Mafia's claim

"Who do you work for?" Giovanni asked, his voice was loud, the lady in front of him was sprawled on the floor, trying her best to gain her stamina, strands of her hair lying on her face.

"No one...., I'm just a photographer" Laurent answered, panting, her face pale and unwavering.

He looked at her, crouched down to the ground, grabbing her hair forcefully "If you don't tell me who you are this instant, you'll lose those hands of yours" Giovanni threatened, his grip firm as the lady sat silently, her head pulled back.

"What is the matter, Giovanni?" A voice called from behind, and the other men had started paving a way for him, Laurent's eyes looked towards the dim light in the hallway, seeing a figure in a dark trench coat and men beside him walk towards her.

"Boss, I saw her taking pictures of the premises" Giovanni answered, letting go of the now frail Laurent and her hair as he stepped back.

"You know we do not hit women," the boss said, crouching down to see her face, her light blue eyes losing their color in the dark space.

"Who are you?" He asked, looking earnestly at her features.

"I'm...just..I'm just a photographer" she answered, putting her face sideways and pouting a mouth full of blood to the side.

"My men wouldn't have you here if you were just a photographer.. tell me your reason for being here," he asked, taking a stand.

Suddenly, a flush of memories went through Laurent's mind.

"This is a dangerous job, so be careful.. my friend told me you needed it so I'm helping you out okay" the policewoman whispered.

"Yeah. I know, Ava mentioned it to me, I'm new to everything else except for photography" Laurent answered with a smile, her hands clutching her camera tightly.

The dimly lit streets of Nevada always held secrets, the dark fuming alleys by the sides of the loud music bars held little significance to Laurent, her hand placed on her bag which she pushed to her side as she closely clutched to it as she followed a man closely, as stealthily as she could, his cigarette getting sharper and sharply lit in one evening, as she closed in on him, closer and closer and just when he stopped, she forcibly stopped as well, pulling back and immediately remembered what she had been told.

"See anything suspicious, call us, okay," the policewoman said to her as she nodded slightly, she now wanted to do nothing but call them but she needed proof, solid evidence.

Laurent could feel her chest heave, she looked back at the man she was following, he hadn't noticed her behind him and so she followed.

The dark alley had now led her to an unknown environment, scarcely dressed females on one side, dark-clothed men approaching them lit cigars and loud music playing in different places.

She looked sideways and then to the man she followed "Wh..where has he gone?" She asked herself as she noticed the man she was once following had suddenly disappeared, she turned to look around.

"Who are you?" She asked and almost immediately her face was covered with a dark cloth and her scream muffled by another, opening her eyes, she saw a young man with a handsome face yelling at her, a dangerous glare on his face as he spoke.

'What have I done to get here?' She thought to herself as she took multiple hits from this unkind mister.

"Do you know the territory you have stepped foot on?" The huge man asked, his expression candid.

"So..you're the mafia leader," Laurent said, ignoring his question as a smile formed on her face.

"You don't work for the Silver Viper group. then who really are you?" The man thought to himself as he placed his hand on his chin.

Laurent took a mouthful of blood, spitting on his shoes "I told you and your men...that I'm..just...a...photographer" she answered, her face bruised and bloody.

"Take her inside, treat her wounds, and don't let her out," he said to Giovanni who in turn, slightly bowed and immediately signaled two men to get a hold of her.

"Before I'm taken away.. what's your name?" Laurent asked fearlessly, her eyes were drowsed, yet she could still speak. The men who stood around looked at her with anger.

"Kieran, Kieran Marco, and yours? Fiesty lady" he asked.

"We might never know" she answered before closing her eyes, she had fallen unconscious.

Kieran looked at her with a smile 'She's truly bold, she reminds me of her' he thought to himself as he exited the room.

"We have work to do and the boss took in that girl we could just kill," Salvatore said, walking at a distance from Kieran.

"It is not ours to decide her fate" Giovanni answered, walking stoicly right behind.

The soft bedding must have held some loose ends in Laurent's body as she woke up in the morning, feeling the aches on her back and body.

"Where am I?" She questioned, her eyes falling to the pictures in the room, his face placed in a standard view in the middle of the room.

She walked close to the door-sized picture that sat idly, staring at her "Oh God..I'm in the house if the leader" she muttered to herself before holding her sides which now ached severely.

Almost immediately, there was a subtle knock on the door "Miss, please if you're awake, you need something to eat, the master has asked that you have some food" the lady outside the door yelled, just so she could hear and give a response.

At first, she is quiet, she doesn't say a thing and then the knock comes in again "Miss..please, you need to eat something" the lady persisted.

Laurent walked over to the door, opening it slightly, just enough to grab the food tray from the unsuspecting maid.

"Thank you" she muttered, pulling the tray towards herself as she closed the door immediately after.

