No. 41 Madison Avenue
24/01/2016 10:05am

"How have you been?" Don Acerbi asked.

He was sat in the chair opposite Vinnie, smoking a cigar. Donnie was seated across the way and his gaze flickered to Vinnie, waiting for his response.

"We're very well, thank you." Vinnie smiled.

His charm was up and Donnie almost felt sickened by the way his brother was acting. It had been over a week since the funeral and Vinnie seemed not to care anymore. Don Acerbi didn't seem all that bothered by Vinnie's attitude problem.

"What do you say, little brother?" Vinnie grinned over at Donnie.

"Yes, we're missing Dad, but we're very fortunate." He replied, glowering at Vinnie.

"And how are the family?" Don Acerbi asked.

"Their spirits have not weakened." Vinnie chuckled.

Donnie scowled and slumped in the leather couch, ignoring Vinnie's smirk. Of course, Don Acerbi had no idea of the ludicrous idea to abduct the congressman's daughter. He'd disapprove, but Vinnie had called him here to explain the idea to him.

"Why have you asked me here?" Don Acerbi was no fool.

"I'm glad you asked, actually," Vinnie said. "I've decided to plan something that involves taking control of someone elses life."

Oh, here we go. Donnie rolled his eyes and glanced at Don Acerbi, who looked somewhat confused by this vague statement.

"What do you mean by this?" He asked.

"I have sent some of my family to retrieve a girl for me." Vinnie grinned.

"A girl? I wasn't aware you needed help getting laid," Don Acerbi smirked. Donnie covered his mouth to muffle his laughter. "You sent who to do this?"

"The assassins."

"Why would you do something so irresponsible."

Donnie leaned forward then. He had decided this conversation was worth his time now. Don Acerbi wore a look of slight anger. Vinnie was frowning, seeming evermore like a petulant child.

"They are loyal to me." Vinnie said, puffing out his chest.

"No, boy, they were loyal to your father. He died and so did their loyalty. You're a child to them." Don Acerbi snapped.

"They know I am in charge now. They know I'm the Don." Vinnie seemed to be losing his patience.

"No, they know you're a kid. You were a kid when Marco trained them and you're still a kid. Whatever mission you give them, they will not fulfill it." Don Acerbi said.

Vinnie's jaw set and he looked furious, like a child who had been told that Christmas had been cancelled. He angled his head to glare at Donnie, who was smirking.

"Laugh while you can, little brother, but I will have my prize."


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Diamond, NYC
24/01/2016 11:45am
Kacee POV

The first sound I heard as I began to regain consciousness was talking. Feeling started to return to my body and I realised I couldn't move my arms or legs. Something cold was pressing against my wrists and I guessed it was a chair because I was sitting up, or I got the feeling I was.

"She cannot stay here." A deep masculine voice said.

My brow furrowed as I tried to place where that voice was coming from. I parted my lips to speak, but my mouth felt like it was full of cotton wool. Eventually, I could wriggle my fingers and my eyes started to burn.

"What the fuck? That's so unfair, Andy." Someone else said.

"Hey, she's waking up." There was someone in front of me.

My eyes slowly opened and I was face-to-face with a guy. His bright blue eyes stared into mine and he actually looked deeply concerned for me. I took a shuddering breath and the feeling came back to my throat and I knew what I needed to do. I opened my mouth wider to scream. A hand clamped over my mouth and my eyes flitted to the side.

"No screaming, love." A guy was standing next to me.

He winked and then looked at the person I presumed was Andy. He was a tall man with black hair and icy, blue eyes. There was a guy next to him and when they heard the interruption they both looked to me.

"Are you all right?" Andy asked, walking over. "George, take your hand off her mouth."

He removed his hand and I glanced up at Andy. He seemed to realise he looked intimidating so he lowered his body to my height, brushing some of my hair from my face.

"Where am I? Please, let me go." I whispered, and I realised I sounded hoarse.

"You're in my club," Andy replied. "These idiots bought you here after they drugged you."

"You drugged me?" I shrieked at the guy next to Andy,

"Well, you wouldn't have agreed to come otherwise." He stated.

So, I was here now. I was here and my brain was asking questions. What did they want from me? Who were they?

"Who are you people?" I murmured.

Andy looked sideways, like he felt insanely guilty, but his features hardened in anger and he stood then. He walked over, saying something to someone and I waited. A familiar person walked over. John sat in front of me. His dark eyes locked with mine.

"I wasn't entirely honest with you. We're assassins."

