XT

ge was empty at this hour except for the low hum of the

aking Alessia pause for a while, the smell of cigare

id you ask to meet me?" He aske

o is!" Alessia's voice cracked with despe

know wh

help me." Al

d you, I don't know where he i

Tomasso! From the Crimson Empire. Five million! Do you even understand what that

let out a rough chuckle. "Five million, h

a joke!" Alessia's fr

on't know where he is or why he stole from the empire. Yo

anything else, he t

wept by and she was no where

she glanced at Tony's door. Mayb

cked softly

voice from the other side

ice trembled

need y

owing out a thick puff of cigar smoke that filled

fed, waving his cigar lazily in the air.

could feel the tears welling up behind her eyes, bu

her voice barely holding steady. "I just n

raised an eyebrow. "Ho

mill

rly empty room. "Five million? Alessia, you call that little? Th

cheeks "Tony, please. I've worked for yo

ot int

egging you, Tony. I don't h

g my time, Ale

ed as the words hit her

strode toward the door, yanking it open. "And don't you da

in place. How could he be so heartless? How co

her-nothing. She wasn't worth his

d under his breath as he brushed past her,

finally spill over, hot and uncontrollable, as she sank to the floor. All

weakly as she fe

she t

this

rned brother, now a debt she has nothing to

is rea

f her sim

ng down her cheeks like a leaking faucet but as qu

he lounge, eyes vacant, staring at the dirty concrete beneath her.

lled eyes. Tony sauntered out, but he wasn't alone. A brunette

each other, oblivious to her presence. Tony handed the woman a st

had m

s pleasures, for throwing at random women, but

ls digging into her palms and the te

aking advantage of her hard work. He had stolen from her in his o

on-someone who stole, someone who broke the rules-but what choice did she

obviously from Tony. Alessia snuck back inside as sh

s. Papers, receipts, and junk cluttered every corner, but no money. Her

ered to herself, her voice thick with f

t out, her fingers trembling

ic

stared at the money, stunned for a moment. Then, with a shaky breath, she grabbed a

feeling a rush of adrenaline. "All the times you

over her shoulder, hurried out of the lounge, her h

danced on her skin as her f

ed a beat when she reached hom

Leo

ple from the

tomach but whatever it was she would

d out cautiously

se was

si

mother lying unconscious on the floor. Fear gripped her as sh

rely registered her own voice as she shouted into the phone, begging for help. Time seemed to

ve me. Not now when