Riding with the Mafia Boss

at night, the shadows didn't move slowly, making it hard to take your time. She kept her head down as her boots clicked on the wet ground. Her heart was beating fast under all of he

iora pushed past her and went to the back wall with the curtains, where she had been told to set up. The velvet was thick, rich, and too quiet behind it when she touched it. She put her bag down and took out her camera and a small stand. She fought the urge to look over her shoulder. At the bar, a man looked right at her. Hair pulled back and a face that looks too good to be true. He raised a little of his drink to look at her. She didn't return the touch. That's what she did instead. Behind glass, she could see a narrow room through a hole in the curtain. It was dark, private, and silent. She said to herself, "I was told to film the scene and not ask questions." Someone behind her told her, "Don't ask." She jumped and spun. Too close was a man in a black suit that fit well. He had olive skin, a strong jaw, and gold cufflinks that looked like blades. The man asked, "Photographer?" She said yes. After that, shoot. He was gone behind the curtain before she could say anything else. She held her breath and her heart from beating. She had her finger on the button. What she saw next really scared her. Liora was holding the camera, but it was shaking. With her body tucked against the wall like a ghost, she changed the lens and zoomed in through the small hole in the velvet curtain. There were three men in that room. There was no music this far. No sound except for the pulse in her ears and the low hum of the electric lights inside the glass room. One man sat with his hands tied behind a chair. He had blood coming out of his lip. He was still breathing, but his head was tilted forward. She said in a whisper, "This wasn't part of the gig." She made one click. She said, "Is that... duct tape?" One more click. One man put up his fist and looked sure of himself. You should have known not to talk to the Fiores. I swear I didn't say anything. Oh, the man spoke up. But you did hear. That's even worse. A gun showed up. Sleek. Black. Well known. Liora's eyes got bigger. She put her finger on the button for a moment. She told herself, "Don't." You are not meant to take part. The man sitting down whimpered. I have kids, please. You should have thought of them. Even though the shot wasn't clear, it seemed to shake her to the core. The wall behind him was covered in blood. His head was slouched to the side. There was only one red line going down the window. Liora tripped and fell backwards. Bile rose to her throat. She gasped, "Oh my God!" She just looked at the camera with her eyes. The flash was off. No, no, no She fumbled with her fingers and pulled the ca