The Mafia's Dark Desire

ter

Di

da's

swift dismissal. I barely had the energy to protest, and it felt like a gut punch all over again. It was one more blow in a series of punches life had dealt me,

get money

that had once been my source of income. The place I had left behind. The last place I wanted to return to. B

on lights blinked overhead. The place hadn't changed. Same old sticky floors, same old faces. But my stoma

shifts. I had worked my ass off, but as usual, he tried to

going to back down. I wasn't that naive girl anymore, the one who let people take a

Donald's assistant, was sitting behind the desk, fiddling with so

ald," I said, my voice firm,

Donald's not in right now. You can

frustration in check. "I'm not here to lea

at did not quite reach his eyes. "It's not that simple, Brinda. You know how things work

ur club's problems. I did my part. I worke

in and demand money just like that after all the things done with Mr. Donald?" he said. "He is not go

getting nothing from me, n

ielding. My heart roared with panic in my chest, and my pulse quicken

y heart pounded furiously, when out o

. I flinched, but I didn't dare reach for it. The man who had bee

e let go of my left arm. and took my phone out before giving it to me, before

flips. "You don't have to give me my

of my neck stand up. But I didn't have a choice. I swiped to answer, and as

t from the other end, d

ed. Who

f the name echoe

nce

weak. It had been years-years since my ears had last heard him, Th

say, my voice shaky despite my

that is even worse." A chill ran down my spine with those words. "I suggest you listen c

t?" I forced an air of calm on myself, even though pan

ou've done. All of it. And I've been patient, but now it's time. You're goi

id, forcing out those words, even tho

"I never lost control, Brind

turned sharper. "I'm in control-Brinda. I always h

" My voice barely rose above a whisper, but t

er." His voice was smooth, as though he were offering me a choice between two s

th. But I knew it was impossible. The chill creeping up my spine, the sinki

hoose. Forced to pick o

d," I whispered. "

choose. You can save Sarah's body... or you can save Peter's life. But if you hesita

ther in every way that mattered. She had taken me in when no one else would, saved me when I was nothing. But Peter... Peter was my

tion. "You don't have forever to decide, Brinda," he warned

sed feeling like an eternity. I thought of Sarah lying cold and lifeless, the body I had come to love as my own mother. And I

the very air around me. Every breath was harder t

y audible, my thoughts scatter

ow, almost a growl. "If you don't pick, you'll los

y eyes. The face of Sarah's lifeless body flashed before me a

dmitted before I could even stop myself. "I choose Sarah." I didn't even recognize th

n. "Peter... won't be so lucky." I felt my heart shatter as the

would have come from a choice. "No!" I shouted into the phone, m

d become. "You made your choice, Brinda," he said, a finality i