Jackson was a normal bustling city. People rushing about minding their own business. Nobody cared about the daily ongoings. Sure, there were drug deals in alleys, people getting mugged, people going missing, and of course some murders, but nobody paid much attention if it didn’t impact their lives. They had better things to do than to worry about things that didn’t concern them. On the other side though, the mafia controlled the underground. They were considered the scum of the Earth. They fought with other mafia families over territory, they killed those they couldn’t control, they tortured to get information, and they would do whatever they could to get power. Nero Duranta’s life wasn’t as easy as most because he was connected to both worlds.

He had been born into the mafia and he couldn’t complain much. It had sent him to college, paid for his company, and gotten him to where he was now, but if he was honest with himself, he didn’t like the violence and cruelty of it all. He wanted to maintain a sense of humanity, but that was getting harder and harder to do. That day hit him especially hard.

In a warehouse, just outside the Jackson city limits, icy rain could be heard pelting the tin roof. Nero Duranta, Ren Chi, Lilia Angelov, and Nick Sevros stood squaring off inside. Nick held a gun on Lilia as she stood in front of Nero protectively. Ren stood with his hands in the air just to the side of Lilia. “Just hear me out,” Nick said firmly.

“You’re a coward! Nothing more.” Lilia’s soft voice was booming from across the room.

“He’s a mafia member. How could you side with him?!”

“So, are you! What’s the difference between you?” Lilia shouted, pointing to Nick.

Nero shrunk down when being compared to Nick. In his eyes, he was quite different. He only tortured when it was necessary, and he didn’t kill people. He had a reason to be where he was. He only stayed because of her, Torva Musuki. She had changed his life and not for the better. Nick didn’t have a reason other than he liked to hurt people. “Hey,” Nero whispered shamefully.

Nick laughed. “Are you serious? You dare to compare me to that thing! He is nothing compared to me. I have power, money, whatever you want I can give you. You want nice clothes, they’re yours. You want a nice house, done.”

Lilia looked sideways at Nero. No, he’s right. Nero’s different from him. He would never… Her thoughts were interrupted by Ren’s hissing.

“What? You disagree! Of course, you would. You are nothing more than a loyal slave!” He shouted.

“You’re the slave! You are just a traitor. You have no idea what it means to care about something or somebody enough to do anything for them.” Ren shouted defensively. “You will never be as good as either of them. You are not even worth the time—” Bang! Lilia closed her eyes tightly. Her life flashed before her eyes, but then she realized she was uninjured.

“You dare shoot at her!” Nero’s voice was cold. He turned and started walking toward Nick. Lilia’s eyes widened as Nick pulled the trigger. Bang! Nero stumbled backward toward Lilia. Nick had a smile plastered on his face.

“You better than me. Ha!” His grin grew as he held the gun up again. Bang!

A gun clattered to the ground. Lilia’s scream echoed through the warehouse. Ren ran over kicking the gun from Nick’s side. He looked back at Lilia who was shaking with his gun in her hand. She dropped it to the ground. “Oh my God! Is he… I…” Tears welled up in her eyes. Nero rushed over to her wrapping his arms around her.

“It’s going to be all right.” Nero’s black eyes fell upon his bodyguard and trusted assistant. “Ren!” The entire world seemed different to him as he stared at Lilia’s grief-stricken face. She  had done it for him, but he worried she would never be the same.

Ren looked back to Nero through worried eyes. “Are you okay sir?”

“Ren, take care of it.” Nero’s voice was strong and calm as he assessed the situation.

“But, sir,” Ren said advancing toward Nero.

“Just do it!” Nero ordered.

 Lilia sobbed into Nero’s bleeding arms. “This…I…Oh God!” Her deep brown eyes stared past Nero to the bloodied man lying on the floor.

“Shh. It’s going to be all right. I’ll—”

“I killed him!” She shrieked tears pouring from her eyes.

Nero pulled her close and wondered how it had gotten to this point. They had only just met. I shouldn’t have used her. This wouldn’t have happened. “It will be okay,” he said trying to keep his voice as calm as possible. He had been shot twice. Once in the arm and the other in the stomach. Nick Sevros had been the mastermind behind it all and now he caused this pain to his woman. Ren watched Nero slowly losing his strength. This brought Ren back to when he had been so weak. Nero saved Ren from his family during his time in China.

An image of Ren’s father flashed through his mind. His father was looming over him. His face scrunched up from the rage boiling out of him. “How dare you embarrass the family like this! You…”

“Father please!” Ren’s father’s fist hit him in the face.