That did it. I screamed then, loudly and Andy reached out, clamping a hand over my face. He let out a gust of air then glared at John.

"That could have gone better." George said.

Andy dropped his head and then he looked at me again. He must have sensed how scared I was, but he lowered his hand carefully.

"So, what's the plan now? Will you be delivering her to Vinnie?" Andy seethed.

"Oh yeah, kinda forgot he wanted her." The guy standing across the way.

"If you forgot then why the fuck did you take her in the first place?" Andy snapped, glancing round.

Who was Vinnie? Why did he want me? I took a few steadying breaths, letting me head fall a little. All the crying I'd done last night was nothing compared to the crying I was doing now.

"Awh, don't cry." The guy next to me said. He looked really worried.

"Yeah, kinda easy for you to say since you're not tied to a fucking chair." Andy growled.

"Fair point." He said.

"So, my question still stands." Andy said, sighing and running a hand through his hair.

"Vinnie's such a fuck." John said, placing his hand on my knee.

I squirmed a little and Andy noticed, taking his hand and removing it, smiling sarcastically.

"Yeah, I get the sense that she doesn't want any of you touching her, just a sixth sense I'm getting here." Andy snapped.

There was a moment of silence and I waited for whatever choice would seal my fate. If they were going to murder me then why not just do it. What was with all the waiting around. I looked at John for the first time and I wondered if it had all been a lie.

"We could just let her go." The guy next to me said then.

"Ringo, I think she's seen too much." Andy replied.

John smiled then and he stood, rounding the back of the chair and I felt his hands on my own and despite the fear, I felt my heart pick up when his fingers danced against my own as he cut the rope securing my wrists. My hands were released, but I stayed rooted to the spot, too afraid to move in case they decided to kill me.

Andy stepped back and he appeared to be waiting for what would happen next. It didn't seem like death was coming because John came to stand in front of me and he motioned for me to stand. I did as I was told, shaking violently.

He turned to the guy across the way, "Paul, knife, please?"

Andy looked panicked then, "No, no way."

Paul smirked and walked over, handing a pointed knife over. Its handle was silver and its blade was long, ending in a point. John opened his palm and pressed the knife down. I watched until blood started seeping through. With his free hand, he reached down, grasping my hand and I started to resist when I realised what was happening.

"Either this or I kill you." He snapped, and I stopped struggling.

I cried as the knife cut into my skin and and he gripped my hand in his, allowing our blood to touch. It felt like quite an intimate act and I lifted my head to look into his eyes.

"Omerta." He said.

Had I just been inducted into something? Andy was shaking his head. Our hands parted and I swayed a little. Word vomit was coming. No, it was actual vomit. I turned and rushed in the general direction of the toilets. I got there in time to throw up, sobbing as I did so. Once I'd finished I stood, shakily and wrapped the cut in paper wipes to stem the flow. I left the toilet to find them all talking.

"You all right, Kacee?" Andy asked.

"No, I feel ill." I said. My head was throbbing.

"That's the rohypnol wearing off." George grinned.

They'd drugged me and I heaved a little at the thought. Andy was shaking his head again. He turned to look at John.

"Take her home now." He said.

"See you real soon, Kacee." Paul said, waving at me.

I wasn't sure what to say to that vaguely sinister goodbye. I followed John out the door and into the street. He pulled out a set of keys and pressed the button. We got in a car across the way. I waited for the right moment to ask and the right moment came as we sat in traffic.

"What did you do to me?" I asked.

"While you were unconscious? Nothing. That thing I did was a vow of silence. You can't talk about what you saw today and you're now protected by us." He said, watching the traffic,

"Are you going to kill me?" I whispered, my voice breaking a little.

He seemed to sense I was upset and his hand grasped mine and he looked at me then. His interlaced our fingers.

"I think it's pretty obvious I won't kill you, love." He replied.

"I'm really mad at you." I said, as if it wasn't completely obvious.

"I know you are. And I'm really sorry, you have to believe me." John said.

The traffic broke and the car moved through and down onto 57th Street. We parked up outside the appartment block and I turned in the seat to look at him.

"I feel like I don't really know the real you." I confessed.

"I know and I'm sorry." He sounded genuine.

"I'm gonna need some time." I whispered, and he looked even more guilt-ridden.

"You don't want to see me again?" John asked.

"I didn't say that." I replied.

Once back in my own appartment, I slumped onto the floor and broke down again. My stomach objected and I raced to the sink, dry heaving into it. My entire body throbbed painfully. I sat on the kitchen floor and cried into my hands again.

Notes