"Come again?" I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The man that stood before me, who I mindlessly assumed was my previous boss, was in fact not Dominic, but Dario Moretti?

It made no sense, yet all the sense at the same time. My gut was telling me from the beginning, but how was I supposed to know for sure? I had no knowledge of the existence of Dominic's family, and the two men looked identical in physical appearance.

"Ms. Aden, you should know I'm not fond of repeating myself, so when I tell you something you better make sure you're listening."

"I'm sorry for being a little shocked and confused about this weird ass situation I've just been thrust in. So you're telling me god has punished us with not one, but two Dominic's?"

He took a deep breath, shoving his hands in the pockets of his black trousers. I saw a few veins begin to pop in his forehead. "Don't ever in your life compare me to that infido man."

"In what? You know, I'm sure you're a very pleasant man, but I don't see why we would be getting to know each other. I don't know how you know my name or address, or choose to trick me into following you, but I can just go home right now and forget about all this, honestly. I'm sure this is just some big misunderstanding."

The big guy, who disappeared in some room the minute we came in, suddenly reemerged, walking hastily up to us as he tapped Dario on the shoulder. Dario turned and the big guy put his hand on his shoulder to whisper something in his ear.

Dario simply nodded, patting him on the back. "We'll continue this in my office. Sonny, make sure Ms. Aden is following me."

"Excuse me, but I do not move on your command. I wanna have this conversation right here right now, damn it."

Dario was already halfway down the hall, and didn't bother turning around to hear my plea. I stood with my head held high, attempting to give Sonny a look of dominance. Maybe I could intimidate him? Who was I kidding, Michael Myers with a freshly sharpened butcher knife couldn't intimidate this beast.

"Sonny, is it? How's about we make a little deal-" Before I could even finish my sentence he scooped me up, carrying me down the hall.

I started to get quite used to this form of transportation. There was this certain familiar comfort being in his arms now.

A yawn escaped my mouth. One of my bunny slippers slowly slid off my foot, though I didn't have the energy to call out for it. I had admit, they got me. It was probably the early hours by now and I was absolutely beat. Any energy I had wasn't half good enough to put up a fight.

I found myself having to blink away my eyes shutting, and before I knew it, I was lightly placed in a leather seat, facing Dario who sat behind his desk, slightly leaning in his chair with his hand on his temple.

He looked at me with this intensity, like he was either trying to undress me with his eyes or uncover my deepest darkest thoughts.

There was no doubt Dominic and Dario contrasted in personality, but I began to see very small differences in their appearance as well. Dario's hair had a more chestnut color than dark brown and his lips had this slight pout that made you just want to just reach out and tug on them for a few hours.

God was I tired. It hadn't even been a full hour since I stepped foot in the house, and I already seemed to develop Stockholm syndrome.

"You're tired." He said.

"Well, it has been a long night."

"When's the last time you've had something to eat?" He sounded almost concerned.

"Enough with the trick questions, okay," I scoffed. "I wanna know what your game is."

He sighed, licking his bottom lip. "I'm awaiting a very important call, so I'll make this quick. Dominic and I are not on good terms, and I intend to take him down. My informant relayed to me the fact that you went behind Dominic's back to uncover his intel. You should have known this would be a suicidal mission, but you seemed to ignorantly move like nothing happened, so I've graciously decided to save your life in exchange for that information."

Dear god, what did my dumbass get into?

I scratched my head trying to figure where to even start. "What do you mean you saved my life?"

"I'm saying, if Sonny and I hadn't picked you up tonight, Dominic would've put a bullet through your head by the morning."

"How do I know you're telling the truth? For all I know, Dominic could be going about his life, not giving me a second thought."

Dario said nothing, instead pulling a cellphone out of his pocket. He scrolled through it for a while, handing it to me. "Play that video."

I lightly tapped the arrow. Dominic was pacing back and forth in his office, swinging his handgun aggressively. "Get me Bella's information. The bitch needs a few bullets in her chest and I'm gonna do it my damn self, it seems."

A gasp escaped my mouth. Any fatigue I had quickly subsided. I sat upright, making sure I was intently alert to everything from now on.

"I went into his office because I was trying to hand him the stupid food he requested, not get "intel". No one was there, and there was a lot of stuff out so I decided to just look around a little. How the hell was I suppose to know it would get a target put on my back?"

"I'm sorry to say your excuses and reasons are pointless. what's done is done. Dominic and his men should be at your apartment in a few hours, but thankfully they won't find you there."

I wanted to throw up. All of this was too much, and my head was beginning to pound. I sunk into my seat, trying to stop my hand that once again shook vigorously. I shot back up when I realized there was something I was forgetting.

"Candice. What if he arrives when my roommate is there?" I didn't know Candice's work schedule, but she did spend a lot of time home.

"You better hope she's not."

"But what if she is?" I repeated.

"She will become collateral damage. We have certain rules in our business, and never leaving behind a witness is one of them."

"If someone doesn't tell me what the hell all this secretive business stuff is about I'm going to scream!"

He stood up, either in an attempt to match my energy or further assert his dominance. "Darling, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but you've gone and got yourself tangled up with the mafia."