“You are a disgrace. How could you let another man take you?” Whack! Again, his fist collided with Ren’s face. “I’ll take care of your lover.”

“Please! I’ll never do it again. Please don’t hurt Lee Jin.”

Ren’s father grabbed a pipe from a pile of weapons. Whack! Whack! “How dare you go against me! I am the head of this family.” He screamed. “You have no business talking back to me. The decision has already been made. Stop your whining.”

Blood trickled down Ren’s face. He lay on the tile floor pleading to his father, “I’ll do anything.”

“Oh, anything. Well, since you want another man, maybe I should sell you. I’m sure there is somebody out there willing to pay for trash. I’m sure you’ll love it.” His voice was cold and distant. Ren’s father had always been patronizing. This was no different, but now it was aimed at his own son.

“I’ll do whatever you want but please spare Jin.”

“He’ll be your punishment. Chin, bring them to the chamber. I’ll deal with both of them personally.”

“Yes, sir.”

The image of Ren’s past faded as he looked at Nero, he didn't look good. Ren rummaged through his pockets for his phone as his mind went back and forth, but he knew Nero needed help and the only person he could call was that man. He sighed as his slender fingers dialed a familiar number.

At the Jackson City Police Station, a phone rang. Timothy Thomason searched his desk with his blonde hair flopping in his face. He pushed aside several stacks of paper. Finally, finding the phone, he answered. His voice was dull and calm, “Hello?”

“Hey Timothy. We have a problem.”

“Ren?”

“Yeah. Nero’s been shot.” Ren said. He couldn’t hide the panic in his voice.

“What!?” Thomason’s mouth hung open. Nero wasn’t the type to get shot. Something terrible must have happened.

“That’s not all, his fiancé shot Nick Sevros.”

“How did this happen?”

“I don’t know. It happened so fast. I’m not even sure how she got the gun.”

“I’m on my way.”

“We’re at the warehouse ten-sixty-nine off Highway fifteen.”

“Got it. I’m bringing my people. So, prepare for that.”

“I understand." Ren hung up the phone turning his attention to Nero. "Sir, Thomason is on his way with his people.” Ren’s olive-beige skin looked darker in the poorly lit room. Lilia fell to the floor as her knees buckled from the shock. “Want me to get her?” Ren said watching Nero’s eyes winch as a slight burning sensation spread through his arm as she slid down to the floor.

“No. Don’t worry about it. She just needs—"

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

She screamed holding her head in her hands, “I killed him! I killed him…”

“We need to get her to calm down. She needs to understand what’s about to happen.” Ren stepped closer putting his hand on Nero’s shoulder. “Sir, I can try to help, if you’ll let me.” Nero’s face fell for a moment, but he relented. “Thank you, sir.” Ren pulled Lilia’s tear-stained face up to meet his own. “Hey. Look at me. You need to calm down.”

“No. I-I…” Her body shook uncontrollably as she stared right past Ren.

“You can. Just take some breaths. Focus on your heart.” He took a deep breath in and began counting, “One…Two…Three. That’s good. Just focus on your heart.” Ren placed his hand on his own heart moving his hand up and down counting the beats. “Match your breathing to the beat of your heart.” Ren placed her hand on her chest. “In and out. Just like that.”

Soon Lilia’s breathing had calmed but her mind was still a mess. She had killed somebody. Granted he would have killed Nero had she not done it, but by her own hands, a life was ended. She sat on the floor just looking at Ren’s face. Her eyes widened when she realized Nero had been injured. She could hear his labored breathing. Turning around she stood. “Lie down.”

“I’m fine—”

“Lie down!” she demanded. He did as he was told. She looked at him worriedly, “This is going to hurt.” She expertly examined the wound. The bullet had penetrated the abdomen below the rib cage. Lilia guessed that the bullet was lodged somewhere in his stomach or the large intestines. She applied pressure to the wound. Nero grunted as he lay on the floor. The burning sensation worsened as she examined and held pressure on the wound.

“Damn it that hurts!” Nero said, trying to remove Lilia’s hand.

“Sir! Are you all right?” Ren said rushing down to the ground.

“I’m fine… Really.” He tried to take a deep breath. His stomach felt like a hot poker was being pressed into it.

