"How could you lose him?"
The question revibrated throughout the room. Not a single person had a word to say. The veiled lady was sprawled on the floor, looking beaten up.
The question had not been spoken in anger. Neither had it been yelled. It was asked in a cool, calm voice that those in the room hated hearing, more than anger in her voice.
"I asked a question. And I deserve an answer, don't you agree Vanessa", the lady said again.
In truth, the one who spoke was not even in the room. But the voice vibrated through the closed place through speakers no one dared ask about. The man at the desk, they knew, was the closest link to their supreme boss.
"Well?"
"Ma'am… Vanessa went onward on her own. By the time we had caught up with her, he- he was gone", one man said timidly.
"I see… kill him"
The command was given in a silky sweet tone, and executed in less than two minutes. The man slumped on the floor; the lady named Vanessa whimpered.
"You believe… I would have you killed. Is that not so, Vanessa?"
Her eyes shot up briefly, the fear shining through, before she looked back down.
"M- my lady?"
"I'll make your thoughts come true then. Kill her"
And so, Vanessa was killed as well.
"Very good. I think… as at now… it is about time, to take more drastic measures. If you value your life, do as I say. Have a good night."
The silence afterwards was deafening… no one dared speak, no one dared look up, for in a mafia there is always someone watching. Finally, the single command, 'go', was issued, and the room emptied in less than half a minute… all but one man.
"Ma'am?"
"We make preparations tonight", and the line went dead.