That shut me up real quick. Everything made sense. The obscene wealth, dozens of bodyguards, confidential meetings, of course something illegal had to be going on. I slowly sunk back into my seat, trying not to think too much into things, trying not to think about what could possibly happen to Candice due to my lack of self control.

"I'm suppose to start school in two weeks. I know Dominic sort of has a short attention span, I'm sure I can just lay low and he'll forget about me by then."

Dario let out a low chuckle, "If you walk out that door alone in the next coming months, I'll give you five hours tops before your brain is blown out."

"And you're saying you'll protect me?" I asked.

"You have my word so long as you give me what I need," he nodded.

"How am I suppose to trust your word?"

"You'll come to learn very soon that my word means everything. Whether you choose to believe it or not in this moment isn't any of my concern, but just know either way, I will be getting that information out of you."

My options were slim. Even before I knew Dominic was in the mafia, I would have never willingly screwed with him. He was a short tempered man and very volatile in all aspects of his life. I didn't know much about the mafia world, but I knew I wanted to stay alive so I had to somewhat trust this mysterious man. At least until I could find a way out of both of their grasps and get out of town.

"Okay, but I can't promise I remember anything of substance." I shrugged.

"Oh yes you do. I'll give you a day to rest and get yourself together before I start probing your brain."

I thought back to all the files and schedules I read. I did find myself remembering bits and pieces, but most of the details have long escaped my mind. It was only natural, I'm human, not a information retaining robot. But if this is what's keeping me alive then I'd need to use it as leverage. 

Dario's office phone began to ring, and he quickly unbuttoned his jacket, taking a seat to answer it. His face, dead set and determined . "You got him, that's excellent. Did the plan go through smoothly? I know Johnny's men can be a pain in the ass sometimes."

I didn't know what he was talking about, I was just hopping this wasn't another long lost brother out to trick or threaten me.

"Yes, I want you all back at the house now. Take him down to the basement and report to me immediately after." He abruptly hung up.

I knew these men had creepy basements where they housed their enemies. These things were almost too predictable.

It seemed like Dario was about to open his mouth and say something else, when I heard a light knock on his door.

A woman's soft voice came through the intercom, "Dario, sorry to bother you but there's an issue we need to discuss."

"Just come in, Layla." He huffed, yelling towards the door.

The petite woman opened the door, moving with speed. Her dark bangs and long straight hair covered most of her face; and her oversized sweatshirt raised a little as she crossed her arms.

Dario swung his chair in her direction, raising a brow.

The woman suddenly noticed my presence, turning to me as I gave her a quick grin. She looked the least harmless out of anyone I've met in the last few hours, though I really shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

"I didn't know you were in a meeting, I can come back another time." she looked a little timid, running her hand through her hair. She was also so soft spoken, that I found myself having to sit up to hear her properly.

"That won't be necessary, get on with it now," Dario urged.

Sonny suddenly charged in, his footsteps so heavy it almost felt like the ground was shaking. "What she say is lie."

"A lie? I have the evidence still swirling in my toilet as we speak," Layla's voice went down an octave and up in volume. I guess she wasn't as timid as I thought.

"What the hell is going on here?" Dario looked between Layla and Sonny, clearly starting to lose patience.

"Tell this meat head to stop taking a dump in my bathroom. This is the third time this week I've gone back to my room to an overflooded toilet, full of massive shit."

"Sonny, is this true?"

Sonny lowered his head in shame "Si, Dario. I cannot tell lie."

I found myself inexplicably laughing at the randomness of this scene. Of all the issues I'd think a mafia boss dealt with, this surely wasn't one of them.

Dario sighed, "you have your own bathroom, and ten others throughout this house to choose from, why would you keep going to Layla's?"

"Other toilet cold and hard, like stone. Layla toilet soft with fuzzy seat, and make bum-bum feel nice."

"Jesus fucking Christ." Dario put his hand on his forehead, "Sonny, don't use Layla's toilet again, this is an order. You can go to the hardware store on your day off and get yourself a more comfortable seat. Now Anthony and Luca are on their way with Johnny Polito."

"Oh, they find Polito?" Sonny asked, finally finding the courage to reestablish eye contact.

"Yes, I need you to handle things in the basement. Go easy, I'm having a hunt tomorrow."

Layla groaned, "Seriously Dario, do you really need to make things such a violent show?"

I didn't peg Dario as someone who enjoyed hunting. I guess that explains why he choose a big house hidden in the woods. It makes sense why he would go tomorrow as well, I heard it was deer season.

"You've been here long enough to know the answer," he shut her down. "Also, Bella will be staying in the house. I want you to help her get settled in the empty room across from mine."

Layla seemed indifferent, urging me out of my seat.

I think I was starting to enter the hallucinatory phase of my sleep deprivation. Everything was beginning to spin and look hazy.

When she noticed I stumbled getting up, she interlocked her hand with mine. I think Dario said something as we walked out, but I didn't have enough energy to pay attention to his words.

"The poor deer's, they don't deserve to be hunted." I slurred.

Layla gave me a pat on the shoulder, "If only they were who he went after."