“You’re not fine. You have a hole in your stomach or intestine.” Lilia's eyes darted across the room. What could she use? “There could be serious complications. If the bullet passed through your stomach, it may have hit your pancreas. If it passes through the intestine, it could be lodged in your kidney.” The warehouse was empty aside from a few crates. Her heart raced thinking about how much damage could have been done to his organs. “Now, shut up and hold still. I am going to need something to pack the hole with. Is there anything that I could use? Cloth or maybe some gauze.”

“I don’t know. I’ll go check.” Ren ran around looking for anything he thought would help pack the wound. He found a first aid kit and brought it along with some cloth rags. “This is what I found.”

“That will do,” She opened the first aid kit to find it empty aside from a few Band-Aids. She grabbed the cloth rags and pushed them into the wound. Nero grunted as the pain intensified. She could hear the sound of sirens moving toward them. Her heart began to race again as she looked past Nero to the body lying on the floor. She breathed in, trying not to let the panic worsen. Nero was the important one. He was alive and he needed to stay that way. She had just started to see him in a different light.

The first day they met was a disaster. It was a cold that Monday and Lilia’s father wanted to see her. He had called the hospital several times that morning. She was annoyed that he called so many times knowing that she had two surgeries scheduled for that day. A very worried nurse came into the OR three times, informing her that her father had called. He said it was important for them to meet. She came directly to the Fresco Hotel to meet with her father after she finished her last scheduled surgery. She was wearing jeans and a plain blue button-up shirt. Her father walked out of the restaurant into the foyer. “Good thing I know you.” He lifted a finger, and a female hotel employee came out holding two different dresses. Lilia rolled her eyes and chose the modest of dresses. A strapless purple dress that flowed out to the knees. She was thankful that her father didn’t buy a whole wardrobe. He would have her wearing the most expensive clothes money could buy.

She changed and took a seat in front of her father. “So, what was so important that you needed to worry my staff?” She said in a defiant tone.

“Have you ever thought about marriage?”

“You know I haven’t. I am married to my work.” Lilia looked at the desperation on her father’s face. “What is it that you really have to say?”

“We…” His voice trailed off. She could tell something was really wrong, but there was no way she could have guessed what would come out of his mouth.

“Father, will you just tell me? What happened?” Her face fell as panic rose in her, “Is Robert alright!?”

“Robert’s fine. He was supposed to be here, but I guess something came up. I really think you should get married.”

“Why? I have time.” Gray Angelov shifted in his chair. His pulse increased thinking about telling his daughter the bad news. “What are you keeping from me?”

“Well ah… I…”

“Out with it already!” Lilia said firmly.

“I lost it.” Gray’s head fell. He couldn’t bring himself to look at his daughter.

“Lost what?” Gray said nothing, just hung his head. His brown hair dangling from his head. “Father!”

“I lost…”

“Just tell me already!”

“I lost everything. The house, my business, everything!” Gray practically shouted in a hushed tone.

“What!?” Lilia shouted, shocked.

“That’s not all…” He put his head in his hands. “I still owe three million dollars to Mr. Duranta.”

“Are you kidding me!?” Her voice echoed through the restaurant. “Is that why you want me to marry!”

“You need somebody to take care of you!”

“Are you insane? To get married for a reason like that.”

“I think you should consider it. I have somebody in mind. He would take good care of you.”

“No! Absolutely not!”

A scared waiter walked over to the table. “Excuse me, you’re disturbing the other guests.”

Lilia looked; her face turned red seeing all the curious faces of the onlookers. “I’m so sorry sir. We’ll be quieter.”

The waiter looked panicked. He looked around at his boss, who was staring at him with an intensity that would have anybody on pins and needles. That’s when a man wearing a dark blue Armani suit with a very expensive-looking watch stood from a table next to them. “Excuse me, I’ll handle this.” He waved off the waiter and looked down at Lilia, “I think you should really think about how you respond to your father.” He was handsome. Almost too handsome. It caught her off guard for a moment. “He has a point. Maybe you should listen instead of getting angry. Or is that your natural state.” Nero said looking at Gray with knowing eyes.

Lilia looked around the restaurant and then at the man who stood before her. Seeing the patrons still staring at her she stood up. “Let’s go!”

Gray stood up slowly unsure of himself when Nero blocked Lilia’s path. She was less than pleased to be standing in front of him. Obviously, he was entitled. “If you leave like this you might regret it.” He said with a cocked grin.

“What could I possibly regret!?” She looked back to her father. His brown eyes looked at her with worry. “He did this to himself. I don’t know who you are to butt in my business, but my family business has nothing to do with you.”

