I knocked on the door once. Then I pushed it open. I did not expect to see all those people waiting for me. Three men were standing in front of David's desk. All eyes turned to me. I looked back at them, not impressed.
"SIT," David said. I laughed at him, but I did not move. Then I heard a bang, and the shot went past my ear. It was too close, and it was too precise. I flinched a little bit.
"I told you to SIT the f*ck down," David said again calmly. That calmness of his was worse than if he were angry. I stared at him for a while, then I sat down slowly.
He looked at me for a moment before he started talking.
"This is Aron. You have met Dim....This is Veins." Dim winked at me. The other two just looked at me, cold and neutral.
" Nice to meet you all," I said, sounding a bit sarcastic, and David ignored what I said.
"Ann, you know that the Russians are our enemies. The Mexicans, and the British too… sometimes."
I stayed quiet. I was being careful.
"We think that the Russians and the Mexicans are forming an alliance, " David continued. "Tomorrow we will find out for sure."
My heart stopped beating for a moment.
"Tomorrow we are going to Las Vegas," David said. "Pablo Merges is opening a casino."
He paused for a moment.
"Pablo Merges is the underboss," he said. I already knew that.
"Your job is simple," David said, looking at me. "You will go to the casino undercover as a dancer. You need to get close to Pablo Merges. Make him trust you. Get him alone in a suite." His voice was a bit lower now.
"And then we will take over," he said. So that was the plan. If Pablo Merges talks, everything will fall apart. I needed to be in control.
"Okay, fine," I said. "But I have one condition." David's eyebrows went up while Dim laughed.
"She is a negotiator," he said. "I like her." I ignored him.
"I want to be the one to question Pablo Merges," I said, and there was silence.
" Not happening," David said. "I have known you for less than a day. You do not get to be in charge of something like that."
"This is a test," he continues.
"Do your job well, and maybe I will reconsider not killing you." I clenched my jaw.
"Do not mess this up," he said, standing up already. "The meeting is over."
"Please," I said, my voice softer now. "I need this." David's eyes narrowed.
"I have not killed anyone in months," I said. Dim burst out laughing. The other men looked at me like I was crazy, but David did not even react.
"Really?" he said flatly. "Because you killed several of my men yesterday."
"I do not remember that, " I replied smoothly. David's jaw tightened. There was silence for a moment. He turned to leave, then he came back.
"I have one more thing to say," he said. "After this mission, you will join the Omertà."
I froze.
Of course, I had forgotten about that. I turned to face him slowly.
"You really think I will swear loyalty to you?" I said.
"Ann, this is not up for discussion," he said calmly.
"Everyone leave now," he said. The other men left quickly. Dim gave me a bow as he was leaving.
Now it was just David and me.
"You do not get to decide what I do," I said, stepping closer to him. "I will not swear loyalty to you." His hand slammed down on the desk, but I did not flinch.
"You are walking on thin ice," he said, his voice low.
"You are in MY house, so you will follow my rules. Or you do not survive." I looked at him, not moving.
"You are replaceable," he said. "No one will miss you."
He paused.
"Leave now," he said. I gave him a nod, barely visible... but he saw it.
Of course, he did because a small smile appeared on his lips. He thought he had won.
I walked out of the room.
As soon as I was alone, a tear fell down my cheek. This was not going to be easy. I thought that joining the mafia would be simple. I had been training for years, I had planned everything... but this was different, they were stronger than I thought.
Smarter, more dangerous, and that meant I had to be better, stronger, smarter, and so much more careful. I could not make any mistakes.
I reached my door and stopped. Something was wrong; the door was slightly open. I was sure I had locked it. I pushed the door open slowly and quietly, and I closed it behind me.
Moved closer and only to see someone going through my things, I stepped inside without making a sound. I moved closer five steps, four steps, three steps.
The person froze, turned around, and bam.
A gun is pointed at my head, and I smile.
Looks like I won't have to wait to start killing after all.