Rain pelted down on the streets of Jacksonville as a black SUV with tinted black windows sped through the narrow streets at a dangerous speed.
A middle-aged man and a young girl were seated in the back seat of the vehicle. The middle-aged man was scrolling through his phone – his attention completely consumed by the small piece of technology. The young girl on the other hand looked full of grief – her heart aching so badly after knowing the truth that her emotional pain was slowly morphing into physical pain. Dried tear stains lined down her face as she tried to choke back a sob.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she failed to notice that their vehicle had come to a stop in front of a simple two-storeyed house.
"We are here," the middle-aged started – breaking her out of her thoughts. His words slowly registering in her mind and she slowly nodded her head in acknowledgment – unable to trust her own voice – fearing that she would break down again if she opens her mouth.
"I'm sorry for everything that had happened to you. I know that you're hurt, confused but you have to understand that all the things that we have done till now, are for your good. I know the truth is harsh but you deserve to know it. Please think about it," the man urged her.
The girl's facial expressions instantly morphed from that of gloom to anger – her fist balling at her sides.
"I told you once and I'm telling you this again. I know nothing of his inside business life. For god's sake – we dated for only like 3 months and we never talked about his life – it was always about me," she let out through gritted teeth.
"If I were you I would keep a check on that sharp tongue of yours. You do realize that you are in no position to question us – being under-aged and running around with the mafia," the man retorted sharply and the girl just hung her head down in defeat.
He was right in a way. What was she doing anyway – romancing with the mafia. It was not like her. She has always been the good girl – the one who always plays it safe – never gets in trouble. Despite all these things that they told her that her lover she can't accept it. She was too in love to see that so-called reason. She had to find a way to throw them out of her trail if she wants to protect her loved one – even though it may ultimately lead to her own demise. She had to do it – there is no other option.
"I know you guys won't believe me – even if I sing it to you a thousand times – you have to trust me – he is a nice guy – he is not capable of doing those things that you guys have told me about – it must have been a misunderstanding – after all humans make mistakes right?" she breathed out helplessly.
At the sight of the young girl's troubled state, the man's eyes instantly softened – she reminded him so much of his own daughter – who was snatched away from him, her only fault was being present at the wrong place at the wrong time. He doesn't want the same thing to happen to this young girl so he desperately tried to make her see the reason but she on the other hand was having none of it.
After much persuasion she finally said, "I am still going to say it, I know nothing of it – we met – we liked each other – we started dating – end of the story. Do whatever you want to do but never barge in like that and abduct someone just because you think that they may have been involved in something bad. I don't want to be a part of this. If that's all you have to say then I'm leaving. I hope that we never have to meet again," with this being said – she grabbed her duffel bag and open the door of the vehicle –she ran out without looking back – not even bothering to close the door of the vehicle.
She didn't look back to see if the car had left or not until she was inside her house in the comfort of her mother's arms – with her mom frantically asking the reason for her sudden arrival but at the same time troubled to see her own daughter in such a state.
It was only after she was wrapped up in her comforter and sitting on the bed of her old bedroom when she started thinking about all those things that had happened to her within the span of two days.
She just doesn't know who to trust anymore. She felt like everyone was hiding behind sheep's clothing.
It's time to re-evaluate her allies now.
Two Weeks Later.
"Why isn't she picking up her phone?" Norman gritted through his teeth as he paced around the penthouse.
It has been a week since he came back from his alliance tour in Italy and two weeks since he was last contacted by Melissa.
At the end of the second week when Melissa still didn't contact him – he decided to take matters into his own hands and decided to call her.
"Maybe she's just busy," Daniel retorted – clearly annoyed at his friend's obsessive behavior.
"How can she be that busy? I mean I'm her boyfriend. Don't I deserve at least some kind of special treatment?" Norman exasperated.
"Calm down dude. You are behaving like a teenage boy who got his first girlfriend instead of a fucking Mafia King," Daniel said – amused at Norman.
"It's ringing – it's ringing," Norman said.
"Melissa," he breathed out in relief.
"Norman.'
"Why didn't you called me?"
"I'm sorry. I thought that you were still in Italy."
"Well...I'm back now."
"That's good to hear."
"When are you coming back?"
"I don't know. I just wanna stay with my parents for a couple of days."
"Okay then. I hope to see you soon," he said.
"Yeah, same."
"I love you," he breathed out and waited for the reciprocation but it didn't come.
"Melissa," he called out once again.
"Oh yeah, I need to go now. Love you too." She said before quickly ending the call – leaving him behind with confused thoughts.
He stared down at his phone for a few seconds thoughtfully before swiftly turning to face Daniel.
"Prepare the cars – we are leaving in 10 minutes."
"Where are we going?" Daniel asked – completely taken aback by his friend's sudden command.
Norman just looked at him with a knowing smirk before saying...
"It's about time now that I should pay a small visit to my girlfriend's parents."