I’d gotten a text from John after school to meet him in his office when I got home. I had no idea what he wanted me for and I didn’t want to find out, but I didn’t have a choice. When John requested your presence, you gave it to him.
I walked into the house and slowly made my way toward his office, passing the door that led to the basement where Sophia had been for two months already. After the drugs had finally worn off that first day, the only thing I could get out of her was her name. I tried to visit her every day so she wouldn’t feel alone, but John wouldn’t let me and there was only so much I could do.
As I approached John’s office, I could hear talking and nervousness started to settle in my gut.
I was not looking forward to that meeting.
Turning the knob, I made my way into the office and was confronted with a man I’d never met before, sitting in the chair opposite John.
“Come over here and have a seat, Mason,” John beckoned as he leaned back in his chair with a cigar in his left hand.
I walked over to the chair next to the man I didn’t know and took a seat.
“So, this is Mason,” the man said with a small laugh as I turned to look at him. “I understand you’ve enjoyed the present we’ve bestowed upon you.”
We?
I looked toward my father who was watching me with a raised brow, then looked back toward the man. I squinted my eyes at him in disgust as I took in his words. I knew he was referring to Sophia and it pissed me the fuck off.
I sat up straighter in my seat. “And who are you?” I asked in an authoritative tone I didn’t know I possessed.
The man pursed his lips slightly and looked me over, which gave me enough time to do the same.
He was dressed in a fine suit, something I knew John would wear. His dark hair was gelled perfectly in place and he had the slightest hint of stubble on his face. But none of that intimidated me. What did were his almost-black eyes. I knew he wasn’t a good man. And although I wouldn’t show it, he scared the shit out of me. More than John ever would.
Crossing one of his legs over the other, the man leaned on the side of the chair to get closer to me, clasping his hands together.
“You can call me Mr. Black.”
The cool demeanor I was trying to maintain deflated. Mr. Black smirked at my sudden change of expression.
“I take it you know who I am?”
Mr. Donicko Black was the man John had told me about, the infamous Black Widow. The man who got away with everything, who had every law enforcement under his thumb.
The day I’d met Sophia was the day I was brought into John’s world. I was informed of his illegal dealing and how I was being initiated into the circle to one day join the ranks of the trade.
I’d told him no. There was no way I’d be involved in anything he did and there was no way he could make me. I’d threatened to expose him and the whole operation, but that was when the threats were made. If I didn’t want to end up like my mother then I’d keep my mouth shut. I was told I’d be getting a visit from Mr. Black, but I paid no attention to it. My main concern at that point was getting Sophia out unharmed.
“Yes, I know who you are,” I stated blankly.
He smirked. “Good. Then you know I’m not a man you want to fuck with.” He looked toward John and nodded.
I glanced over to see John pull up surveillance on his computer. There, in black and white, was Sophia sitting on her bed.
I sat up straighter, ready to jump at John, when Donicko put a hand on my shoulder.
“You care for her, don’t you, boy?” he asked with a raised brow.
I stared at him with a stern expression, not saying a word. I wasn’t going to tell them anything. They had surveillance on her room, but I didn’t know if they had microphones, too. If they did, then he’d know how I felt.
I more than cared for her.
He nodded again and John shut the computer down. “If you want to protect her, then you’ll do as I say. You’ll follow my rules with no questions asked.” He stood from his seat and fixed his suit jacket. “If you don’t then her fate will be carried out as planned.”
*
Present
Two days later I woke up with another fucking headache, but that was to be expected after drinking half of a bottle of whiskey. It was the only way I could get my mind to shut up, but the image of Emma wouldn’t leave. I was irritated as fuck that she had the power to take over my thoughts. That she had any sort of power to make me feel. I worked too hard to have control over every aspect of my life. I knew what needed to be done. I just needed to figure out a way to do it.
Walking into the bathroom, I stopped at the sink and opened the drawer, avoiding my reflection. When I had the urge to cut, I never looked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t want to see the person I had become, the person I hid so well.