"How am I supposed to eat when I don't even know who this man is?" She asked herself as she looked at the tray of diced chicken on the platter.

Walking away from the door, she touched her neck, releasing she hadn't held her camera or even any of her belongings, taking a search, she put her hands inside her pockets, nothing.

'I must have been stripped of everything' she thought to herself as she continued the futile search of checking the tabletop.

The room was quite spacious, it had an eerie feeling that made her blood boil with anger, especially when she looked at the huge picture of the man who brought her in, sitting idly as though it watched her.

"I've got to find a way out of here" she muttered, searching for possible routes of escape "The window" She snapped her fingers, looking at the windows, and she rushed to one of them, it seemed best for an escape route.

The large wedge made it easy for someone to actually fit through, she looked down, there was a small balcony right below, and she took her steps slowly, getting her legs on the balcony.

"Oh shit!" She cursed, looking down from the balcony "I must be at least 30 feet away from the ground" she muttered under her breath.

"Arghh.." she screamed, now pacing inside the room.

"What does this man want? Huh?" She asked, taking her finger to her lips as she bit off the nails that grew.

Just then, the door was opened "Thinking of an escape is futile" Kieran said in a subtle tone, he walked into the room so calmly and stealthily, that she hadn't noticed him until he spoke.

Laurent immediately held to the sides of the curtains, clutching the smooth surface tightly.

"What...do you want with me? I told you what I do?" She said, her voice was low and shaky.

"I understand that my men hurt you yesterday, we need to get you a doctor," he said in a deeper tone.

"I need to get out of here, let me go!!" She yelled.

"I'm afraid I can't do that darling, you're mine now, that is, if you want to live and I don't plan on letting you die" Kieran answered as he took slow steps towards her direction.

"Stay away from me...stay away you monster" she answered, using her left hand to his face, tearing him with so much force.

"You are feisty," he said, holding her hand "Just how I like it" he added, pulling her to himself, a scratch on his neck, dripping with blood.

"But first, let's get your wounds treated," he said letting go of her as she struggled "Miss Laurent Astrid" he whispered.

Laurent collapsed, in shock, her eyes widened with fear "How..how do you know my name?" She asked her legs sprawled on the floor.

"Aren't you an ice queen? You wouldn't give me your name, so I did my research" he answered before turning to the door.

"Doc, take good care of her," he said to the lady in white who held a small bag, she immediately scurried inside the room, closing the door right behind her.

Kieran walked out of the room, his neck in blood "Boss, you're bleeding" Giovanni pointed out at first glance.

"It's just a graze, let's get to work" he answered, taking out his trench coat from the hanger, he proceeded into the black Cadillac that sat right in front of the house. The man instinctively bowed, showing respect as he was led into the car.

****

Whilst Laurent looked at the window, the blue sky and its features felt like torture through the walls.

"All done miss, please have those painkillers," the doctor said as she put the last item into her bag.

"P..please..you're a woman, can't you help me?" Laurent asked as she clasped the older woman's hand into hers.

"Please..at least help me with my phone" she pleaded, the older woman looked at her, her expressionless gaze gave the answer her lips couldn't, she pulled away from Laurent's grip and walked straight out of the room, leaving no space for even the slightest conversation.

Laurent sat in silence, her eyes welling up with tears "I'm sure everyone must be worried...maybe.. someone will help in the search for me" she said in an attempt to comfort herself as her tears had begun to trickle down her cheeks.

****

"Kieran Marco, how long has it been since we last saw each other" the older man asked with a smile, extending his hand for a shake, his wrinkled eyelids could show much of his age, yet, his hair was put back in a way that it confused most about his aging.

"Mister Petrov, good to see you again" Kieran answered, giving in his right hand to accept his handshake.

"Well...I'm sure business has been spectacular" Petrov said, taking a seat.

"Well, I wouldn't say spectacular but yes it's running" Kieran answered flatly, showing no interest in what was about to be discussed.

"I have goods for you, the best quality" Petrov answered, straightforward to his reason for meeting.

"I know you do, why didn't you do the usual setup instead of meeting me?" Kieran asked, showing his unwillingness to stay as he placed his hand on his chin.

"I just wanted you to have a token of my appreciation, for helping my boys" Petrov answered, opening a box which was filled with what looked like gold toads, a rare artifact in Asia.

"Thank you" Kieran answered, "Excuse me Petrov" Kieran added, turning to Giovanni "Updates?" He asked, looking at the time on his wristwatch.

"Boss..she tried to jump off the balcony" Giovanni answered, his voice was calm, and Kieran widened his eyes.

"Prepare my car.. mister Petrov we'll have this conversation later," he said, walking out the door in the most calm manner he could.

'She can't die.. not after years of looking and longing for her' he thought to himself as the driver started the car before zooming off.