Surrogate to the ruthless mafia boss

*CHAPTER ONE*

Working on three part-time jobs a week was once normal life.

Saving up to attend college later that year was once normal life. Taking the

bus every morning and missing it once in a while was a normal life.

However, what wasn't a normal life was stumbling open a BMW jeep

every time you got out of work. Getting an anonymous threat message during work

hours and when you gaze around the restaurant, none of the customers seems fit

to have sent the threat letter.

What could be more terrifying was walking home and having the

feeling that someone was watching you and following you.

Ever since I made the discovery, I have lived in fear. Much worse,

I was always unnecessarily alert.

I would jump like an antelope whenever I heard a slight knock on

my door and mentally smacked myself when I realized it was just my brother.

I would always flinch in shock from a slight tap on my

shoulder.

Whenever I got out of work, I would walk to Aubree's dorm which

was a thirty-minute walk from my workplace and a twenty-minute work from home,

and convince her to walk me home.

That fear had been the main course of my life.

That's why I hastened my step as I walked to work. Though, it was

day, the sunlight glimmered in the sky, hot but relaxing like the evening

sunlight.

The alley was busy, unlike other days. People strolling along it,

going on about their days. Yet, I still walked twice as faster as I usually do.

My hear beating fast as I prayed silently that I arrive mat y work place in

peace.

This was all Aubree's fault. Aubree had stomped into my house last

night and suggested we spent our girl's night with ma ovie and popcorn. Of

course, I agreed. I desperately needed to clear my mind off the recent events

so, I jumped on the idea.

But, the movie she picked was about a psychopath who stalked women

he found attractive for fa ew months and when he was tired of them, he would

corner them and stab them violently until they bled out. I related the plot to

my recent discovery.

What if it would be the case for me? What if those people were

psychopaths planning my death behind the tinted glass of their black BMW jeep?

What if my death was near.

Immediately I made it into the pastry shop, Ireleased my breath I

hadn't known I had being holding and almost hugged my boss when he greeted me.

I mentally congratulated myself for making it into the pastry shop safely

However, was I? Was I safe?

"Chunky, could you be a darling and answer table eight? Evelyn is

using the restroom again."

He rolled his eyes as he dragged out the last word and I chuckled.

Evelyn started having a runny stomach right after she took a

ridiculous mixture of expresso and lemon tea. I put on my apron and walked into

the shop, grabbing the menu on my wayz

When I got to table eight, it was empty.

I returned to the counter and dumped the menu on it aggressively.

"Table eight is empty, boss."

I frowned at Tony who frowned in return and looked back at the

empty table.

"That's weird, I saw two men there just now."

"Maybe they left."

I guessed, giving Tony a little shrug when his frown tightened at

me.

"Why would they?"

He investigated, staring distractedly at the empty table as if he

would get his answer there.

"They were probably to eager to wait."

"They were only here for five minutes, chunky!"

I made it back into the resting room, ignoring his annoying

desperation to investigate the issue.

They left! It's as simple as that.

As I rested my head on the long cushion bench and went back to my

thought, Tony stomped into the resting room, startling me shitless.

"They are back! Order! Now!"

I grumbled as I struggled to get up and dragged my foot out.

When I got back to the table, it was empty again.

This has got to be a sick joke. Is this some sort of prank?

As I stared closely, I noticed a note sitting on the table which

was exactly like the other threat note I received. My heart skipped and my

fingers trembled as I reached out for it.

It wasn't like the other ones I received. It was different.

Dangerous so.

It read; "You'd have to replace your rug, it might be stained with

your brother's blood."

It took a while for the message to register in my head.

I threw the menu on the floor and immediately dashed for the door.

My heart pounded against my rib cage, threatening to burst open my

chest as I raced to my house. It was normally a twenty minutes wof ork but, it

seemed like I had raced for an hour as I flung open the door and darted

inside.

A loud gasp escaped my mouth when I noticed Julian on the floor,

bleeding through his nose and mouth. His face was bruised as if he was given a

thorough beating and he was unconscious.

Unconscious!

I rushed towards him and scooped his head in my arms.

"Juls. Juls. It's me. I'm here."

His eyes opened slightly and I breathed a sigh of relief. I

reached out for my phone in my pocket and dialed an emergency number with

trembling fingers.

A few minutes later, the ambulance came and drove us to the

hospital.

The doctor ensured he was placed on a ventilator before asking for

my audience.

I had hoped he was going to tell me how Julian sustained injury

and he would be fine in a few days but, when he sighed as I sat across him, I

knew it was going to be a lot more than that.

"A CT scan should be conducted."

"CT scan?"

I frowned. Wasn't that for people who were chronically ill?

Oh my God, no. No, please. No.

"He has kidney failure."

"What?"

My lips quivered.

I was lost in words. I didn't know what to say, or what to think.

My mind was blank as was my head. My vision became blurry with tears.

"He needs to be placed on dialysis. Three times a week should be

enough for now."

Tears trickled down my eyes.

For now.

That meant, in time, his condition would worsen. In time, I would

have to spend more money for more than three dialysis.

And, if I can't afford it, if I can't, Julian would die.

The doctor said the kidney failure was worsened by the physical

assault. Though, I would still have to have him put on dialysis in the future,

I would just have to spend more due to the assault.

When I returned to Julian's bed, I took his warm hand and wrapped

it around mine. Even mo, tears gathered in my eyes.

This shouldn't be happening. Not when I had no one. Not when we

were struggling.

Julian suddenly shifted and flipped open his eyes.

"Scar?"

He whispered and I clasped his hand tighter.

"Yes. How are you feeling?"

I asked, trying to hide my hoarse tone from my tears.

"Those men, they are looking for you. They are dangerous men and

they carry around guns and knives."

Then, he fell back into slumber. I could only part my lips, unable

to utter a word.

Who were they and why were they looking for me?