiomara was the kindest and the most ruthless, she has a funny skill of switching characters.

"You suggested the family breakfast so I thought you would be the first on the table," Richelmo said on Xiomara's arrival at the table.

"You are no different from me, I was informed you were the last to arrive, I bet you stayed glued to your phone waiting for a cancel call," Xiomara said making Rosalia snicker.

"I guess you are still the same Xiomara Della Rocco I used to know" Richelmo scoffed staring at her.

"I don't know if that is a compliment but I would take it as one"

The maids served them food and excused themselves leaving only Yvette in the dining room.

"Rosalia, I was informed your business failed again"

"Tell me, the number of times your business failed, I already lost count," Xiomara said looking sternly look.

Rosalia stole a glance at Yvette before turning to look at Xiomara, "I can see they are tipping you off well" Rosalia said, she was sure that it was either Luca or Yvette that told Xiomara about her failed business, she did everything possible to keep it out off the press.

"Of course they do, should I show you how good they are?" Xiomara asked, Rosalia, didn't say a word as she kept staring at Xiomara, the two engaged in a staring competition for two minutes before Xiomara dropped a fat brown envelope in front of her.

"What's this?" Rosalia asked.

"It's right in front of your darling, take your time," Xiomara said smiling, Rosalia picked up the envelope and froze at the sight of what she saw.

If the Rocco family has a black sheep, Rosalia was the one, she is Richelmo's twin sister which made her the second child in the family, since Richelmo was born first, Rosalia had a wayward character of being a club stripper, a drug addict and a pornstar which wasn't good for the family reputation.

"That's how good they are," Xiomara said and Rosalia gave her a sharp look "Are you keeping tabs on me?" Rosalia asked, the pictures she was holding were pictures of her dancing at a VIP club two nights ago, pictures don't easily get linked from that club besides the club paid heavily for her service so they won't betray her that way and for Xiomara to have it, she must have placed a spy on her.

"Tabs? no am trying to preserve the family name Rosalia," Xiomara said and Rosalia scoffed.

"Preserving the family name, more like preserving your name" she muttered.

"I can hear you, am right here and am certainly not deaf" Xiomara reminded her with a big smile on her face.

"So, what are you going to do, kill me?" Xiomara snickered on hearing her, she dropped her spoon and sipped her wine.

"Why would I do that?, Don't worry Rosalia I don't have plans of killing you, at least not yet," Xiomara said.

"As for what I would do, am going to give you one more chance, you will receive some cash in your account soon, do whatever you want to do with it but just know that if I don't get good feedback on the business, and your character, am cutting you off"

Everyone present glanced at her surprised at what she just said.

"Cutting me off in what aspect?" Rosalia asked.

"You will know when you fail again, you have no idea how much this family has lost all because of you and I won't put up with your nonchalant attitude as your mother did, never," Xiomara said.

"Do not bring my late mother into this" Rosalia said getting furious

"She would be so disappointed so don't try to justify your actions Rosalia, and before I forget, you have just six months to prove yourself to me, and it's your lady chance because you won't be getting another" Xiomara paused and looked at her.

"You would be twenty-five years this year, I think you should consider getting married, I can set you up for a few blind dates" Xiomara added and Rosalia burst into laughter.

"Am not that bad you know and I certainly don't need your help to find a man, besides you are not my mother?" She said and turned to her food, she knew Xiomara called for a family breakfast to nag them, she always does that.

"And you Richelmo" Xiomara started looking at him.

"I would highly appreciate it if you did stay away from Aurelia Tomeo, she's bad news and I don't want her associated with my family," Xiomara said.

"And I would appreciate it even more if you can stop keeping tabs on me, you don't decide whom I stay or associate with, it's none of your business," Richelmo said.

"It is my business, you should watch out son if you don't want to end up like your father"

Richelmo banged his hand angrily at the table scattering Delfina and Rosalia and making the plates make noise.

"Are you threatening me?" Richelmo asked and Xiomara scoffed.

"A butterfly thinks itself a bird, don't push me by making the same mistakes your father and mother make, am still nice to you because I like you and most importantly, I consider you as my family, so better watch out," she said with a grin.

"Speaking of father, I spoke with the doctor," Richelmo said staring deeply at Xiomara while still standing.

"About?" she looked less worried and was busy with her food.

"After you visited, last weekend, his condition got worst" he paused.

"So, what's your point exactly?" Xiomara asked raising a brow at him.

The dining table become quiet and tense as the atmosphere changed completely.

"You seem to have a lot of time free from your schedule, you now go for hospital visitation," Xiomara said breaking the long stare.

"He's my father!" his tone was rather too high.

"I didn't say otherwise" Xiomara snapped. Richelmo stared at her for a while before storming out of the dining room, he had had enough of Xiomara for the day.

"Mum" Delfina spoke for the first time since the family breakfast started.

"Yes darling" Xiomara replied turning her attention to her.

"Can I talk to you about something" she stuttered every syllable as if she was scared of talking.

"Sure, anything," Xiomara said smiling.

"I read the tabloid this morning, Assemblyman Borreli is dead," Delfina said with a calm sad tone.

"Oh is he?" Xiomara commented

"He died alongside his family in a fire outbreak, the tabloid says you were the last to visit him," Delfina said.

"Is that true?" Delfina stuttered.

"I think you should focus more on your studies honey and quit reading the tabloid, they lie"

"But?" Delfina stopped halfway looking at her mum, she's just seventeen years and the youngest child in the Rocco family and of course, Xiomara's biological child.

"Nevermind," she said focusing on her food, Xiomara glanced at her and then at Yvette.