“Are you certain about that?” He said lifting an eyebrow.

“What could you possibly know about my family that you’d need to chime in? Do you even know what we are talking about?” Lilia snapped. “Do you!?” The restaurant’s occupants stared at the woman with amazement. Did she really not know who Nero was? That was simply crazy to think that somebody would be so ignorant.

“I know your father is trying to do what he thinks is best in this situation. Also, if you did not want people to comment, why did you tell the whole restaurant your business?” He said in a cocky voice. “I mean really, it was hard to ignore the two of you.” Nero motioned to the restaurant’s occupants. “I mean you’ve completely ruined my breakfast. I hope the man who is to marry you will be very patient because you need a steady hand to lead you.”

“Excuse me!?” Lilia’s eyes widened completely taken aback by the comment.

“I said that you need a steady hand to lead you. You must really be slow.” Nero adjusted his posture, so he was standing even taller. “Do I need to explain what it means?”

“I’m not an idiot! What do you take me for exactly?”

“A woman who needs somebody to show her how the real world works. Obviously, you don’t have any experience if your father needs to help you find a man.”

“Hah! You are the most arrogant, pompous—”

A hand covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry.” Grey bowed as low as he could holding Lilia’s mouth closed. “My daughter did not mean to offend you. She just… She has a problem when she gets mad. I hope that you will overlook that.” Gray Angelov said forcing his daughter to bow.

“Mmmm mmm—”

“Shh. You really need to learn to control your temper. Again, deeply sorry. Please excuse us.” Gray smiled, bowed, and pulled his daughter behind him.

“What are you doing? I’m not finished with him yet?”

“Stop it! You’re embarrassing yourself in front of Mr. Duranta. Do you not understand what could happen if you get on his bad side.”

“That’s the man you owe three million dollars to?”

“No, that’s the son of the man I owe. His father was sitting at the table watching you insult his son. You really should try to remember the faces of the people who can change your life.”

“That doesn’t concern me. What concerns me is that you think I care about what they could do to me.” She put her hands on her hips. “I’m not going to give in because they have money. Do you realize they only get away with things like that because people like you let them? If more people would stand up to people like him, we wouldn’t have to live so poorly.”

“He hasn’t done anything to you.”

“That doesn’t mean he hasn’t used his money to get out of trouble before. And I don’t appreciate being told how I should feel.” She stared into Grey’s eyes disappointed. “He insulted me, and you just stood there and let him do it,” Lilia said with clenched fists. “I really think that you should think about what you’re doing with your life.” Her gaze softened a little. “I mean you aren’t getting any younger and you’re letting somebody with, so much power make you bow down.”

“You should learn your place. You’re the one starting something. What were you thinking Lilia? I know you aren’t that stupid. You should have at least been respectful.”

“You mean, like he was?” she said with raised eyebrows.

“You are the one who got loud in that kind of setting. If your brother would have been there, I don’t think things would have turned out so badly.” He said using his hands openly.

“Are you insane? Of course, it would have been. Robert would have stood up for me! And you’re changing the topic.”

“What do you want from me, Lilia?” He stopped and looked at her. “You want me to tell you that everything is going to be all right. Well, it’s not.” Gray’s eyes fell to the floor. He sighed and looked back to Lilia. “Not only did you insult the only man who could help us out of our situation, but you disrespected him in front of his father and so many other people. And I’m too old to start something new.”

“You don’t need to start something new. And what do you mean that he was the only person who could help us…”

“He’s the son of the man I owe that money to. He’s also the one I want you to marry…”

Lilia’s mind drifted back to Nero who was still bleeding in her arms. He had changed a lot since their first meeting. He had been so arrogant then, but now he lay bleeding in her arms because he had protected her. He risked his life to save hers. The sirens rang loudly. Seeing the situation Lilia’s heart was in her throat. I’m going to go to jail. I deserve it. I killed him. What am I going to do?

“Breath.” Nero’s voice was weak. “It’s going to be fine. I promise. I won’t let anything bad happen.”

Tears filled her eyes again and she nodded. Somehow, she trusted him, though, she couldn’t stop the tears from falling. She had been the cause of Nero’s pain and her own. “I’m sorry.”

Nero’s hand moved up to her face and wiped her tears. “I promise, I’m going to be fine.” His voice was huskier than normal as if he were trying to comfort Lilia with just his voice. To her, it still sounded weak.